Pilot Creek Ranch recently grazed Kongsgaard Wine’s Atlas peak and Stonecrest vineyard locations. Vineyard grazing demands meticulous timing and attention to weather. Our careful grazing management allows us to naturally remove vegetation from vineyards well before weather allows for heavier machinery to enter due to moisture and the risk of compaction. Using sheep to remove vegetation before bud break allowed Kongsgaard Wine to transition to their Fischer Twister implement, eliminating the need for their usual hand clearing of the berm. Grazing cover crops offers advantages for managing vegetation, including reduced need for mowing and herbicide use. Research suggests that incorporating livestock enhances soil health benefits. For instance, in orchards with cover crops, soil organic carbon levels were 54% greater than in bare soil, and this increased to 144% when animals were integrated.