Conferences
Patch-Burning and Grazing: Economic Analysis of Rangeland Management in the Great Plains
Hannah Baker
Summary
Feed costs are a large input cost for cattle production, which translates to a heavy reliance on grazing rangelands for producers trying to minimize costs. Rangelands account for 45% of land in Oklahoma. Management techniques to minimize the impact of limited forages include burning and grazing interactions. Pyric-herbivory, more commonly known as patch-burning and grazing, involves dividing and burning a section of a pasture each year leading to better woody species control, improved range productivity, and forage stockpiles. These benefits have been studied for over 50 years. However, there has been little research discussing the implementation costs and long-term economic benefits for cattle producers. This missing piece of information is the motivation for the development of an economic-based extension program. Results suggest that patch-burning will initially increase costs by approximately $4/acre, but long-run benefits are expected to outweigh these costs. Due to high-quality forages, patch-burning has the potential to save producers approximately $20/head in supplemental feed costs annually.
The extension program provides the opportunity to present patch-burning as a potential cost-reducing and beneficial risk management practice to Oklahoma cow-calf producers. The objectives of the program are 1) to convey the cost of implementing patch-burning, 2) to address the qualitative benefits of patch-burning, and 3) to compare burn costs and feed costs for both patch-burned and traditionally managed cow-calf operations. Through inter-disciplinary partnerships, delivery plans and communication methods for the program have shown an increase in engagement rates as more producers are reached through fact sheets, research articles, and social media.
*Note this was a winning presentation at the 2022 AAEA Extension Section Graduate Student Competition.
Presentation Materials
Details
| Conference | 2023 Extension Risk Management Education National Conference |
| Presentation Type | Poster |