Precision Techniques for Improved Drought Resilience

This project represents a unique opportunity to demonstrate the effects of drought resilience on grazing lands managed using innovative grazing strategies compared with traditional management in the central and northern Great Plains. In this region, loss of species diversity through grazing mismanagement has resulted in less productive plant communities and a loss in grazing land resilience to drought. Progressive ranchers, prepared for drought, have adopted grazing practices that have increased plant diversity (cool- and warm-season forage species) and yield while maintaining herd numbers. These factors have protected them from huge economic losses due to rising supplemental feed costs during drought and restocking costs after drought. The objectives of this project are to (1) establish four grazing management demonstrations on South Dakota and Nebraska ranches where producers can observe and demonstrate the impacts of innovative grazing management practices on their land’s ability to recover from the drought of 2012 and imposed spring or summer drought through use of rainout shelters; (2) demonstrate the impacts of innovative grazing management practices on ranch economics and decision-making capacity; (3) improve grazing managers’ understanding of innovative grazing practices; (4) identify adoption barriers, particularly related to managers’ ability and knowledge, and operational constraints, as well as external barriers; and (5) develop educational tools that will help ranchers implement improved practices.