Understanding producers' perspectives on rotational grazing benefits across US Great Plains

Experimental findings on rotational grazing (RG) trials have generally differed from producer observations of RG outcomes on commercial scale ranches. Factors such as small plot size, short duration trials and relatively rigid grazing management that lacks responsiveness to the dynamic and complex social-ecological systems in grazing trials could all contribute to this disparity in outcomes. These differences call for a better understanding of producer perceptions of RG benefits. To fill this knowledge gap, we surveyed 4500 producers from the Northern and Southern Great Plains of the USA. Among the 875 respondents, 40.5% reported that they used continuous grazing (CG), 52.7% implemented RG management in an extensive manner, while 6.8% adopted management intensive grazing. Compared with CG users, adopters of RG in its extensive and intensive form reported an average annual increase of grazing season by 7.6 and 39.3 days, respectively. When controlling for producer demographics, ranch management goals and other rancher characteristics, we found soil and climate heterogeneity significantly affected the perceived relative benefits of RG vs CG strategies. Therefore, instead of focusing on whether RG outperforms CG per se, future research could focus on comparison of RG benefits under different management intensity levels and identifying soil and climate conditions where RG benefits are more noticeable.

Social-Ecological System Transformation and Learning: the case of Santa Rosa de Lima’s dairy system, Brazil

Conventional pastureland management has brought Southern Brazilian dairy farms to a financial and environmental crisis. In this context, the management-intensive grazing system (MIG) emerges as a viable alternative to conventional pastureland management. This study aims to analyze the Social-Ecological System (SES) transformation process of the dairy system in Santa Rosa de Lima, Southern Brazil, from conventional management to MIG. For the analysis, two different frameworks were combined: SES transformation process and the triple-loop learning frameworks. The analysis was based on a statistical analysis of interviews, conducted with dairy farmers. Results show that the dairy system in Santa Rosa de Lima is in the middle of a transformation process. During this phase, farmers have already reached single and, partially, double-loop learning. Among the elements needed to successfully move the transformation process forward, social learning stands out as indispensable, as well as financial capital. For this, payments for ecosystem services are suggested.

Farming autonomy: Canadian beef farmers reclaiming the grass through management-intensive grazing practices

This qualitative study asks farmers in Alberta, Canada, what are their motivations for using a practice in beef production called management-intensive grazing (MIG). By adopting this practice, these farmers engage in strategies of diversification and co-production that increase the autonomy and resilience of their farms. MIG allows farmers to defy conventional agricultural practice and engage in what can be labelled a repeasantization process, a process that contributes to the discussion about conventional farming versus agroecology.

Management-intensive Grazing Affects Soil Health

Management-intensive Grazing (MiG) on irrigated, perennial pastures has steadily increased in the western US due to pressure for reducing public lands grazing, overall declining land available for pasture, and decreasing commodity prices. However, there are still many unknowns regarding MiG and its environmental impact, especially with regards to soil health. Over a two-year period, we studied changes in soil health under a full-scale, 82 ha pivot-irrigated perennial pasture system grazed with ~ 230 animal units (AUs) using MiG. Soil analysis included 11 soil characteristics aggregated into the Soil Management Assessment Framework (SMAF), which outputs results for soil biological, physical, nutrient, chemical, and overall soil health indices (SHI). Positive impacts were observed in the biological SHI due to increases in microbial and enzymatic activities, even though soil organic C (SOC) remained relatively unchanged; however, positive biological SHI changes are likely precursors to future SOC increases. The nutrient SHI declined due to a reduction in plant-available soil P over time, potentially due to greater plant uptake. A negative impact was also observed in the physical SHI, driven primarily by increasing bulk density due to hoof pressure from cattle grazing. If managed correctly, results suggest that irrigated, MiG systems have the potential for success with regards to supporting grazing while promoting soil health for environmental and economic sustainability.