Prior to the settlement and agricultural development of America's grasslands, bison, deer and elk roamed expansive plains grazing on lush prairie grasses and forbs. Their droppings provided fertilizer for the soil, and the routine cropping stimulated the regeneration of many plants, while restraining the overgrowth of more aggressive species.

For obvious reasons, it's simply not possible to allow roaming herds of buffalo to graze prairies, in modern times. Some experimentation has been done, using cattle to attempt to achieve the kind of benefits provided by grazing buffalo. Those experiments have met with mixed results, since there are distinct differences between cattle and buffalo, their choice of plants to feed on, and even the mineral and chemical content of their droppings.

Most prairie restoration efforts utilize mechanical means to simulate the effects of grazing. A tractor and mower are essential tools in attempting to achieve the benefits that once were provided by grazing animals. At South Fork Prairie, a John Deer tractor and a King Kutter mower are our mechanical buffalo. Selective mowing of the prairie, keeps invasive and fast growing plants in check, thus allowing prairie flora to thrive without being choked out.

Mowing is also used to create a fireline around the perimeter of the prairie, in preparation for burning. The fireline is mowed continuously throughout summer, creating a green barrier which prevents the annual fall burn from spreading beyond the borders of the prairie.