Prescott National Forest Ranches

Ranches that are permitted to use grazing allotments administered by the Prescott National Forest and have benefited from government assistance. (Additional ranches are added to this list as information becomes available.)

Visit the Arizona Public Land Ranches Home Page for information about ranches in other regions of the state.

Government Assistance For Ranchers Program Key
ALLBAWPFECPEQIPEWPHPCHeritage FundLCCGPLFPLOFFAPLRPPFWPWHREFWQIG
AALB - Arizona Livestock Loss Board, Arizona Livestock Loss Board (federal/state)
AWPF - Arizona Water Protection Fund, AWPF Commission (state)
ECP - Emergency Conservation Program, USDA’s Farm Service Agency (federal)
EQIP - Environmental Quality Incentives Program, USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (federal)
The EQIP program absorbed the NRCS Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP) after 2014.
EWP - Emergency Watershed Protection, USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (federal)
The Arizona EWP Drought Program was discontinued in 2001 after a critical audit.
HPC - Habitat Partnership Committee, Arizona Game & Fish Commission (state)
Arizona Heritage Fund, Arizona Game & Fish Commission (state)
LCCGP - Livestock & Crop Conservation Program, Arizona Department of Agriculture (state)
Note: Open Space Reserve Grants became LCCGP Grants after 2002.
LFP - Livestock Forage Disaster Program, USDA’s Farm Service Agency (federal)
LOFFAP - Livestock Operator Fire & Flood Assistance Program, Arizona Department of Agriculture (state)
LRP - Landowner Relations Program, Arizona Game & Fish Department (state)
PFWP - Partners for Fish & Wildlife Program, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (federal)
WHREF - Wildlife Habitat Restoration & Enhancement Fund, Arizona Game & Fish Department (state)
This fund was created by a one-time $3.5 million appropriation by the Legislature in 2006.
WQIG - Water Quality Improvement Grant, Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (federal/state)
Note: These grants were previously called Section 319 nonpoint source (NPS) water pollution prevention grants.
Ash Creek RanchBarney York RanchBear Canyon RanchBrown Springs RanchCampwood Cattle Co. RanchesDiamond 2 RanchDugas RanchFletcher RanchesFlower Pot RanchFlying 4C RanchK4 RanchKelton RanchMoon River Beef RanchOrme RanchPerkins RanchRio Verde RanchSycamore RanchTurkey Creek RanchV7 RanchYavapai Ranch
Ash Creek Ranch (Gary & Sharla Mortimer) - Ash Creek Allotment
YEARSPROGRAMAMOUNTPROJECT NAME
2007LCCGP #07-69$50,000Water Development, Fencing
2009LCCGP #09-80$75,000Sustainable Ranching through Forage Conservation
2016-2021LFP$63,523
$188,523TOTAL 2007 - 2021
Barney York Ranch (Barney York, LLC) - Hitt Wash Allotment, State Lease #05-115038
YEARSPROGRAMAMOUNTPROJECT NAME
2006-2019EQIP$266,382
2011HPC #10-303*$15,000Remove Juniper Trees
2017AWPF #17-189$138,183Cut Down Pinyon & Juniper Trees, Use Them For Erosion Control Check Dams
2018-2020LFP$12,157
2022EQIP$20,468
$452,190TOTAL 2006 - 2022
* This project shared with neighboring ranches.
Bear Canyon Ranch (Shiew Cattle, LLC) - Sand Flat (Prescott NF) & Tule (Kaibab NF) Allotments
YEARSPROGRAMAMOUNTPROJECT NAME
2015-2020LFP$209,233(Nancy Shiew)
2019-2020LFP$76,645(Shiew Cattle LLC)
2019HPC #18-202$5,000Dirt Tank Renovations
2021-2022EQIP$226,283
2022LFP$64,786(Nancy Shiew)
2022LFP$108,256(Shiew Cattle LLC)
2023APWIAP*$75,800Rebuild Livestock Fences & Waters Burned in the 2021 Rafael Fire
2023EQIP$32,807
2023LFP$15,753
$814,563TOTAL 2015 - 2023
* Temporary program administered by the Arizona Dept. of Forestry & Fire Management.
Brown Springs Ranch (D-Tail Cattle Co., LLC) - Brown Springs Allotment
YEARSPROGRAMAMOUNTPROJECT NAME
2005AWPF #05-133$63,888Riparian Fences
2005LCCGP #05-39$9,908Fencing
2018-2019EQIP$51,699
$125,495TOTAL 2005 - 2019
Camp Wood Cattle Co. Ranches (Camp Wood Cattle Co., LLC) - Camp Wood, Toohey, Granite (FS) & Scratch Canyon (BLM) Allotments, State Lease #05-000795
YEARSPROGRAMAMOUNTPROJECT NAME
1999EWP$33,949Paid to Take Cattle Off the Land During Drought
2008-2020EQIP$382,464DBA Wagon Bow Ranch LLC
2010HPC #09-309*$3,500Water Catchment Repairs
2015LFP$421,340
2020-2021LFP$123,810
2022LFP$241,328
$1,206,391TOTAL 1999 -2022
* This project was shared with a neighboring ranch.
The Camp Wood grazing allotment is located in the Chino Valley Ranger District and is permitted to the 7 Up Ranch, which also holds the permit to the BLM Scratch Canyon allotment, and state grazing lease #05-000795. The Granite & Toohey allotments are adjacent to each other in the Bradshaw Ranger District and permitted to the Lazy K8 "Kate" Ranch. In 2019 the Camp Wood Cattle Co., LLC, subleased state grazing lease #05-001322, which belongs to the TT Ranch located in the Sonoran Desert in northern Maricopa County.
Diamond 2 Ranch (Maughan Ranches LLC) - Crooks-Maverick, Wagoner & Hassayampa Allotments, State Lease #05-000346
YEARSPROGRAMAMOUNTPROJECT NAME
2002OSR #49*$32,196
2003WQIG #5-013$39,900New Livestock Waters
2014HPC # 13-304$37,470Trick Tank
2017Heritage Fund$80,000Public Access Easement
2018HPC #17-302$1,116Middlewater Water Well Solar Pump
2018HPC #17-304$1,116160 Water Well Solar Pump
$191,798TOTAL 2002-2018
* Open Space Reserve (OSR) grants became LCCGP grants in 2005.
Note: One year’s property taxes were subtracted from the Heritage Fund payment.

Rex G. Maughan passed away on July 17, 2021.
Dugas Ranch (Dugas Ranch LLC ) - Dugas Allotment
YEARSPROGRAMAMOUNTPROJECT NAME
2009-2013WHIP$36,998
2011-2022LFP$128,680
2017HPC #16-603*$12,101Solar Powered Water System
2021EQIP$7,822
2022HPC #21-606**$24,000Solar Powered Water System
2022EQIP$753
2023EQIP$1,847
2023LFP$20,889
$233,090TOTAL 2009 - 2023
* This grant was shared with the permittee of the adjacent Horner Mtn. grazing allotment.
** This grant was shared with the permittee of the adjacent Todd grazing allotment.
Fletcher Ranches (Fletcher Land & Cattle, LLC) - Muldoon (Prescott NF), Government Mtn. & Government Prairie (Kaibab NF) Allotments, State Leases #05-053124, #05-100364, #05-003563, #05-025503 & #05-113715
YEARSPROGRAMAMOUNTPROJECT NAME
2015-2021LFP$432,189(Fletcher Land & Cattle LLC)
2015-2022LFP$182,719(James M. Fletcher)
2018-2022LFP$20,705(Kimberly A. Fletcher)
2022LFP$77,277(Fletcher Land & Cattle LLC)
$712,890TOTAL 2015 - 2022
Flower Pot Ranch (Zeid Family Ranches, Inc.) - Cienega Allotment
YEARSPROGRAMAMOUNTPROJECT NAME
2013HPC #12-311$5,000Windmill
2018-2020LFP$71,327
2022LFP$49,902
2023HPC #23-603$215,000Remove Juniper Trees
$341,229TOTAL 2013-2023
Flying 4C Ranch (The Flying 4 C Ranch LLC) - Bottle (FS) and Chaparral Gulch & Galena Gulch (BLM) Allotments, State Leases #05-001162 & #05-003432
YEARSPROGRAMAMOUNTPROJECT NAME
2018LFP$5,001
2018-2021EQIP$183,021
2023EQIP$259,602
$477,624TOTAL 2018 - 2023
The permittees acquired the permit for the Prescott National Forest's Bottle grazing allotment in 2021.
K4 Ranch (K4 Ranch, LLC ) - K4 Allotment, State Leases #05-003376 & #05-000712
YEARSPROGRAMAMOUNTPROJECT NAME
2011HPC #10-303*$15,000Remove Juniper Trees
2015HPC #14-305$5,000Hitt Wash Riparian Exclosure
2016HPC #15-307$20,000Remove Juniper Trees
2023HPC #22-304$238,113Remove Juniper Trees
$278,113TOTAL 2011 -2023
* This project shared with neighboring ranches.
Kelton Ranch (Kelton Cattle Co., LLC) - Box Bar (BLM) and Long Gulch Allotments (FS), State Lease #05-000063
YEARSPROGRAMAMOUNTPROJECT NAME
2013HPC #12-603*$25,000Juniper Tree Thinning On Sycamore Mesa
2015HPC #14-601*$60,000Kill Coyotes to Protect Pronghorn & Mule Deer Fawns
2015-2018EQIP$30,540
2015-2021LFP$213,402
2022LFP$48,168
$377,110TOTAL 2013 - 2022
* This assistance was shared with neighboring ranches.
Moon River Beef Ranch (Khan Cattle Co. LLC) - Horseshoe Allotment
YEARSPROGRAMAMOUNTPROJECT NAME
1998AWPF #98-055*$82,561Livestock Fences & Waters
2002WQIG #4-012*$55,700Upper Verde Collaborative Watershed Restoration
2005LCCGP #05-96*$75,000Livestock Water
2007LCCGP #07-91*$75,000Livestock Water and Fencing
2010-2012EQIP*$98,553
2015-2018LFP*$18,203
2020-2021LFP$36,999
2022LFP$55,434
$497,448TOTAL 1998 - 2022
WQIG #4-012 was shared with a neighboring ranch.
* This assistance benefited the ranch’s previous owners, the Y Bar D Ranch Inc.
Orme Ranch (Orme Ranch, Inc.) - V Bar Allotment, State Lease #05-000549
YEARSPROGRAMAMOUNTPROJECT NAME
2002OSR #45*$53,183
2005EQIP$18,060
2007LCCGP #07-52$41,504Livestock Water & Fencing
2010HPC #09-308$3,900Water Development - Phase 2
2015HPC #14-601**$60,000Kill Coyotes to Protect Pronghorn & Mule Deer Fawns
2015-2020LFP$163,735
2017HPC #16-608**$15,000Use herbicide to kill mesquite trees and acacia shrubs
2022Heritage Fund$11,000Solar Powered Water System
2022HPC #21-301$4,400Water Project
2022LFP$31,077
$401,859TOTAL 2002 - 2022
* Open Space Reserve (OSR) grants became LCCGP grants in 2005. ** This assistance was shared with neighboring ranches.
The Orme Ranch includes an irrigated plot of farmland along Ash Creek. The ranch’s owner, Paul Orme, is a board member of the Family Farm Alliance, which promotes irrigated agriculture in the West. The ranch has used scientifically discredited Holistic Resource Management (HRM) intensive grazing theories. HRM grazing plans are typified by high utilization rates, which can increase competition between cattle and wildlife for forage, and degrade watershed health and wildlife habitat - especially in dry ecosystems and during droughts. (Note: Enoch Malouff took over the management of the Orme Ranch from Alan Kessler in 2014, and has also used HRM grazing schemes.)
Perkins Ranch (Perkins Ranch, Inc) Perkinsville Allotment, State Lease #05-001039
YEARSPROGRAMAMOUNTPROJECT NAME
1999EWP$25,984Paid to Take Cattle Off the Land During Drought
2004-2010EQIP$134,342
2007LCCGP #07-84$24,725
2014-2021LFP$256,692
2022EQIP$6,284
2023HPC #23-210$26,000Water Development
2023LFP$35,084
$486,861TOTAL 1999 - 2023
Rio Verde Ranch (Almida Land & Cattle Co. LLC) - West Bear-Del Rio Allotment
YEARSPROGRAMAMOUNTPROJECT NAME
1998AWPF #98-047$115,300Livestock Water & Fences
2002WQIG #4-012*$55,700Upper Verde Collaborative Watershed Restoration
2005LCCGP #05-03$17,650Livestock Water
2007LCCGP #07-01$14,500Livestock Water
2008-2016EQIP$352,970
2011LCCGP #11-01$47,960Lower MC Livestock Water Distribution System
2012-2021LFP$345,914
2022LFP$129,070
2023LFP$7,102
$1,086,166TOTAL 1998 - 2023
* WQIG #4-012 was shared with a neighboring ranch.
The allotment’s permittee died in 2017 and the ranch was taken over by his descendants.
Sycamore Ranch (Bert T. Teskey) - Sycamore & 2Y (BLM) and Todd (FS) Allotments
YEARSPROGRAMAMOUNTPROJECT NAME
1999EWP$4,351Paid to Take Cattle Off the Land During Drought
2009HPC #08-603$25,0002Y Allotment Water Development
2010HPC #09-609$19,8402Y Allotment Water Development
2010-2013EQIP$52,371
2013HPC #12-603*$25,000Juniper Thinning On Sycamore Mesa
2015HPC #14-601*$60,000Kill Coyotes to Protect Pronghorn & Mule Deer Fawns
2015-2020LFP$85,469
2017HPC #16-608*$15,000Use herbicide to kill mesquite trees and acacia shrubs
2022HPC #21-606**$24,000Solar Powered Water System
2022LFP$25,435
$336,466TOTAL 1999 - 2022
* This assistance was shared with neighboring ranches.
** This grant was shared with the permittee of the adjacent Dugas grazing allotment.
Turkey Creek Ranch (Turkey Creek Ranch LLC) - Brady Allotment
YEARSPROGRAMAMOUNTPROJECT NAME
2018LFP$10,193
2018-2020EQIP$162,327
2018LRP$7,000Dirt Tank Cleanouts
2019HPC #18-302$2,500Walnut Water Well Solar Pump
$182,020TOTAL 2018 - 2020
The Turkey Creek Ranch is managed by Tim Petersen, an owner of Boulder Ranch LLC, and the Boulder Creek Ranch.
V7 Ranch (Logan & Arletta Hefner) - China Dam & Coyote (Prescott NF), Maxwell Springs & Crater (Coconino NF) Allotments, State Lease #05-100744
YEARSPROGRAMAMOUNTPROJECT NAME
2011-2022LFP$346,855Coconino County
2015-2022LFP$239,495Yavapai County
$585,350TOTAL 2011- 2022
The V7 ranch is located near Chino Valley in Yavapai County. The permittees hold grazing permits in the nearby Prescott National Forest’s Chino Valley Ranger District, but also in the Coconino National Forest’s Flagstaff Ranger Disrict.
Yavapai Ranch (Yavapai Ranch LLLP) - Yavapai Allotment
YEARSPROGRAMAMOUNTPROJECT NAME
1990ADEQ NPS Grant #90-004$175,600Chino Winds NRCD HRM Demonstration Project
2006-2020EQIP$558,560
2015Heritage Fund$30,000Public Access for 2 Years
2015-2021LFP$627,679
2017HPC #16-305$15,900Dirt Tank Cleanouts
2017HPC #16-308$33,831Install Solar Water Pumps
2022EQIP$40,736
2022LFP$113,813
$1,596,119TOTAL 1990-2022
The current coordinated resources management plan (CRMP) was completed in 1992. The ranch has used scientifically discredited Holistic Resource Management (HRM) intensive grazing theories. HRM grazing plans are typified by high utilization rates, which can increase competition between cattle and wildlife for forage, and degrade watershed health and wildlife habitat - especially in dry ecosystems and during droughts.
Note: Ranch ownership often changes in Arizona, because much of the state is too hot and dry for most operations to be sustainably profitable. The ranch owners shown in the tables above are updated when information about a new owner is acquired, but the amounts of government assistance that benefited the ranch's previous owners are maintained.
Background Information About Government Assistance Programs

Some of this financial assistance was justified as being primarily for the purpose of improving wildlife habitat or watershed health. But those projects also benefited livestock production on the ranches where they were implemented. Whatever improvements to local natural resource conditions that might have resulted were tempered by the increased livestock grazing they facilitated.

The assistance didn’t always go directly to the ranchers, but sometimes to local non-profit organizations that helped them complete application processes and minimize taxable income. This included the Altar Valley Conservation Alliance, Coronado Resource Conservation & Development Area, Inc., Gila Watershed Partnership of Arizona, and the Upper Eagle Creek Watershed Association (UECWA).

Some of it also went to the local Natural Resource Conservation District (NRCD). Arizona’s NRCDs are regional subdivisions of the State Land Department, and are comprised only of local landowners, mostly ranchers, that work to obtain funding for agricultural “conservation” projects. They often work to obtain grants that directly benefit their members, including their governing supervisors. The local NRCDs also created the private nonprofit Arizona Association of Conservation Districts so they could apply for more types of assistance.

These aren't the only examples of Arizona ranches that benefited from government assistance. But it takes a lot of work to gather and compile this sort of information, because the agencies don't normally disclose it, so this web page will be updated as additional records are obtained. Also, the information provided about some of these ranches may be incomplete. But that just means those ranches benefited from at least the amounts shown.

Update

On June 21, 2024, Gov. Katie Hobbs signed HB 2865, creating a new state agency called the Natural Resource Conservation District Board, comprised primarily of local NRCD supervisors. It's tasked with providing administrative assistance to the state's regional Natural Resource Conservation Districts, which was formerly the responsibility of the Arizona State Land Department. The initial operating funds for the Board will come from the Legislature's regular annual appropriation of $650,000 to the state's NRCDs. The NRCD Board is also responsible for dispensing "conservation" and "education" grants from a new NRCD Fund to the local NRCDs and Soil and Water Conservation Districts. The monies in the fund can include state appropriations, grants and contributions - although the Legislature didn't make an initial appropriation to the fund. Most of the grants dispensed by the Board will likely benefit ranchers, as most NRCD supervisors are ranchers.

This page was last updated on Apr 28, 2024 @ 7:13 am.

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