improved breeds and breeding, and higher birth rates 

 shows promise for improving efficiency of forage 

 conversion but requires further study. 



Coordination with other uses. — Range ecosystems 

 are capable of producing a variety of products. 

 Expanded research efforts are needed to improve our 

 knowledge and understanding of multiresource use 

 interactions. Examples include the compatibilities of 

 livestock grazing with goals for water quality, soil 

 stability, water yield, timber supply, recreation, wild- 

 life, and protection and management of fish habitat 

 on mountain meadow and other riparian ecosystems. 

 The impacts and trade-offs among resources must be 

 understood, particularly in arid and semiarid eco- 

 systems. On forested range, the interrelations of for- 

 age values and other resources with silvicultural 

 requirements must be fully understood. 



Social and economic aspects of resources use. — 

 Research efforts are needed to identify and quantify 

 the managerial alternatives for range grazing in rela- 

 tion to local, regional, and national socioeconomic 

 needs. Only through understanding of resource inter- 

 actions can guidelines be developed to assure eco- 

 system integrity and economic feasibility. Facts and 

 analyses necessary for formulation and guidance of 

 range policies and programs are essential to this 

 range assessment. Current and reliable information 

 for local area planning that is capable of aggregation 

 to regional and national levels, is not now available. 

 A social science approach, parallel to the ecosystem 

 concept which is now providing useful biological 

 range information, is urgently needed. Continued 

 emphasis on developing a systems approach to range 

 assessment must link land supply capability and cost 

 with demand in surfacing alternative ways to meet 

 resource goals at the national level. ^^ 



Much needs to be learned about the use of range 

 along with pasture and crop residues in the produc- 

 tion of red meat without dependence upon grain for 

 finishing. Much low-producing cropland could be 

 used to extend the grazing season so that animal 

 gains could be maintained until acceptable meat 

 grades can be produced from grazing roughage alone. 

 This might decrease the expenditure of fossil fuels 

 and provide red meat at a moderate cost so that peo- 

 ple of low and medium incomes would be better able 

 to consume meat. The political and economic conse- 

 quences and constraints for meeting future demands 

 for livestock roughage need evaluation. 



There is a special need to integrate biological and 

 socio-economic research efforts related to long- and 



short-term consequences of climatic extremes. Efforts 

 are needed to devise management strategies that can 

 be responsive to regional fluctuations in forage 

 resources. Skold** has suggested that range resource 

 can be viewed as a "renewable flow resource with 

 variable annual supplies." Evaluation is needed of 

 "the costs of permitting deficit supplies of range out- 

 puts to occur against the cost of providing adequate 

 range resource development investments to insure 

 that such deficits do not occur." Such deficit costs as 

 forced liquidations of herds, shipping forages to 

 deficit areas, overgrazing of range so that rehabilita- 

 tion costs are incurred, and forced changes in other 

 land use should be considered. The costs and benefits 

 of supply deficits, as compared to the costs and bene- 

 fits of adequate supplies in the long run, need analy- 

 sis. This concept is consistent with the concept of 

 "Resource Reserve,"^^ "... a national asset to be 

 maintained in a condition of readiness to support 

 future growth and culture; ... a source of potential 

 agricultural production, a flexible system that can 

 respond to unforeseeable needs." 



Technology Transfer 



The agricultural programs of the U.S. Department 

 of Agriculture agencies have received worldwide 

 recognition for the effectiveness of information deliv- 

 ery to landowners. However, the transfer of tech- 

 nology relating to management and development of 

 range resources has suffered by comparison for many 

 reasons.** The transfer of technology about ecology, 

 wildlife, and range management has been less effec- 

 tive than in areas dealing with management of 

 croplands. 



Transfer of knowledge involves not only the deliv- 

 ery but also the presentation or packaging of infor- 

 mation for those who would use or deliver it. This 

 assessment shows that supply of range grazing in the 

 Plains grasslands could be increased by 1.8 times if 

 range condition could be raised to 60 percent of its 

 potential. Much of the knowledge necessary to 

 accomplish this improvement is available and invest- 

 ments needed for fences and water have largely been 

 made in the past. What is needed is a coordinated 

 effort of all Federal and State agencies responsible 

 for extension, technical assistance, and research to 

 improve the packaging and delivery of information to 

 potential users. 



" Rummell, Robert S. A systems approach to range assessment. 

 Proceedings: See. Amer. For. Natl. Conv., Albuquerque, New 

 Mex., p. 120-124, Oct. 2-6, 1977. 



^'Skold, Melvin D. Dynamics in the range livestock economy: 

 An evaluation of the Range Chapter in the 1980 National Assess- 

 ment. Communication of April 11, 1979. 



*•' Lloyd. R. Duane, et al., 1970. op cit. 



''The Renewable Natural Resource Foundation. A review of 

 forest and rangeland research policies in the U.S. September 1977. 



194 



