production per acre is expected to 
increase 47 percent compared with 
1985 levels. Forage cutputs on 
National Forest System lands are 
expected to increase slightly, from 9.8 
million to 10.3 million animal unit- 
months. The percentage increase in 
forage output on National Forest 
System lands is lower than for private 
lands. This reflects the Forest Service’s 
future emphasis on vegetation 
management for multiple uses such as 
recreation and improved riparian 
jnabitat and water quality. 
Indexed values 
160 
140 
120 
100 
80 
60 
40 
20 
0 
1985 1990 1995 2000 
Range Forage 
Demand-Supply Comparisons 
The derived demand for forage is 
expected to increase 54 percent above 
the demand in 1985 by the year 2040 
(fig. 23). This demand represents the 
demand for all sources of grazed 
forages, including the demand for 
forages from range and forest lands. 
The combination of increased 
rangeland area (5 percent) and 
productivity increase (47 percent) 
would lead to a 52-percent increase in 
Demand 
2005 2010 2015 2020 
Figure 23—Forage demand and supply projections to 2040. 
supply by 2040. Forage supplies 
approximately equal demands under 
these assumptions. 
Based on projected population 
estimates for the Western United 
States, we project that wild herbivores 
will need 19 percent more forage in 
2000 than they did in 1985. Since 
forage supplies were projected to 
approximate the forage demand for 
livestock, wildlife forage needs may 
require attention through range 
enhancement. 
2025 2030 2035 2040 
