Drop-Tine Podcast -The official deer management, food plot & habitat podcast · Jason R. Snavely

Brown's Ranch & Private Property Rights

March 10, 2023·58 min·5 clips

A proposed CO2 pipeline is targeting Brown's Ranch, raising alarms about private property rights and corporate overreach.

Jason Snavely, a wildlife biologist and host, explores the deep personal and ecological value of private land ownership. He introduces Paul Brown, son of renowned rancher Gabe Brown, to discuss regenerative agriculture and a threat to property rights. The episode connects personal land stewardship stories to broader issues of food production and government overreach. Snavely shares his own story of losing hunting access to family land, which fueled his desire to own property. He cites statistics showing 85% of U.S. hunters use private land, arguing private management is superior due to vested owner interest. The conversation shifts to Brown's Ranch in North Dakota, a model of holistic management practicing no-till farming since 1993 and avoiding synthetic inputs. Paul Brown describes their system, including bale grazing in winter and daily livestock moves in summer to mimic historical bison patterns. Snavely praises the ranch's "Nourished by Nature" steaks, which his family found exceptionally flavorful. Paul Brown defines regenerative agriculture as focusing on soil health, using livestock to manage cover crops and naturally suppress weeds, minimizing tillage and herbicide use. The core conflict involves Summit Carbon Solutions, which proposes a CO2 pipeline across the Midwest, with earlier routes crossing or skirting Brown's Ranch. The pipeline would transport carbon dioxide from ethanol plants for underground sequestration, funded by taxpayer-backed 45Q tax credits. Paul Brown estimates the project could generate about $1.5 billion annually in revenue for the company. He notes the pipeline's proposed path nears Bismarck's population, unlike routes that avoided other cities. Snavely criticizes the irony of a "green" pipeline being promoted by a company whose imagery showcases monoculture corn, not diverse ecosystems. Paul Brown references a 2020 CO2 pipeline rupture in Mississippi that hospitalized 41 people, highlighting safety concerns. He details how North Dakota law allows such pipelines to be deemed a "common carrier," enabling eminent domain for private gain. Despite most testifying landowners opposing related bills, Paul Brown observed state legislators siding with business interests. A memorable moment involves Paul Brown finding surveyors from the company on his property without permission, parked in his driveway. The tone is passionate and conversational, blending personal anecdote with educational content and political advocacy. Listeners interested in regenerative farming, land stewardship, and property rights advocacy will find this episode compelling. Those seeking a purely technical deer management discussion might find the political and nutritional tangents less relevant.

As heard by us

A plainspoken land stewardship conversation about habitat, ownership, and the pressure that can pull landowners off course.

The discussion follows Jason Snavely as he lays out his background as a certified wildlife biologist, private wildlife consultant, and founder of Drop Time Wildlife Consulting, Drop Time Seed Company, and Drop Time Podcast.

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Why you'd press play

If you care about land, habitat, and private property fights, this one speaks directly.

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