Colorado State University’s (CSU) AgNext and Colorado Cattlemen’s Association (CCA) announced they are the recipients of more than $668,000 to develop and implement science-based grazing management principles for the 21st century after winning the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Restoration and Stewardship of Outdoor Resources and Environment Grant.
Utilizing AgNext’s multidisciplinary team, CCA will first identify a set of science-based grazing management principles backed by decades of scientific evidence and in close consultation with landowners. These principles are aimed at supporting climate resiliency, improving rangeland health, biodiverse working landscapes and efficient management to support economically sustainable ranching.
The next phase of the project, which is set to begin in the spring of 2023, will baseline grazing management practices across at least 20,000 acres of working rangeland in the eastern plains of Colorado. Members of the multidisciplinary science team will consult landowners and land managers to determine and apply grazing management principles and grazing management plans (GMPs) for enrolled working lands.
After implementation, the science team and land managers will evaluate and measure results, as well as discuss potential changes to the principles and overall GMPs to ensure the greatest impact on the enhancement and restoration of eastern Colorado grasslands.
“We’re excited to work closely with CSU AgNext to find practical, adaptable grazing management principles that will not only support ranching productivity but also provide best outcomes for land, wildlife, species of concern, climate, etc.,” noted Erin Karney, CCA executive vice president.
“Partnerships are critical to the success of developing and testing sustainability solutions,” said Dr. Kim Stackhouse-Lawson, AgNext director. “We’re honored to be given the opportunity to systematically improve the resiliency and restorative attributes of eastern Colorado grasslands through this work with CCA.”
Through determining science-based grazing management principles, the grant proposal aims to maintain and enhance land resources helping producers mitigate and adapt to risk while maintaining economic viability. The successful completion of this project will not only directly benefit Colorado’s beef industry and rangelands but could be quickly replicated throughout the U.S. on all grazing lands.
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