Grazing Management Plans : Providing the Basis for Successful Operations
Grazing Management Plans : Providing the Basis for Successful Operations
As producers , you know your land , herd and natural resources better than anyone else . A Grazing Management Plan ( GMP ) is a way to inventory these resources and track your methods for protecting and improving your operation .
GMPs serve to strengthen and increase farm and ranch resilience , and a written GMP customized to your operation will support your goals and serve as a roadmap for the years ahead . Perhaps even more importantly , having a written GMP can serve as a roadmap for your next generation of caretakers .
A GMP can serve as a guide for everyday operational and big-picture decisions , and they ’ re a resource in crisis situations . It is a tool you can use to manage land and environmental factors to optimize productivity . When properly implemented and regularly monitored , a GMP has positive effects on water resources , land resources , air and greenhouse gas ( GHG ) emissions , animal health and wellbeing , and efficiency and yield .
The core components for any successful GMP include :
1 . Farm and ranch resource inventory and conditions An inventory creates an opportunity to assess your operation ’ s available resources and serves as an input for making management decisions within your GMP .
2 . Goals and objectives Creating customized goals and objectives for your operation will provide direction for management actions and give you specific criteria for measuring the success of your GMP .
3 . Stocking rate The stocking rate is one of the most important decisions you , as a grazing manager , will make because it directly affects animal performance and ecological resources .
4 . Pasture utilization and management Pasture management should be site-specific , aligned to management goals , and designed to be adaptive to conditions .
5 . Wildlife resource inventory and management Assessing the current and potential conditions for wildlife along with defining your operation-specific wildlife management strategies will help you better achieve your operational goals .
6 . Contingency plan Contingency plans are designed to inform management actions and decisions in unforeseen circumstances . It ’ s a tool to assist you in adjusting your grazing plan to ensure resource management and economic feasibility without resource degradation .
GMPs do not have to be lengthy , robust , or complicated to be effective and there are a wide range of resources out there to help you optimize your operations , from online tools to regional experts and your local cattlemen ’ s association . As you prepare for this new season and begin to plan for winter , consider how you might be able to leverage your GMP to optimize your operations . If you want resources to start your own Grazing Management Plan , visit www . usrsb . org / Resources .
Below are just a few examples of the positive impacts a GMP might have on your operation :
• Maintained or improved grazing land conditions
• Protected or improved riparian areas
• Reduced soil erosion and particulate emissions
• Optimized plant cover , relative to fire fuel loads
• Improved access to water for cattle on pasture
• Increased forage production and improved utilization
• Increased water infiltration and retention
• Improved wildlife habitat
• Improved nutrient management and application strategies
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Do you have goals to make your ranch more adaptable to changing conditions ? Grazing management planning is a great way to boost your operation ’ s financial and environmental resilience .
As cattle producers , you know your land , herd and natural resources better than anyone else . Use this module below to see how you can continue to excel in your operations .
Scan the QR code to see the USRSB GMP Development
Module