Sustainably Farming to Improve Tribal Lands
The Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR) Tribal Farm Enterprise (TFE) has become one of the largest tribally-owned, self-managed and self-farmed enterprises within the Northwest. Kevin Hudson, a second-generation farmer from eastern Oregon, has managed TFE since 1997, starting with 150 acres, and now farms about 12,000 acres. At TFE, he raises dry peas, canola and a number of wheat varieties all throughout the base of the Blue Mountains.
The Tribe has been farming for centuries, with many of the tribal people working and caring for the land, growing hay and fruits, then moving into grains and vegetables, and eventually farming their own land with teams of 52 horses and one or two pieces of shared farming equipment. Many chose to lease their property out and have it managed by local farmers who farmed around or near them.
The tribes developed an Economic and Community Development Department that created TFE. The intent was for the program to farm their tribal land, assist other tribal members in developing and improving the lease and crop options directed to them through the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and make changes that would improve the sustainability of the land and water throughout the CTUIR.
In a farming area that has been traditionally plowed, Hudson manages a different operation — one with a strong conservation mindset aimed at improving and up-keeping the Tribe’s lands. Today, with Hudson at the helm, TFE features regenerative farming practices that have resulted in improved crop production, water quality, animal habitat and environment on CTUIR lands. He has accomplished all this and more with just three staffers and himself.
“I’m in a unique position where this is not a family farm — I do not have my family looking over my shoulder, making sure I am farming the way it has always been done,” Hudson says. “I’ve been able to run the TFE how I think it should be running and we work to make improvements each season.”
Kevin Hudson
Second Generation Farmer
Pendleton, Oregon
“Kevin has jumped all in to take on the challenges of stepping out of the 100-year-old farming practice norm of eastern Oregon,” says Paula Wallis, Tribal Farm Enterprise’s Secretary.
Over fifteen years ago, TFE moved away from the generational plowing format into no-till farming, which, according to Hudson, has been the best decision.
“No-till has reduced our costs, including tractor hours, labor and fuel,” he says. “By adopting no-till and regenerative farming practices, we’ve basically eliminated our soil loss from wind and rain events.”
Another benefit has been better water use efficiency, allowing them to better utilize the 12-16 inches of rainfall they receive each year. “We may not get a huge amount of rainfall a year, but when we do, you want to take advantage of it and have that rain get into the ground,” he highlights.
Wildlife benefits have also been astounding. “The change in his farming practices and working with Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) programs helped to increase our fish and animal habitat in and around our streams/rivers flowing through and around and below the tribal farming lands,” remarks Wallis. “Our Native salmon and Bull Trout are coming back in some areas within the reservation because the small streams are not drying up and now have clean water with less soil erosion in them.”
Through Hudson’s leadership, TFE has been very active within NRCS programs, with about 4,000 acres of land with Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) contracts, including some within the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP). With NRCS’s help, Hudson has been able to trial cover crops on multiple acres and is looking forward to sharing the lessons he is learning when the project is complete in 2-3 years.
“NRCS has been great to work with, as it’s allowed us to try some things outside of our comfort zone. They have some great programs that have allowed us financial opportunities to mitigate our risk, which has allowed us to learn a lot,” recalls Hudson.
Hudson is proud of all that’s been accomplished and looks forward to many more years of working on the conservation enhancement of the CTUIR TFE’s lands. He hopes to continue to share his story, helping other local tribal landowners and farmers improve their operations and show consumers that what they are doing through sustainable agriculture is improving the food on their table.
“Farmers need to be proud of what we do,” Hudson emphasized. “We need to let people know that we’re taking care of the land, and that land takes care of us all.”
"I’m in a unique position where this is not a family farm — I do not have my family looking over my shoulder, making sure I am farming the way it has always been done. I’ve been able to run the TFE how I think it should be running and we work to make improvements each season.”
Kevin Hudson
Second-Generation Farmer
Pendleton, Oregon
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