They keep pasture in reserve for animals involved in research programs and for forage research. During the 90-day breeding season, May to August, cattle are put on a series of smaller pastures ranging from 1,200 to 2,000 acres. Those pastures will hold 25 to 30 animals for 90 days. Ranch soils range from sandy loam to clay overlying caliche hardpan. Annual rainfall is 8.3 inches.
Spring is the driest, windiest time of year in the desert.
It's common to have no rain for an entire month during that time. Rains normally start in July. Winters vary from very wet to very dry. It's warm enough during the winter months for forages to grow and produce feed if there are fall rains. A unique quality in this country is the variety of plants.