E. Bruce Godfrey

Long-Run versus Short-Run Planning Horizons and the Rangeland Stocking Rate Decision

Reduced future forage production, diminished range condition, and reduced animal performance have been major factors considered when setting rangeland stocking rates. The relative economic importance of diminished current period animal performance versus intertemporal forage production impacts was investigated using a dynamic optimal control model. The model is applied to yearling stocker production in eastern Colorado. Results indicate that intertemporal grazing impacts to forage production are not that important; reduced weight gain during the current period drives the economic stocking rate decision. Further, ranchers have no economic incentive as profit maximizers to continually overgraze the range.

Rangeland Management Under Uncertainty: A Conceptual Approach

A conceptual approach is commonly needed to provide guidance for empirical analyses concerning the use of renewable resources such as rangelands. The theoretical model constructed in this paper captures the essential aspects of dynamic and stochastic issues associated with the management of rangelands. We use our approach to discuss the connections between this papers model and range policy. In particular, we point out scenarios in which there is limited or no role for policy. This is compared to scenarios when policy has a significant role to play in ensuring the sustainable use of rangelands. Finally, we suggest two ways in which our approach might be extended and used in an empirical application.

On the Choice Between the Stocking Rate and Time in Range Management

A long standing question in range management concerns the relative importance of the stocking rate versus the length oftime during which animals graze a particular rangeland. Weaddress this question by analyzing the problem faced by a privaterancher who wishes to minimize the long run expected net unit cost (LRENC) from range operations by choosing either the stocking rate or the length of time during which his animals graze hisrangeland. We construct a renewal-theoretic model and show that,in general, this ranchers LRENC with an optimally chosen stocking rate is lower than his LRENC with an optimally chosen grazing cycle length. From a management perspective, this means that correct stocking of the range is more important than the length of time during which animals graze the range. In addition, our research shows how to address questions concerning the desirability of temporal versus non-temporal controls in managing naturalresources such as fisheries and hunting grounds. Copyright Kluwer Academic Publishers 2001

Predicting yield response to nitrogen fertilization on Northern Great Plains rangelands.

Using a data base developed from range fertilization research results in the Northern Great Plains, yield-predicting equations for both fertilized and nonfertilized range (fl= 0.83; n = 194 and rJ 0.88; n = 51, respectively) were developed. Independent variables included combinations of monthly precipitation and average site yield for nonfertilized range and additional variables representing N-rate, N-sink effect, and N-rate with precipitation interactions for the fertilized range. Average site yield provided an effective means of accounting for the wide range of inherent productivity among range sites. The results of this research indicated that, in the Northern Great Plains, yield response of native range to N fertilization can be reliably predicted using readily obtainable climatic and site data. Approximately 295 million ha in the western United States and the Canadian Provinces is classified in rangeland ecosystems. Approximately one-half of this area is found in the Northern Great Plains and is represented by plant communities where nitrogen(N) fertilization has been used to produce additional forage. Despite a demonstrated potential to significantly increase forage production, range fertilization is not a widely accepted practice. The primary reason for low acceptance is that climatic variability plus fluctuating fertilizer costs and livestock prices make range improvements, such as fertilization, a high risk alternative use of capital. Range forage response to N fertilization varies widely and is primarily a function of precipitation or available soil water and the rateat which nitrogen (N-rate) is applied (Fig. 1). Increased yield of

The Stocking Rate Versus Time in Range Management: A Review of Recent Theoretical Developments

A long-standing question in range management concerns the relative importance of the stocking rate versus the length of time during which animals graze a particular rangeland. Recently, Batabyal and co-workers provided a theoretical answer to this question. Given the importance of this question for practical range management, this paper has two objectives. First, it provides a non-technical discussion of the methodology employed and the analysis conducted by Batabyal and co-workers. Second, it points out and discusses the significance of two range management questions that are suggested by the previous analysis.

Forage Utilization Cost Differentials in a Ranch Operation: A Case Study

The total cost (fee and non-fee) of grazing BLM, FS, and private deeded rangeland was estimated by partial budgeting procedures from records kept by the Saval Ranch, a northeastern Nevada cow-calf operation. Private rangeland was estimated to be the most expensive forage source at 824.99 per AUM. The total cost of grazing BLM land was estimated to be 88.07 per AUM and FS was estimated to cost 89.08 per AUM. The use of America’s federally administered rangelands has been associated with controversy for more then a century. One of the issues that has a long history involves the fees charged operators whose livestock are permitted to graze these lands. Numerous authors have discussed this issue (e.g., Nielsen and Workman 1971, Bergland and Andrus 1977, Roberts 1963, Roberts 1967, Nielsen 1982, Foss 1959, Dutton 1953, Gardner 1962, Kearl 1966, Kelso 1947) but much confusion concerning this issue continues today as evidenced by tne studies currently being conducted by the Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management as required by the Public Rangeland Improvement Act (PRIA) of 1978. In fact, few issues associated with the use of federally administered lands has received as much attention in the literature. At the heart of this controversy is the general misunderstanding concerning grazing fees and the total costs of grazing public as well a privately owned lands.

A Dynamic and Stochastic Perspective on the Role of Time in Range Management

This chapter uses a new ecological-economic approach to analyze the role of time in range management in a dynamic and stochastic setting. We first construct a theoretical model of a parcel of rangeland in which time restrictions are used to manage the land. We then show how the dynamic and the stochastic properties of this rangeland can be used to construct two managerial objectives that are ecologically and economically meaningful. Finally, using these two objectives, we discuss an approach to range management in which the manager has two interrelated goals. This manager maximizes the profits from range operations and (s)he also takes steps to move the rangeland away from the least desirable state of existence.