Investment Rationale for Range Improvement Practices in Eastern Montana

Abstract

Evidence suggests that the range livestock industry in the Nortbem Great Plains is not as productive as it should be. Ranchers are not readily adopting tbe range improvement practices tbat researcbers recommend. Therefore, an economic survey of eastern Montana ranchers was conducted to evabtate tbe current status of range improvement practices. Specific objectives were to determine: (1) if range improvement investments were bdluenced by ranch sire; (2) the kbrds of range improvements that were being implemented; (3) the areas where additional research was needed in range improvements; and (4) if stocking rates were brfbtenced by ranch size. It was determined that a majority of the ranchers bad purchased equipment and invested in additional water developments, fencing, and other structural improvements during the previous five-year period. A much smaller percentage bad invested in seeded pastures, contour furrows, fertilizer, and other nonstructural improvements. Although small ranches bad more range improvements developed per unit area, large ranches (401 animal units or more) were investing in range improvements more frequently than smaller ranches. Questionnaires returned from 568 ranchers buiicated that research on range improvement practices should emphasize range seeding. Stocking rate on rangeland was not brfluenced by ranch sire. Eastern Montana is an important livestock producing region. During a 1979 survey, 68 1,300 cattle, including calves, and 215,600 stock sheep and lambs, were counted in 14 eastern counties (Montana Dept. of Agr. 1980). Annual cash receipts from the sale of livestock and livestock products totaled $200,745,700. Studies evaluating range improvement practices have shown that a variety of different improvement practices can increase herbage production in eastern Montana (Black and Reitz 1969, Houston 1971, Wight 1975, Wight et al. 1978, Wight and White 1974). Such range improvement practices can substantially increase livestock production in eastern Montana (Houstonand Urick 1972, Wight et al. 1978) and in other regions (Cook and Jefferies 1963, Kearl 1975, Kearl 1979, Workman and Hooper 1968). Range improvements are “special treatments, developments, and structures used to improve range forage resources or to facilitate their use by grazing animals” (Valentine 1971). Although a wide selection of improvement practices exist, Wheeler (1970) determined that capital expenditures for range improvements in the northern Great Plains were largely limited to water development and fencing. A recent U.S. Forest Service study (Horvath et al. 1978), suggested that land management agencies have also invested most of their improvement funding on water development and fencing. Wheeler (1970) suspected that water and fencing were popular improvements because they allowed the rancher to immediately graze more livestock by improving distribution on the same land base. However, he cautioned that the practice of increasing livestock numbers to use the newly accessible portions of the range could lead to overstocking and be detrimental to the long-term productivity of an area. Authorsare range extension specialist, Montana State University, Bozeman 59717; range scientist, USDA, ARS, 270South Orchard, Boise, Idaho 83705;and professor, Department of Range Science, Utah State University, Logan 84322. This article is a contribution from the Northwest Watershed Research Center, Agricultural Research Service, USD+; Bureau of Land Management, USDI; and Montana State University, Bozeman, m cooperation with the Agricultural Experiment Station, University of Idaho, Moscow 83843. Manuscript accepted April 3, 1984. 2 Nonstructural kinds of range improvements, such as brush control, seeded pastures, and contour furrowing have not been as popular as fencing, water developments, and other structural improvements (Lacey 1981). Their economic benefits tend to be less obvious than those from structural improvements. Although scientists develop and field test range improvement practices, it is the livestock producer who ultimately determines the number and kind of improvements on his ranch. Therefore, an economic survey of eastern Montana ranches was conducted to evaluate the current status of range improvement practices. Specific objectives were to determine: (1) if range improvement investments are dependent on ranch size; (2) the kinds of range improvements that are being implemented; (3) the needs (as perceived by the rancher) in the area of range improvement research; and (4) how the use of range improvement practices could influence stocking rate differences between ranch sizes. To enhance communication between ranchers, agricultural lenders, and range scientists,these issues must be resolved. Better communication is needed among these facets of the range livestock industry to ensure long-term productivity.