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ARS Home » Plains Area » Fort Collins, Colorado » Center for Agricultural Resources Research » Rangeland Resources & Systems Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #335011
Title: Flexible stocking strategies for adapting to climatic variability

Author
item Derner, Justin
item Augustine, David
item Porensky, Lauren
item EISELE, MARK - 8a Hay And Cattle Co
item ROBERTS, KENDALL - 8a Hay And Cattle Co
item RITTEN, JOHN - University Of Wyoming

Submitted to: Meeting Proceedings
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/2/2016
Publication Date: 8/22/2016
Citation: Derner, J.D., Augustine, D.J., Porensky, L.M., Eisele, M., Roberts, K., Ritten, J. 2016. Flexible stocking strategies for adapting to climatic variability. In: A. Wiaasa, H.A. Lardner, et al (Eds.). The future management of grazing and wild lands in a high-tech world: Proceedings 10th International Rangeland Congress, Saskatoon, SK, July 16-22, 2016. pp 921-923.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: As a result of precipitation-induced variability on forage production, ranchers have difficulty matching animal demand with forage availability in their operations. Flexible stocking strategies could more effectively use extra forage in highly productive years and limit risk of overgrazing during dry and drought years. Flexible stocking strategies can blend science-based information with experiential knowledge from ranchers to influence stocking rates. Flexible stocking strategies provide opportunities to more effectively match animal demand with forage availability across years which could potentially substantially increase net economic returns. Currently, accuracy of seasonal precipitation predictions is not sufficient for most ranchers to use for determining forage production for flexible stocking strategies, though forecasts are improving. Current low adoption rates for flexible stocking strategies are related to weather forecasting uncertainty, the low risk mentality of most ranchers, and inherent constraints in enterprise structure.