Grazing Practices Research Articles

Ranch Economics of Using Targeted Grazing to Create Wildfire Fuel Breaks on Public Land

Targeted grazing in the Great Basin has been used to reduce cheatgrass fuel loads and enhance wildfire control. In this project, we evaluate the economic impact of targeted grazing on cow-calf ranches across southeast Oregon, northeast Nevada, and southwest Idaho when practices such as fencing, water hauling, and herding are necessary for producers to accomplish desired grazing outcomes. Large and small representative ranch models were developed for major land resource areas 23, 24, and 25 where applicable. Typical targeted grazing costs and practices were obtained from producer and agency focus groups in each state and introduced into ranch economic models. Targeted grazing periods begin 1 mo before typical Bureau of Land Management turnout in the spring and again in the fall after typical public land grazing ends. In each year, targeted grazing would occur when the previous growing season (September to March and April to August) had more than 25% of median precipitation based on PRISM historical data. Hence, targeted grazing could occur in the spring, fall, or both depending on precipitation. In both seasons, targeted grazing continues until the desired animal unit months of forage are removed. One hundred precipitation data sets were randomly generated using Excel to mimic the actual number of drought years in the spring and fall. The model is a 40-yr recursive linear programming model using 100 cattle price sets and the 100 precipitation sets. Results are averaged over 10 000 model runs and compared with scenarios with no targeted grazing and targeted grazing based on the actual precipitation data set. Results show changes in cattle herd size, hay sales, and the economic impacts to the public land ranch operation for two ranch sizes in each of the three major land resource areas by state.

Financial barriers and opportunities for conservation adoption on U.S. rangelands: A region-wide, ranch-level economic assessment of NRCS-sponsored Greater Sage-grouse habitat conservation programs

Sagebrush ecosystems of the western U.S. support ranching livelihoods and imperiled populations of the Greater Sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus). Incentive-based conservation such as cost-sharing is the primary tool used by the federal government to support conservation practices on rangelands in the U.S. Financial support for adopting specific prescribed grazing practices on private land has been supported through the U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)-led Sage-Grouse Initiative (SGI), initiated in 2010 as an unparalleled private and public effort to conserve Greater Sage-grouse habitat. The purpose of this research was to provide an economic assessment of the impact of this conservation program on participating ranches. Representative ranch enterprise budgets and ranch economic models were created for this analysis for eleven NRCS Major Land Resource Areas where critical sage-grouse habitat exist, including parts of Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, and Wyoming. Results of the economic assessment showed that SGI/NRCS financial support alleviated the financial impact of conservation practice adoption, but negative financial impacts were estimated in some locations and more frequently for smaller ranches. Larger ranches were found to do better under these programs on average. Results demonstrate the important role of research and government financial support in removing financial barriers to conservation adoption on rangelands.

Growth of the invasive Navua sedge (Cyperus aromaticus) under competitive interaction with pasture species and simulated grazing conditions: Implication for management

AbstractNavua sedge (Cyperus aromaticus), a perennial monocot plant native to tropical Africa, is a major weed in pasture and cropping areas in the wet tropical regions of Australia and South Pacific countries. In grazing pasture lands, rapid growth and reproduction of unpalatable Navua sedge leads to displacement of co‐occurring pasture species and depletion of livestock carrying capacity and production. Understanding the interspecific competitive ability of Navua sedge with co‐occurring desirable grasses and in response to varying ecological scenarios (e.g., grazing and plant density) is critical for the management of the weed in pasture situations. In a glasshouse setting, two co‐occurring pasture species—humidicola (Urochloa humidicola) and Rhodes grass (Chloris gayana) were grown with Navua sedge, in pots using a replacement series model. For each Navua sedge weed–pasture species pair, the experimental setup comprised of four ratios in two densities under simulated grazing and nongrazing conditions of the pasture grasses. Navua sedge growth and reproduction was highest when it grew as a monoculture or when co‐occurring pastures were exposed to simulated grazing as this action, reduced the competitiveness of the pasture grasses. Overall and using biomass gained, tiller production and relative yield as indices of growth dynamics, Rhodes grass was more competitive against Navua sedge than humidicola in both grazed and nongrazed conditions especially under high plant density. These results suggest the potential to include competitive pastures in integrated management strategies for Navua sedge, but species selection and grazing practices may influence the effectiveness of this approach.

Water quality effects of cover crop, grazing and tillage implementation in a long-term no-till wheat system

Agricultural anthropogenic nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) continue to be major surface and subsurface water pollutants in developed countries. Integrated crop-livestock systems in the semi-arid Texas Rolling Plains are characterized by continuously cultivated monoculture combined with grazing. Improperly managed grazing can increase soil compaction, and subsequently, decrease infiltration, which leaves the soil exposed to erosion. Grazing is therefore of paramount importance to water quality. Cover crop (CC) use improves soil ecosystem services and functions. The objective of the current study was to characterize soil water quality following CC under continuous wheat (Triticum aestivum), grazing, tillage, and no-till practices under a typic Haplustepts, Rotan clay loam soil type. Treatments evaluated include 1) conventional tillage without a CC (CT); 2) no-till without a CC (NT); 3) no-till with a CC (NTC); and 4) no-till with a grazed CC (NTCG). Portable rainfall simulators were used to assess surface runoff water quantity and quality after CC implementation in a long-term no-till continuous wheat system. Cover crop treatments, both grazed and un-grazed, reduced the amount of runoff by 4–6 times compared to no CC treatments (NT and CT). Converting 12-year-old NT to CT reduced infiltration by at least 43 % and increased runoff by 58 % compared to long-term NT. Consequently, total solids load and concentration for CT were 4–14 times greater than all NT treatments (NT, NTC, NTCG). Conventional tillage (CT) also increased total P loads and concentrations by 2–11-fold compared to all NT treatments (p < 0.05). Rainfall events occurring within three weeks after CC termination resulted in about 6 times greater soluble reactive P (SRP) (except NTCG) and about 2–3 times greater dissolved organic C (DOC) concentrations from CC treatments than non-CC treatments, although this was not observed for subsequent runoff events. Tilling the soil had more deleterious effects compared to flash grazing CC. Adopting NT, either alone, or long-term in combination with CC (either flash grazed or un-grazed) are potentially sustainable viable practices in semiarid regions that can reduce environmental contamination.

Pasture Productivity Assessment under Mob Grazing and Fertility Management Using Satellite and UAS Imagery

Pasture management approaches can determine the productivity, sustainability, and ecological balance of livestock production. Sensing techniques potentially provide methods to assess the performance of different grazing practices that are more labor and time efficient than traditional methods (e.g., soil and crop sampling). This study utilized high-resolution satellite and unmanned aerial system (UAS) imagery to evaluate vegetation characteristics of a pasture field location with two grazing densities (low and high, applied in the years 2015–2019) and four fertility treatments (control, manure, mineral, and compost tea, applied annually in the years 2015–2019). The pasture productivity was assessed through satellite imagery annually from the years 2017 to 2019. The relation and variation within and between the years were evaluated using vegetation indices extracted from satellite and UAS imagery. The data from the two sensing systems (satellite and UAS) demonstrated that grazing density showed a significant effect (p &lt; 0.05) on pasture crop status in 2019. Furthermore, the mean vegetation index data extracted from satellite and UAS imagery (2019) had a high correlation (r ≥ 0.78, p &lt; 0.001). These results show the potential of utilizing satellite and UAS imagery for crop productivity assessment applications in small to medium pasture research and management.

Seasonal changes in soil carbon storage capacity and glomalin-related soil protein under different agricultural activities, abandonment, and wildfire occurrence in Mediterranean region

Agricultural practices can directly affect soil environmental conditions and consequently soil ecosystems and fertility. Soils under different agricultural practices like tillage and grazing were studied and compared to other soils affected by wildfire and different ages of abandonment. Atmospheric CO 2 , soil C-CO 2 loss, soil temperature, soil moisture, bulk density, soil organic carbon (SOC), total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP), Redfield ratios of C:N:P, easily exactable and total glomalin-related soil protein (GRSP EE and GRSP T ), and morphology, quantity, and stability of soil aggregates (WSA) were seasonally analyzed. Statistical significance checked using the two-factor ANOVA. Intense tillage and wildfire occurrence revealed a deficiency in soil nutrients and fertility more than grazing practices. Steady soil fertility conditions occurred in soils preserved by fire and ancient abandonment. The GRSP seasonal means varied significantly among all soils because of land-use effects. GRSP T , SOC, TN, and TP increased from winter to spring and reached the highest values in summer then decreased again in autumn. GRSP was positively correlated (P < 0.01) with atmospheric CO 2 , SOC, TN, and TP with high peaks in summer indicating the dependent GRSP production on plant nutrients acquisition as well as soil carbon pools. Moreover, the correlation between GRSP and emitted C-CO 2 may indicate the contribution of GRSP fractions to the labile as well as the stable SOC fractions. The GRSP EE showed rapidly transformed into stable forms in more fertile and better-structured soils than in less fertile soils with vulnerable soil structures. In conclusion, the stoichiometric balance of soil nutrients, aggregate stability, and stabilized GRSP pools improved relatively across the seasonal rhythms from winter to summer. Moreover, environmental soil conditions developed to preserve organic carbon in soils with long abandonment than in mid abandonment, while the worst conditions were in the vulnerable soils intensively mismanaged and devastated by fire.

Trees, large wood and streams: Using archive survey data to inform changing interactions in a human‐impacted landscape

AbstractMonitoring is the key to understanding fluvial systems and a crucial foundation for assessing the outcomes of river restoration. The New Forest, southern England, was designated a National Park in 2005 in recognition of its highly valued landscape, which has been both positively and negatively impacted by over 1000 years of human management. Here we analyse archive field maps and tabulations extracted from walkover surveys that record the distribution and character of wood jams along ~59 km of New Forest streams in 1991. By integrating the 1991 archive survey data with other historical information, we analyse associations among stream channel characteristics, wood jams, riparian land cover, and stream and land management at that time. We reveal associations among these factors that reflect the imprint of centuries of grazing, forestry and stream management practices. Along ~10 km of one stream (the Highland Water), we analyse data collected during additional walkover surveys in 1997 and 2021, to track changes since 1991. We illustrate how a reduction in stream and wood management over recent decades and the restoration of some stream reaches in 2005 has resulted in overall increases in stream sinuosity and the number of wood jams. The walkover surveys on which our results are based provide an approach to characterizing the impacts of river corridor management in the New Forest landscape that are both cost and time effective and could be applied by non‐specialist volunteers (‘citizen scientists’) following appropriate training. Survey data of the spatial coverage achieved in 1991 are rare but need to be encouraged in the New Forest and farther afield to provide a robust framework into which more local, specialist surveys can be integrated, and from which the broad impacts of river corridor management approaches can be monitored.

Lessons from a next generation carbon ranching experiment

Identifying grazing practices that maximize food production and soil carbon sequestration is of global importance. Currently, we cannot reliably predict which grazing practice will accrue the most soil organic carbon (SOC) partly because of confusion created by an abundance of low-quality experiments. Data quality has likely suffered because adequate treatment replication requires a lot of land, meaningful scale introduces heterogeneity among replicates, and pre-existing differences are often not taken into account. Here we tested the effects of five grazing treatments on SOC stocks with a gold standard randomized controlled trial (RCT) with pre-treatment data. Treatments were no grazing, severe summer grazing, moderate fall grazing, severe fall grazing, and the conventional approach for the system of moderate summer grazing. Because grazing experiments are often little-replicated, we also gauged the dependence of results on pre-treatment data by comparing the results of analyses with vs without pre-treatment data. We also tested for relationships between plant (root biomass, plant species composition) and soil properties (mass, nitrogen concentration) and SOC. After applying treatments for 5-yr, the no grazing and severe summer and fall grazing treatments accrued 0.85 to 1.22 kg × m−2 (0–60 cm soil depth) more SOC than conventional moderate summer grazing and represent appreciable (i.e. >4 per mille per yr) increases in SOC stocks. Furthermore, the entire portfolio of new grazing practices increased SOC accrual compared to conventional management. Given the divergent characteristics of the newly applied practices, sustainable accrual of SOC may depend on management heterogeneity. Accrual of SOC was likely driven by a reduction in SOC mineralization related to increased soil density and nitrogen, decreased root biomass, and change in plant species composition. Our findings counter the prevailing view that plant material inputs are the primary driver of SOC accrual in grazing lands. In other words, SOC accrual was mainly associated with indicators of decreased SOC mineralization (C outputs). We also found unique results for analyses with and without pre-treatment data, thereby indicating the risk of unreliable results for little-replicated RCTs without pre-treatment data. Robust generalizations on grazing practices that will reliably and sustainably maximize the rate of SOC accrual for a specific system, climate and timeline are still lacking, but further focus on factors affecting SOC mineralization will facilitate their development.

Grazing intensity gradient inherited from traditional herding still explains Mediterranean grassland characteristics despite current land-use changes

Grazing is well-known to shape plant populations and plant communities and to affect several compartment characteristics of grazed ecosystems. Semi-natural grassland conservation depends on the maintenance of traditional extensive grazing systems which can exist for centuries, even millennia. However, very few studies have concomitantly investigated the effect of grazing management on plant, forage, litter and soil compartments and the implications of their potential interactions for conservation after recent changes in grazing practices.This study thus aimed to identify the concomitant effects of sheep grazing on the latter compartments of Mediterranean grasslands. We further investigated the effects of a recent change from millenia-old traditional herding to contemporary fenced free grazing. We also sought to determine how this change may impact the agronomic and ecological value of these grasslands.Surveys were carried out at 6 different study sites paired by the two different grazing practices in a French Mediterranean sub-steppic vegetation (“Crau” plain in Southeastern France).Using linear models and distance-based redundancy analysis, effects of grazing intensity, grazing practices and their interactions were tested on plant community, forage, litter and soil physicochemical properties. Our results show that, there was a significant effect of grazing intensity on the four studied compartments, with significantly higher species richness and evenness at moderate grazing intensity. Biomass was also significantly higher at moderate grazing intensity. Digestibility of forage, litter quality and soil fertility decreased significantly under less intensive grazing. Significant differences were also found in the relative size of the areas covered by each plant communities. Recent fenced free grazing led to significantly more intensively grazed zones, with more mesophilous/nitrophilous vegetation. Conversely, in zones traditionally less intensively grazed, the contemporary free grazing led to higher plant species-richness but again with more mesophilous species. Implications for conservation management are that the legacy of millennia-old traditional herding still compensates partly for the effects of changing practice to contemporary fenced free grazing on plant community composition but not on their relative sizes. This indicates an increase in grazing intensity in the remotest zone which could lead to grassland plant community homogenization.

Community negotiation and pasture partitioning at the Trypillia settlement of Maidanetske

The inhabitants of the vast Chalcolithic Trypillia sites of Eastern Europe required highly organised strategies to meet subsistence needs. Here, the authors use isotopic analyses of faunal remains from Maidanetske, Ukraine, to identify intensive and extensive grazing practices. The former demanded intra-community negotiation to ensure access to high-quality pastures for valuable animals such as dairy cows, suggesting that pasture may have also served socially integrative functions. The simultaneous use of extensive pasturing strategies for cattle placed on different pastureland suggests that landscapes were partitioned, with access determined by cooperation or competition. Maidanetske's dual pasturing system reflects the importance of spatially organised practices in maintaining social structure.

Limited impacts of adaptive multi‐paddock grazing systems on plant diversity in the Northern Great Plains

Abstract Grassland plant community structure and function are dependent on the type, timing, frequency and intensity of disturbance. Grazing systems employing dense herds of livestock for short periods of time (e.g. Adaptive Multi‐paddock Grazing; AMP) are gaining popularity as a potentially sustainable practice. Effects of AMP systems on plant diversity and composition are unknown, though theory provides some expectations. Spatially homogeneous grazing used by AMP may be a uniform ecological filter, thereby lowering plant diversity; alternatively, the AMP practice of using multiple paddocks might enhance habitat heterogeneity. Maintaining plant diversity, particularly of native species, is a key aspect of sustainability. As such, an understanding of the real‐world effects of AMP grazing is needed. We studied grasslands within 18 pairs of ranches across the northern Great Plains. Ranches managed under AMP were paired with a neighbouring ranch (N‐AMP) using regionally representative grazing practices. We collected surveys of management practices and conducted 2 years of on‐farm sampling to identify plant composition and diversity. Ranch management practices used by self‐identified AMP ranchers differed significantly (p &lt; 0.1) from those used on neighbouring ranches, with higher stocking densities (number of animals per area at a single time) but not stocking rates (total number of animals per unit time per area) on AMP relative to N‐AMP ranches. There were fewer plant species in AMP grasslands at both the plot and landscape scales compared to N‐AMP ranches despite no overall difference in plant community composition. Management type did not alter the variability of plant community composition (beta diversity) or plot‐level species evenness. Although there were trends for lower diversity of native and introduced species at both spatial scales, a significant effect was found only for native species at the landscape scale. Synthesis and applications. The impacts of AMP grazing system management were limited to a minor reduction in plant diversity, with a modest decline in native species richness. We conclude that the benefits of AMP grazing in the northern Great Plains do not include the maintenance of plant diversity, and this system could hinder the conservation of remaining native plant species.

Targeting best agricultural practices to enhance ecosystem services in European mountains

Agri-environmental policies in Europe are failing to sufficiently address ongoing environmental degradation, biodiversity decline, climate impacts, and societal demands for sustainability. To reverse this, policymakers, practitioners, and farmers need better guidance on which specific agricultural practice/s should be promoted and how to adapt current practices to reach the desired objectives. Here we use social valuation tools to elucidate the relationship between agricultural practices and the provision of key ecosystem services in mountains, including maintenance of scenery from agricultural landscapes, conservation of biodiversity, regulation of climate change through carbon sequestration, production of local quality products, maintenance of soil fertility, and prevention of forest wildfires. We use as case studies two contrasting but representative mountain agroecosystems in the Mediterranean and Nordic regions of Europe. We analyze the best agricultural practices in both agroecosystems to reach the targeted environmental outcomes under three plausible policy scenarios. We find significant differences in the average contribution of agricultural practices to ecosystem services provision, which suggest the need for regionalizing the research efforts and, consequently, the design of agri-environmental policies. However, we also identify practices for ecosystem service delivery across policy scenarios and agroecosystems. Among these, grazing and silviculture practices such as extending the grazing period, grazing in semi-natural habitats, grazing in remote and abandoned areas, adapting stocking rate to the carrying capacity, and moving flocks seasonally, stand out for their relevance in all policy scenarios. These results highlight the potential of adequate grazing and silviculture practices to deliver bundles of ecosystem services. Our study provides guidance to design agri-environmental policies in Europe that focus on rewarding farmers for their sustainable management of natural resources, climate change mitigation and adaption and biodiversity conservation.

What Is Driving the Proliferation of Exotic Annual Grasses in Sagebrush Communities? Comparing Fire with Off-Season Grazing

Exotic annual grass invasion is a pressing concern in sagebrush rangelands of the western United States. Overgrazing and fire have historically both been implicated in the rise of annual grasses, but experiments that compare the effect of grazing versus fire are lacking, particularly for contemporary grazing practices such as off-season (fall and winter) grazing. We compared 1) burned and ungrazed (burned), 2) off-season, moderately grazed and unburned (grazed), and 3) ungrazed and unburned (control) treatments at five Wyoming big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata ssp. wyomingensis [Beetle & A. Young] S.L. Welsh) sites in southeastern Oregon for half a decade. Fire, but not off-season grazing, substantially increased exotic annual grass cover and abundance. Vegetation cover and density were generally similar between grazed and control areas. In contrast, at the end of the study exotic annual grass cover and density were over fourfold greater in burned areas. Exotic annual grass became the dominant plant group in burned areas, but not in grazed and control areas. Cover and density of annual forbs, predominately non-native species, were generally greater in the burned compared with grazed and control treatments. Fire also decreased soil biological crust cover and sagebrush cover and density compared with grazed and control treatments. This study provides strong evidence that fire is a threat to the sustainability of Wyoming big sagebrush communities at risk of exotic annual grass dominance, but that off-season, moderate grazing poses little risk. However, considering the spatial extent of our study was limited, further evaluations are needed across a larger geographic area. Given that off-season grazing can decrease the probability of fire, off-season grazing may be a valuable tool to reduce the risk of exotic annual grass dominance.

Coastal agricultural landscapes: Mapping and understanding grazing intensity on Welsh saltmarshes

Coastal wetlands such as saltmarshes support local communities and industries through ecosystem services and benefit the well-being of local communities in many regions of the world. Along sheltered temperate and sub-tropical coastlines, saltmarshes provide coastal protection, provision of recreational space and wildlife habitat. Those in northwest Europe provide a valuable resource for local agricultural communities through livestock grazing. Following the departure of the UK from the EU and the related potential changes to agricultural policies and markets, it is timely to evaluate the status of saltmarsh livestock grazing. In particular, knowledge of grazing patterns, policy futures and stakeholder perceptions are required to support traditional cultural practice and the ecological status of saltmarshes. This study focuses on the devolved UK nation of Wales, as it has a strong traditional agricultural and pastoral economy, and a landscape of significant conservation value. Yet there are substantial evidence and knowledge gaps regarding livestock grazing and its saltmarsh impact. We present the first map showing the spatial distribution of saltmarsh grazing practice in the UK. Drawing on insights gathered through an expert workshop and interviews with saltmarsh landowners and managers across Wales (N = 35), the paper discusses the challenges and benefits of coastal grazing on saltmarshes, highlighting the diverse values, personal connection and sense of identity associated with marshes. Interviews reveal deep rooted social and cultural values attributed to saltmarshes by the rural coastal community. The study illustrates the need for an integrated approach to management of saltmarshes, accounting for the social, cultural, economic, and environmental values within decision-making.

An evaluation on the current state of water buffalo breeding in Diyarbakır, identification of problems and solutions

The present study aimed to determine the current state of water buffalo breeders in Silvan, Bağlar, Yenişehir, and Sur counties of Diyarbakır province in Turkey, and to reveal the aspects of shelter, grazing, calf breeding, brood use, meat and milk production practices, care and health protection, expectations from breeding practices and current problems. The results of the face-to-face surveys were used carried out with a total of 147 business owners engaged in water buffalo breeding in four counties. In the research, the average number of water buffaloes per farm was determined to be 11.03. The breeders have reported that they continue to raise water buffaloes for reasons such as making a living, high quality of water buffalo milk, and benefiting from the available subsidies. The average lactation period of water buffaloes was 7.1 months, the average daily milk obtained per animal was determined to be 3.63 liters. The milk obtained is mostly evaluated as yogurt, cheese, and butter. As a result, it was determined that almost all of the breeders are satisfied with water buffalo breeding, they see breeding as a family profession, and they are aware of the quality and importance of water buffalo products.

Rotational cattle grazing improves understory vegetation biodiversity and structural complexity in oil palm plantations

AbstractHerbicide overuse decimates understory vegetation, including those beneficial plants which may lead to a reduction of some production‐related ecosystem services such as nutrient cycling, water regulation, natural pest control, and pollination. Such conventional weed management practices need to be replaced with environmentally friendly methods such as ecological grazing to make palm oil supply chain environmentally sustainable. Contrary to chemical weeding, livestock integration is believed to be a useful tool to control weeds without negative impact to human health and the environment. However, little is known about the influence of different livestock grazing practices on oil palm understory vegetation. Thus, the present study investigates the effects of weed management practices (i.e., rotational grazing, free‐ranged grazing, and conventional weeding) on understory vegetation species richness, composition assemblages, and structural complexity. Based on plant surveys that were conducted on 360 sampling points, 120 understory vegetation species consisting of grasses, sedges, ferns, and legume covers were recorded. We found understory vegetation composition assemblages were different between treatments. Results revealed that the number of understory vegetation species, coverage, and height were significantly higher in rotational grazing compared with other practices. Given the major contribution of vegetation composition assemblages and structure on palm oil productions and biodiversity, oil palm growers should adopt rotational livestock grazing as a part of an integrated pest management strategy to control understory vegetation.

Performance Analysis of Dairy Farms Transitioning to Environmentally Friendly Grazing Practices: The Case Study of Santa Catarina, Brazil

The conflict between food production and environmental conservation demands alternative agriculture practices to maintain or increase food production, protect and restore critical ecosystem processes, and reduce dependence on non-renewable agricultural inputs. Deforestation in Brazil’s Atlantic Forest, for which agriculture has been a primary driver, already threatens the biome’s impressive biodiversity and the ecosystem services it helps sustain. Many small family farmers in Santa Catarina—located in the South of Brazil—have adopted the Voisin Rational Grazing System (VRG) as an alternative to conventional and environmentally detrimental dairy activities. This article presents the results of a research project designed to analyze the economic, social, and ecological VRG impacts based on farmers’ perceptions and economic accounts. We compare farmer profitability and critical social and environmental aspects of both systems using detailed interviews and monthly accounting of revenues and expenditures on VRG and conventional farms. We found that VRG is more profitable than the conventional dairy system in Santa Rosa de Lima. However, most farmers combine VRG with some conventional practices, affecting profitability and potential ecological benefits. The adoption of VRG in Santa Rosa de Lima nonetheless correlates with reduced use of environmentally harmful inputs, compatible with a gradual transition to a more ecologically-friendly and sustainable system.

Coming back to a Commons approach to construct the Great Green Wall in Senegal

Since the 1970s, the Sahel region has been struck by severe droughts that has brought suffering to human populations. Scientists also observed declining rainfall leading to desertification in the zone. Against this backdrop, in 2007, several African states launched the international Great Green Wall (GGW) project that aimed to create a strip of forest from Senegal to Djibouti, crossing areas mostly devoted to pastoralism. We examined the social, land tenure and environmental implications of the GGW in Senegal, in the light of policies for pastoral intensification of the zone. The colonial heritage of the foresters from the Senegalese National Green Wall Agency who implement the project on the ground influences how reforestation is managed today. To understand how local populations relate to the space affected by the project and their resources, we organized participatory workshops in four contrasted study sites along the Senegalese portion of the GGW path. Our results show that trees are of great importance for local populations, whether agricultural or pastoral, but even more so in pastoral areas. Despite this, the national and international narrative considers Sahelian pastoralism and overgrazing as strong drivers of desertification. The paradox is that overgrazing is linked to the public policy of boreholes densification. Taking a Commons approach, we show the current and past role played by water in pasture management, and how water accessed by boreholes no longer regulates grazing practices. A Commons approach would pave the way for assisting stakeholders at different levels to favor regreening the Sahel.

Dairy farmer practices and attitudes relating to pasture-based and indoor production systems in Scotland.

This study assesses the practices and views of Scottish dairy farmers relating to pasture-based and indoor systems. There are the debates about the environmental, economic and animal welfare implications of these systems. Indoor dairy farming is a contentious practice among the public. While this controversy is sometimes represented as a lack of public understanding, there is a need for more research on farmers' views to facilitate discussion in the industry. A survey was posted to 909 dairy farmers in Scotland with questions about their grazing practices and attitudes to grazing and indoor systems. 254 surveys were completed, online and in paper form. There was a 26% response rate to the paper version of the survey. The results showed that 19% of respondents housed some or all the cows all year-round. 68% agreed or strongly agreed that cows should graze for part of the year and 51% agreed or strongly agreed that welfare was better if cows grazed for part of the year. These views coexisted with the view that management was more important than the type of system for determining profitability or welfare outcomes (83% and 82% strongly agree or agree respectively). Respondents whose system involved grazing and respondents who had spent longer in farming were moderately more likely to agree that cows should have access to pasture, and slightly less likely to agree that management was more important than system for determining welfare outcomes. The results indicate that the picture is more complicated than the public rejecting indoor dairy farming and those in the industry accepting it. The results showed that a majority preference for cows to graze co-existed with the view that management was more important than system. In terms of industry and policy recommendations, the research suggests that measures should be taken to safeguard farmers' ability to graze through for instance research and advisory support on grazing; ensuring different systems are not penalised in the development of dairy sector environmental measures and recommendations; and potentially supply chains that financially rewards farmers for grazing.

Soil health and nutrient density: preliminary comparison of regenerative and conventional farming.

Several independent comparisons indicate regenerative farming practices enhance the nutritional profiles of crops and livestock. Measurements from paired farms across the United States indicate differences in soil health and crop nutrient density between fields worked with conventional (synthetically-fertilized and herbicide-treated) or regenerative practices for 5 to 10 years. Specifically, regenerative farms that combined no-till, cover crops, and diverse rotations—a system known as Conservation Agriculture—produced crops with higher soil organic matter levels, soil health scores, and levels of certain vitamins, minerals, and phytochemicals. In addition, crops from two regenerative no-till vegetable farms, one in California and the other in Connecticut, had higher levels of phytochemicals than values reported previously from New York supermarkets. Moreover, a comparison of wheat from adjacent regenerative and conventional no-till fields in northern Oregon found a higher density of mineral micronutrients in the regenerative crop. Finally, a comparison of the unsaturated fatty acid profile of beef and pork raised on one of the regenerative farms to a regional health-promoting brand and conventional meat from local supermarkets, found higher levels of omega-3 fats and a more health-beneficial ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 fats. Despite small sample sizes, all three crop comparisons show differences in micronutrient and phytochemical concentrations that suggest soil health is an under appreciated influence on nutrient density, particularly for phytochemicals not conventionally considered nutrients but nonetheless relevant to chronic disease prevention. Likewise, regenerative grazing practices produced meat with a better fatty acid profile than conventional and regional health-promoting brands. Together these comparisons offer preliminary support for the conclusion that regenerative soil-building farming practices can enhance the nutritional profile of conventionally grown plant and animal foods.