The Art of Range Tip Hudson

To fertilize or not to fertilize? That is NOT the question. Nitrogen is a driver of plant growth but its complex relationship with soil carbon and soil microorganisms makes fertilizing rangelands a complicated subject. Simple solutions often miss the mark, and adding nitrogen to natural plant communities as opposed to agricultural monocultures is usually not a good way to boost forage production. Tip and Matt Germino probe the depths of this fertile question.

RESOURCES MENTIONED ON THE SHOW
Nutrient Network (NUTNET) -- https://nutnet.org/home

The textbook Matt referred to is "Exotic Brome-Grasses in Arid and Semiarid Ecosystems of the Western US: Causes, Consequences, and Management Implications (Springer Series on Environmental Management)". Some chapters are available for download without a fee at https://greatbasinfirescience.org/research-publications/exotic-brome-grasses-arid-semiarid-ecosystems-western-us-available-chapters-causes-consequences-management-implications/. See Chapter 3 for impacts of exotic invaders on range ecosystems.

Hard copies are available for purchase here https://www.springer.com/us/book/9783319249285 or here https://www.amazon.com/Exotic-Brome-Grasses-Semiarid-Ecosystems-Western/dp/3319249282.

TRANSCRIPT: https://bit.ly/2Kkn1yC

Climate influences vegetation, and a variable climate challenges land management. Cliff Mass, University of Washington atmospheric scientist, discusses climate drivers in the Pacific Northwest, how topography affects weather, whether 2020 wildfires can be attributed to global warming, and state-of-the-science approaches to modeling future climate. This tight episode finishes with Dr. Mass's recent analysis of climate out to 2050.

RESOURCES MENTIONED
Cliff Mass's popular blog is at cliffmass.blogspot.com.
And his book "The Weather of the Pacific Northwest" is available at https://www.amazon.com/Weather-Pacific-Northwest-Cliff-Mass/dp/0295988479.

TRANSCRIPT
The full transcript of this episode is available at: https://bit.ly/35ezhII

Did you think of dormant-season grazing as grazing standing hay--not much to worry about? There's more going on in the plant than you think. Dr. Steve Fransen sheds some light on multiple dormancy and root shedding periods in grasses as well as eight other growth phases where there is more than meets the eye. Knowledge of these phases should change how we think about grazing grass throughout the year. Dr. Fransen is leading a Pacific Northwest Inland Pasture Calendar project designed to guide grazing management through detailed understanding of plant physiology and phenology. This project will help ranchers and other varieties of 'grass farmers' optimize pasture and rangeland and hay productivity for maximum profitability. Dr. Fransen, Washington State University's forage specialist, has a team of experts offering a 3-day training that is available to anyone interested. This material is applicable to anyone anywhere who is growing cool-season forage species.

Register for the November 3-6, 2020 online conference and training at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/pnw-inland-pasture-calendar-training-tickets-118686349065.
After the event, we will post the conference materials webpage in this same space. That website will host ongoing training opportunities.

RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
Pasture calendar for Western Oregon and Washington: https://pubs.extension.wsu.edu/the-western-oregon-and-washington-pasture-calendar

PNW Publication, PASTURE AND GRAZING MANAGEMENT IN THE NORTHWEST
https://www.extension.uidaho.edu/publishing/pdf/pnw/pnw0614.pdf

TRANSCRIPT
The full transcript of this episode is available at: https://bit.ly/3m6jNfJ

The last few decades have brought significant technological transitions in rangeland science and animals, specifically with advances in wireless and sensor technologies and access to “big data”. Dr. Cibils answers a few key questions: How can we direct inevitable change in desirable ways? Through these transitions, which can sometimes be disruptive economically or socially, how can we sustain the flow of rangeland products to consumers and improve environmental conditions in order to maintain or increase the well-being of those who live, work, and recreate on rangelands? Dr. Cibils and Tip discuss using technology to reduce ranch operational costs, GPS-enabled animal trackers that provide real-time location data, renewed interest in heritage breeds such as Criollo and Raramuri, and more.

Learn more about Dr. Cibils' work at https://southwestbeef.org/

Recently published papers are available here: https://jornada.nmsu.edu/user/10211/biblio.

Transcript: https://bit.ly/3cgfYRq

It is cliche but true that most range grazing problems are animal distribution problems. And no one's name is more closely tied to distribution than Derek Bailey. Dr. Bailey and Tip discuss frontiers in understanding and manipulating livestock distribution to conserve rangeland health. The conversation includes animal selection, attractant placement, herding, and technologies for range livestock management.

Learn more about Dr. Bailey's work at https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Derek_Bailey

Transcript available at: https://bit.ly/2FOO7Mb

WE NEED YOUR FEEDBACK!
Please take 60 seconds to complete this quick 5-question survey:
wsu.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_9Y3fUWlQdBsyBZX

The Western U.S. has experienced catastrophic fire frequency and extent in 2020. Matt Reeves, USFS, shares some wildfire prediction tools that may help landowners and agencies prepare in the future for both wildfire and grazing decisions that may help mitigate the effects of fire. He introduces a new monthly webinar for the growing season called “Reading the Tea Leaves”. https://www.fs.usda.gov/rmrs/events/tealeaves

MENTIONED ON THE PODCAST
Fuelcast app, https://www.fuelcast.net/
Rangeland Production Monitoring Service, https://www.lankstonconsulting.com/rpms.
Wildfire Decision Support System, https://wfdss.usgs.gov/wfdss/WFDSS_Home.shtml

Transcript: https://bit.ly/33NOWNl