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ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #294798
Title: Increasing flexibility in rangeland management during drought

Author
item Kachergis, Emily
item Derner, Justin
item CUTTS, BETHANY - University Of Illinois
item ROCHE, LESLIE - University Of California
item EVINER, VALERIE - University Of California
item LUBELL, MARK - University Of California

Submitted to: Ecosphere
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/18/2014
Publication Date: 4/30/2014
Citation: Kachergis, E.J., Derner, J.D., Cutts, B., Roche, L., Eviner, V., Lubell, M. 2014. Increasing flexibility in rangeland management during drought. Ecosphere. 5(6):1-14. doi:1890/ES13-00402.1.

Interpretive Summary: Drought is predicted to increase in both duration (length of time) and severity with climate change. Although drought is influential in determining productive capacity (forage and livestock) from US rangelands, land managers have typically used reactive decision making in responding to drought. Here, we use results from a mail survey of Wyoming ranchers conducted just prior to the onset of the extreme 2012 drought to identify (1) their drought management strategies and (2) how their ranch characteristics affect their flexibility in drought management. Ranchers often use similar approaches for drought management that can have negative economic consequences for marketing of livestock. Ranches that were larger, included yearling livestock, used grazing periods shorter than three months, and/or incorporated alternative on-ranch activities (e.g., hunting) used a greater number of drought management practices which increases management flexibility and reduces enterprise risk. Some drought impacts were less frequent on larger ranches, highlighting the ecological and economic advantages of a larger land base. Findings could guide development of rangeland drought policy that encourages flexibility, promotes proactive drought management, and sustains ranching livelihoods and products.

Technical Abstract: The extreme drought that began in 2011 and persists throughout the central and western US presents a challenge to sustainable rangeland management. Wyoming ranchers manage half of this drought-prone state and are at the forefront of this challenge. We examined Wyoming ranchers’ drought management strategies and how ranch characteristics affect drought management flexibility through a mail survey. We found that many survey respondents manage drought in similar ways, by selling livestock and buying feed, highlighting the market risks associated with drought. Ranches that were larger, included yearling livestock, used grazing periods shorter than three months, and/or incorporated alternative on-ranch activities (e.g., hunting) used more drought management practices and thus had greater flexibility. Larger ranches experienced fewer drought impacts, highlighting advantages of a larger resource base. Findings could guide development of rangeland drought policy that encourages flexibility, promotes proactive drought management, and sustains ranching livelihoods and provision of ecosystem services.