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ARS Home » Plains Area » Las Cruces, New Mexico » Range Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #423601
Research Project: Knowledge Systems and Tools to Increase the Resilience and Sustainablity of Western Rangeland Agriculture

Location: Range Management Research

Title: When the cows come home unexpectedly: Rapid AUM assessment using satellite and ground-based methods on desert rangelands

Author
item Spiegal, Sheri
item FUNK, MICAH - New Mexico State University
item Macon, Lara
item McIntosh, Matthew
item COX, ANDREW - New Mexico State University

Submitted to: Society for Range Management Meeting Abstracts
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/10/2025
Publication Date: 2/13/2025
Citation: Spiegal, S.A., Funk, M., Macon, L.K., McIntosh, M.M., Cox, A. 2025. When the cows come home unexpectedly: Rapid AUM assessment using satellite and ground-based methods on desert rangelands. Society for Range Management Meeting Abstracts. Abstract.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Decision-making on rangelands requires a variety of information. Often, given the rapid pace of change on rangelands, that information must be gleaned quickly. In this talk we describe our approach to rapidly assessing the available Animal Units Months for 25 cows and several calves that returned to the New Mexico State College Ranch after three years at a partnering research facility. Given a tight timeframe, remote sensing tools were critical to help us understand the patchy green observed by the rancher on the ground. State mapping was fundamental to interpret ground and remotely sensed data. The Rangeland Analysis Platform was very helpful, but we confirmed ground-truthing is needed in the Chihuahuan Desert.