The transformation of Flying D Ranch: shifting from livestock farming to commercial bison production

In 1989, CNN founder Ted Turner purchased the Flying D ranch, located in Montana between the Gallatin and Madison rivers, for $21 million. During the period when the enterprise operated as a classic cattle ranch, the livestock count reached 7,000–8,000 head. Intensive grazing led to the depletion of vegetation in upland and riparian areas, as well as the degradation of stream banks.

After changing the farm's profile, Ted Turner dismantled hundreds of miles of interior barbed-wire fencing to allow for the free-range grazing of bison. However, some fencing later had to be restored, as the lack of zoning led to uneven grazing and damage to certain pasture areas. Currently, about 4,500 bison are kept on the 113,613-acre property. According to the Turner Institute of Eco-Agriculture, more than 5,000 acres of former arable land have been restored to pasture.

Research shows differences in the impact of bison and cattle on ecosystems. Observations conducted on the Konza Prairie in Kansas confirm that bison promote native plant species richness to a greater extent than cattle. Furthermore, bison herds demonstrate higher resilience to drought conditions. It was also noted that bison are less likely to enter water bodies, which contributes to faster recovery of riparian vegetation and shrubs compared to pastures used for cattle.

It is important to note that the Flying D operates as a commercial project, not as an untouched wilderness. The animals are privately owned and managed as part of a production system, providing raw materials for the Ted's Montana Grill restaurant chain. At present, the total number of bison across the network of 13 ranches owned by Turner’s entities is approximately 45,000, which is the largest private herd in the world. The ranch is protected by a conservation easement established in 1989, which preserves the integrity of the landscape as an open space.