ABSTRACT

Spanning 12 million hectares, Wyoming rangelands produce food and provide other vital ecosystem services. However, the decision-making process of the ranchers who steward these lands is complex and poorly understood. In cooperation with the Wyoming Stock Growers Association (WSGA)—a predominant agricultural organization in the state—we asked WSGA producer members about their goals, ranching operation characteristics, and management practices via a mail survey. A total of 307 ranchers (50%) responded to the survey. Livestock production and forage production were the top management goals, with ecosystem characteristics that support these goals (e.g., soil health, water quality) tied for second. Survey respondents’ ranches had a median size of 4220 hectares, but ranged up to 185,000 hectares; 71% of operations included public land and 60% included private leased land. The majority of reporting operations grazed cow-calf pairs (91%), with a median of 260 pairs per ranch. Most survey respondents managed grazing by moving 1 - 5 herds of livestock (84%) among two or more pastures (92%) after three months of grazing or less (87%). Most operations (74%) included other resource use activities, with extractive recreation (e.g., hunting; 55%), conventional energy development (23%), and other agricultural production (20%) most common. Survey respondents primarily got information about grazing management from other ranchers (97%), although they preferred to receive information through print publications (69%). Wyoming ranching operations are diverse, which may represent a challenge for policy makers designing programs and incentives to increase production of food and ecosystem services. However, efforts that focus on livestock and forage production and supporting ecosystem functions are likely to find synergies with ongoing management goals and strategies. A multi-pronged outreach and education approach using several different media sources may be most effective as new policies and management practices become available.

1. Introduction

Rangelands have traditionally been managed to produce food and fiber from grazing animals. However, society expects additional ecosystem services from rangelands whose economic values are more difficult to measure, including clean water, wildlife habitat, and recreational opportunities [1,2]. Producing multiple benefits from rangeland ecosystems, and potentially increasing those benefits over time due to increasing demand, is a key challenge facing rangeland managers and policy makers [3-5].

The state of Wyoming has 12 million hectares of rangelands spanning two of the most extensive rangeland vegetation types in the US, sagebrush steppe and mixedgrass prairie. Wyoming beef cattle are an important source of food, worth over 600 million US dollars in 2012 [6]. Wyoming rangelands also produce a variety of additional ecosystem services, including wildlife habitat and recreational opportunities. Making up 50% of Wyoming’s lands, privately owned ranches are particularly important for providing these services. Private ranches maintain native ecosystems and open space [7] and over 90% of endangered species have habitat on private lands [8]. In fact, a Colorado study found that private ranches supported a greater diversity of native plants and birds than nature reserves within the same region [9]. Howeverthe process by which private ranches produce these goods and services is complex. In 2007, about 3900 different ranching operations with over one million cattle grazed rangelands to achieve their goals in Wyoming alone [10].

Increasing demand for food and ecosystem services suggests that Wyoming rangelands may be expected to increase provision of multiple benefits in the future [2, 11]. Land management represents one avenue for increasing livestock production and ecosystem service provision. For example, ranchers and other land managers can use grazing and fire as tools to enhance wildlife habitat [12-14]. Policy is another key method of increasing the production of multiple benefits on rangelands. For example, US government programs such as the Conservation Reserve Program provide funding for implementation of management practices thought to provide conservation benefits, and development of new incentive programs is ongoing [15,16]. Education is a final means of increasing livestock production and ecosystem service provision. New information about practices and policies that promote these benefits can lead to management and policy actions [17].

Here, we describe the characteristics, goals, management practices, and information sources of Wyoming ranching operations in order to provide insight into producing livestock and providing ecosystem services on Wyoming rangelands. We conducted a mail survey of producer members of the Wyoming Stock Growers Association, a predominant agricultural organization in the state. This summary of survey results highlights linkages among food production and conservation, people and ecosystems on Wyoming rangelands. Survey findings will inform ranchers, other land managers, and the public about how Wyoming ranches are managing their lands to produce current quantities of livestock and ecosystem services. They will enable policy makers to design future programs and incentives for Wyoming ranchers to enhance rangeland benefits. Finally, they will guide educators and agricultural extension agents in distributing new knowledge of practices and programs.

2. Methods

We conducted the Rangeland Decision-Making Survey in January-March 2012 with the Wyoming Stock Growers Association (WSGA), the largest ranching organization in Wyoming. Mail surveys are a cost-effective way to obtain a large sample size, increasing the generalizability of results. The survey included sections of questions about “goals related to natural resource management,” “operation information,” “grazing practices on private land that is not irrigated,” “grazing management practices,” “personal history,” and “information sources”. As we aimed to learn about Wyoming ranchers, our sample frame was all producer members of the WSGA, who must be “growers of cattle, horses, mules or sheep.” Survey implementation followed the Dillman Tailored Design method [18], including several survey announcements in October 2011-January 2012, a questionnaire mailed in January 2012, a postcard reminder in early February 2012, a replacement questionnaire in late February 2012, and additional legitimacy-building efforts via email and local media. Out of 749 WSGA producer members who received the survey, 81 indicated they were not part of the sample frame (e.g., did not currently own livestock) and were screened out. In all, 307 ranchers partially completed questionnaires and 281 ranchers completed over 80% of the questionnaire for a response rate of 49.6%. Number of responses (N) for each question ranges from 244 - 307 and is noted throughout.

We report different types of summary statistics for different types of survey questions. For open-ended questions (e.g., size of ranch and number of livestock), we report means, medians, and ranges. For multiple choice questions (e.g., other land management activities, information sources), we report the percentage of survey respondents who chose a particular answer. For the question about goals, where survey respondents were asked to rank a set of goals in order of the priorities of their operation, we report the average rank of each goal from 1 (highest priority) to 9 (lowest priority).

3. Results

3.1. Wyoming Ranch Characteristics and Natural Resource Context

Ranching operations spanned multiple ecosystems and land ownership types (Table 1; Figures 1 and 2). A majority of survey respondents grazed prairies/grasslands or sagebrush ecosystems, which are the major rangeland types in Wyoming (Figure 1). A smaller number grazed forests, mountain meadows, or riparian areas. Ranching operations most commonly included land owned by private individuals or groups (90%; N = 303). Over half of operations (71%; N = 303) also included land permitted or leased from the US government or the state of Wyoming, hereafter referred to as “public” land. Private leased land was also common (60%; N = 303). Public land grazing differed from private owned land grazing in several ways: a greater number of public lands contained grazing on sagebrush (66% vs. 54%; N = 272 and 214) and forest lands (27% vs. 11%), and grazing was concentrated in the summer (88%; N = 214), whereas over a third of private owned land was grazed year-round (37%; N = 272).

As is traditional in the western US (e.g. [19]), most ranches managed by survey respondents grazed cow/calf pairs (91%; N = 291), averaging 390 pairs per ranch (Table 1). About half as many ran stockers (129; 44%)
Table 1. General characteristics of Wyoming ranches based on the Wyoming Rangeland Decision-Making Survey (this study) and the National Agricultural Census [10].

^aThe agricultural operation category “beef cattle ranching and farming” is based on the predominant source of income and is part of the North American Industry Classification System; ^bThe number of beef cows that had calved as of December 31, 2007, which is roughly equivalent to cow/calf pairs since most cows in Wyoming calve soon after that date. This excludes heifers that had not calved, calves, steers, and bulls. This also excludes cows that summer in Wyoming but winter elsewhere; ^cOther cattle include heifers that had not calved, calves, steers, and bulls as of December 31, 2007, and exclude dairy cows and beef cows that had calved. While it is likely that a majority of these could be classified as “stockers”, this did not correspond directly to a question on the Wyoming Rangeland Decision-Making Survey.

mostly in addition to cow/calf pairs (41%). About one tenth (12%; N = 291) ran sheep, also generally in addition to pairs (12%). Five percent ran all three livestock types.

Other activities affected land management on almost three quarters of survey respondents’ ranches (74%; N = 291; Figure 3). Extractive recreation such as hunting and fishing was most common, occurring on over half of operations (55%).

A comparison of survey respondents and Wyoming livestock producers represented by the National Agricultural Census [6,10] helps put survey findings in context (Table 1). Survey respondents were located in every Wyoming county, with a minimum of 3 (1%; Uinta) and a maximum of 21 (8%; Albany) from each, similar to the relatively even distribution of agricultural operations throughout Wyoming according to the agricultural survey [6]. Survey respondents had more land and livestock than beef cattle ranching and farming operations in the 2007 Wyoming agricultural census [10]; (Table 1). The many possible reasons for this include differences between the survey methodologies (e.g., land leased on a per-AUM basis is not counted by [10]) and ranchers’ motivations for joining WSGA. Large operations (greater than 100 head) contribute almost 90% of the beef cattle inventory in Wyoming [6], highlighting the importance of WSGA producer members represented by this survey for managing Wyoming rangelands.

3.2. Management Goals

Livestock and forage production were survey respondents’ top two management goals, with average ranks of 1.8 and 2.0 (Figure 4; N = 284) out of nine possible goals listed on the survey. Ecosystem characteristics that can directly support forage and livestock production, including riparian and/or meadow health (rank 4.6), soil health (rank 4.7), invasive plants (rank 4.7), and water quality (rank 5.0), formed a second tier of closely ranked goals. Recreation (rank 6.8), carbon sequestration (rank

7.0), and wildlife (rank 7.3) trailed behind the others. Ranks varied from 1 - 9 for all goals except forage production and livestock production, which ranged from rank 1 - 8, and carbon sequestration, which ranged from 4 - 9.

3.3. Grazing and Natural Resource Management

Most ranches had one to five herds of livestock (1: 29%; 2 - 5: 55%; 6 - 10: 8%; >10: 8%; N = 287), which were rotated to a different pasture after three months of graz-

ing or less (three months or less: 87%; year-long or season-long grazing: 13%; N = 291; Figure 5). Most ranches had multiple pastures, with almost a third having more than 10 pastures (1: 8%; 2 - 5: 38%; 6 - 10: 25%; >10: 30%; N = 288; Figure 5). Pastures were rested at some point during the year (99%; N = 280), but timing was variable, as was season of grazing. Stock density varied, but few ranches grazed at more than 20 hectares per animal unit (6%; N = 285).

In addition to grazing management, survey respondents used a variety of practices to achieve their goals (Table 2; Figure 6). Over two-thirds of survey respondents used each of four broad categories of management practices: herd management (98%), facilities (96%), vegetation management (90%), and landscape enhancements (69%; N = 279). Creating a supplemental feeding plan, matching genetics and calving season to local conditions, developing livestock drinking water, and consulting a veterinarian on a herd health plan were rated as the most key practices for achieving goals (Table 2; Figure 6). The most often-used vegetation management practices were grazing livestock and using herbicides to change plant species composition. The most often-used landscape enhancement was restoring meadows and wetlands.

A majority of survey respondents monitor vegetation (70% on private land, 60% on public or state land; N = 289 and 268), even without participating in programs that require monitoring. A smaller percentage monitor vegetation as part of a program that requires monitoring (13% on private land; 18% on public land). About one-fifth do

Table 2. Management practices used to support natural resource goals on survey respondents’ ranches. Within each category (e.g., FACILITIES), practices are listed in descending order according to the proportion of ranchers who use them.

not monitor vegetation (17% on private land; 22% on public land).

3.4. Information Sources

Other ranchers were the most often-used and highly rated source of information about ranching (Table 3), with Wyoming Weed and Pest and Wyoming Stock Growers Association next in line. Conservation Districts, University of Wyoming Extension, and the Natural Resource Conservation Service also ranked highly.

Internet access is improving across Wyoming, and may represent a growing avenue for producers to receive information about ranching. A majority of survey respondents accessed the internet via high-speed connections (75%; N = 304), with fewer connecting via smartphone (9%) and dial-up (4%). About 18% did not have internet access (N = 304). Frequency of internet access varied widely (Figure 7). The survey respondent was the primary user of the internet to access information related to ranching (56%; N = 267). Even though many of them had internet access, a majority of survey respondents preferred to receive information about ranching through print publications (69%; N = 303) rather than the internet (21%) or word of mouth (27%).

3.5. Socio-Economic Background

Most survey respondents were men (89%; N = 297) with a mean age of 62 (range 21 - 94; N = 294) who have lived most of their lives in rural regions (89%; N = 303). Over three-quarters of survey respondents’ families have been ranching for three or more generations (three: 31%; four: 30%; five: 18%; N = 298). Survey respondents also

Table 3. Use and quality of different sources of information about ranching, according to survey respondents.

had some college education or beyond (83%; N = 302). The most interesting part of ranching to survey respondents was animal husbandry (Figure 8), with range management and economics and business management following behind that. Almost all ranches had some kind of off-ranch income (82%; N = 299), including off-ranch employment (31%), oil and gas development (24%), and stock market investments (24%).

Almost half of survey respondents had a succession plan that identified a strategy for keeping their land in ranching in the future (47%; N = 282). Twenty-three percent of respondents were working on a plan, and 24% did not have a succession plan. The remainder either did not own private land (4%) or indicated that the status of their succession plan was not captured by these options (1%).

4. Discussion: Balancing Livestock Production and Provision of Ecosystem Services on Wyoming Rangelands

The Wyoming Rangeland Decision-Making Survey showed that producer members of the Wyoming Stock Growers Association manage diverse operations, with a mix of land ownership, vegetation types, land use, and livestock (Table 1; Figures 1-3). Ranch sizes ranged from 30 to nearly 200,000 hectares, and the maximum number of livestock was 9000 (Table 1). Other surveys have also shown that ranches in the western US are very diverse, making it difficult to define a typical ranch [19-21]. Despite their diversity, this survey showed some commonalities in survey respondents’ ranching operations and their management. Most ranches 1) consisted of multiple land ownership types (including public land); 2) grazed cow-calf pairs; and 3) incorporated other activities that affect land management [19-22]. These general characteristics can guide future efforts to balance livestock production and provision of ecosystem services. For example, the diversity of land ownership and activities on individual ranches implies that partnerships among multiple landowners, public land managers, and other stakeholders may be increasingly necessary for integrated production and conservation efforts [7,23].

Survey respondents manage natural resources with the goals of producing livestock and preserving the ecosystem characteristics that support livestock production, such as forage production and soil health. Similarly, ranchers in Utah and western Colorado said that livestock production and conservation of natural resources were their main goals influencing their decision-making [24,25]. Colorado ranchers also emphasized “the link between those goals” [25; p. 333]. Combined, these studies suggest that efforts to produce ecosystem services on rangelands that focus on livestock and forage production and supporting ecosystem functions are most likely to find synergies with ongoing management goals and strategies. For example, land managers and policy makers can choose livestock grazing in addition to other practices to try to enhance ecosystem services, as some ranchers and conservation groups are doing [26]. Similarly, efforts to restore the productivity of degraded ecosystems are consistent with ranchers’ goals.

Survey respondents’ grazing management and other land management practices emphasized livestock production but also included efforts to improve the condition of natural resources. As with operation characteristics, management practices were diverse, but we highlight several commonalities. Grazing management generally involved a less than three-month rotation through multiple pastures and incorporated rest (Figure 5), similar to other American and Australian ranching operations [19, 27,28]. Water development and fencing were additional important management practices that facilitate rotational grazing (Figure 6). In Australia, Ash and Stafford-Smith [29] noted an increase in the frequency of these practices and suggested that their precise use can increase livestock production. Herd management practices related to animal health, also common in Utah and Australia [19,28], can also help improve livestock production. Two broad categories of natural resource management practices, vegetation management and landscape enhancements, were used by over two-thirds of survey respondents. In a longitudinal survey of landowners of California oak woodlands, Huntsinger et al. [22] found that use of oak woodland and wildlife habitat conservation practices had increased over 19 years. Our survey results and trends in other rangeland regions of the western US suggest that many ranchers use management practices to provide ecosystem services that are synergistic with livestock production.

New information about managing rangelands for livestock production and ecosystem services is constantly becoming available, and is especially important given the high turnover of ranch land ownership in Wyoming and the western US in recent years [30,31]. Other ranchers and several organizations, notably WSGA and Wyoming Weed and Pest, were often-used and highly-regarded sources of information about ranching. However, survey respondents preferred to receive information about ranching from print publications rather than by word of mouth or over the internet. Even though the internet is not the preferred way of communicating, the fact that a majority of ranchers have internet access suggests that it will be an important avenue for sharing information about rangeland management in the future. A multi-pronged approach to outreach and education using several different media sources may be most effective [31].

5. Conclusion

The Wyoming Rangeland Decision-Making Survey described the characteristics, goals, management practices, and information sources of survey respondents’ ranching operations and provided several insights into balancing livestock production and provision of ecosystem services on Wyoming rangelands. First, Wyoming ranching operations are diverse in operation characteristics and management practices, which may represent a challenge for policy makers who are designing programs and incentives to increase provision of ecosystem services. However, the survey also identified several shared characteristics that can guide these efforts. Ranchers’ goals suggest that efforts that focus on livestock and forage production and supporting ecosystem functions are likely to complement ongoing management. Future research on the management practices that ranchers use should identify the many synergies between livestock production and ecosystem service provisioning as well as the trade-offs, where acceptable [3]. As new policies and management practices become available, a multi-pronged outreach and education approach using several different media sources may be most effective.

6. Acknowledgements

We would like to thank the WSGA membership and staff whose participation made this project possible. The Rangeland Decision-Making Survey and related work was funded by a grant from the Western Sustainable Agriculture, Research, and Education program (Project Number SW10-073).

REFERENCES