Now showing items 41-60 of 3026

    • Potential to improve winter grazing pastures: Sieben Land and Livestock study

      Hibbard, C.; Hibbard, C.; Larsen, R.; Feuz, R.; Rigby, C.W.; Jensen, K.B.; Larsen, R. (Society for Range Management, 2021-06)
      Maintaining economic sustainability requires reduced inputs such as mechanically harvested forage. It is estimated that grazing versus feeding cattle during the winter can save 42% to 70% of the yearly input costs in the western United States and Saskatchewan, Canada. Grass mixtures of intermediate wheatgrass and meadow bromegrass produced 2 and 3 times the stockpiled forage than orchardgrass and native range, respectively. Economic pay-back period on the initial pasture establishment costs were < 1 year for intermediate wheatgrass, meadow bromegrass/intermediate wheatgrass, and meadow bromegrass/tall fescue mixtures.
    • Participant motivations for the Wyoming Prescribed Fire Council (PFC): Emergence from a regional void

      Wilbur, R.; Derek, Scasta, J. (Society for Range Management, 2021-06)
      Prescribed Fire Councils (PFCs) are different than Prescribed Burn Associations. A regional void of PFCs exists in the northern Rockies and northern Great Plains. • We interviewed 14 founding members of the Wyoming PFC to understand their motivations. Three themes were identified: 1) collaboration, 2) constraints, and 3) public perceptions. There is a need for cross-boundary engagement and strategies for dealing with narrow burn windows.
    • The source of terrain slope data is an important consideration for natural resource management: A comparison of field measured and DEM calculated slope values

      Neto, N.G.; Carr, C.A. (Society for Range Management, 2021-06)
      Slope is a critical factor in understanding many ecological patterns. Although a field-based clinometer remains a useful slope evaluation tool, the ease of access and ability to accommodate variable spatial scales associated with digital elevation models (DEMs) makes them a commonly used data source for slope evaluation. However, DEM and field-based clinometer measures of slope do not characterize topography equally. Natural resource managers must consider the compatibility of their data before incorporating slope values from different sources for ecological analyses. Ground truthing of remotely sensed data (i.e., DEMs) is important to ensure the data adequately represent the desired field conditions.
    • Plant competition as an ecosystem-based management tool for suppressing Parthenium hysterophorus in rangelands

      Ojija, F.; Arnold, S.E.J.; Treydte, A.C. (Society for Range Management, 2021-04)
      The exotic invasive plant Parthenium hysterophorus is invading rangelands in Africa while causing negative effects on the biodiversity, environment, economy, and human and animal health because eco-friendly control methods are lacking. We conducted experiments to investigate the suppressive effects of forage legume plant species; Desmodium intortum (Fabaceae), Lablab purpureus (Fabaceae), and Medicago sativa (Fabaceae) in suppressing the growth of Parthenium hysterophorus. Parthenium hysterophorus growth was suppressed when grown with fodder plant species at high density. However, the effect was mediated by the presence of Lablab purpureus. Our work highlights the importance of competitive native plant diversity and density in rangeland management. Moreover, this control method could be part of an integrated control toolkit being deployed in a community-based approach in other countries.
    • Remote monitoring of stock water reservoirs

      Walker, J. (Society for Range Management, 2021-04)
      Water is the most important nutrient for livestock and ensuring a continuous supply can be costly and time consuming. Failed water delivery systems have resulted in livestock deaths. Game cameras, pressure transducers, and automatic meter reading systems that connect either by cellular networks or satellite can be used to remotely monitor water. Although costs vary among systems, the user's comfort level with using technology and the characteristics of each remote water monitoring system are more important considerations. The peace of mind of knowing that livestock have water is equally important to economic and labor savings provided by these systems.
    • Visions for large landscape drought resilience in rangelands

      Fanok, L.; Beltrán, B.; Burnham, M.; Wardropper, C.B. (Society for Range Management, 2021-04)
      Droughts have varied impacts on social and ecological rangeland systems in the Northern Rockies region of the United States. We used a participatory methodology, grounded in local conditions and including multiple stakeholder groups, to create visions for increased drought resilience. Visions for increased drought resilience were focused on three themes: sustaining ranching livelihoods, supporting functioning ecosystems, and building social connections. Participatory research suggests drought interventions must consider the local context of resources and vulnerabilities in order to enact sustainable and acceptable future change.
    • Kangaroo rats: Ecosystem engineers on western rangelands

      Longland, W.S.; Dimitri, L.A. (Society for Range Management, 2021-04)
      Kangaroo rats occur exclusively in arid environments of western North America, where they often function as ecosystem engineers and keystone species. These rodents can exist on a diet of seeds without drinking free water. Kangaroo rats evade attacks from their primary predators, owls and snakes, using split-second gymnastic-like maneuvers. Kangaroo rat activities, such as digging, altering soil seed banks, and storing seeds in surface caches, account for their keystone species status. Although some kangaroo rat species are common over large geographic areas, others have limited ranges, and some are endangered. Climate change will only make their future conservation more challenging.
    • Future climate variability will challenge rangeland beef cattle production in the Great Plains

      Briske, D.D.; Ritten, J.P.; Campbell, A.R.; Klemm, T.; King, A.E.H. (Society for Range Management, 2021-02)
      Climate projections indicate the Great Plains will experience higher mean temperatures and greater interannual precipitation variability in the future. Greater precipitation variability will challenge the economic viability of rangeland beef cattle production by further disrupting forage supply and animal demand. Beef producers are uncertain of future climate impacts, indicating assistance with adaptive strategies is needed. Private-state-national partnerships may help sustain rangelands and economically viable beef cattle production with increasing climate variability.
    • Big landscapes meet big data: Informing grazing management in a variable and changing world

      Hudson, T.D.; Reeves, M.C.; Hall, S.A.; Yorgey, G.G.; Neibergs, J.S. (Society for Range Management, 2021-02)
      Rangeland-based livestock raising is the only agricultural production system that maintains native plant communities, providing ecosystem services in the same space as food and fiber production. Annual aboveground net primary productivity (ANPP) underlies forage production and multiple ecosystem services. ANPP is highly variable in rangelands in the western United States, across the landscape, from year to year, and within a growing season. Variability is also increasing as the climate changes. Grazing management decisions that determine when, where, and how much of ANPP is consumed by livestock, including stocking rate decisions, can ultimately determine rangeland health and the future sustainability of livestock production and provision of ecosystem services. Yet managers' access to data on available forage and its variability is limited, and existing field methods to quantify forage production accurately require extensive sampling and are prone to errors or bias. A variety of remotely sensed data sources exist to help characterize forage availability and how it has varied spatially and temporally over the last 30 or more years, as well as other datasets that can estimate available forage and inaccessible terrain for livestock. We discuss the need for a state-of-the-art decision support tool that integrates available remote-sensing data on forage availability with land managers’ knowledge of local needs and information for managers to access to the depth and breadth of information they need to sustainably manage grazing under variable and changing conditions. Such a decision support tool could help land managers better manage rangeland ecosystems with flexible stocking rates and adaptive grazing management opportunities that adjust to variations in ANPP, leading to increased regional and site-specific rangeland resilience.
    • Analysis of composition and density of soil seed banks of Prosopis juliflora in Afar region rangelands, Northeast Ethiopia

      Shiferaw, W.; Demissew, S.; Bekele, T.; Aynekulu, E.; Pitroff, W. (Society for Range Management, 2021-02)
      We analyzed the composition and spatial variations of soil seed banks of plant species and densities of soil seed banks in Prosopis juliflora invaded and noninvaded grasslands. Soil samples were collected from soil layers of 0 to 3, 3 to 6, and 6 to 9 cm. The highest density of 1,037 ± 633 seedlings/m2 was recovered from a soil depth of 3 to 6 cm. But, the lowest density of 461 ± 315 seedlings/m2 was recovered from the depth of 0 to 3 cm. In noninvaded grasslands, the lowest density of 94 ± 32 seedlings/m2 was germinated in the soil depth of 0 to 3 cm. In Prosopis juliflora grasslands at the 3 to 6 cm, the density was 519 ± 257 seedlings/m2, but 1,484 ± 1,144 seedlings/m2 was in the noninvaded grasslands at the depth of 3 to 6 cm. Our findings have implications for recovery of rangelands after disturbances.
    • Insights from recent fires into juniper savanna dynamics at Wupatki National Monument, Arizona, USA

      Romme, W.H.; Paul, Whitefield, M.; Parker, C. (Society for Range Management, 2021-02)
      We tested the hypothesis that recurrent fires may limit juniper expansion into southwestern semiarid grasslands and savannas. Seven large fires at Wupatki National Monument, Arizona, burned 38% of the grasslands and dynamic savannas between 1995 and 2017. Mortality of one-seed junipers (Juniperus monosperma) was >50% among smaller trees (<2 m tall), <40% among larger trees (>2 m tall), and 0% in trees >4 m tall. Herbaceous vegetation recovered within 2 to 3 years postfire. This suggests that fires may have limited juniper expansion historically and that fire may be an option for controlling juniper expansion and restoring grassland/savanna ecosystems today.
    • Herbicide treatment of Western honey mesquite

      Eddy, J.D.; Stockbridge, D.; Hart, C.R.; Cross, J.G.; Luna, R.S. (Society for Range Management, 2020-12)
      Once mesquite encroachment is initiated it is difficult to reverse and continually degrades grasslands, hindering grass production that benefits both livestock and wildlife. We evaluated the effectiveness of Sendero herbicide in the treatment of western honey mesquite. We compared two treatment types (Sendero and Sendero plus Remedy Ultra) and two application methods (individual plant treatment and aerial broadcast). Percent cover of grasses and some forbs increased throughout our study sites post treatment. All treatment types were successful at decreasing the percent canopy cover of western honey mesquite, and we found no difference between treatment types. © 2020 The Society for Range Management
    • Snapshot of rancher perspectives on creative cattle management options

      Elias, E.; Aney, S.; Duff, G.; Gifford, C.; Spiegal, S.; Cibils, A.; Steiner, J.; Estell, R. (Society for Range Management, 2020-12)
      We assessed rancher perceptions of three creative management strategies (heritage genetics, precision ranching, and alternate supply chain options) at the 2020 Southwest Beef Symposium. Nearly all cattle producers (n = 36), mostly from Texas and New Mexico, currently monitor rainfall and more than half are interested in additional rainfall information. Some producers would consider using animal tracking sensors (31%), rainfall sensors (42%), and water level sensors (50%). Most producers surveyed raise British breeds (72%), but some (11%) are interested in learning about Spanish Heritage breeds. Nearly all (33 of 36) respondents self-identified as ranchers, with nearly half (16 of 33) knowing where their cattle are finished at least some of the time. Eight of 36 survey respondents indicated grass-finishing and other supply chain options as the topic most immediately applicable to their operation. Please see the project website (https://southwestbeef.org/) for newsletters, on-ranch demonstrations, and research updates. © 2020 The Society for Range Management
    • Mismatches in prescribed fire awareness and implementation in Oklahoma, USA

      Polo, J.A.; Tanner, E.P.; Scholtz, R.; Fuhlendorf, S.D.; Ripberger, J.T.; Silva, C.L.; Jenkins-Smith, H.C.; Carlson, N. (Society for Range Management, 2020-12)
      We surveyed residents across Oklahoma about their awareness of prescribed fire. Most respondents expressed support for prescribed fire for managing rangelands. Although there was support for prescribed fire, few individuals implemented it. Of the several reasons given for not burning, the most common were lack of training, lack of equipment, and choosing not to burn. © 2020 The Society for Range Management
    • Browsing the Literature

      Germino, M. (Society for Range Management, 2020-12)
    • Editor’s Choice from Rangeland Ecology and Management

      Sheley, R. (Society for Range Management, 2020-12)
    • Rangeland Ecology & Management Highlights, Volume 73, Issue 6

      Aycrigg, J.L.; Karl, J.W. (Society for Range Management, 2020-12)
    • Holistic perspectives—Understanding rancher experiences with holistic resource management to bridge the gap between rancher and researcher perspectives

      Barton, E.; Bennett, D.E.; Burnidge, W. (Society for Range Management, 2020-10)
      Holistic Resource Management (HRM) is a ranch management strategy plagued by controversy; experimental evidence from ecological studies has consistently failed to support that HRM provides ecological benefits, yet many ranchers staunchly support the method. Using a qualitative approach, we found that the HRM processes used on four case study ranches in eastern Colorado provided a systematic framework for key ranch stakeholders to improve long-term, adaptive approaches to managing ranches as complex socioecological systems. Notably, the ranchers emphasized the planning benefits of HRM over the grazing benefits, suggesting the value of the system is not in how the cattle are grazed but in how it changes the way ranchers make decisions about how to graze their cattle and manage the many other complexities of operating a ranch. Approaching HRM as a planning framework versus as a grazing strategy may be a key factor in the difference in claims between ranchers practicing HRM and researchers studying grazing systems. © 2020