Without consideration of prior cultivation history, we may misinterpret the results of a study or the success of management practices in rangelands. Cultivation involves plowing the soil, seeding, and harvesting a crop annually. The long-lasting impacts, known as “land-use legacies,” from these disturbances on soils and native plant communities have been observed in ecosystems worldwide for decades, centuries, and even millennia after cultivation ceases. In sagebrush ecosystems, cultivation can be one of the most drastic disturbances, with recovery taking well over 90 years in some places. These legacies include altered vegetation, soils, and hydrology. The reestablishment of native species in formerly cultivated areas is typically slowed, if not halted, due to loss of native seedbanks, limited dispersal, and loss of establishment niches. In contrast, exotic and invasive species are often quick to establish and dominate formerly cultivated land. Cultivation can also modify soil structure, texture, and nutrient content. Plowing breaks up soil structure, making it more susceptible to erosion and loss of soil organic matter and nutrients. Plowing also can lead to soil compaction, which affects primary hydrological processes like soil water-holding capacity, run off, and infiltration. These legacies are important because they represent fundamental changes in the structure and function of ecosystems. Unfortunately, the influence of this historical land use is often overlooked in ecological studies, research design, and management implementation. 

Livestock poisoning by toxic plants is a relatively common problem in pastures and rangelands and it is estimated to annually cost the livestock industry more than $200 million. However, these estimates are for grazing animals and the total cost is probably much greater because many animals are poisoned by contaminated feeds. Many poisonous plants are accessible to grazing livestock, but they are generally avoided and are not eaten, or they are eaten at doses that they do not produce detectable disease. In such cases toxic plants may not be more than a problem of displacing desirable nutritious plants. However, this is not always the case, especially when toxic plants contaminate prepared feeds. Poisonous plants incorporated in preserved forages, such as hay and silage, are much more likely to be eaten. This may occur because of increased competition from herd mates or by increased feeding pressure as prepared feeds are most often used in winter when alternative food sources are exhausted. Alternatively, the plants may become more palatable as they are diluted with palatable feed or the previously distasteful plant components are altered during forage preparation or storage. In addition, normally safe forages, under certain conditions, can produce and accumulate toxins. Identifying these toxic contaminates and understanding when forages may be toxic is critical in reducing poisoning and ensuring quality animal products. Our objectives of this review are to present basic principles of identifying contaminated feeds and sampling forages, introduce several common forages that under certain conditions can be toxic, present a brief description of plants that we have found contaminating feed in the western United States, and review how to treat or avoid such poisonings. 

Ecological site descriptions (ESDs) have unmatched potential as rangeland classification tools with practical management applications. Yet despite their great potential, the majority of ESDs currently lack sufficient detail to satisfy the needs of land managers, researchers, and other ESD users. Fortunately, however, a notable increase in the tools, resources, and support needed for ESD development promises to improve the concepts, delivery, and application of this important management resource. 

Prior to the 1990s, awareness and concern regarding the negative economic and ecological impacts of invasive weeds on rangelands in the southwestern United States (the Southwest) was notably lacking. While invasive weed education and management activities were proactively being carried out in many parts of the United States during that time, only a few land management agencies in the Southwest were actively managing invasive weed populations and conducting public awareness campaigns. The need to heighten public awareness regarding invasive weeds in the Southwest was thought to be critical because the weed-infested areas in this region were considered to be relatively small and manageable compared to other regions of the United States. 

The majority of native prairie has been lost throughout North America and much of the remaining prairie is used for livestock grazing. Sustainable grazing practices may contribute to the conservation of grassland species. We compared bird abundances on pastures grazed twice-over rotationally, pastures grazed season-long, and ungrazed fields. Season-long pastures supported a higher diversity and more species of grassland birds than twice-over pastures. Season-long grazing may actually benefit grassland birds by producing a stable but varied habitat that may support a larger diversity of species. We found little evidence that twice-over grazing contributed to the conservation of grassland songbirds in northern mixed-grass prairies.