Rangeland Management News

A New Era for the West: Public Lands Rule Repealed as BLM Overhauls Grazing Regs

Tue, 12 May 2026 21:13:28 GMT

In a sweeping move to restore the federal government’s commitment to multiple-use management, the Trump administration Tuesday finalized the rescission of the Biden-era Conservation and Landscape Health Rule (the Public Lands Rule) while simultaneously unveiling a landmark proposal to modernize the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) aging grazing regulations.

According to the Public Lands Council (PLC), individually, these actions are consequential to cattle and sheep producers across the West; together, they are a clear signal of BLM’s commitment to restoring effective multiple-use management and the agency’s investment in promoting strong rangeland resilience.

“From day one, public lands ranchers were clear with the Trump administration: we needed them to remove policies that illegally picked winners and losers in public land management, and we needed them to deliver on their commitment to bring important reforms to the agency’s 35-year-old grazing regulations,” says PLC President and Colorado permittee Tim Canterbury. “Today, they have delivered repeal of the Public Lands Rule that would have resulted in removal of grazing under the guise of ‘conservation’ principles, even though science demonstrates the benefits of our highly managed grazing on these landscapes.”

He adds, “For far too long, BLM has been operating under a set of rules that were developed in response to the ‘cattle free by [19]93’ campaign. The resulting regulations all but ensured ranchers did not have the flexibility to take full advantage of the scientific and management advances that the industry has made over the last 35 years. PLC called on the administration early in their term to incorporate principles of adaptive management into these regulations. Cattle and sheep producers – and the agency line officers they work with – should have the flexibility to make the best possible management decisions for the land, water and permit conditions, unconstrained by antiquated regulations. Today’s announcement is a massive step forward.”

What the Repeal Means for Ranchers

Restoring Multiple-Use: The repeal removes “conservation leases” that critics argued illegally prioritized nonuse over livestock production and energy development.
Wildfire Risk Reduction: Managed grazing is now formally recognized as a primary tool for reducing fuel loads and preventing catastrophic wildfires.
Regulatory Flexibility: Updated regulations provide “adaptive management” power, allowing ranchers to respond to weather and forage changes without waiting for lengthy federal approvals.

What was the Public Land Rule?

According to the Associated Press , the 2024 rule adopted under former President Joe Biden was meant to refocus the BLM, which oversees about 10% of land in the U.S. It allowed public property to be leased for restoration in the same way that oil companies lease land for drilling.

AP reports, “ Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said the rule could have blocked access to hundreds of thousands of acres (hectares) of land — preventing energy and timber production and hurting ranchers who graze on public lands.”

Supporters argue conservation had long been a secondary consideration at the land bureau, neglecting its mission under the 1976 Federal Land Policy and Management Act. While the bureau previously issued leases for conservation purposes in limited cases, it never had a dedicated program prior to the Biden administration.

PLC led industry efforts to repeal the Public Lands Rule since it was initially finalized in 2024, including through congressional resolutions of disapproval and seeking legal remedies for the harm that would have been done to public lands ranchers and the resources they manage.

According to PLC, “Not only was this rule illegal, but it would also have enabled the federal government to remove family owned livestock operations from working lands and increase the risk for catastrophic wildfires by leaving countless acres of rangeland unmanaged.”

Your Next Read:

What is the New Grazing MOU?

Halter Launches World-First Virtual Fencing Via Satellite

Tue, 28 Apr 2026 17:22:54 GMT

Halter, the leading digital operating system for pasture-based ranches, today announced the launch of direct-to-satellite connectivity for its smart cattle collars — a world-first that removes the need for cell towers or on-ranch infrastructure.

Using Starlink, the new technology enables ranchers to manage cattle anywhere they can see the sky. Combined with a suite of new tools for reproduction, animal behavior and precision pasture management, the release significantly expands what is possible for cattle ranch management.

Beef ranchers in remote and rugged regions that were limited by connectivity can now turn to virtual fencing to run more productive and sustainable operations — at a time when they face rising fuel costs, labor shortages and aging workforce pressures.

Halter’s internal modeling estimates direct-to-satellite capability expands coverage of the U.S. beef cattle market by 2.5x.

Until now, Halter’s solar-powered, GPS-enabled collars relied on Halter’s proprietary long-range radio towers. With direct-to-satellite, the collars can communicate via Starlink, eliminating ground infrastructure entirely.

“Connectivity has been the final barrier to bringing virtual fencing across remote and expansive ranches,” says Craig Piggott, CEO and founder of Halter. “Direct-to-satellite allows ranchers to manage hundreds of thousands of acres in the most remote terrain on the planet. Combined with our new suite of product features, these ranchers can be even more productive.”

HALTER 2026 | High Lonesome Ranch | Loma, CO

(Halter)

Case Study: Managing 225,000 Acres at High Lonesome Ranch

Lloyd Calvert, livestock and agriculture manager at High Lonesome Ranch in western Colorado, has been among the first to deploy the satellite-enabled system across the ranch’s 225,000 acres of complex terrain.

“Halter has changed the game completely,” Calvert says. “Satellite unlocks the ability to run very remote country while still seeing what the cattle are doing, without needing someone with them all the time. We call ourselves Halter junkies now because we can check to see where the cows are any time of day, no matter where I am. It gives me a great deal of assurance and that’s irreplaceable.”

Beyond the Fence: New Tools for Heat Detection and Feed Demand

Alongside the launch, Halter has rolled out its largest-ever product upgrade for beef cattle ranchers. The update includes an all-in-one heat detection tool to identify non-cycling animals before breeding, a new behavior tool providing near real-time insight into how feed allocation and pasture quality are influencing cattle performance and advanced grazing features including high-resolution pasture mapping, pasture metrics, zone and block management and a feed demand calculator.

Since Halter launched in the U.S. in 2024, it has expanded to more than 25 states. Globally, its customers have created nearly 900,000 miles of virtual fencing.

Halter direct-to-satellite will be available to beef operations in the U.S., New Zealand and coming soon to Australia and Canada. Interested ranchers can learn more at halterhq.com/beef

Your Next Reads:

5 Ways Smart Collars Improve Grazing

Fri, 24 Apr 2026 11:31:22 GMT

Virtual fencing is suddenly everywhere in ranching headlines — but not every operation is a fit. In a wide-ranging discussion on the “ Future of Beef Show ,” Halter President Andrew Fraser walks through the practical questions producers should ask, from herd size and terrain to water infrastructure, labor and available cost-share programs.

Fraser, originally from New Zealand, with a background in management consulting, mining and tech startups, was the featured guest on episode 20 of the Future of Beef podcast. Halter spent about five years in research and development, and is now commercially active in New Zealand, Australia and the U.S. with more than 750,000 animals on the system.

“If we were being fancy, we would say that it’s an operating system for a farmer. But really at the heart of it, we are a collar for cows,” Fraser explains.

Beyond grass and fencing, Fraser sees Halter as a tool for addressing some of ranching’s most pressing human challenges: labor and succession. By automating low-value tasks like shifting poly wire and checking distant pastures, Halter lets employees focus more on animal care and land stewardship.

A Collar, an App and Virtual Fences

Halter’s system centers on a lightweight, above-neck collar and a phone app. Ranchers use the app to draw virtual fences or breaks on a map. The collars then hold or move cattle using sound and vibration cues, with a very mild pulse as a back-up.

When an animal approaches a virtual boundary, it hears a directional beep in one ear to encourage it to turn back. When it’s moving the right way, it feels a gentle vibration — something Fraser likens to a smartwatch buzz — as positive reinforcement.

Halter can also shift cattle between paddocks, replacing the need for riders, dogs or temporary electric fence to move a herd. Behind the scenes, the collars continuously track behavior such as grazing, ruminating, resting and walking, plus GPS location.

In dairy herds, Halter already uses this behavior data for heat detection and health alerts. In beef systems, it’s being used for grazing management, stock location and early warning of unusual behavior.

Training Cows with Sound, Not Shock

Fraser is quick to point out that Halter is designed around sound, not pain.

“Even our strongest pulse is 1/50 the strength of an electric fence,” he says. “So, this is not a significant shock, or anything like what cows are used to with hot wire or poly wire.”

Training a herd typically takes two to seven days. Ranchers start with an existing strip of hot wire, then gradually move it and pair the fence with sound cues, teaching cows to use sound instead of a visible wire as their boundary.

According to the podcast discussion, here are five ways a smart collar can change how producers graze cattle:

1. Turn Fixed Fences into Flexible, On‑Demand Paddocks

With virtual fencing, producers can draw the paddock on an app instead of building it with posts and wire.

“On your app, you’ll draw where you want your cows to stay, or your cattle to stay, and they will stay there,” Fraser explains.
Using the Halter system, producers can:

Tighten or loosen breaks day‑to‑day.
Change paddock shape, for example hub‑and‑spoke around water instead of rectangles.
Redraw setbacks along waterways or sensitive areas instantly as rules or conditions change.

According to Fraser, using Halter, producers can graze to the residuals they want, in the spots they want, without being locked into permanent fencelines.

2. Intensify Rotational Grazing and Boost Pasture Utilization

For all the technology involved — solar-powered collars and towers, satellite data, and machine learning — Fraser insists Halter’s value proposition starts with something simple: better grass management.

Because cattle can be kept in tighter areas and moved frequently with sound cues, rotational grazing becomes much more precise and practical. Fraser says producers “should be able to make the cost of Halter back from gains in pasture alone.”

By holding cattle in small areas and moving them often, Fraser says:

You push cattle to eat more uniformly — not just the “ice cream” spots.
You protect regrowth by not overgrazing favorite areas.
You can raise stocking rate or hold numbers steady with fatter cattle.

He gave an example of a Wyoming ranch that went from grazing approximately 800 to 1,500 head in a year, pairing Halter with better water infrastructure to fully use its grass.

3. Replace Chase-and-Pressure Moves with Calm, Low‑Stress Shifts

Instead of horses, bikes, dogs and yelling, with the Halter system cattle learn to move on their own in response to sound and vibration. Fraser explains the cues are beeps in one ear or the other to turn left or right. Apple Watch–style vibrations are positive reinforcement when they’re headed the right way.

This changes how producers graze by turning musters and shifts into scheduled, low‑stress, almost “hands‑off” events, which is better for cattle, people and time use.

4. Use Data on Behavior and Biomass to Refine Grazing Decisions

Smart collars and supporting tools give real data on what’s happening in the paddock, not just gut feel. Behind the scenes, Halter has invested heavily in data science and artificial intelligence (AI). Today, Halter uses on-collar machine learning to interpret behavior, plus satellite imagery and weather data to estimate pasture biomass and residuals.

Halter helps producers track where cows are, how long they graze, ruminate, rest and move. It can help calculate how many tons of dry matter are consumed.

“We’re able to tell you what the residual is when the cow goes in, what the residual is when the cow leaves,” Fraser says.

This helps ranchers understand herd-level dry matter consumption between moves. Looking ahead, Fraser is especially interested in individual cow feed efficiency — answering a question many ranchers have wondered about for years.

Right now, he said, producers know which cows are the heaviest or give the most milk, but not how much forage each one eats to get there. Halter hopes to help identify animals that eat less but still perform well, offering new levers for genetic selection, profitability and sustainability.

Today, consumption data is built from satellite data plus time in paddock plus behavior. He says the research and development aim is to go from herd-level to cow-level intake, so producers know which cows are genuinely efficient, not just big eaters.

5. Integrate Grazing with Water, Labor, Risk and Regulations

Fraser summarizes once producers can move virtual fences easily, grazing decisions connect more tightly to other constraints:

Water access: Producers can design hub‑and‑spoke paddocks around fixed water or move small troughs and redraw breaks to match.
Labor: Less time on poly wire and fence repair frees people up for land and animal work; Fraser notes that avoiding “boring tasks” is a big benefit.
Risk and emergencies: Ranchers have used Halter to move cattle in floods or fires when it’s unsafe or impossible for people to go in, and fences might burn or wash out.
Changing rules: When riparian buffer rules tightened in New Zealand, farms with Halter simply redrew the virtual exclusion zones. “If you had fencing, that would have been a huge cost to move all of that. If you had Halter, you just drew a different break on your phone,” Fraser says.

Those factors change grazing from a mostly fence‑ and labor‑limited system to one that’s more data‑, water‑ and policy‑aware, and much quicker to adjust.

Not a Fit For Everyone

Fraser was upfront that Halter falls short or isn’t a fit yet for:

Very small “hobby” herds — fewer than 50 head — return on investment doesn’t pencil out.
Extremely large, ultra-extensive ranches — tower-based communications still limit practicality.
True cow-level feed intake/efficiency today — still herd-level, with individual metrics as an research and development goal.
Full system integrations and “AI for everything” — they’ve done relatively few integrations so far and intentionally avoid AI where it doesn’t clearly help producers.

For an industry built on barbed wire and sweat, the idea that cattle might one day move mostly to the sound of a beep and the buzz of a collar is a big shift. But for Fraser, that’s exactly the point: use technology to make ranching more controlled, more flexible and more humane — without losing sight of what matters most on the land.

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The Hidden Cost of Overgrazing: How It Drains Your Watershed, Rainfall and Bottom Line

Fri, 24 Apr 2026 12:01:30 GMT

Overgrazing is a primary driver of water scarcity on rangelands. When livestock repeatedly remove too much leaf area, soil infiltration rates drop, causing rainfall to become surface runoff rather than stored soil moisture. According to Texas A&M AgriLife Research, heavily grazed sites can lose up to 10% of their annual precipitation to runoff — water that could have driven forage production.

Every drop of rain is precious. On healthy rangeland, most of that rainfall enters the soil (infiltration), is stored in the profile and then drives forage production. Under prolonged overgrazing, however, plant vigor declines, roots shrink, litter disappears and soils compact, reducing infiltration, increasing runoff and erosion and shrinking the water available for grass growth. Over time, that damages both watershed function and ranch profitability.

What Overgrazing Does to Water

Less plant cover → less infiltration. Texas A&M Extension work shows that rangeland sites with robust bunchgrass or oak-understory cover retain more rainfall and lose less to runoff than sites dominated by sodgrasses or bare ground. Heavily grazed watersheds at the Sonora Station have shown runoff approaching 10% of annual precipitation, water that could have been growing grass.
More bare ground and compaction → more runoff and sediment. Vegetation and ground cover are the two attributes managers can influence most to control raindrop impact, maintain soil structure and limit concentrated flow erosion; when cover is lost, rills and sheet flow move soil, nutrients and carbon off the pasture and downstream.
Hydrologic decline scales from paddock to watershed. AgriLife Research modeling in northwest Texas found heavy continuous grazing increased bare ground and reduced infiltration, elevating surface runoff, soil erosion and carbon export to streams, while adaptive multi-paddock (AMP) grazing reduced those losses at both ranch and watershed scales.
Stream water quality takes a hit. Edge-of-field monitoring in northeast Texas showed continuously grazed sites produced more than 24% more runoff than pastures under prescribed grazing and had significantly higher loads of nitrate/nitrite and total suspended solids, reflecting the combined effects of reduced infiltration and increased overland flow.

(West Texas Rangelands)

Why Infiltration Matters for Production

Every inch of rainfall that infiltrates instead of running off becomes soil moisture for roots, cooler soil temperatures and more days of active growth. Texas A&M’s classic “Improving Rainfall Effectiveness on Rangeland” illustrates how management that maintains cover and litter can shift water fate toward infiltration and storage, improving rain-use efficiency which translates to more grass per inch of rain.

From a forage and cattle performance standpoint, prolonged overgrazing repeatedly removes leaf area and growing points, which reduces photosynthesis, root mass and regrowth capacity resulting in the plant having fewer “tools” to capture and use the water that does infiltrate. Texas A&M AgriLife’s grazing series details how timing, intensity, and recovery periods govern these plant responses.

The Compounding Costs You Can’t See — At First

Reduced carrying capacity & higher feed costs. Lower infiltration and more runoff → less forage → lower stocking potential or higher reliance on hay and supplements. Over time, repeatedly “mining” residual cover shrinks both grass base and soil function.
More erosion & infrastructure risk. Concentrated flow cuts rills and gullies, damages roads and water gaps, and fills stock ponds with sediment; and these are costs that show up as repairs and lost storage. (NRCS hydrology guidance emphasizes cover as the first line of defense.)
Water quality liabilities. TWRI studies link poor grazing in creek pastures to higher bacteria and sediment delivery during runoff events; rotational/prescribed grazing and keeping livestock out of wet creek pastures during stormy periods reduce those loads dramatically.
Ecological drift. Overgrazed, drought-stressed sites can shift toward weedy/invasive species that livestock avoid, creating a feedback loop of selective overuse on the remaining palatable plants.

What to Do Instead: Practical Fixes that Pay

Match stocking to forage and recovery. Stocking rate is the “gatekeeper” decision; nothing else works if it’s wrong. Build flexibility to reduce numbers when growth slows, and plan for adequate post-graze recovery that changes with rainfall.
Manage timing, duration and distribution. Shorter grazing periods, longer rest and strategic water/mineral placement prevent chronic re-grazing of regrowth and spread hoof impact — core principles in the AgriLife Adaptive Multi-Paddock guidance.
Monitor cover, litter and bare ground. Simple photo points and transects documenting bare ground and litter depth are sensitive early-warning indicators of hydrologic decline; adjust grazing before the problem is expensive (AgriLife’s West Texas Rangelands site offers practical monitoring how-tos and also check out the Rangeland Analysis Platform for current production estimates).
Invest where infiltration starts: the soil surface. Where chronic traffic has sealed the surface, recovery requires rest + cover, not more grazing. NRCS and AgriLife hydrology guidance are clear: vegetation cover is the most manager-controllable driver of infiltration, compaction and erosion resistance on rangeland.

The Bottom Line

Prolonged overgrazing is more than a forage or drought problem; it’s a management problem that creates water scarcity. It trades infiltration for runoff, soil for loose dirt and carrying capacity for input costs. The fixes are well-known: destock, shorten grazing bouts, lengthen recovery and monitor cover and bare ground. Those steps rebuild infiltration, stabilize soils and turn the same rainfall into more grass and healthier soils.

Visit the West Texas Rangelands website for more information on rangeland management and current research on prescribed fire, wildfires, brush management and grazing management.

Building Resilience from the Ground Up: How Grazing Management Supports Climate Solutions

Wed, 22 Apr 2026 12:30:07 GMT

Across the globe, ranchers and pastoralists are navigating increased weather variability along with shifting ecosystems, among other pressures such as economic uncertainty. Strengthening resilience in these systems requires practical tools and adaptive management strategies, along with a deeper understanding of how land, livestock and people interact.

One of the most valuable tools available to producers is the written grazing management plan (GMP) — not simply as a document, but as a process that supports long-term ecological and economic sustainability.

A Global Perspective: Resilience Starts with Management

From the grasslands of Argentina to the rangelands of East Africa, producers face diverse challenges shaped by climate and policy. Yet a common thread unites them. Resilient grazing systems are built through intentional management.

Healthy rangelands play a vital role in supporting thriving ecosystems. They store carbon and support biodiversity while also improving water infiltration and reducing erosion, among other benefits. These ecosystem services ultimately depend on how land is grazed, rested and managed over time.

Globally, there is growing recognition that grazing lands are a key part of the solution.

Balancing Ecology, Economics and Legacy

In the U.S., cattle producers operate within their own unique set of challenges and opportunities.

According to Jeff Goodwin, director of the Center for Grazinglands and Ranch Management with Texas A&M AgriLife Research & Extension, long-term success in the cow-calf sector depends on balancing three core priorities:
● Ecological sustainability: protecting soil health, forage resources and biodiversity
● Economic viability: maintaining profitability in a fluctuating market
● Social sustainability: ensuring operations support quality of life and generational transfer

“Producers aren’t just managing cattle,” Goodwin explains. “They’re stewarding complex ecosystems while running a business.”

Today, that balancing act is becoming more difficult as producers contend with various pressures alongside the conversion of grazing lands to other uses.

Environmental Stewardship Award 2024 Region VII Winner Downey Ranch, Wamego, KS

(NCBA Environmental Stewardship Award Program/Baxter Communications Inc.)

The Value of Grazing Management Plans (GMPs)

While grazing management plans are often discussed as technical documents, their true value lies in the planning process itself.

Goodwin emphasizes that successful producers are not defined by rigid plans, but by their ability to adapt.

A written GMP helps producers:
● Define clear goals and objectives
● Inventory available resources (land, water, livestock, forage)
● Evaluate management options
● Implement strategies and monitor outcomes
● Adjust based on weather, markets and ecological feedback

“It’s not the piece of paper that matters,” Goodwin notes. “It’s going through the process and staying flexible.”

This adaptability is essential in a changing environment. Producers who actively plan, and revise those plans, are better equipped to respond to pressures as they arise, such as shifting seasons and market volatility.

Read More About Grazing Management Plans:

Grazing Management Plans: The Power of the Pen

State of Grazing Management: To Plan or Not to Plan

Grazing, Carbon and Land Resilience

As the role of grazing systems in maintaining healthy landscapes becomes clearer, they are gaining recognition not just for their use, but for the ecosystem services they support and the outcomes they can deliver when managed well.

Grazing management is now central to discussions around carbon sequestration, soil health and land resilience — and the broader supply chain is starting to take notice.

“For the first time in my career, grazing lands are getting the attention they deserve,” says Goodwin. “People are recognizing the value producers bring beyond just food production.”

A written grazing management plan helps turn that recognition into action. By linking ecological goals with day-to-day decisions, it gives producers a practical framework to apply soil health principles, adapt to changing conditions and build long-term resilience through intentional stewardship.

Resources and Support for Producers

For producers interested in developing or adapting their written grazing management plans, a variety of resources are available:
● U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Beef : Offers a Grazing Management Plan Development Module and template in addition to other sustainability tools
● Natural Resources Conservation Service : Provides technical assistance and conservation planning support
● National Grazing Lands Coalition : Connects producers with grazing specialists and educational programs
● Noble Research Institute : Hosts grazing and soil health workshops
● Ranching for Profit : Focuses on financial and ecological decision-making

Learning from peers is an important part of day-to-day decision-making. Some of the most practical insights come from neighbors and fellow ranchers dealing with the same conditions and challenges.

Looking Ahead

The April IYRP theme reinforces a powerful idea: resilience is not built overnight. It is developed through intentional management, continuous improvement and adaptability.

For U.S. cattle producers, written grazing management plans offer a pathway to strengthen both land and livelihood. By focusing on soil health, ecological function and strategic decision-making, producers can position their operations to withstand uncertainty while contributing to thriving ecosystems.

As more attention turns to rangelands, their importance is coming into sharper focus. A grazing management plan may be simple in structure, but it can play a powerful role in strengthening the long-term resilience of grazing systems and the people who depend on them.

— Provided by the U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Beef (USRSB) in recognition of the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists (IYRP).

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$42 Million Investment: NFWF and McDonald’s USA Launch First Grassland Conservation Grants

Tue, 07 Apr 2026 18:40:21 GMT

The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) announced an initial award of $32.8 million in grants under the new Grassland Resilience and Conservation Initiative , supported by funding from McDonald’s USA, the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and several key McDonald’s USA beef and beverage suppliers.

Nearly $42 million in total conservation impact will be generated through this first round of awards from the Grassland Resilience and Conservation Initiative, achieved by leveraging an additional $9.1 million in matching contributions from grantees. This initial investment will advance voluntary conservation practices benefiting both wildlife and ranchers across nearly 2.5 million acres of U.S. grasslands.

A Landmark Seven-Year Commitment to U.S. Grasslands

Launched in 2025, this landmark seven-year initiative aims to invest more than $200 million to benefit America’s iconic grasslands, cattle ranching communities and wildlife populations that depend on healthy soils, productive habitats and plentiful water. Through this initiative, grants will promote and accelerate wildlife conservation efforts across 4 million acres of grazing lands within the Great Plains, Rocky Mountain West, Midwest, West Coast and Southeast.

The six grants announced today to American Bird Conservancy , American Farmland Trust , Mule Deer Foundation , National Audubon Society , Sand County Foundation and University of Missouri are the first to be awarded through this historic investment.

These initial six grantees are expected to work with more than 750 private cattle ranch operations across 26 states to implement conservation activities including:

Developing and implementing improved grazing management plans
Installing grazing infrastructure such as wildlife-friendly fencing and watering systems
Restoring grasslands through reseeding of native plants, prescribed burning and removal of invasive vegetation
Conserving water and recharging aquifers by improving water control structures and restoring wet meadows and streambanks

Such conservation practices are designed to support ranchers in sustaining healthy, resilient cattle herds while also providing the diversity of high-quality habitats needed by wildlife species that depend on healthy grasslands. Many participating ranchers will build on their existing efforts and achieve meaningful gains in operational efficiencies made possible through the financial and technical support offered by the Grassland Resilience and Conservation Initiative.

“Today is a great day for America’s wildlife, its ranching communities and its beef supply chain,” says Jeff Trandahl, executive director and CEO of NFWF. “This first round of grants from the Grassland Resilience and Conservation Initiative shows what can happen when corporations, federal agencies, conservation organizations and private landowners join forces to support both wildlife conservation and economic prosperity. This initiative is just getting started. We are confident it will play a leading role in grasslands conservation across the nation for years to come.”

McDonald’s USA suppliers participating in the initiative include Cargill, Golden State Foods, Lopez Foods, OSI and The Coca-Cola Company. On behalf of McDonald’s USA, Cultivo (now integrating Kateri) and Carbon Yield will provide independent monitoring and quantification of any improvements to soil health.

In its role within the initiative, NFWF will manage and invest funding to advance voluntary conservation efforts by ranchers. NFWF collaborates with NRCS and other funding partners across America’s grasslands to identify impactful, landscape-scale projects that will generate the greatest possible benefits to both wildlife populations and the productivity of vital U.S. ranch lands.

How Ranchers Can Participate in the Initiative

Ranchers interested in participating are encouraged to reach out directly to grantees.

Your Next Reads:
Why Did McDonald’s USA Invest $200 Million in Regenerative Agriculture?

What is the New Grazing MOU?

Tue, 31 Mar 2026 17:45:09 GMT

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins and Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum have signed a historic Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to modernize federal grazing management and boost the domestic beef supply. This agreement bridges the gap between the U.S. Forest Service (FS) and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to cut bureaucratic red tape, streamline grazing permits and ensure “no net loss” of grazing capacity for the 20,000 American ranchers across 28 states who graze on federal lands.

FS and the BLM are responsible for a total of 240 million acres of federal rangelands. The two agencies together administer more than 23,000 permits and leases held by ranchers who graze their livestock on approximately 29,000 allotments. About 10% of grazing allotments, or roughly 24 million acres, are not under permit but are targeted as opportunities to allow more grazing on federal lands. The FS collects an average of $6 million annually in grazing fees.

Modernizing the Forest Service and BLM Partnership

According to a USDA press release , the agreement formalizes collaboration between the USDA and the Department of the Interior to ensure more efficient, transparent and responsive management across federal lands. By building on the recently released Grazing Action Plan , the agencies aim to eliminate costly bureaucracy and lower consumer prices.

“Today’s signing sends a clear message: the Trump administration is putting America’s farmers and ranchers first,” Rollins says. “Building on our action plan for American ranchers announced in the fall, the Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management are already delivering.”

Burgum adds the partnership is dedicated to strengthening ranching operations while safeguarding public lands.

“By working closely with American ranchers, we are enhancing communication, investing in innovation and modernizing our approach to land management practices to deliver real results for the people who feed and sustain this country,” he says.

A “No Net Loss” Mandate for Animal Unit Months (AUMs)

A central pillar of the MOU is the commitment to maintaining grazing capacity wherever possible. The agreement affirms a goal of “no net loss” of animal unit months (AUMs) within allotments.

To support this, federal agencies will look to expand practical land management tools, including the reopening of vacant allotments. Currently, about 10% of grazing allotments — roughly 24 million acres — are not under permit and represent a significant opportunity to increase domestic beef production.

For generations, ranchers have played a vital role in feeding the nation, supporting rural economies and stewarding public lands. The MOU recognizes permittees as essential partners and directs federal agencies to engage directly with those who live and work on the land.

Bridging the Gap Between Agencies and Producers

To foster a deeper understanding of the industry, the MOU introduces “Ranch Immersion” programs for federal employees. These initiatives will place agency staff on working ranches to build firsthand knowledge of operational challenges. Additionally, the agreement focuses on:

Structured Engagement: Expanding collaboration through learning roundtables.
Data Access: Improving data systems to make allotment information more predictable for producers.
Streamlined Permitting: Reducing delays for infrastructure improvements and permit renewals.

Wildfire Response: New Liaisons for Grazing Permittees

Recognizing the constant threat of wildfire to Western rangelands, the MOU establishes grazing permittee wildfire liaisons. These liaisons will ensure ranchers have a direct point of contact and a voice during both wildfire response and recovery efforts. Furthermore, the agreement promotes the use of targeted grazing as a tool to reduce fuel loads and mitigate wildfire risk, alongside the adoption of innovative technologies like virtual fencing.

According to the USDA press release , the agreement supports not only producers, but also American families by strengthening the domestic food supply chain. By lowering costs and improving efficiency for ranchers, the initiative helps keep food affordable and reduces reliance on foreign imports.

“Today’s signing marks an important step forward in modernizing federal grazing management and reflects a broader commitment to rural prosperity by fortifying the American beef industry as directed by President Trump’s order Ensuring Affordable Beef for the American Consumer ,” the release says.

Ranchers Called, Agencies Answered

Public lands ranchers joined Secretaries Rollins and Burgum as they signed the MOU to launch their Grazing Action Plan.

National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) and Public Lands Council (PLC) leaders and members then participated in a roundtable discussing cooperative work to address longstanding challenges for federal lands grazing permittees. PLC President Tim Canterbury, PLC Past President Mark Roeber and Industry Issues Committee Chairman Nate Thomson were joined by NCBA President-elect Kim Brackett, American National CattleWomen (ANCW) Past President Nikki Weston, Washington ranchers Stephanie and Nick Martinez, Arizona permittee Dan Bell, and Colorado rancher Nancy Roberts in raising critical ranching issues to be addressed.

“Public lands ranchers are resilient by nature, but we still need significant relief from the burdensome federal regulations that make it harder to do our jobs every day. This MOU will make it easier to ranch on public lands and will help improve the health of western landscapes,” Canterbury says. “By speeding up the permitting process and expanding the use of targeted grazing, the federal government is ensuring that more ranchers will keep ranching and that rangelands will face less degradation and destruction from wildfires and mismanagement.”

This plan focuses on boosting rancher resiliency by assessing vacant allotments, unifying permitting frameworks between agencies, expanding the use of targeting grazing to prevent wildfires, and establishing a rancher liaison program for wildfire incident command centers.

“When you raise cattle on federal lands, it requires a great deal of work to sort through the government red tape. This plan will cut bureaucracy by streamlining the permitting process, expanding grazing access, and optimizing targeted grazing in areas that are the most vulnerable to wildfires,” Brackett explains. “This MOU will provide much needed regulatory relief to ranchers and make it easier for us to carry out the voluntary conservation essential to maintaining these working lands.”

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From Mongolia to Montana: Bridging the Access Gap for the World’s Grazers

Tue, 31 Mar 2026 13:34:29 GMT

From the high plains of Mongolia to the Sandhills of Nebraska, the long-term viability of our grazing lands depends on more than just rain and grass; it requires a robust network of knowledge, financial tools and professional services that empower land stewards to succeed in an increasingly complex global market.

The 2026 March International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists (IYRP) theme — Livelihoods and Economics — emphasizes an essential truth: healthy ecosystems and well-managed grazing rely not only on land and animals, but also on the services and knowledge that enable land stewards to succeed. Ensuring access to these resources is vital for resilient pastoral and ranching communities around the world.

A Global Perspective: The Geography of Access

Throughout pastoral regions, such as Mongolia, Kenya and Argentina, livestock producers work in environments where geography, infrastructure and policy shape their access to vital services. Often, and especially in remote regions, access is limited for services such as mobile veterinary units, credit programs and microloans, and other education programs designed for their pastoral communities.

Across landscapes and governance systems, the pattern is clear — thriving grazing operations rely on support and resources being made available to producers.

While specific needs vary by region, the challenge of access is consistent. Livestock producers everywhere depend on support systems that extend beyond pasture boundaries. Barriers often arise from challenges in accessing services or navigating programs, and these gaps can limit productivity, opportunity and the long-term viability of grazing operations.

Strengthening Access in the U.S.

In the U.S., producers face challenges that can limit the adoption of new tools and technologies, including:

Limited broadband in rural areas making it difficult to use digital solutions.
Financial resources, particularly for new and beginning ranchers seeking to invest in equipment or technology.
Navigating multiple technical and regulatory programs, which sometimes slows the ability to take full advantage of available resources.

Addressing these challenges through improved connectivity, targeted financial support and streamlined access to educational programs is a necessary focus.

Educational and Support Programs for Producers

Fortunately, a variety of programs in the U.S. provide producers with resources and guidance to improve their operations and maintain long-term economic stability. The best part? Most are free.

Some of these programs include the following:

Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) : Offers science-based training on cattle care and handling, including animal health, medication use, injection site protocols and transportation practices. BQA certification promotes responsible livestock management while building consumer confidence.
The Noble Research Institute workshops : Provide guidance on grazing and soil health, with an emphasis on improving ranch management. Some of the available workshops include “Noble Grazing Essentials” and “MarketSMART Ranching.”
U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Beef (USRSB) : Learning modules provide practical guidance on grazing management and sustainable practices to help producers improve beef production. These resources help producers connect sustainability concepts to everyday operations. Visit their online learning center to review their resources, such as the “Grazing Management Plan Development Module” and the “Producer Sustainability Toolkit.”
Annie’s Project : Helps women in agriculture develop skills in managing their operations and planning for business success. The project supports women in agriculture by building skills and fostering connections within the community.
Ranching for Profit : One of North America’s longest-running ranch management schools that focuses on economic and ecological performance. It helps producers analyze finances and make enterprise decisions while linking ecological stewardship with business planning for long-term sustainability.

Collectively, these programs foster an environment for learning and support throughout the U.S. grazing community — and they barely scratch the surface of available programs.

Building Access Together

Strengthening access relies on producers and educators to work together with industry and community partners. For producers in the U.S., awareness of these programs can be just as hindering as receiving access to them.

Access-building requires attention to both technical and social aspects and depends on developing trust and fostering continuous learning.

Looking Ahead

The March IYRP theme reminds us globally that grazing systems depend on both the land and the networks supporting those who manage it. For U.S. ranchers, expanding awareness of available programs ensures producers have the knowledge, tools and connections to carry their legacies forward.

Access, much like the land itself, is fundamental, and advancing it remains a shared responsibility across the grazing landscape and within the beef community.

— Provided by the U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Beef (USRSB) in recognition of the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists (IYRP).

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A Seat at the Table: How Robbie LeValley Bridges the Gap Between Science and Stewardship

Mon, 30 Mar 2026 16:34:16 GMT

As the world recognizes 2026 as the International Year of the Woman Farmer (IYWF), U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Beef (USRSB) is turning the spotlight on the women shaping agriculture every day here in the U.S. From innovative land management strategies to raising livestock with care and precision, women are vital contributors to our food systems and communities.

From Wyoming Roots to Colorado Stewardship

A fourth-generation rancher, Robbie LeValley is a passionate advocate for public lands and sustainable beef production.

LeValley operates a diversified cow-calf operation in western Colorado, where her work reflects a deep commitment to stewardship and the long-term viability of both land and livestock. Her story reflects resilience and a strong belief that agriculture can, and must, balance productivity with environmental care.

LeValley’s connection to ranching began in northwest Wyoming, where she grew up on a cow-calf operation south of Cody. From an early age, she experienced firsthand the realities of working lands that blended private acreage with federal grazing allotments, a model that continues to shape her approach today.

After attending junior college, she transferred to Colorado State University, where she earned both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in animal science. Shortly after, in 1989, a career opportunity in livestock extension enabled her to remain in Colorado, the same year she became part of the LeValley Ranch through marriage.

Since then, LeValley has helped build and sustain a multigenerational operation alongside her family, blending tradition with innovation to ensure the ranch’s long-term success.

(Photo Provided By Robbie LeValley)

The “Power of And": Balancing Production and Conservation

Today, the LeValley Ranch is a diverse and dynamic operation. In addition to running a cow-calf herd, the ranch integrates multiple business components, including grazing management across public and private lands, a USDA-inspected processing facility, retail beef sales, and recreational opportunities.

Central to LeValley’s work is a commitment to conservation and land stewardship. Through years of rangeland monitoring, she has helped document improvements in both vegetation and overall ecosystem function. Her science-based approach allows her to demonstrate that well-managed grazing can support both livestock production and wildlife habitat.

“It’s not about choosing one or the other,” LeValley explains. “It’s about the ‘and.’ It’s about livestock and wildlife, production and conservation.”

This philosophy has not only guided the ranch’s management decisions but has also positioned it for collaboration. LeValley regularly welcomes producers, policymakers, environmental groups and members of the public onto the ranch to see the science in action and the outcomes firsthand.

In 2023, the LeValley Ranch was recognized with the prestigious Leopold Conservation Award, honoring its dedication to sustainable land management and environmental stewardship.

(Photo Provided By Robbie LeValley)

Data-Driven Decisions: Grazing as the Solution

Beyond the ranch, LeValley’s career reflects a lifelong commitment to education and service.

From 1989 to 2012, she served as a Tri River Area extension agent, working directly with producers and communities to strengthen agricultural practices and outreach. Today, she continues to support research and innovation through her involvement in agricultural and meat science initiatives.

Her background in science plays a critical role in how she approaches ranching. By collecting and interpreting data on rangeland conditions, LeValley is able to make informed decisions and communicate the positive impacts of well-managed grazing systems.

That ability has proven especially important in conversations around public lands, where misconceptions about agriculture can persist.

“Too often, grazing is seen as the problem,” she says. “But when you have the data, you can show it’s part of the solution.”

Advocacy in Action: Ensuring the Producer’s Voice is Heard

LeValley’s influence extends across the beef industry through her involvement in numerous organizations at the local, state and national levels. She has dedicated countless hours to ensuring that the voice of producers is represented in policy discussions and industry initiatives.

Her leadership roles include past service with the Public Lands Council, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, Colorado Cattlemen’s Association, Society for Range Management and Colorado Beef Council.

For LeValley, this involvement is not optional; it is essential.

“If we’re not at the table, we don’t have a voice,” she explains. “The infrastructure, policies and opportunities we have today exist because previous generations stepped up. It’s our responsibility to do the same.”

Her commitment to collaboration is also evident in her mentorship of the next generation. Whether working with young producers or early-career ranchers, she emphasizes the importance of strong relationships and thoughtful decision-making.

(Photo Provided By Robbie LeValley)

Leading in Action

As a woman in agriculture, LeValley has witnessed both challenges and progress throughout her career. Her perspective is grounded not in titles or recognition, but in action.

“Leadership doesn’t always mean being out front,” she says. “Sometimes it means supporting others, and that’s just as important.”

She hopes young women entering agriculture will see that leadership is demonstrated through daily work and integrity, not just words.

Her advice is simple but powerful:

Work hard.
Build relationships.
Find mentors.
Lead by example.

“Work hard in silence,” she adds. “Let success make the noise.”

Continuing the Story

LeValley’s impact reaches far beyond her own operation. She is helping shape the future of ranching and the role of women in agriculture.

Her work demonstrates that stewardship and productivity are not opposing goals; they are interconnected. By embracing both, she is advancing the beef industry and ensuring its resilience for years to come.

As the International Year of the Woman Farmer continues, stories like LeValley’s highlight the leadership of women across agriculture.
They remind us that ranching is more than a livelihood; it is a legacy shaped by care for the land and a strong sense of purpose for the future.

Learn more about sustainable beef and producer leadership by visiting U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Beef and Public Lands Council websites.

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Halter Raises $220M in Series E to Accelerate Global Expansion of Virtual Fencing

Wed, 25 Mar 2026 12:40:41 GMT

Halter, the global agtech company transforming cattle farming, today announced it has raised $220 million in Series E funding at a $2 billion valuation. The round was led by Founders Fund, with participation from Blackbird, DCVC, Bond, Bessemer, NewView, Ubiquity, Promus and Icehouse Ventures, as it continues to expand alongside the ranchers using Halter in their operations.

The capital will be used to support the ranchers and farmers already using Halter and to extend it to more operations globally, with a continued focus on the people using it every day.

The round is one of the largest-ever in agtech globally and reflects growing demand for virtual fencing technology. Halter serves more than 2,000 ranchers and farmers across New Zealand, Australia and the U.S., with 1 million of its solar-powered collars now sold. Since launching in the U.S. in 2024, American ranchers using Halter have built 60,000 miles of virtual fencing as part of how they manage their land, with Halter working alongside them.

Ranchers using Halter can move herds, rest pastures and cut their reliance on physical fencing — all from their phones. The GPS-enabled, solar-powered collars help reduce the kind of labor-intensive work that has long defined cattle operations, giving ranchers back time and more control over how their land is managed.

“We started Halter because we believed technology could fundamentally change what it means to run a ranch, and enable ranchers to use innovation to build long-term futures on their land,” says Craig Piggott, CEO and founder of New Zealand-born Halter. “Our ranchers need tools that work, and the fact that they’re using Halter tells us our technology has earned their trust. This raise lets us bring it to far more of them — and faster.”

The deep tech company’s GPS-enabled collars use audio cues and gentle vibrations to contain and herd cattle within virtual boundaries, allowing ranchers to move herds from a smartphone — without breaking ground or stringing wire.

“Agriculture is a multitrillion-dollar industry that feeds the world, yet remains one of the least digitized sectors on Earth,” says Founders Fund Partner Amin Mirzadegan. “Halter is changing that by bringing software, sensors, and AI directly into livestock operations in a way that ranchers actually adopt. Craig’s deep understanding of the ranchers he serves has enabled the company to build something that’s not just useful, but mission-critical to how ranches run.”

Halter will deploy the new capital to grow its commercial and field operations across the U.S., New Zealand and Australia, while expanding into other international markets, starting with Ireland and the U.K. later this year. The company already has early ranches in Canada and is also exploring further expansion in North and South America this year.

Investment will continue across product development, including animal health monitoring and pasture management, shaped by how customers are using the system in the field. The focus remains on supporting the ranchers and farmers building their operations with Halter.

Halter plans to hire an additional 200-plus people — its largest-ever hiring effort — with a focus on product, engineering and customer roles at its Auckland headquarters.

Dakota Ranchers: New Program Available To Promote Data-Backed Grazing Management

Tue, 03 Mar 2026 17:36:10 GMT

Ducks Unlimited and AgriWebb are joining forces and taking aim at addressing the challenges of grazing on public lands in North and South Dakota.

Supported by a grant through National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF), the program provides livestock producers in cow-calf or stocker operations with digital tools and infrastructure to manage their public land, livestock and profitability more effectively. Ranchers enrolled in the program benefit from AgriWebb software combined with temporary and virtual fencing to holistically manage their livestock and land.

“Keeping grasslands intact is essential to the long-term sustainability of waterfowl and other wildlife,” notes Billy Gascoigne, DU senior director of agriculture & strategic partnerships. “Ranchers are the primary stewards of these landscapes, and it’s imperative that we develop solutions that help them implement adaptive, profitable grazing practices while ensuring the next generation can continue this important work.”

According to the organizations, the partnership will provide a streamlined way to report livestock numbers and managed acreage to NFWF. By capturing this data, the partnership is tackling some of the industry’s biggest challenges, including:

● Enhance grassland health: Promoting vibrant nesting cover for waterfowl through ample rest and rotation.
● Empower producers: Providing the “productivity-driving” insights needed to manage herds more effectively on complex public lands.
● Strengthen the food chain: Ensuring long-term land fertility to support a growing global population.

“Producers wear many hats, but none are more critical than feeding the world while stewarding the land,” says Campbell Mauchan, AgriWebb vice president of partnerships. “By combining DU’s conservation expertise with AgriWebb’s ability to turn simple data collection into actionable insights, we are helping ranchers nurture the ecosystems we all rely on. When a rancher is equipped to not just record their data, but use it, they are able to make decisions that help them nurture the ecosystems that support their legacies.”

According to the organizations, the initial roll out focused on Dakotas state trust lands is being considered a pilot for a scalable model in how technology and conservation can work to support ranchers across North America.

For more information, ranchers can visit ag.ducks.org .

Land Use & Balanced Development: A Shared Global Challenge

Thu, 26 Feb 2026 17:21:24 GMT

Across global grazing operations, day-to-day decisions revolve around forage conditions, water availability, weather, herd health, market variability and more. With so much attention required on the ground, it can be easy to miss some of the broader forces shaping the future of working lands.

As part of the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists (IYRP), February’s theme focuses on land use and balanced development, which accounts for producer livelihoods, ecosystem health and long-term land function, each connecting pastoralists worldwide.

The Global Perspective

Around the world, ranchers and pastoralists are navigating increasing pressure on the land that sustains their livelihoods and their communities. Depending on geography, governance, history or any other number of factors, land access and land security look different.

In many lower-middle-income regions, securing rights to land means establishing land tenure, protecting common property resources and maintaining mobility for livestock, sometimes across national borders. For pastoralists who rely on seasonal movement and shared grazing systems, land security is essential to both food production and community well-being.

In upper-middle-income regions, the challenge often shifts from access to management and retention. Producers must navigate a complex mix of public land leasing and private land ownership, regulatory frameworks and social pressures. Across all regions, however, pastoralists share a common concern — how to ensure progress continues in ways that support our grazinglands.

Shared Challenge, Different Expression

While the context varies, the pressure on land is universal. The landscapes we rely on are increasingly shaped by competing land uses. This is where the global IYRP conversation meets a distinctly American reality.

For the U.S., grazingland conversion has emerged as one of the most significant challenges tied to securing land and achieving balanced development. It occurs when grazing lands are converted to other uses, often permanently.
Key drivers include:
● Conversion of native grazing lands to cropland or other non-grazing uses such as recreation or hunting leases
● Woody encroachment — afforestation of invasive tree species due to absentee land ownership or mismanaged lands
● Residential and commercial development
● Transportation and energy infrastructure
● Renewable energy development like wind and solar

Each of these changes may be driven by legitimate societal needs. Taken together, however, they create combined pressure on grazing landscapes and the producers who depend on them.

Understanding the Scale

According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service , in the last 10 years alone, the U.S. has lost more than 50 million acres of grasslands.

When viewed at scale, grazingland conversion is not a collection of isolated decisions. It is a trend with long-term implications for grazing operations, wildlife habitat, carbon storage and rural communities. Once grazinglands are converted, they are rarely converted back to their grazing function.

This is particularly important to note because not all acres are interchangeable. Grazinglands provide ecosystem services that are difficult, if not impossible, to replace. They support biodiversity, protect soil and water resources, store carbon and depend on cattle and other grazing animals to remain healthy.

Balanced Development Is the Goal

As pastoralists and ranchers move forward, the goal for all is simple: intentional, balanced planning, with development that recognizes the value of working lands and the people who steward them.

Balanced development means:
● Considering long-term land function over short-term gains
● Planning development projects in ways that minimize fragmentation of grazinglands
● Ensuring pastoralists and ranchers are at the forefront of land-use conversations

Throughout IYRP, topics like this will continue to connect local management decisions with global priorities. Balanced development isn’t about choosing between progress and grazing. It’s about making room for both.

Looking Ahead
The February IYRP theme highlights a shared global concern of how to move forward without leaving pastoral systems and healthy rangelands behind. For American ranchers, grazingland conversion is one of the most visible expressions of that challenge.

In support of this, the U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Beef (USRSB) has launched the Grazingland Conversion Task Force, which exists to unify stakeholders across the U.S. beef supply chain around a shared understanding of grazingland conversion and to collaboratively develop strategies that support reducing conversion. If you’re interested in learning more, contact Samantha Werth, USRSB executive eirector, at swerth@beef.org.

— Provided by the U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Beef (USRSB) in recognition of the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists (IYRP).

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After the Fire: The Need for Feed, Fence and Prayers

Mon, 23 Feb 2026 21:18:59 GMT

Wildfires plagued the Plains last week from southern Kansas into Oklahoma and Texas. Hundreds of thousands of acres of grass are now burned to sand.

The Ranger Road Fire, which started in Oklahoma and made its way into southern Kansas, to date has burned more than 283,000 acres and is 65% contained as of Monday morning, according to the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry .

The Oklahoma Forestry Services reports moderated fire weather over dormant fuels resulted in a downtick in wildfire activity over the weekend, allowing firefighters to improve the containment of recent large fires.

“Conditions also supported opportunity to execute burn plans for prescribed fires,” the report says. “If you engaged in prescribed burning, controlled burns or pile burns over the weekend, please ensure that fire perimeters are mopped up and secured ahead of increasing fire weather concerns Tuesday through the remainder of the week.”

Read more about how strong winds, above-average warmth and months of worsening dryness created a “perfect recipe”

for wildfires across the Southern Plains, scorching pasture and farmland — with little moisture relief in the forecast:

Why the Southern Plains Became a ‘Perfect Recipe’ for Wildfire

The wildfires have left a path of heartbreak and devastation. From the loss of livestock and homes, barns and shops to pastures and fence, the damage is hard to fathom.

Oklahoma Secretary of Agriculture Blayne Arthur visited Oklahoma producers impacted by the wildfires on Thursday. “Please pray for our farmers and ranchers and our first responders who continue to battle challenging fires and weather,” she says.

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Secretary of Agriculture Blayne Arthur

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Secretary of Agriculture Blayne Arthur

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Secretary of Agriculture Blayne Arthur

Dr. Randall Spare, Ashland Veterinary Center Inc., says nine years after the losses resulting from the Starbuck Wildfire — still the largest, most extensive wildfire in Kansas history — many of the same ranchers have been affected by the Ranger Road Fire.

Spare explains the wildfire was unstoppable with little farmland or breaks to get ahead of the fire plus the extreme wind. The fire started near Beaver, Okla., at 11 a.m., and he reports many ranchers in the path were moving cattle by noon. He says the highest losses occurred where there were no nearby wheat fields or safe pasture alternatives for the cattle.

“When you have contiguous grass for 90 miles, and the fire line was 90 miles long, from Beaver, Okla. to Protection, Kan., and it was moving 70 miles an hour, it’s hard to get in front of it,” he says.

He also explains because of the good moisture in 2025 and good stewardship of the land, there was a lot of tall, dense forage to fuel the fire.

“Many of the best stewards — those who don’t overgraze and stockpile grass for calving and drought management — actually experienced some of the worst damage,” he explains. “Because they’ve done a good job of managing their grass and have forage to eat in the spring of the year before the growing season starts to calve on, they experienced some of the greatest damage.”

Spare says the Ranger Road Fire took the same path as the Starbuck Fire, but it did not burn as many acres in Kansas — about one-third less in comparison.

“The good thing is it did not go north of Ashland. It’s five miles south of Ashland before it starts and not near the acreage burned,” he summarizes. “Since it isn’t like the Starbuck Fire, we have an opportunity as neighbors to help neighbors, whereas before we couldn’t do that because we were all affected.”

He predicts producers in Kansas lost 1,000 to 1,100 head. He adds there will continue to be more loss as producers evaluate cattle condition.

“One of the biggest damage is feet,” he explains. “The walls of their hooves start to fall off due to the fire. And sometimes that doesn’t show up for five days.”

How Can You Help?

According to Reuters , other fires have burned thousands more acres in Oklahoma, Kansas and Texas.

In agriculture, community is strong. When one producer hurts we all feel it and, if possible, we step up and help our neighbors in need. Along with prayers, Spare adds the immediate needs are:

Hay
Money (financial support)

In response to producers offering help, Spare shares a list of ways others can support ranchers recovering from the wildfires on social media, including lessons learned from the Starbuck Fire.

“I would like to share what we learned from the Starbuck Fire that, hopefully, will be helpful as you consider making decisions about how to help,” he writes.

Fencing supplies: “After the Starbuck Fire, we learned that if federal funds are used to rebuild and replace fences, the construction requirements to access those funds are very specific regarding type of wire, posts, etc. While the generosity of those giving nine years ago was remarkable, we were limited in how much of the donated resources actually could be used simply because federal loss recovery funds needed to be used, and the donated fencing supplies didn’t meet government specifications.”
Money: “Today, money is the most precious resource and in the greatest need. Many of the ranching operations affected need time to truly assess their losses. Some are finding cattle they first thought to be lost, alive and safe. Others are experiencing the opposite and unfortunately are seeing the losses increase.”
Available pasture and grassland: “If you have pasture available either short term or long term, please reach out to Ashland Community Foundation, Kansas Livestock Association or Ashland Veterinary Center,” he suggests.
Hay: There are designated drop off locations ready to accept loads of hay.

Multiple organizations have stepped up and are organizing supplies and assistance.

• Kansas Livestock Association. KLA is helping connect those wishing to donate with the most suitable drop location. If you’re hoping to donate goods including livestock feed or hay, you can contact KLA at (785) 273-5115, or visit this website . On KLA’s Facebook page you can find posts from feedlots that are offering pen space to wildfire victims.

• The Ashland Community Foundation. ACF is accepting monetary donations to help those affected by the fires in their community. To donate, please visit the ACF website and select “Become A Partner” in the dropdown. Donations are also being accepted at Stockgrowers State Bank or can be mailed to ACF at P.O. Box 276, Ashland, KS 67831.

• Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Foundation. OCF has established a relief fund to help cattle producers who have been affected. As the 501(c)(3) charitable arm of the Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Association, the fire relief fund at the Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Foundation will distribute 100% of received funds to affected cattle producers. You can give online or make checks payable to Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Foundation with “Fire Relief” in the memo line and mail to P.O. Box 82395, Oklahoma City, OK 73148.

• Beaver County Stockyards and Beaver County OSU Extension office. For those willing to donate feed or hay to the Beaver County, Okla., area, visit the Stockyards website or the Extension office website .

• Beaneighbor.org . The Oklahoma Healthcare Authority, provides access to local support including financial assistance, food pantries, medical care, and other free or reduced-cost help. Search for aid in your area at Beaneighbor.org.

Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food, and Forestry reminds the public to use caution before bringing hay to northwest Oklahoma to prevent the spread of invasive fire ants. Find out if your county is under quarantine for fire ants on the USDA website

Fire Weather is Not Over: Stay Prepared

The Kansas Forest Service reminds producers there are still months of fire season to come.

“As firefighters continue to mop up or extinguish hot spots along miles of fire line, recovery begins for the communities most impacted by recent wildfires,” the agency says. “Many wildfire managers are already preparing for the next round of fire weather.”

While recovery and readiness are happening at the same time, the forest service share these two tips:

Learn how to prepare your home and property for a wildfire. Proper preparation can help your home withstand a wildfire.
Have a plan when the wildfire is heading toward your home or property.

Texas A&M AgriLife Extension has a Fires & Wildfires website dedicated to providing resources to help prepare for and survive wildfires.

A Note to Survivors

Spare says his message to producers who are recovering from the wildfires is to:

Think beyond today. Plan not only for immediate survival but for summer grazing and next winter’s feed. Recognize that hay now is also about having feed later, since grass is gone.
Don’t be afraid to ask for help. “If you are struggling, reach out to a trusted friend and accept neighbor and outside assistance,” he stresses.

Spare summarizes producers from his area are deeply appreciative and humbled by people from across the country who helped nine years ago and are helping again now, even to the point that local folks feel “almost embarrassed” it happened again.

“But it is life, and we’re going to trust God and go on,” he says.

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Apply Now: Legacy Landscapes Program Opens New Round of Funding and Technical Support

Tue, 27 Jan 2026 14:06:55 GMT

An update to last year’s Legacy Landscapes Program is set to put even more value into ranchers’ pockets, according to program partners at Nestle Purina PetCare, AgriWebb, National Grazing Lands Coalition and Regrow.

Currently working with cow-calf producers in Arizona, Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, New Mexico and Texas, the program is seeking to correlate land stewardship and profitability through financial and technical assistance. Ranchers enrolled in the program receive more than $70,000 in valued assistance, ranging from financial assistance for new practice adoption, ranch managment software and technical advice.

During a recent AgriWebb webinar, producer Eric Yates, owner and operator of Yates Family Farms, spoke about the impact Legacy Landscapes has had on his operation in the year since his enrollment, specifically the program’s ability to de-risk conservation change and innovation.

“It’s no risk at all,” he explains. “You either win, because the practice made you better, or you fail at the practice, but you have very limited financial costs invested in it, and you learn something.”

For Yates, the ability to capitalize on AgriWebb to organize his ranch record keeping was a key driver for his enrollment in the program.

“Traditionally we’ve done Excel sheets and pieces of paper, written on the back of a feed tag,” he says. “Then when we need to look at it, it’s a full week of compiling data.”

Through the program, Yates has been able to organize his ranch data, identify grazing patterns and make better operational decisions for his herd and his business.

“At its core, data is the catalyst that allows a producer and their adviser to build a road map and actually see the impact of every management decision,” says John Fargher, cofounder and chief strategy officer at AgriWebb. “By turning daily records into clear insights, ranchers can confidently work toward their specific goals while maintaining total ownership and control of their information. We believe that when a producer truly understands how their decisions are moving the needle on their operation, they can build a more resilient and profitable legacy.”

The program is currently accepting applications for producers. Find more information or sign up by visiting grazinglands.org/legacy-landscapes .

What is the International Year of Rangelands & Pastoralists?

Wed, 21 Jan 2026 13:52:09 GMT

Across the beef community, producers take on countless daily responsibilities, from monitoring forage and water to adapting to weather, markets and herd needs. With so much happening on the ground, it’s easy to miss the broader global conservation efforts that impact rangeland management. That’s why 2026 represents an important moment. It has been designated as the International Year of Rangelands & Pastoralists (IYRP), a global effort to spotlight the value of rangelands and the people who care for them.

While an international celebration, the message hits close to home for U.S. ranchers. The IYRP aims to elevate the contributions of ranchers and pastoralists worldwide, and American cattle producers, who manage some of the most diverse rangelands on earth, are a critical part of the story.

Globally, the language used to describe these landscapes and livelihoods can vary. Rangelands can be referenced in many ways, in many different regions — grazinglands and grasslands. Similarly, the people who manage them may be referred to as a variety of things as well – ranchers, beef producers, shepherds or pastoralists. While the terminology differs, the underlying principle is the same: people working in close relationship with the land to produce food while sustaining natural resources and supporting local communities.

What is IYRP?

IYRP is a yearlong global awareness and education initiative focused on the health, resilience and economic importance of the world’s rangelands. These landscapes — grasslands, prairies, shrublands and deserts — support billions of people through food production, biodiversity, carbon storage and rural livelihoods. In fact, more than half of the world’s land surface is used as rangeland, according to the 2021 Rangeland Atlas.

By declaring a global celebration in IYRP, the United Nations is acknowledging a simple but often overlooked truth: healthy rangelands don’t happen by accident. They depend on the people who manage them every day.

Pastoralism and Ranching: A Shared Heritage

At the heart of the IYRP is pastoralism, a land-based way of life where livestock production relies on natural forage and adaptive grazing strategies. Pastoralists move or adjust their herds in sync with the land, responding to seasons, drought cycles, plant recovery and water availability.

This isn’t a foreign concept to American ranchers. In fact, it reflects exactly what happens across U.S. rangelands every day. Whether it’s rotating pastures or balancing herd needs with forage conditions, ranchers are practicing a form of modern-day pastoralism grounded in science, tradition and local knowledge.

By connecting pastoralists worldwide, including U.S. cattle producers, IYRP highlights a shared commitment to grazing as a tool for land stewardship, not simply livestock production.

Why Celebrating Stewards Matters

One of the core principles of the U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Beef (USRSB) is that sustainability begins with people, specifically, the producers who care for the land, water, wildlife and communities tied to beef production. The IYRP reinforces this idea on a global stage.

Grazing done well improves soil health, supports biodiversity, maintains open space and keeps grazinglands intact. However, these outcomes only happen because ranchers make daily decisions rooted in long-term stewardship. IYRP showcases producers and their stewardship practices while reinforcing responsible land management is a strength of the U.S. beef industry, not a challenge it’s trying to overcome.

Looking Ahead

IYRP offers a rare opportunity to connect local ranching practices with global movement. USRSB is proud to highlight industry progress and on-the-ground management decisions that contribute to healthier landscapes, stronger rural communities and a more resilient beef supply chain.

In the U.S., IYRP isn’t just a global celebration – it’s a chance to reaffirm what we’ve always known: Healthy rangelands depend on the people who steward them.

— Provided by the U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Beef (USRSB) in recognition of the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists (IYRP).

How Today’s Producers Are Rebuilding Soil, Ecosystems and Profit Margins

Wed, 14 Jan 2026 13:28:41 GMT

Adaptive grazing and system-level management are transforming how beef producers think about efficiency, soil health and ecosystem services.

Jeff Goodwin, Texas A&M director of the Center for Grazinglands and Ranch Management, says better grazing decisions can unlock soil, water and ecosystem benefits without sacrificing production.

Goodwin was the featured guest in “ The Future of Beef Show ” podcast Episode 16.

During the podcast, Goodwin discusses practical strategies for managing grazing systems that benefit both production and the environment. From regenerative grazing and soil carbon to linking cattle genetics with pasture quality, he explains out how planning, adaptability and system thinking can help producers improve profitability while supporting long-term sustainability.

The top five takeaways from the conversation include:

1. Be Adaptive — There’s No One-Size-Fits-All

Adaptive management is essential. Goodwin emphasizes successful ranching and grazing management are grounded in adaptability.

“Many times we hear about AMP grazing, or whatever name you want to put on it,” Goodwin explains. “It has to fit the ranch, the ecological context of the operation. It has to fit the cattle. It has to fit the rancher’s mindset. Their time constraints, their quality-of-life constraints, all those things have to work, or it isn’t.”

2. Soil Health Is Foundational

Goodwin stresses the role of soil health.

“It all starts with the soil,” he says. “The soil and the health and function of that soil is the foundation of every terrestrial agricultural enterprise in the country.”

He encourages managers to move away from viewing soil as inert and recognize its role as a dynamic ecosystem.

3. Regenerative Management Is a Philosophy Not a Prescriptive Practice

Regenerative management isn’t a single practice but a mindset and process.

He explains regenerative management is about implementing strategies or practices to mend or rebuild, regenerate a compromised ecosystem process on a ranch.

During the discussion he also explains the four primary ecosystem processes — energy flow, water cycle, nutrient cycle and community dynamics. He urges producers to mend broken processes for better outcomes.

4. Profitability Comes from Reducing Inputs and Increasing Efficiency

Goodwin challenges traditional paradigms by highlighting profitability from reduced inputs and efficiency.

“There’s a couple of different ways to increase profitability, right? I think one of the easiest ways is to start reducing input costs,” he says. “Grazing management can play a key role with that.”

5. Practicality and Adaptability Are the Keys to Success

He calls himself an “idealistic pragmatist,” urging others to focus on practical solutions and to be open-minded to adaptation and innovation.

“I just hope folks will start to look for the practical side of application. Instead of being divisive about words, let’s think about what is going to help my operation, and then be adaptable,” he says. “Find ways to be as adaptive as possible. That’s the key trait that I’ve seen provide the most success to the most producers.”

Rather than prescriptive recipes, Goodwin promotes broad principles such as keeping soil covered, promoting diversity and minimizing disturbance.

“If one were to follow those principles in a way that fits their context, I think they’re going to find, over time, that things start becoming easier,” he summarizes.

When Cattle Don't Roam: Uncovering Tick Refuges with GPS, GIS and Modeling

Mon, 08 Dec 2025 20:00:46 GMT

Cattle fever ticks persist in South Texas not because eradication efforts have failed everywhere, but because, in some places, cattle never go at all. New research from Texas A&M combining GPS collar data, habitat mapping and individual-based simulation models shows areas rarely visited by treated cattle can function as ecological refuges for ticks, allowing populations to survive long enough to reinfest herds.

For more than a century, eradication programs targeting Rhipicephalus microplus have relied on a straightforward premise: treat cattle, interrupt the tick life cycle, and the population collapses. That approach nearly succeeded nationwide by the mid-20^th century, protecting the U.S. cattle industry from bovine babesiosis, a disease transmitted by the tick. However, in South Texas, particularly at the wildlife-livestock interface, ticks continue to persist despite regular treatment programs.

According to a pair of recent studies from Texas A&M AgriLife researchers, the missing piece might not be chemical efficacy or compliance, but behavior. Specifically, where cattle choose not to roam.

What GPS Tracking Reveals About Cattle Behavior

In the first study , cattle were outfitted with GPS collars to record fine-scale movement across the Texas coastal landscape known to harbor cattle fever ticks. Over extended periods, the researchers tracked when and where animals grazed, rested and avoided, generating a high-resolution picture of habitat use across seasons.

The results revealed that cattle did not use the landscape evenly. Instead, grazing and movement was clustered in specific habitat types while large portions of the pasture, particularly dense brush and shrub-dominated areas favorable to tick survival, remained consistently underused. Seasonal heat stress further amplified this pattern, shifting cattle away from certain habitats for prolonged periods.

These underused areas represent more than idle land. From a tick’s perspective, they are zones where pesticide exposure is low or nonexistent. Even when cattle on the ranch are treated, ticks located in places cattle rarely enter might escape control entirely.

By overlaying GPS movement data with geographic information system (GIS) habitat classifications, researchers were able to spatially define where these behavioral gaps occurred, effectively mapping where cattle presence, and therefore tick control pressure, was weakest.

The Role of Cattle Behavior Models for Predicting Tick Persistence

In the second study , researchers moved from observation to prediction. Using the acquired GPS-derived habitat use data, they built a specially explicit, individual based simulation model to explore how tick populations respond to different host and treatment scenarios.

Unlike traditional models that assume uniform host movement, this framework explicitly incorporates cattle behavior, including their avoidance of specific habitat types, alongside tick life history, habitat suitability and the presence of wildlife hosts, such as white-tailed deer and nilgai.

The simulations tested multiple scenarios: cattle-only systems, mixed wildlife-cattle systems, different pesticide treatment strategies and varying habitat use patterns. Across scenarios, a consistent result emerged. When cattle alone were treated, the standard eradication approach, tick populations frequently persisted in landscapes where cattle avoided substantial portions of tick-suitable habitat.

These persistence zones functioned as refugia: small but stable patches where ticks could survive, reproduce and later recolonize treatment areas. Importantly, the model showed eradication success was strongly influenced not just by those species, but by where hosts traveled across the landscape. Assuming homogeneous grazing behavior significantly overestimated the likelihood of tick elimination.

Why Cattle-Only Tick Control Fails: The Impact of Wildlife and Refugia

The presence of wildlife further compounded the problem. In simulated landscapes shared with deer or nilgai, ticks could cycle through hosts that moved freely through refugia, bypassing treating cattle altogether. Even low densities of wildlife were sufficient to sustain tick populations in favorable habitat patches, especially when cattle presence was inconsistent.

The modeling suggests eradication efforts falter not because ticks are ubiquitous, but because they are spatially selective. They exploit ecological and behavioral gaps. These gaps persist unless control strategies account for where cattle do not go.

Crucially, this research showed changes in grazing behavior, such as increasing cattle access to underused habitats, could substantially reduce tick persistence in simulation. Likewise, scenarios that incorporated treatment or management of wildlife hosts dramatically improved eradication outcomes.

A Spatial Approach to Tick Eradication

Together, the two studies argue for a reframing of tick eradication as a spatial and behavioral challenge rather than a purely chemical one. The failure to eliminate cattle fever ticks in Texas might stem less from insufficient treatment and more from incomplete coverage driven by cattle movement patterns.

This insight has immediate implications. Mapping cattle behavior using GPS data allows managers to identify where control pressure is weakest and to target interventions accordingly. This could be through adjusted grazing plans, focused surveillance, habitat modification or strategic wildlife management.

It all underscores the value of location intelligence in veterinary epidemiology. By integrating GPS tracking, GIS habitat data and individual based modeling, researchers can move beyond reactive control toward predictive, landscape-level strategies that anticipate where persistence is most likely. This reframes eradication not as a question of how much treatment is applied but of whether interventions reach the places cattle do not.

I'm a Drover: An Innovator Redefining Ranching

Tue, 02 Dec 2025 13:13:18 GMT

Calling the Nebraska Sandhills home, Logan Pribbeno is not your typical rancher. He’s a fifth-generation beef producer who blends Silicon Valley precision with generational agricultural wisdom.

He represents a new breed of rancher — one who seamlessly blends technological insight, financial expertise and deep ecological understanding.

Today, he serves as president of Wine Glass Ranch with headquarters in Imperial, Neb. His approach is holistic. He views himself not just as a cattle producer, but as an ecosystem manager.

Read more about Wine Glass Ranch:
Profit Meets Purpose: A Rancher’s Guide to Sustainable Success

He doesn’t view sustainability as a trendy concept but as a fundamental business strategy. He sees sustainability not as a buzzword, but as a holistic approach to land management. With his leadership, the Wine Glass Ranch serves as a laboratory for regenerative agricultural practices.

“I view myself as a grass farmer,” Pribbeno notes, emphasizing the importance of grass management.

The ranch has a complex rotational grazing system with 90 paddocks and 200 miles of fencing, ensuring 95% of the land rests at any given time. This strategy maximizes grass regeneration and cattle health while minimizing environmental impact.

ESAP Photography

(Photos: NCBA/Environmental Stewardship Award Program)

Not the Typical Path to Ranching

Pribbeno recalls he initially did not want to ranch. However, he experienced a pivotal moment when he turned 18.

“The switch just went off,” he recalls.

After high school, his father, Jeff, required Pribbeno to leave the state and the agriculture industry for 10 years before he could come back to the ranch.

Jeff explains the experience helped Pribbeno “mature, gain independent work experience and develop critical management skills.”

He says working outside the family operation, Pribbeno gained a broader perspective and became more prepared to manage the ranch effectively upon his return.

Ending up in California, Pribbeno graduated from UC Santa Barbara with a degree in business economics and then immersed himself in the tech world of Silicon Valley.

While there, he navigated the high-pressure consulting and finance landscape, experiencing the 2008 financial crisis firsthand and developing a strategic mindset that would later help him leading the family’s ranch.

While he was in California, he also met and married his wife, Brianna. A native Californian, she made the move with Logan back to the ranch in 2012. The couple has two daughters — Pearl and Prairie.

Jeff says he’s proud of Pribbeno’s development as a ranch manager.

“He’s learned how to be a boss, so I’m really proud of that. That’s very important... to manage people is really hard,” he explains. “He also has all the financial skills that he needs. The business side of the ranch is the most important part.”

(Wine Glass Ranch)

A CFO Approach

Unlike many producers who rely solely on generational knowledge, Pribbeno manages ranching like a corporate CFO. With his background in financial consulting, he approaches his current role using a corporate strategy — analyzing every aspect of the ranch through a lens of strategic profitability and data-driven decision-making.

“I’ve made more money reading and relaxing on my back patio than I have sitting in a cab of a tractor,” Pribbeno jokes, revealing the analytical approach that sets him apart.

This financial acumen extends to his cattle management and long-term perspective. Instead of following and chasing short-term market trends, his vision extends beyond immediate profitability.

He’s currently transitioning from a cow-calf operation to more stocker cattle, driven by market conditions and financial considerations.

“We try to look at the cattle cycle to see when we should be mainly stockers versus mainly cow calf,” he explains.

Jeff and Connie Pribbeno and their son and daughter-in-law, Logan and Brianna, own and operate Wine Glass Ranch near Imperial, Neb. The ranch is an example of how innovative agricultural practices can simultaneously improve ecological health, animal welfare and financial sustainability.

(NCBA Environmental Stewardship Program)

Family and Future

Another characteristic that defines Pribbeno is his generational thinking. He plans in decades, not in years, and is deeply committed to generational land stewardship.

“We want to leave the place a little bit better for our kids, just like my parents did.” he summarizes hoping one day Pearl or Prairie will continue the family’s ranching legacy.

Pribbeno is not just a rancher, but an ecosystem manager, financial strategist and environmental steward. By integrating technology, financial insight and ecological understanding, he’s demonstrating that modern beef production can be simultaneously profitable, sustainable and regenerative.

ESAP Photography

(NCBA Environmental Stewardship Award Program)

Pribbeno’s 5 Sustainability Tips

For producers seeking to improve sustainability, Pribbeno offers these strategies:

Read extensively. He suggests Allan Nation’s books, including “Knowledge Rich Ranching.” He tries to read at least a dozen books per year.
“Keep an open mind. Reading is a strategic advantage for me,” Pribbeno says.
Visit other operations. “I’ve probably put my boots on 100 different farms and ranches,” he explains. “And that’s really been a strategic advantage for me see what other people are doing. My farm and ranch network is not other producers from Chase County or southwest Nebraska. It’s the greater Plains area, and with tools like Twitter and Facebook, your peer group can be far and wide.”
Profitability and sustainability are the same path. “It doesn’t seem that way, but if you run the numbers, you’ll find it to be true,” Pribbeno stresses.
Plan in decades, not years. “Adopt a decade or generation scale of ecosystem management,” he suggests.
He suggests thinking strategically.
“We try to look at the cattle cycle to see when we should be mainly stockers versus mainly cow-calf,” he explains.
Wine Glass is currently transitioning from mostly cow-calf pairs to more stocker cattle, driven by market conditions and financial considerations.
Keep an open mind and continue learning.

Your Next Read: Profit Meets Purpose: A Rancher’s Guide to Sustainable Success

Building Back Better by Analyzing Your System

Tue, 25 Nov 2025 14:30:48 GMT

How do you develop breeding objectives and identify economically important traits on which to apply selection pressure in your cow-calf operation? The answer lies in understanding your cattle (and their underlying genotype) are just one component of a much larger system.

Your production system is a group interdependent components. Animal-related systems vary from large, extremely complex systems such as the beef industry as a whole, to smaller (but still complex) systems like an individual farm or ranch.

To analyze your own unique cow-calf production system, consider the following:

Your cattle – specifically their genotypes
Your production environment
Your fixed resources and management
Economics

Your cow inventory and bulls used are the means to produce the calves marketed. How would you describe the genetic potential and phenotype of your cow herd, bull battery and calves produced? Is this description a good fit with the other components of your system?

Your production environment refers to all the elements involved in your cow-calf operation over which you have little influence. Examples would include altitude, soils, climate conditions like rainfall, wind and temperature, as well as the quantity and quality of your forage base. Cow-calf production takes place in an extremely wide variety of production environments. A cow herd of the correct genotype to fit their production environment will more efficiently convert grazed forage into pounds of calf raised.

Fixed resources include factors such as the amount of pasture you have for grazing, your ability to grow (or have access to) supplemental feeds and available labor.

Management involves all the practices implemented by you. Examples include vaccination protocols, supplemental feeding, how long will mature cows remain in production and (very importantly), how and when will calves be marketed. Management also involves the selection and mating decisions you make to optimize genotypes in your production system in order to create profit potential.

Economics encompasses all the financial factors unique to your operation. The cost of inputs and value of outputs. Feed, fuel, fertilizer, equipment and labor are input cost. Input expenses are significantly influenced by the cost of maintaining your breeding herd. Furthermore, interest rates on debt and the equity you have in your land and cattle are very important economic factors which often influence marketing plans.

Considering all the components of a production system and how they interact with each other should determine breeding objectives and where selection pressure should be applied. This can result in genotypes that are an environmental fit, are aligned with marketing plans and optimize the use of resources.

Your Next Read: Building Back Better Using Breeding Objectives and Selection Pressure

From Best Buy Toy to Pro Spray Drone: A Father-Son Duo Takes Flight In Missouri Cattle Country

Wed, 15 Oct 2025 19:41:26 GMT

Iowa State University freshman Rhett Keaton and his father, Vance, are launching a drone spraying side hustle.

The father-son duo started out just having some fun several years ago, buzzing around the house with a $20 drone from Best Buy that “drove mom crazy”. But now, they are getting serious about turning entertainment to revenue.

Vance, who runs 5K Cattle Company out of Anderson, Mo., ran out and purchased a DJI Agras T20P spray drone this spring, and both Keatons secured the Part 107 Commercial Pilot Certificate needed to operate on a farm. Combined with the private pesticide applicator’s license 5K Cattle Co. already held, the guys can now apply restricted-use pesticides to their own pasture ground.

University of Missouri Extension experts recently weighed in on the promise of drone usage in farming, and more specifically, in cattle operations. Field specialist Caleb O’Neal likens the technologies’ versatility and practicality to that of a UTV.

“Back in the 1980s, it would have been rare to see a UTV being used on a farm,” he says. “Visiting farms today, I’m hard-pressed to find an operation larger than 20 acres that doesn’t have some type of UTV that they utilize on a regular basis.”

And while the Keaton’s are banking on custom application services with a spray drone as their next play in ag, you don’t have to spray crops or weeds to use drones for the benefit of your farm or ranch, according to O’Neal.

Use of drones in agriculture is increasing as row crop and livestock producers find new ways to improve efficiency and productivity.

(Photo courtesy of Caleb O’Neal.)

“Livestock producers can monitor fences and availability of water and can make sure animals are where they should be without even opening a gate,” O’Neal explains. “Drone technology lets cattlemen quickly check estrus indication patches for optimized breeding timing, monitor cows during calving season, look for hidden newborn calves and look out for potential predators.

Getting back to the Keatons, the next step is for Rhett, who is majoring in ag systems technology in Ames this fall, to secure his Missouri commercial pesticide applicators license.

Once that happens, the pair can start marketing drone spraying services to neighboring farms. Their plan is to start locally with pasture and grassland applications before seeking out work on row crop farms to the north once foliar fungicide season hits.

Related - The Scoop Podcast: What’s Next For Ag Drone Application?

Even though the T20P is one of the smaller spray drones offered by DJI, Keaton says it’s proven to be the perfect fit so far. He also rents a neighbor’s spray drone, paying a per-acre fee, when he needs more than one bird to cover more ground.

“We do a lot of flying in and out of trees and stuff like that,” Keaton says. “Having that smaller drone with less capacity and a more efficient battery, I get about double the battery life as [the bigger drones] do. But I also have about half the tank.”

The reservoir on the T20P holds about 5.5 to 6 gallons of tank mix, so Keaton will usually need to land and refill his tank after about five or six minutes of spraying. He averages 23 acres per hour when everything is set up for a quick land-refill-takeoff cycle.

Keaton says Corteva’s DuraCor herbicide, an aerial application-approved formulation containing two Group 4 AIs, is the main product he’s been spraying from the drone thus far. The product label calls for 2 to 3 gallons of active ingredients (mixed with carrier water) applied per acre with coarse droplets.

A fellow rancher kicks the tires on Vance and Rhett Kaiser’s spray drone trailer at a field day event. The Kaisers operate 5K Cattle Company out of Anderson, Mo., and have plans to launch a spray drone custom application business in the near future.

(Rhett Keaton )

Keaton and Vance also picked up a nicely appointed spray drone trailer off — of all places — Facebook Marketplace. The whole setup – drone, trailer, extra batteries, etc. – cost about $30,000 all-in, Keaton says.

“We found one that was cheaper to buy than it was to build our own, especially with the generator — that is probably the most expensive part of that trailer,” he explains. “It already had the generator, pumps, the mix tanks and a thousand-gallon freshwater tank, and everything was lined up.”

With the spray drone in the air and the nice, shiny trailer parked edge-of-field as Keaton makes his passes, cleaning up weed escapes in fields that he says are “pretty clean” already, neighboring farmers often take notice and stop by to ask if he and his dad can come by and spray some of their ground, too. Their plan is to find the sweet spot between a $12 to $20 per acre fee to charge for their drone spraying services.

Speaking of sweet spots, O’Neal feels that spot spraying, guided by aerial imagery or even first-hand producer knowledge of where weed problems are significant and need to be addressed, is a good target for drone service providers like the Keatons.

“A pasture with a rash of blackberry weeds in isolated areas has great potential for a prescription herbicide application where only the problematic areas receive treatment via a spray drone, as opposed to a broadcast application where the entirety of the field is treated whether it needs it or not,” he says.

“I think there’s a lot of opportunity [for it] around us. There’s a lot of guys with hay fields, and they do a lot of burn down applications. That’s one thing we are planning on hitting on,” Keaton says. “I think some guys would be interested in that. Especially if we have a wet spring and guys can’t get in the field.”

Missouri Extension field specialist O’Neal agrees with that assertion.

“In my neck of the woods in southwestern Missouri, the topography can be quite unforgiving, with some areas too harsh to allow access by ground spray rig or even an ATV,” O’Neal says. “With an aerial piece of equipment like a utility drone, landowners can now get herbicide applications on these problematic areas and put them into useful forage production.”

With a pilot year of flying his family’s acres fastened securely under his belt, Keaton says the arrow looks to be pointing up on spray drone technology in agriculture.

“Hopefully we can expand and get maybe another trailer or a bigger drone, it just depends kind of on what’s calling for us,” he says. “I’ve got to see exactly how much work is out there in this business and from there just make it all work out. Our foot is just in the door [right now].”

Your Next Read: Now is the Time for Beef Producers to Invest with Purpose

Nalivka: The Cost of Regulations on Ranching

Mon, 13 Oct 2025 10:59:28 GMT

Reading about the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA’s) concern for farmers and ranchers brings one thought to mind — the impact of regulations. While I believe Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins has the best of intentions for U.S. agriculture, I am not sure how the government can play a role in building cattle herds other than to reduce regulations that lead to increased costs of production.

With their finances benefitting from record-high cattle prices, I do not believe America’s ranchers need any assistance from the USDA to build cattle herds. Aside from the key issues I have discussed over the last several months that are currently playing a role in that decision, I tend to get nervous when I see the words government and herd building in the same sentence!

Secretary Rollins was on the right track when she indicated in her Sept. 25 Memorandum of Understanding that the agency’s “commitment to understanding and protecting U.S. ag producers from “burdens imposed by high input costs.” Taking that statement to the next step, many of those high input costs are related to or are the direct result of regulations.

There are many costs associated with raising cattle, but a large share of those costs is associated with grazing. Drought that limits or totally derails grazing is a key factor of the cattle cycle. Grazing is the primary resource for raising cattle and in the Western U.S., a large share of grazing is on federal land. Critical disputes often arise on federal lands that can impact a ranch with a federal grazing permit and oftentimes, impact ranch costs of production. The politics of managing wild horse numbers is one of those.

Wild horses have once again become a major focus as sound grazing management. As has often been the case, the wild horse numbers have simply become overwhelming and in the attempt to remove horses, the Bureau of Land Management has met strong opposition and lawsuits.

This has been a major controversy in southwestern Wyoming. Ranchers who are dependent on federal grazing leases are directly impacted by an issue like wild horses and it is not without a cost, oftentimes, an exceedingly excessive cost. I know this from personal experience as an expert to discuss the cost impact on the ranch in a court case that went on for 15 years.

We know why the U.S. cattle inventory has fallen to a 75-year low and costs of production have played a key role. And, in that regard, the best advice I can offer to Secretary Rollins in her effort to address these rising costs, which I do believe she is sincere in her statement, is to eliminate and reduce regulations on the cattle industry.

Crickets Galore! Why the Mass Accumulation Isn't That Weird After All

Thu, 18 Sep 2025 17:58:19 GMT

If you’re seeing more crickets than normal this year, don’t worry. Experts say cricket swarms — thousands of field crickets assembling in one location — may be annoying, but they pass with time.

Wizzie Brown, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service integrated pest management specialist, says the annual phenomenon can be startling, but it’s nothing to fear and only temporary.

“These swarms happen every late summer and fall to some degree,” she said in a release . “The crickets don’t sting or bite, so they’re not doing anything other than being annoying, especially if a male gets in your house and is chirping to attract females.”

Cricket Coincidence
When and where cricket swarms pop up are random, Brown adds. One year you may see incredibly high cricket numbers and the next two years you don’t. The cause of these mass accumulations of field crickets isn’t so random, however.

The cricket cycle is spurred on by cool fronts, because crickets don’t like heat. They hatch in early spring, reach adulthood in three months and, by the heat of summer, are looking for places to stay cool, she explains.

They forage on dead insects and vegetation at night and keep a relatively low profile during the heat of the day. Cool fronts in the waning weeks of summer and early fall change that, Brown says.

They also like to swarm to the light. Buildings with bright, dusk-to-dawn lighting attract them.

“You’ll notice they tend to congregate around the front doors of businesses — at gas stations, car dealerships and other businesses and locations that have highly luminous lighting that is on all night,” Brown says. “If you’ve noticed crickets around your house, it’s probably in relation to lighting.”

Seasonal Swarms
If the numbers of crickets seem outlandish, Brown notes there can be multiple generations of crickets in a year, especially in warmer regions. Warm winters can also contribute to the number of cricket generations per year.

Like most insects, field crickets’ numbers rise, peak and fall seasonally. The window for crickets to gather in mass typically lasts four to six weeks before their numbers begin to decline, she says.

Turning off unnecessary lights can reduce the chance crickets will swarm around your home or business. There are also specialty bulbs that are less attractive to insects.

“Attracting crickets can lead to them getting inside structures and homes, especially with poor sealing around doors and windows,” Brown says. “A bunch of dead crickets can be a stinky mess, so it’s smart to leave the lights off as much as possible as that summer-to-fall transition happens.”

A Deworming Plan that Delivers

Wed, 10 Sep 2025 12:59:57 GMT

For Oklahoma producer Buck Rich and his veterinarian, Dr. Tyler Thomas, parasite control isn’t about doing more. It’s about doing it better.

Together, they’ve fine-tuned a simple, practical approach to parasite control that helps Rich’s herd stay healthy and productive all year long. Their success comes down to four practices that any producer can adopt: diagnostics, combination treatment, refugia and management.

Oklahoma producer Buck Rich (left) and veterinarian Dr. Tyler Thomas, owner of Prague Veterinary Clinic.

(Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health USA Inc.)

Diagnostics: Start With the Facts

When Rich notices cattle underperforming, his first move isn’t to reach for more product — it’s to collect a fecal sample.

“You don’t know where to go until you know where you’re at,” explains Thomas, a mixed animal practitioner and owner of Prague Veterinary Clinic in Prague, Okla. “Diagnostics tell us if treatment is even necessary, and whether what we’ve done is working.”

Rich’s operation, Leaning Oak Ranch in Okemah, Okla., includes 2,000 pairs. Like many cow-calf operations, it’s heavily forage-based and parasite control plays a key role in performance.

“We had a group of cows that didn’t look right, and I assumed it was a worm issue,” Rich says. “But fecals came back clean. Diagnostics saved us from reworking the cows unnecessarily.”

That kind of clarity is why conducting fecal egg counts, before and after deworming, is a regular part of their plan.

“Without diagnostics, it’s easy to point the finger at the product,” adds Dr. Jody Wade, DVM, Boehringer Ingelheim. “But if you’re not testing, you might be treating the wrong issue or not seeing the whole picture.”

Combination Treatment: Target Parasites in Different Ways

Combination treatment is the practice of deworming cattle by using two or more dewormers from different drug classes. Dewormers can be divided into three different classes, based on their chemical structure and mechanism of action: macrocyclic lactones (endectocides), benzimidazoles (white dewormers) and imidazothiazoles. Each class controls a distinct spectrum of parasites, and for a different amount of time (see Figure 1).

For Rich and Thomas, implementing combination treatment was a game changer.

“We used to rotate products,” Rich recalls. “Now we use a white dewormer and a macrocyclic lactone at the same time. The cattle slick off faster and just look better.”

Figure 1: The three classes of dewormers.

(Boehringer Indelheim)

“Most operations already use a macrocyclic lactone,” Thomas explains. “Adding a white dewormer targets parasites differently. You get more coverage and it’s economical.”

Dr. Matt Washburn, DVM, Boehringer Ingelheim, says combination treatment is one of the most effective ways to slow resistance, while improving outcomes.

“Each class kills different parasites in different ways,” he points out. “When you use a combination of products, you clean up more effectively and reduce the risk of survivors.”

Refugia: Treat the Right Animals

It may go against tradition, but Rich and Thomas agree: Sometimes, the best choice is to skip the deworming treatment. This practice, known as refugia, leaves a portion of the herd untreated to maintain a population of susceptible parasites, helping dilute resistance across the herd.

“We’re wired to treat everything,” Rich says. “But when we’ve held back a few, like Dr. Thomas recommends, it’s worked, and we’re not wasting product.”

Wade notes that skipping treatment isn’t about doing less; it’s about doing what’s right.

“The days of treating everything, every time, are behind us,” he emphasizes. “Refugia takes discipline, but it gives us longevity. It protects the products we have.”

Buck Rich (left) and Dr. Tyler Thomas processing cattle.

(Boehringer Ingelheim)

Management: Strong Grazing Supports Stronger Control

Rich is quick to explain that success doesn’t just come from products; it’s also about how grazing is managed.

“We’re not extreme rotators, but we do move cattle regularly,” he says. “We try to leave about half the grass behind each time. It helps the pasture bounce back faster, and keeps parasite pressure lower.”

Thomas adds that forage height matters.

“Most infective larvae live in the bottom two inches of pasture,” he says. “If cattle graze above that, they’re exposed to fewer parasites. And it’s better for regrowth and soil health, too.”

Washburn agrees and adds, “Overgrazing doesn’t just hurt your grass. It increases parasite exposure and slows pasture recovery. Management is a pillar of deworming, just as much as the product in your chute.”

Planning that Pays

For Rich and Thomas, deworming isn’t a stand-alone decision; It’s part of a year-round plan. And that plan flexes with the season, the weather and the cattle in front of them.

“Herd health protocols aren’t static,” Thomas says. “If Buck’s going to keep calves for 10 months, we make a different plan than if they’re leaving in 60 days. It’s about making the product fit the goal, not the other way around.”

Rich’s partnership with Thomas helps him stay ahead of parasite pressure, while reducing unnecessary costs.

“I know I can call Dr. Thomas any time,” Rich stresses. “He understands our operation and helps me make decisions that actually fit what we’re doing. Working with my vet makes all the difference.”

That tailored approach is one reason Leaning Oak Ranch continues to see results year after year.

“It’s about using the tools we have wisely,” Washburn says. “When you put diagnostics, combination treatment, refugia and management together, you’re building something more sustainable — and profitable.”

For Rich, the proof is in the cattle and the next generation.

“This is a family operation. My kids are growing up on this ranch,” he concludes. “I want our cattle to look good now, but I also want this to work 10, 20 years from now. That’s why we do it this way.”

To explore strategies like the ones Rich and Thomas use visit DewormingLegends.com .

Federal Court Rules on Fate of Prairie-Chicken

Tue, 19 Aug 2025 14:06:41 GMT

A U.S. District judge on Aug. 12 ruled in favor of Oklahoma, Texas and Kansas, finding that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service committed a “foundational error” when it declared the prairie-chicken endangered in 2022.

Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller in a press release praised the ruling from U.S. District Judge David Counts of the Western District of Texas, who issued the order reversing the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s (FWS) decision to list the lesser prairie-chicken as endangered and threatened.

“This is a big win for Texas, and one we fought hard to get,” Miller says. “From day one, I’ve pushed back against Biden’s federal overreach because it was wrong for our farmers, ranchers and rural communities. This court decision is more than just a legal victory. We stood our ground, and we won.”

PRESS RELEASE: Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller praised a decisive ruling from U.S. District Judge David Counts of the Western District of Texas, who issued an order reversing the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s (FWS) decision to list the lesser prairie chicken as… pic.twitter.com/UzP2FlkFE6
— Texas Agriculture (@TexasDeptofAg) August 18, 2025

Under the Trump administration, FWS determined that it previously failed to provide “adequate justification and analysis” to support identifying two designated population segments of lesser prairie-chicken.

Judge Counts granted the motion for vacatur and remand, finding that remand alone would not correct the agency’s fundamental error in listing the species as endangered and threatened. The court denied all motions to intervene.

About the Prairie Chicken

The lesser prairie-chicken is a bird historically found in parts of Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas and New Mexico. The bird has faced both habitat loss and population decline since the 1960s and has found itself the subject of proposed Endangered Species Act protections.

According to Tiffany Lashmet, Texas A&M agricultural law Extension specialist, in 2014 FWS listed the lesser prairie-chicken as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. Numerous lawsuits were filed, and the listing was ultimately vacated by the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas in 2015.

The United States District Court for the Western District of Texas issued an order last week vacating the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (“FWS”) listing of the lesser prairie-chicken under the Endangered Species Act.https://t.co/BTobyZb9MF pic.twitter.com/CEV82UWJ8P
— TiffanyDowellLashmet (@TiffDowell) August 18, 2025

In 2016, another petition was filed with FWS to list the lesser prairie-chicken under the Endangered Species Act. In 2022, the FWS finalized a rule listing the Northern Distinct Population Segment as threatened and the Southern Distinct Population Segment as endangered. In March 2023, the State of Texas and the Permian Basin Petroleum Association filed suit challenging the listing. Specifically, they claimed the listing violated both the Endangered Species Act and the Administrative Procedures Act.

Lashmet says following the administration change in January 2025, the FWS reevaluated the listing and found it erred in passing the final rule listing the lesser prairie-chicken.

“FWS now believes it erred by failing to provide sufficient justification to have two population segments of the lesser prairie-chicken, which then affected the assessment of extinction risk to the species,” she says. “This, FWS believes, was a significant error justifying immediate vacatur of the listing decision. FWS moved for a voluntary vacatur and remand of the listing rule. Several groups sought to intervene in the lawsuit to defend the listing rule.”

The Decision

Lashmet explains the court addressed two separate issues: the proper remedy and the motions to intervene.

“This case is extremely important for landowners, agricultural producers, oil and gas companies, and others across the portions of the United States where the lesser prairie-chickens are located, including Texas, New Mexico, Colorado, Oklahoma and Kansas,” Lashmet says. “As of now, the lesser prairie-chicken is not listed under the Endangered Species Act, and there is no threat of liability under the Endangered Species Act for a ‘take’ of these animals.”

She says the story is not over.

“The FWS will now reconsider the 2016 application to have the lesser prairie-chicken listed,” she says. “It will determine how properly to view the distinction population segment, and then analyze the various factors required under the Endangered Species Act in making its listing decision. The FWS told the court it expected to have this completed by November 2026.”

New Partnership Expands BLM Access in California

Fri, 15 Aug 2025 15:03:39 GMT

Today, Halter announced a new partnership with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and its charitable arm, the Foundation for America’s Public Lands (APL), to expand joint rancher and public access to BLM-managed public lands.

The partnership includes $2.7 million in funding to support ranchers using Halter on BLM-managed land.

According to the press release, Halter is the world’s leading virtual fencing and guidance system for beef and dairy cows. As the largest land manager in the U.S., BLM’s collaboration with Halter marks a major milestone in bringing virtual fencing to working ranches, advancing land stewardship and grazing efficiency.

Unlocking opportunities for ranchers

The collaboration brings direct support to ranchers adopting Halter’s virtual fencing technology to improve productivity and sustainability, while providing cost-effective and flexible land management. Virtual fencing also improves pasture management, animal health and environmental outcomes. This partnership acts as a model for how public land management can support both productive agriculture and large-scale recreation.

“This partnership with BLM and APL unlocks a number of benefits for ranchers,” says Andrew Fraser, Halter president. “It also marks a major shift in how virtual fencing technology can be brought to public lands, demonstrating what’s possible when government agencies, producers and technology providers work together. We’re thrilled about this new partnership and look forward to the public opening of a national monument and broader access to this incredible land.”

Innovative virtual fencing technology

Halter explains its technology helps ranchers run more productive, efficient and sustainable operations, while protecting animal welfare. The Halter system includes solar-powered collars for every cow, an app, and towers that provide connectivity. Cattle are guided using sound and vibration. Sound cues keep them within a virtual fence, while gentle vibrations help them move to new pasture. A low-energy pulse is used when cattle repeatedly ignore the cues, which is mostly used during training.

With GPS-enabled collars, ranchers can track where their cattle are and where they’ve been grazing, allowing them to make full use of every pasture. Keeping cattle within virtual boundaries reduces the need for permanent internal fencing and enables more efficient pasture use. This enables ranchers to bolster biodiversity, exclude sensitive land areas and waterways, protect wildlife migration zones, mitigate wildfire risk, and explore carbon sequestration opportunities.

Halter offers a cost-efficient way for ranchers to fence their land quickly and conveniently, freeing up valuable time and labor for other projects while providing the flexibility to respond quickly to seasonal or environmental changes.

Cotoni-Coast Dairies National Monument

The first ranch to leverage the funds is Cotoni-Coast Dairies in California, where father-daughter duo Wayne and Paige Pastorino manage a beef operation, grazing on BLM land that’s becoming a new national monument.

“This land has a lot more to offer beyond just grazing,” Paige Pastorino explains. “For the past 25 years, it’s given my family a sense of purpose and connection. With Halter, we can manage how we use it more thoughtfully and be part of what the monument becomes over time.”

Located in Santa Cruz County, the national monument runs from the Santa Cruz mountains to the coastal terraces and is expected to welcome 250,000 visitors annually.

A New Era for Public Lands and Ranchers

“We’re excited to celebrate the opening of Cotoni-Coast Dairies, a valuable addition to America’s public lands,” says I Ling Thompson, CEO of Foundation for America’s Public Lands. “As the official partner of the Bureau of Land Management, we’re committed to providing innovative solutions that keep these lands accessible and productive. Our collaboration with Halter demonstrates how partnerships can bring resources like virtual fencing to support land stewardship, modern ranching and keep trails safe and clear for all to enjoy. Virtual fencing helps the Bureau of Land Management to manage these hardest-working lands for multiple uses, ensuring they remain productive and accessible for future generations.”

BLM’s Zachary Ormsby adds: “This partnership is about unlocking the full potential of our public lands. Joining forces with producers and embracing innovative tools, like Halter’s virtual fencing, allows us to create a blueprint for smarter grazing and thriving ecosystems. We’re building a future where healthy landscapes, vibrant ranching communities and responsible land stewardship go hand in hand.”

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Wildfire Management: The Day You Plan For, But Hope You Don’t Experience

Tue, 15 Jul 2025 09:16:00 GMT

It was a non-stop adrenaline day, according to San Diego County California rancher John Austel, who describes the time in January 2025 when the Border 2 Fire threatened his ranch and cowherd.

Weather conditions had already created a bad drought year, as October to January brought California the second-driest start to the water year on record.

“It’s green but not really growing by the end of December,” Austel says. “And this year we didn’t have any germination until Feb.15 — or any rain.”

This is often the reality of rangeland ranching, and it’s why Austel has been using targeted and adaptive management since he began his grazing lease in 2014.

“We had just a little over 6.5", and our average is 10" to 12" every year,” he says.

The Austels calve in the fall, typically starting in October and finishing by the end of December.

“We had moms and babies with no real nutrition,” he says. “It was the first time in 11 years on the property I had to buy hay. Body conditions were marginal and even with feeding hay and putting out supplement, the cows weren’t happy.”

On Jan. 23, wildfire broke out in the vacant 20,000-acre BLM allotment south of the ranch that had previously burned in 2017. It was déjà vu.

“I felt like Job in the Bible wondering what else could go wrong,” Austel recalls.

When he went to bed that night, the fire was around 50 acres.

The Border 2 Fire

(John Austel)

“I wasn’t worried,” he says. “We could see the fire, but CAL Fire was out there.”

Unfortunately, the fire grew to 4,000 acres overnight. The properties are separated by a single, two-land road, which CAL Fire was planning to let the fire burn up to.

At that point, the Austels had to evacuate their 200-plus cows with their calves — some of them under 60 days of age.

“We had to move them two miles away on horseback,” Austel says. “The babies ran back because they couldn’t find their moms. It was just a big cluster. It took me four days to try to get them all paired back up.”

Later that same day, after finally sitting down and eating half of a sandwich, Austel got a call to to move his yearlings out of a pasture on the other side of the road. Luckily, those cattle were trained.

“This time, we just grabbed a bale of hay and called them — and thank God they all came running out of the canyon,” he says. “We ran them down the highway that was closed with CHP [California Highway Patrol] and CAL FIRE following them with their lights on, down to a field that we had already grazed where there was very little chance of wildfire action.”

On Jan. 23, 2025, fire started in the Otay Mountain Wildness north of the U.S.-Mexico Border and burned north toward the rangeland where the the Austel family raises cattle.

(John Austel)

The Austels used their Ag Pass , which allows ranchers to bypass roadblocks and access ranch property to evacuate livestock. Austel recalls the Bear Fire in northern California that took out Dave Daley ’s permitted forest lands and cattle herd, and how having access during these natural disasters is so important.

“Our trucks were all marked with our brands on the door to make sure they knew who was on the property,” Austel says. “We had pretty much had carte blanche to do anything and everything we needed to do to get everything out of there.”

While some of the calves ended up weaning early and some cows nursed multiple calves, nothing was permanently harmed. Austel notes his conception rates were down, but he was able to keep young replacements. Calves are typically sold mid-May, but the fire delayed their sale well in June. In addition, the Austels had stockpiled about 1,200 acres from the two previous years as reserve feed, which was also saved from the fire.

Austel continues to believe in targeted grazing and adaptive management to fit the landscape.

“I didn’t want to have a drought situation,” Austel says. “I’d rather not have to test our wildfire grazing plan this way. But it worked. There was no vegetation around the edge of this property.”

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Beef Producers Be Aware: Dangerous Asian Longhorned Tick Continues Migrating West

Wed, 18 Jun 2025 13:21:51 GMT

The Asian Longhorned Tick (ALHT) poses a serious threat to cattle health. ALHTs carry Theileria, which is a protozoan parasite that infects red and white blood cells. It can lead to anemia and, in some cases, death.

ALHTs are native to eastern Asia, eastern China, Japan, the Russian Far East and Korea but were introduced to Australia, New Zealand and western Pacific Islands. In other countries, it can also be called a bush tick, cattle tick or scrub tick.

In the U.S., ALHT was first detected in New Jersey in 2017. Since then, it has spread to more than 20 states with recent confirmations in Illinois , Michigan and Iowa .

According to USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) ALHTs are known to carry pathogens, which can cause disease and may also cause distress to the host from their feeding in large numbers. For example, a dairy cow may have a 25% decrease in milk production after becoming a host.

A female can reproduce without a mate and lay up to 2,000 eggs at a time. This can cause great stress on a heavily infested animal and result in reduced growth and production. A severe infestation can kill the animal from excessive blood loss.

Asian longhorned tick life stages and relative actual size.

(Photos of unfed ticks by Centers for Disease Control. Photos of engorged ticks by Jim Occi, Rutgers, Center for Vector Biology.)

What does it look like?

Unfed ALHTs range from a light reddish-tan to a dark red with brown, dark markings. While the adult female grows to the size of a pea when full of blood, other stages of the tick are very small — about the size of a sesame seed.

Adult females are a grey-green with yellowish markings. Male ticks are rare.

APHIS reports it only takes a single tick to create a population in a new location.

The above photos are of a AHLT engorged (on the left) and an adult AHLT not engorged.

(New Jersey Department of Agriculture)

ALHTs need warm-blooded hosts to feed and survive. They have been found on various species of domestic animals — such as sheep, goats, dogs, cats, horses, cattle and chickens — and wildlife. The tick has also been found on people.

What are the health risks?

APHIS says ALHTs are not known to carry Lyme disease, but they can cause tickborne diseases affecting humans and animals such as:

Rocky Mountain spotted fever
Heartland virus
Powassan virus

APHIS says those diseases have not been confirmed outside of a laboratory setting in the U.S. In addition, U.S. ALHT populations can transmit U.S. Theileria orientalis Ikeda strain (Cattle theileriosis) in the laboratory.

In an Iowa State University release , Grant Dewell, Extension beef veterinarian and associate professor, says cattle affected by Theileriosis will show signs of lethargy, anemia and difficulty breathing. They may develop ventral edema, exercise intolerance, jaundice and abortions.

“Although signs of Theileriosis are similar to anaplasmosis, younger animals and calves often display more severe signs compared to mature cows and bulls,” he says. “Due to anemia from both tick infestation and Theileria, the risk of death can be elevated. If cattle producers suspect either Theileria or ALHT, have a veterinarian collect appropriate samples and submit them to a veterinary diagnostic lab.”

According to an Oklahoma State University press release , under laboratory conditions ALHT is a competent vector of numerous pathogens that can cause disease in humans, including Rickettsia rickettsii (Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever), Heartland Virus and Powassan Virus.

In “ Clinical Infectious Diseases, ” Bobbi Pritt, MD, MSC, with the division of clinical microbiology at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., reported a human bite that occurred in New York in 2019. She says though the report of a human bite isn’t surprising, it proves the invasive longhorned tick continues to bite hosts in its newest location.

“This is extremely worrisome for several reasons,” she writes. “One reason is Asian longhorned ticks can carry several important human pathogens, including the potentially fatal severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) virus and Rickettsia japonica, which cases Japanese spotted fever. While these pathogens have yet to be found in the United States, there is a risk of their future introduction.”

Also, Pritt says several other human pathogens have been detected in the ticks, but it’s not clear if the ALHT species are able to transmit them to humans. They include Anaplasma, Ehrlichia, Rickettsia, and Borrelia species. Lyme disease is caused by Borrelia burgdorferi bacteria.

She warns the organisms are present in states where ALHTs have been found and that it’s possible the tick — known to be an aggressive biter— might be able to transmit Heartland virus given its close relationship to SFTS virus.

How to Tackle Ticks

According to APHIS, various strategies effectively mitigate tick populations on hosts and in the environment.

Regular tick treatments should be effective against ALHTs. Consult your veterinarian or agriculture extension agent about which products to use.
Check your livestock for ticks regularly.
Safely remove ticks from people and pets as quickly as possible. If you think you’ve found an ALHT, seal it in a zip-top bag and give it to your veterinarian for identification.
Habitat modifications can help prevent ticks on feedlots and pastures. This may include mowing grass, removing trees, reducing shade by thinning trees, understory removal and placing mulch barriers.
Apply acaricide using label instructions to tick habitats, such as woodland edges and grassy patches, during times when ticks are most actively seeking hosts. Although it varies by year, ALHTs are generally active from March to November. Consult your state and local regulations for approved acaricides.

“Cattle producers should aggressively control external parasites this summer,” Dewell summarizes. “Insecticide ear tags alone are not enough to control ticks. Consider incorporating a back rubber or regularly applying a pour-on during the summer. Pyrethroid-based products are also available that include a tick control label. If an increase in tick infestations is observed, an avermectin pour-on may be the best intervention.”

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