Brief Summary of Minutes of Annual Meeting

Business meeting minutes:

The meeting commenced at 8:30am on Wednesday, 16 September 2015, at the Swaner Preserve and EcoCenter, adjacent to the Newpark Resort. The first order of business was to elect officers. Lynn Huntsinger is the current chairperson, but was unable to attend since she is out of the country on sabbatical.  Tom Foulke ran the meeting in her stead, and Julie Pierce coordinated refreshments and local arrangements.  Kristie Maczko was voted in as Vice Chairman, to become chairman in 2016.

State reports for Idaho, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming were presented to the committee.  Updates from the Sustainable Rangelands Roundtable were also shared as part of the Wyoming report.  Discussion of these projects and the progress (See attached) for the committee continued for some time.

Julie Pierce highlighted research needs for the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, which is administered by the Bureau of Land Management.  Her talk led into a series of presentations on papers to be potentially given at the Western Regional Science Association Conference during February 2016.  WERA 1018 tentatively plans to meet during the conference as well.  Tom Foulke shared logistics and deadlines in preparation for the WRSA Conference.  The meeting adjourned at 5:00pm.

The next morning, 17 September 2015, we reconvened to continue with presentations of draft papers slated for submission to the WRSA conference.  Presentations were shared by Neil Rimbey, Allen Torrell, Paul Lewin, Tex Taylor and Tom Foulke.

The afternoon session began with a visioning segment to brainstorm the future of WERA 1018.  We decided on the next meeting date for the WERA, in conjunction with the WRSA conference, Feb. 14-18, 2016 in Waikoloa, Hawaii. Tom Foulke is coordinating with Rachel S. Franklin at WRSA to organize this meeting.  There was also discussion of an extension publication to be assembled, containing the various papers submitted at the WRSA conference.

Other aspects of the business meeting focused on a need to review the current WERA 1018 objectives.  The group must submit a new proposal by January 2017.  Possible ideas for incorporation included sage grouse, and impacts on rural communities and rangelands.  It is likely that John Tanaka will take over as the administrative advisor when Don Snyder retires.  Potential new members were also brainstormed, and current members will continue to try to identify participants to invite. 

The meeting adjourned about 5pm, with an overview of plans from Julie Pierce for the Friday, 18 September 2015 WERA 1018 tour of Antelope Island.

On Friday, 18 September 2015, Julie Pierce led a tour of Antelope Island, attended by Neil Rimbey, Tom Foulke, and Kristie Maczko.  The group spent approximately 6 hours visiting a historic ranch site, bison management facilities, and an island museum and visitor center that highlighted the ecological and management history of the island.  Several photos from the tour are attached.

Respectfully,

Submitted by: Thomas Foulke (Acting Chair, for Lynn Huntsinger) and Kristie Maczko (Vice-Chair),

University of Wyoming, Department of Agricultural & Applied Economics and University of Wyoming, Department of Ecosystem Science and Management

Foulke@uwyo.edu     kmaczko@uwyo.edu                                      23 October, 2015

Attachments: State reports from Idaho, New Mexico, California, Nevada, and Wyoming.

IDAHO State Report

WERA-1018, Fall 2015

Abstracts:

Claypool, C.K., J. Spencer, S. Menegatti Zoca, B. Shafii, W.J. Price, A. Ahmadzadeh, N.R. Rimbey, and J.C. Dalton. 2015. Distribution of detected estrus following 14-day CIDR and prostaglandin F2α treatment as a pre-synchronization strategy in dairy heifers. J. Dairy Sci. Vol. 98 (Abstract, Suppl. 2): 115.

Claypool, C.K., J. Spencer, S. Menegatti  Zoca, B. Shafii, W.J. Price, A. Ahmadzadeh, N.R. Rimbey, and J. C. Dalton. 2015. Reproductive outcomes following presynchronization of dairy heifers with a 14-d CIDR and prostaglandin F2α. J. Dairy Sci. Vol. 98 (Abstract, Suppl. 2): 874.

Rimbey, N., Torell, L. Allen, Kane, Stephanie. 2015. Idaho private grazing lease arrangements. Presented at the Society for Range Management Annual Meeting. February 1-5, 2015. Sacramento, CA. Available online at: http://rangelands.org/sacramento2015/2015-SRM-proceedings.pdf

Rimbey, N., Torell, L.A., Tanaka, J.A., Taylor, D.T., Ritten, J., Foulke, T.K. Ranch-level economic impacts of changing grazing management to protect Greater Sage-grouse. Presented at the Society for Range Management Annual Meeting. February 1-5, 2015. Sacramento, CA. Available online at: http://rangelands.org/sacramento2015/2015-SRM-proceedings.pdf

Refereed publications:

Rimbey, Neil R., Tanaka, John A., Torell, L. Allen. 2015. Economic considerations of livestock grazing on public lands in the United States of America.  Animal Frontiers Vol. 5, No. 4:32-35. Available online at:

https://www.animalsciencepublications.org/publications/af/pdfs/5/4/32

Bentley Brymer, A., Holbrook, J., Niemeyer, R., Suazo, A., Vierling, K., Rachlow, J., Link, T., and Wulfhorst, J.D.  A social-ecological impact assessment for public land management: application of a conceptual and methodological framework.  Under review with Ecology & Society.

Other publications:

Lewin, Paul A., Neil R. Rimbey, Anna Brown, K. Scott Jensen, J.D. Wulfhorst. 2014. Regional Economic Impact Model of Owyhee County.  Department of Ag. Econ. and Rural Soc. AEE #14-01. June, 2014.  Available online at:

http://web.cals.uidaho.edu/idahoagbiz/files/2014/10/Regional-Economic-Impact-Model-of-Owyhee-County-V6.pdf

Rimbey, N., Torell, L.A., Tanaka, J.A., Taylor, D.T., Ritten, J., Foulke, T.K. Ranch-level economic impacts of changing grazing management to protect Greater Sage-grouse. Idaho Range Livestock Symposium Proceedings. April 7-9, 2015. Idaho Falls, Burley, Marsing, ID. 

Rimbey, Neil. 2014. Idaho State Land grazing lease rates: Historical background. 2014. In: Cattlemen’s Corner Beef Newsletter. Marsing, ID. Available online at: http://extension.uidaho.edu/owyhee/files/2013/11/Beef-Newsletter-2014-November.pdf

Major programs:

1) Owyhee / 4 Co. project - 3 year study of socio-economic assessment for Owyhee County, Idaho.  Partial replication of previous studies in late 1990s and 2002-3.  Four components for contemporary version:  1) I/O model, 2) qualitative (buckaroo) assessment, 3) 4 SW County survey of general population, and 4) ranch-level analysis.  In progress.  Completed in 2016.

2) BLM BOSH EIS contribution.  BLM EIS conducted for 1.5M acres in Owyhee County, ID.  Focus on identification and prioritization of potential areas and methods for juniper encroachment management, primarily for wildland fuels reduction and Sage-Grouse habitat.   UI IGERT Ph.D. "Sagebrush Team" designed and completed social-ecological impact assessment (SEIA) as a component within the EIS.   Funding support from this from NSF, BLM Fire Mgt, ID Off. of Spec. Conserv., and UI Rangeland Center.  BOSH = Bruneau-Owyhee Sage-Grouse Habitat.  See:  http://www.blm.gov/id/st/en/prog/nepa_register/BOSH-juniper-removal.html

New Mexico

WERA1018 State Report

September 2015

1. Allen Torell

WERA-1018 Objectives:

1. Coordinate activities of land grant university scientists and federal land management agencies related to maintaining and enhancing the social-ecological resilience of rangelands.
2. To exchange information on current and future research activities related to social, economic, and ecological aspects of integrated rangeland management.
3. To investigate the ecological, social, and economic values of ecosystem services from rangeland ecosystem restoration.
4. To investigate social-ecological linkages of rural communities and economies to rangelands.
5. To provide information on social-ecological resilience to appropriate audiences.

• Publications

2015. Anderson, Dean M., Rick E. Estell, Alfredo L. Gonzalez, Andres F. Cibils, and L. Allen Torell. 2015. 'Criollo cattle: Heritage Genetics for Arid Landscapes', Rangelands, 37: 62-67.
2016. Bruegger, Margaretta A, Leticia A Varelas, Larry D Howery, L. Allen Torell, Mitchell B Stephanson, and Derek W Bailey. 'Targeted Grazing in Southern Arizona: Using Cattle to Reduce Fine Fuel Loads', Rangeland Ecology and Management.
2017. Rimbey, Neil R., John A. Tanaka, and L. Allen Torell. 2015. 'Economic considerations of livestock grazing on public lands in the United States of America', Animal Frontiers, 5: 32-35.

• Jornada Experimental Range – Ecosystem Valuation

1. A joint research project with the Jornada Experimental Range (JER) to develop procedures and models that incorporate the structure of State-and-Transition models (STM) to economically value ecosystem services continues. STM’s are defined to include the probability that we will transition from one state to another, Conceptually, the probability of moving to a less desirable state or community phase increases with increased grazing pressure. Yet, how these probabilities change with the level of grazing is rarely known or estimated. Three blue grama (Bouteloua gracilis) study sites located on the Plains of Eastern New Mexico were monitored for 35 years, providing the data required to estimate the probability of broom snakeweed transition to different levels of infestation (None/Light, Moderate, Heavy). Using the long-term monitoring data and logistic regression it was determined that the probability of snakeweed invasion increased with higher April temperatures, with increased rainfall during the second quarter, and when a heavy stand of the invasive weed was present the ear previous fall. A stochastic modeling analysis provides when the few instances where the effect of grazing on future productivity is incorporated into the model and management decision.
2. Managing risk of wildlife is a growing concern in the western U.S. Targeted grazing, or managing livestock grazing to achieve specific vegetation goals, is one possible tool to treat fuels. We conducted an experiment to test the efficacy of targeted cattle grazing to reduce fine-fuel loads in southeastern Arizona, and used a fire model to predict how this treatment would alter fire behavior. Fuel treatments resulting from targeted grazing shortened flame lengths in the fire model, suggesting that targeted grazing could reduce the potential cost of fighting fires in conditions similar to this study site.  

California

State Report  for WERA 1018

Submitted by Lynn  Huntsinger, Sept. 22, 2015

WERA-1018 Objectives

1. 1.  Coordinate activities of land grant university scientists and federal land management agencies related to maintaining and enhancing the social-ecological resilience of rangelands.
2. 2.  Exchange information of current and future research activities related to social, economic, and ecological aspects of integrated rangeland managemen
3. 3.  Investigate the ecological, social, and economic values of ecosystem services from rangeland ecosystem restoration
4. 4.  Investigate social ecological linkages of rural communities and economies on rangelands.
5. 5.  Provide information on social-ecological resilience to appropriate audiences.

Relevant projects:

At Berkeley, an NSF-funded project (CHNS) on “sustaining wetlands in a working landscape” is completed, and publications are underway. The project illustrates a contribution by agriculture to wildlife habitat. The data from a statewide survey of forest and rangeland landowners conducted in 2008 was published in the Rangelands special issue for the 2015 Annual Meeting. The search for an Extension Research Specialist in Range Planning and Policy is underway. UC Davis completed its search for a rangeland management specialist as well beginning in Spring 2015, hiring Leslie Roche. California hosted the 2015 SRM meeting in Sacramento, with Huntsinger as program chair.

The team at UC Davis, lead by Leslie Roche and Ken Tate, is preparing publications from the results of surveys of over 500 California ranchers  from the CA Cattlemen’s mailing list (http://rangelandwatersheds.ucdavis.edu/main/projects/ranchersurvey.html); 2) semi-structured interviews of over 100 California ranchers, with follow-up field surveys on 30 ranches to measure on-the-ground outcomes of rangeland management and conservation practices (http://rangelandwatersheds.ucdavis.edu/main/CRSP.html); and 3) a long-term, stakeholder prescribed adaptive grazing strategy study.

A new grant, funded by the UC Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources, on “Managing California Rangelands for Multiple Ecosystem Services: Understanding Tradeoffs among Production and Conservation-Based Goals” is supporting this project and others.

Recent publications:

Briske, D.D., Ash, A.J., Derner, J.D. and L. Huntsinger. 2014. Commentary: A critical assessment of the policy endorsement for holistic management. Agricultural Systems 125: 50-53.

Huntsinger, L. in press for 2015. Interpreting rangeland degradation in the United States. Chapter in edited volume, Behnke, R. editor, Desertification: science, politics and public perception. (2015). Springer.

Ferranto, S., Huntsinger, L. and M. Kelly. 2014. Sustaining ecosystem services from private lands in California: the role of the landowner. Rangelands 36(5):44-51.

Huntsinger, L., and Bartolome, J.W. 2014. Cows? In California? : Rangelands and livestock in the Golden State. Rangelands 36(5): 4-10.

Hruska, T.V., Huntsinger, L. and J.L. Oviedo. in press. An accidental resource: the social ecological system framework applied to small wetlands in Sierran foothill oak woodlands. In: Standiford, R.B. and K. Purcell (eds). Proceedings of the Seventh California Oak Symposium: Managing Oak Woodlands in a Dynamic World, November 3-6, 2014, Visalia, CA. USDA Forest Service General Technical Report PSW-GTR-XX.

Oviedo J.L., L. Huntsinger, P. Campos. in press. Landowner total income from oak woodland working landscapes in Spain and California. In: Standiford, R.B. and K. Purcell (eds). Proceedings of the Seventh California Oak Symposium: Managing Oak Woodlands in a Dynamic World, November 3-6, 2014, Visalia, CA. USDA Forest Service General Technical Report PSW-GTR-XX.

Plieninger, Y., Bieling C., Fagerholm, N., Anja Byg, A., Hartel, T., Hurley, P., López-Santiago, C.A., Nagabhatla, N., Oteros-Rozas, E., Raymond, C.M., van der Horst, D., Huntsinger, L. 2015. The role of cultural ecosystem services in landscape management and planning. Current Opinion in Environmental Sustainability 14:28-33.

Kachergis, K., J.D. Derner, L.M. Roche, K.W. Tate, V. Eviner, M. Lubell, B. Cutts. 2014. Increasing flexibility in rangeland management during drought. Ecosphere 5:art77.

Roche, L. M.; Cutts, B. B.; Derner, J. D.; et al. 2015. On-Ranch Grazing Strategies: Context for the Rotational Grazing Dilemma . Rangeland Ecology & Management 68 (3):248-256

Roche, Leslie M.; Schohr, Tracy K.; Derner, Justin D.; et al. 2015. Sustaining Working Rangelands: Insights from Rancher Decision Making Rangeland Ecology & Management 68(5): 383-389.

Spiegal, S., L. Huntsinger, P. Hopkinson, and J.W. Bartolome. in press for 2015. Range ecosystems. In: Zavaleta,E. and H. Mooney [eds]. Ecosystems of California. Berkeley, CA, USA: University of California Press.

Sulak, A. L. Huntsinger, and S. Kocher. 2015. The Sierra Nevada Adaptive Management Project: Cooperative Extension and university researchers collaborate. California Agriculture Jan-Feb 68(4): 117-124.

State of Nevada

WERA1018 State Report

September 2015

Thomas R. Harris

WERA-1018 Objectives:

1. Coordinate activities of land grant university scientists and federal land management agencies related to maintaining and enhancing the social-ecological resilience of rangelands.
2. To exchange information on current and future research activities related to social, economic, and ecological aspects of integrated rangeland management.
3. To investigate the ecological, social, and economic values of ecosystem services from rangeland ecosystem restoration.
4. To investigate social-ecological linkages of rural communities and economies to rangelands.
5. To provide information on social-ecological resilience to appropriate audiences.

University of Nevada, Reno work was under objective 4:

• Developed book chapter outlining problems with using black box input-output models to derive economic impacts of resource restrictions.
• Developed Society of Range Management conference paper in Sacramento using FLIP-SIM with the Agricultural and Food Policy Center at Texas A&M to investigate ranch level financial impacts of reduced grazing permits due to sage grouse habitat..
• Updating representative Northeastern Nevada range cattle model with the Agricultural and Food Policy Center at Texas A&M.  Also a Southern Nevada ranch is currently being developed.
• Analysis of adoption rates by Nevada range cattle producers of the trichomonaisis vaccine. A rancher questionnaire has been developed and analyzed to derive the factors increasing adoption of the vaccine.

Publications:

Harris, Thomas R., Steven Deller, and Stephan Goetz. “Linkages of Agricultural Sector Models and Precautions”. Encyclopedia of Agriculture and Food Systems. Vol. 4. Ed. Neal Van Alfen, pp: 148-158, Elsevier Inc., August 2014.

Richardson, James, Brian Herbst, Thomas R. Harris, and Michael Helmar. “Economic Analysis of Management Options Following Closure of BLM Rangeland to Sage Grouse Habitat”, 68^th Annual Meeting of the Society of Range Management, Sacramento, California, February 2015.

WERA-1018

Wyoming State Report

Submitted by

Tex Taylor, Tom Foulke, John Tanaka, John Ritten, and Kristie Maczko

Park City, Utah

September 16-18, 2015

Projects

1. Economic impact analysis of the coal industry in Wyoming for the Wyoming Infrastructure Authority (Objective 4).
2. Working with Converse County and the Wyoming BLM to develop a baseline database to monitor socioeconomic impacts of oil and gas development in Converse County (Objective 4).
3. Working with Arizona BLM to develop baseline socioeconomic profiles for three field offices in the Colorado River District (Objective 4).
4. Working with Wyoming County Commissioners Association to develop a template for county socioeconomic profiles in Wyoming (Objective 4).
5. Working with Louis Berger Group and BLM to evaluate the methodology for estimated the economic impacts of oil and gas development and production on Federal lands (Objective 4).
6. Working with Wyoming Governor’s Office to estimate the economic impact of Sage-Grouse management on Wyoming’s economy (Objective 4).
7. Economic impact analysis of the economic importance of sheep production in Wyoming and the potential impact on profitability of U.S. Department of Labor draft rules for foreign sheep herders holding H-2A Visas for Wyoming Woolgrowers Association (Objective 4).
8. Ongoing work with Booz, Allen, & Hamilton and BLM on Rock Springs RMP (Objective 4).  This project is again on hold.

Publications

Godby, R., R. Coupal, D. Taylor, and T. Considine.  2015. The Impact of the Coal Economy on Wyoming.  Prepared for Wyoming Infrastructure Authority.  Center for Energy Economics and Public Policy, University of Wyoming.

Godby, R., R. Coupal, D. Taylor, and T. Considine.  2015. Potential Impacts of Wyoming Coal Production of EPA’s Greenhouse Gas Proposal.  Electricity Journal, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.tej.2015.004.

Taylor, D. and T. Foulke.  2015. BLM Kingman Field Office Baseline Socio-economic Report.  Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics, University of Wyoming.

Taylor, D. and T. Foulke.  2015.  Socioeconomic Baseline Evaluation: Sublette County, Wyoming.  Wyoming County Commissioners Association in cooperation with the University of Wyoming.

Taylor, D. and T. Foulke.  2015.  Socioeconomic Baseline Evaluation: Fremont County, Wyoming.  Wyoming County Commissioners Association in cooperation with the University of Wyoming.

Louis Berger.  2015.  Technical Memorandum: Economic Impact Analysis of Oil and Gas Operations Literature Review: Final March 2015.  Submitted to U.S. Bureau of Land Management, National Operating Center, Denver, Colorado.

Taylor, D., J. Ritten, B. Fuez, and R. Coupal.  2015.  Economic Importance of Sheep Production in Wyoming.  Submitted to Wyoming Wool Growers Association.

Rashford, Benjamin S., Thomas Foulke, David T. Taylor, and Jordan Steele. Collaboration Across Continents: Predator Compensation Policies in the U.S. and France. (Winner best article) in “Reflections”. University of Wyoming College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, June, 2015.

Wyoming Mining Association, Foulke, Thomas and David T. Taylor (UW contributing authors). A Concise guide to Wyoming Coal: 2015. The Wyoming Coal Information Committee of the Wyoming Mining Association. Cheyenne, Wyoming. September, 2015.

Harlan, McKenzie (Kate), John Ritten, Benjamin Rashford, Kristi Cammack.  “Valuation of Residual Feed Intake as a Selection Tool for Northeastern Wyoming Range Sheep Producers.”  Presented at the Northeastern Agricultural and Resource Economic Association / Canadian Agricultural Economics Society Joint Annual Meeting, June 30, 2015, Newport, RI. (Presented by Harlan).

Ritten, John, James Pritchett, Maria Fernandez-Gimenez, Emily Kachergis, and Willow Hibbs. “A State-and-Transition Approach to Determine the Trade-Offs Associated with Livestock Production and other Ecosystem Services.”  Presented at the Society for Range Management Annual Meeting, February 6, 2015, Sacramento, CA.

Extension Presentations:

Ritten, John.  “Ongoing Sheep Research at the University of Wyoming.”  Wyoming Wool Growers Midyear Membership Meeting.  Panel Discussion. August 4, 2015.

Ritten, John.  “Economics of Weed Control.” Wyoming Weed Management Association Annual Meeting, Casper, WY.  January 21, 2015.

Ritten, John. “Raising vs. Buying Replacement Heifers.”  Progressive Rancher Forum, Wyoming Stock Growers Winter Meeting, Casper, WY. December 1, 2014.

Ritten, John. “Replacement Heifer Development Considerations.”  SE Wyoming Beef Production Convention, Torrington, WY. November 18, 2014.

Ritten, John. “Ag Leasing Overview.”  University of Wyoming Extension In-Depth Training, Laramie, WY. November 5, 2014.

Ongoing items:

In progress academic publications:

Hamilton, Tucker, John Ritten, Christopher Bastian, Justin Derner, John Tanaka.  “Economic Impacts of Increasing Seasonal Precipitation Variation on Cow-Calf Enterprises.” To be Submitted to Rangeland, Ecology, and Management.

Frisvold, George B., Louise E. Jackson, James G. Pritchett and John P. Ritten.  “Potential Climate Change Impacts on Farming and Ranching in the Southwest United States.”  Western Economics Forum.  (In Progress)

Ritten, John, Emily Kachergis, Maria Fernandez-Gimenez, James Pritchett.  “A State and Transition Approach to determine Opportunity Costs of Providing Various Ecosystem Services.” Conservation Biology. (In Progress)

Also, Tucker Graduate, not sure if you want that in there though…

WERA 1018 Objectives

1. Coordinate activities of land grant university scientists and federal land management agencies related to maintaining and enhancing the social-ecological resilience of rangelands.
2. To exchange information on current and future research activities related to social, economic, and ecological aspects of integrated rangeland management.
3. To investigate the ecological, social, and economic values of ecosystem services from rangeland ecosystem restoration.
4. To investigate social-ecological linkages of rural communities and economies to rangelands.
5. To provide information on social-ecological resilience to appropriate audiences

Related Sustainable Rangelands Roundtable Projects

1. Conduct a survey of public lands ranchers to capture the social and economic characteristics and assess federal policy change responses (Objectives 2, 3).
2. Conduct a survey of public lands ranchers to capture the ecosystem services they produce on public and private lands (Objective 3).
3. Conduct a survey of ranchers to understand their motives for participating in USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service practices related to grazing (Objectives 1, 2, 4).
4. Develop a Human Footprint model for wind energy development in southern Wyoming (Objective 1, 2, 3, 4, 5).
5. Develop materials for ranchers to use in addressing endangered species management through Candidate Conservation Agreements with Assurances (Objectives 1, 2, 3, 5).
6. Develop a model to assess the amount of red meat produced on rangelands in the 17 western conterminous states (Objectives 2, 3, 5).

Publications

Svejcar, T., C. Boyd, K. Davies, M. Madsen, J. Bates, R. Sheley, C. Marlow, D. Bohnert, M. Borman, R. Mata-Gonzalez, J. Buckhouse, T. Stringam, B. Perryman, S. Swanson, K. Tate, M. George, G. Ruyle, B. Roundy, C. Call, K. Jensen, K. Launchbaugh, A. Gearhart, L. Vermiere, J. Tanaka, J. Derner, G. Frasier, and K. Havstad. 2014. Western land managers will need all available tools for adapting to climate change, including grazing: a critique of Beschta et al.  Environmental Management 53:1035-1038.

Torell, L.A., N.R. Rimbey, J.A. Tanaka, D.T. Taylor, and J.D. Wulfhorst. 2014. Ranch level economic impact analysis for public lands: a guide to methods, issues, and applications. Journal of Rangeland Applications 1:1-13.

Boyd, C.S.,  J.L. Beck, and J.A. Tanaka. 2014. Livestock grazing and sage-grouse habitat: impacts and opportunities. Journal of Rangeland Applications 1:58-77.

Tanaka, J.A., N.R. Rimbey, and L.A. Torell.  2014. Ranching economics and sage-grouse in the west: policy recommendations for rural development.  National Agricultural & Rural Development Policy Center Policy Brief 19.  4 p.

Torell, L.A., N.R. Rimbey, J.A. Tanaka, D.T. Taylor, J.P. Ritten, and T.K. Foulke. 2014. Ranch-level economic impacts of altering grazing policies on federal land to protect the greater sage-grouse. University of Wyoming, New Mexico State University, University of Idaho, and the Western Rural Development Center. University of Wyoming Extension Bulletin B-1258. Available online at http://www.wyomingextension.org/publications/.

Maczko, K., Kreuter, U.P., W.E. Fox, J.A. Tanaka. 2015. A integrative conceptual framework for evaluating impacts of developing energy resources on rangelands. Poster presented at the 3^rd America’s Grasslands Conference, Fort Collins, Colorado.

Kreuter, U.P., W.E. Fox, J.A. Tanaka, K. Maczko. 2015. A integrative conceptual framework for evaluating impacts of developing energy resources on rangelands. 68^th Annual Meeting, Society for Range Management, 1-6 February, Sacramento, California

Maczko, K., Kreuter, U.P., W.E. Fox, J.A. Tanaka. 2014. A integrative conceptual framework for evaluating impacts of developing energy resources on rangelands. Poster presented at the 4^th Conference on Ecosystem Services, Crystal City, Virginia.

Tanaka, J.A., N.R. Rimbey, and L.A. Torell. 2014. Ranch-level economic impacts of altering grazing policies on federal land to protect the greater sage-grouse. National Workshop on Large Landscape Conservation. Washington, DC. Abstract at https://nwllc.confex.com/nwllc/2014/webprogram/Paper1660.html.

Varelas, L.A., J.A. Tanaka, B. Rashford, and J. Ritten. 2014. Using the human footprint to measure ecological and socio-economic impacts of wind energy development. National Workshop on Large Landscape Conservation. Washington, DC. Abstract at https://nwllc.confex.com/nwllc/2014/webprogram/Paper1664.html.

Maczko, K.A., L.A. Hidinger, C.R. Ellis, and J.A. Tanaka. 2015. Future directions of usable science for rangeland sustainability. Poster presented at the 70^th Annual Meeting, Soil and Water Conservation Society, Greensboro, NC.

Maczko, K.A., L.A. Hidinger, C.R. Ellis, and J.A. Tanaka. 2015. Future directions of usable science for rangeland sustainability. Poster presented at the 68^th Annual Meeting, Society for Range Management, 1-6 February, Sacramento, California.

Maczko, K.A., L.A. Hidinger, C.R. Ellis, and J.A. Tanaka. Future Directions of usable science for rangeland sustainability. Poster presentation at the National Workshop on Large Landscape Conservation. Washington, DC.  Abstract at https://nwllc.confex.com/nwllc/2014/webprogram/Paper1648.html

Maczko, K.A., L.A. Hidinger, C.R. Ellis, and J.A. Tanaka. 2014. Future directions of usable science for rangeland sustainability. Poster presented at the 99^th Annual Meeting, Ecological Society of America, Sacramento, California.

Varelas, L.A., J.A. Tanaka, and B.S. Rashford. 2014. Using the human footprint to measure ecological and socio-economic impacts of wind energy development. Poster presented at the 66^th Annual Meeting, Society for Range Management.  Orlando, Florida.

 Short-term Outcomes: The primary benefit from this research is to inform policymakers regarding the effects of different policies on public land use.  Another short-term outcome is providing information to scientists of various fields regarding public land use.

Outputs: Please see the summary of minutes for a detailed description of outputs.

Activities: Please see the summary of minutes for a description of the activities pursued by scientists under this project.

  Please find an extended list of publications in the summary of minutes report section.