Sustainable Integrated Range Livestock - Crop Production Systems

A. Develop and disseminate education programs that develops a cadre of individuals competent to teach sustainable integrated range livestock and crop production systems.

• Crop aftermath grazing by sheep (use of crop residues) -- Cooperator and subcontractor Tom Filbin studied the use of alfalfa aftermath grazing for sheep. Alfalfa aftermath grazing is not common among ranchers in the West, but the aftermath is available. If relatively profitable and practical, aftermath grazing would lower the pressure on public grazing lands. Nine thousand feeder lambs were grazed on a large farm in Nevada during the fall to test the viability of aftermath grazing. Feeder lamb gain costs on the alfalfa aftermath were less than $.35 a pound, and produced a more desirable lean-to-fat ratio than high-energy feedlot rations at $.60 per pound of gain or higher. Furthermore, the alfalfa farmer received up to $10-$15 per acre from late fall grazing of alfalfa. Up to 50% of the grazed nutrients are returned to the land as manure. The experiment showed that fall aftermath grazing of alfalfa for sheep in the West is viable. A producer-oriented publication is available describing the project.

• Management Intensive Grazing Workshop (Intensive Grazing in Idaho) -- A workshop was sponsored to make available technology in grazing systems and pasture management throughout Idaho and the West that centered around existing projects concerning grazing. This project trained people who work directly with producers, as well as producers in a variety of topics. Irrigated pasture grazing in the West has tremendous potential with more intensive pasture management. This would also help manage public lands by making producers less dependent on them. The general subject matter in the workshop was high intensity grazing, shorter duration grazing and planning for plant regrowth. The specific topics included resource evaluation and development forages appropriate for management intensive grazing, meeting nutritional needs of livestock from pastures, and matching forage to livestock resources, as well as many other associated topics.

• Economics of Integrated Livestock and Farming Operations ("Back in the Black", California) --This is a course offered to ranchers and educators to learn how to assess the economic health of their business and determine profitable management decisions. Ranches that are profitable are far more likely to be aware of and employ techniques that allow environmental sustainability. Enterprise analysis and effects of strategic decisions made with the curriculum on ranch sustainability integrates cow-calf management with the economic conditions of the operation. Ranchers and educators are guided through the procedures in workshops so that they may continue to do the analysis in the future. Techniques and concepts are taught to Extension Educators so that they may use it in the field, as well as assist ranchers. The program is available through Jim Oltjen, Animal Management Systems Specialist, at University of California, Davis. A copy of the SARE grant report is available to those wishing to know more about the program.

• Computer programs ("CowCost") -- An interactive Windows95-based program has been developed to help individual ranchers implement different management options. The program allows for "what if" scenarios to be played out so that management decisions can be made with some anticipation of results. A three-tiered marketing program at Gund ranch generated some basic data for the computer model. This initial program is leading to the development of several sub-program modules to further enhance its capabilities. The program has been fully tested and is available free for download via the Internet at http://www.ag.unr.edu/vetmed/ Extension/Ext_Pubs.htm.

• Risk Management (Using the cattle futures market to provide a more stable income) -- Risk management (the use of futures contract as well as options) of retained ownership cattle helps reduce pressure on rangelands by a structured planning for feeding of animals and stabilizing ranch income. Risk management is important to ensure participation in retained ownership, which is more risky to the rancher. Futures contracts will soon be offered on weaned calves and the use of futures for risk management will be extended. This kind of planning allows for reduced rangeland impact by preplanning sale dates. Ron Torell attended several risk management schools conducted by Cattle Fax and then presented that knowledge at several Cattlemen's Colleges. The program has been further expanded to teach Extension Educators about the use of futures. Currently, risk management schools are being offered to ranchers and Extension Educators as hands-on experience. Everyone in the school is required to provide or purchase at least one steer to develop a "syndicate herd." These cattle are placed in a retained ownership program, and everyone in the syndicate by group consensus decides the strategy on the use of the futures markets to hedge the cattle. Nearly 50 ranchers have so far participated in the program, and it is continually offered as requests are made.

• Sustainable Agriculture and Natural Resources Faculty Development Assembly (a symposium for Nevada Extension Educators) -- The grant sponsored two major planning meetings for Nevada Extension Educators on projects for the state emphasizing the sustainable use of rangelands and other agricultural aspects. The meetings provided up-to-date information on sustainable agricultural issues important to Nevada.

• Western Integrated Resource Management ("Critical Control Points for Profitable Beef Production") -- The grant sponsored two educational and planning meetings jointly with the National Cattlemen's Beef Association (NCBA) on critical control points for profitability. This is a new national initiative for cattleman, designed to enhance the viability of ranches. This will ultimately lead to sustainability in that no operation can contribute to sustainable agriculture without being profitable. The initiative has been continued by the NCBA and is leading toward new educational programs by the NCBA for cattle producers in the West. A copy of the report form the meetings entitled "Western Integrated Resource Management: Critical Control Points and Planning for Profitable Beef Production" is available.

• Cooperative Field Staff of California, Oregon, Idaho, and Nevada Training in Marketing Alternatives for Livestock (COIN group)-- Different marketing techniques allow for more management flexibility, and consequently, better planning and use of the forage base. This helps in sustainability. A two-day short course for extension personnel from four states was supported by this SARE grant to train extension personnel in cattle marketing programs so that the information could be passed on to livestock producers.

• Integrating Forages to Reduce Costs and Improve Sustainability for Western Livestock Producers (Kochia and alfalfa studies) -- Livestock ranches are a very important part of Western agriculture. Feed costs are often the largest part of the expenses in these operations. Many of the Western ranches depend on public lands for grazing, which are under increased scrutiny, particularly as related to grazing. Alternative grazing techniques would allow ranchers more flexibility in public grazing lands for sustainability, as well as an opportunity to decrease feed costs. Experiments are currently under way to study the use of forage kochia and Russian wild rye to determine die costs and effectiveness of planting these for winter grazing. Also being studied is the use of reduced bloat alfalfa to increase winter grazing potential. If successful, both of these trials will help provide alternative grazing schemes and increase management potential for public grazing lands.

• Warm Season Grass Trials in Northern Nevada (bermudagrass and Old World bluestem trials) -- In another approach to providing alternative grazing opportunities for Western livestock producers, this trial's objective is to find plants producing forage in the late summer. This is when the cool season grasses in the northern tier of the Western states drop off in their grazing value. These warm season grasses are normally more productive at the time the cool season grasses decrease. To determine the survivability and productiveness of some of these grasses in northern Nevada, plots will be established at several locations across the state and studied for productivity, time of productivity, and survivability.

• Creating Fire Breaks with Sheep Grazing -- This project co-sponsored a research project on the feasibility of using sheep grazing to create fuel breaks as a wildfire protection strategy at the wildland/urban interface. The project was conducted on Carson Hill in Carson City, NV, and received a tremendous amount of publicity for SARE and the University nationwide. A summary of the results of this project is attached. Videotape is in preparation and will be distributed to interested SARE participants upon completion.

• Irrigated Pasture Manual -- A major contribution of this is the "Nevada Irrigated Pasture and Hay meadow Manual." Development of this manual was a major goal of this project. The manual is in press, and will be distributed to all Western SARE regional and state offices plus all NV extension and NRCS offices when received from the printer in January of 2000.

B. Education programs on range livestock and crop production optimizing water quality and
C. Education programs that identify livestock production systems compatible with wetlands and water bird management.

• Managing Wetland Communities for Livestock and Water Fowl -- In Utah a project to educate professionals to help landowners develop grazing strategies to enhance livestock production, water quality, and waterfowl while maintaining native wetlands. This study showed that grazing wetland areas in alternate years significantly improved water bird habitat and bird use of the wetland areas.

• Jay Dow Wetlands -- Preliminary results indicate that some shore bird species prefer to nest in pastures grazed by cow calf pairs since mother cows will not allow predators such as coyotes in the pasture. Studies at Jay Dow Wetlands indicate that nest damage is negligible by grazing cows, and that there was no difference in nest density between moderately grazed and ungrazed pasture. Two field days were conducted, with over 50 people in attendance.

• Irrigated Pasture at Rafter 7 Ranch -- Studies at Rafter 7 Ranch indicate that irrigated pasture can be produced at optimum levels with approximately 60 percent of the water required for alfalfa production (36-40 inches per acre for pasture versus 60 inches per acre for alfalfa with flood irrigation). Improved pasture variety trials and alternative irrigated practice trials are in progress. Over 150 extension and NRCS professionals, and farmers and ranchers have visited the Rafter 7 Ranch in the last 3 years.