Explore the Toolkit
Practical Resources for Land Stewards
Below, you’ll find a curated selection of webinars, podcasts, videos, white papers, and other valuable resources that cover everything from developing a grazing plan to erosion control on rangelands. We’ve gathered content from trusted experts to guide you every step of the way.
Our goal is to make grazing management accessible, engaging, and effective — empowering you with the knowledge and tools to succeed in the field. Start exploring today and take your grazing operation to the next level!
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Understanding soil and soil health
Soil health is the genesis to a healthy and sustainable operation. Disturbed soil can lead to increased bare ground, undesirable plant composition, decrease forage quantity and quantity along with other resource concerns. This topic includes several webinar series that go over how to plan and manage soil health, signs to look for, and soil basics.
Soil Health Principles - On Pasture Resource Part 1 - 5
- Part 1: Nature and Properties of Soils
- Part 2: Minimize Disturbance
- Part 3: Keep the Soil Covered
- Part 4: Keep Live Roots in the Soil
- Part 5: Diversity is Key
Putting Soil Health into Practice
On Pasture Resource
"What do plants tell us about our soils and how to improve them"
Rangeland health and plant identification
Rangeland health is the degree in which the integrity of the ecological systems are functioning. In order to identify rangeland health it’s important to look at the indicators. Rangeland health is accessed by three attributes: soil/site stability, hydrological function, biotic integrity and 17 indicators. Plant identification can be one indicator of biotic integrity of rangelands.
Website
USDA: Fact Sheets & Plant Guides
On Pasture Article
Know Your Growth Stages for Successful Grazing Management
Tech guide
Rangeland Health and Planned Grazing
USDA-NRCS: Interpreting Indicators of Rangeland Health
Basics for developing a grazing plan
The first step to executing good grazing practices is developing a grazing plan. A successful grazing plan should outline your goals for both the ecosystem and your herd. To start, take inventory of what plant diversity grows in your rangeland and pasture and their production capabilities. In order to gauge production capabilities, it’s also important to know the health of your rangeland and pasture.
Tech guide
Rangeland Health and Planned Grazing
Video
On Pasture Resource - Using IMap to Map Grazing Pastures
Video
On Pasture Resource - Applied Grazing Managemen
On Pasture Article
Top 10 Misconceptions
Restore Soil and Ecosystem Health with Adaptive Grazing
Low Cost Low Risk Grazing
Explore More
Evaluating forage availability and managing herd size (AUM/AU
Understanding the carrying capacity of the working landscape is necessary to knowing the correct stocking rate that a landscape can support and for how long it can support it A balanced stocking rate can prevent land degradation and ensure other resources are not damaged beyond repair, which can, in turn, lead to healthier and better land production as well as greater quality forage for livestock. This subtopic includes worksheets to apply to your grazing operation and an example of when environmental factors unexpectedly change the forage availability on an operation.
Spreadsheet
On Pasture Resource - Forage Availability
Video + worksheet
On Pasture Resource - Resources for measuring forage availability
Worksheet
Grazing Chart - Troy Bishopp
Plant toxicity and other hazards to grazing livestock
Proper knowledge of potential hazards your livestock could face is critical to animal health and production. Toxic plants can adversely affect cattle, sheep, and horses, and may cause abortions, decreases in production or ability of livestock to breed, emaciation, birth defects, and even death. Poisonous or toxic plants can create bottlenecks in your grazing plan. By identifying which plants are toxic and learning their growth patterns, you can adapt your grazing plan accordingly. Similarly, knowing the quality and quantity of your livestock water is critical for livestock productivity and health.
Plants Poisonous to Livestock in the Western States
On Pasture Article
Protect your livestock from fall prussic acid and nitrate poisoning
On Pasture Article
Frost can cause Forage Hazards
On Pasture Article
Livestock Water Quality
Different infrastructure tools for grazing management
Infrastructure tools like water development, permanent and temporary fencing, and virtual fencing can be great resources for a successful grazing program. Fencing and other infrastructure can help with exclosures, forage management, rotational grazing, and more.
On Pasture Resource - Fence and Water Development For Effective Grazing
Video
On Pasture Resource - Effective Low Cost Fencing Options
Article
On Pasture Resource - Temporary Fencing
Video
On Pasture Resource - Electric Fencing How To's
Article
On Pasture Resource - Electric Fencing Mistakes to Avoid
Ranchers Stewardship Alliance Resource – Virtual Fencing for Land, Livestock and landscape health
Water as a tool
Water can be a great tool for grazing management, and riparian and wetland restoration. Proper water management is pivotal to any agricultural business, especially in arid environments. Furthermore, management of water sources and features require proper planning and implementation.
Newsletter
Watershed Management in Nature’s Image
Tech Guide
Characterization and Restoration of Slope Wetlands in New Mexico
Water Rights in the West: What every landowner needs to know
On Pasture Resource - Fence and Water Development For Effective Grazing
Sandra Postel – Water: 2012 Quivira Coalition Conference
Benefits of multi species grazing / considerations for small ruminants on rangeland
Multi-species grazing is a great way to diversify an operation without needing to expand. Benefits of multi-species grazing can be both ecological and economical. In some cases, grazing two or more species results in improved animal performance. Combining cattle with sheep or goats, for example, can effectively decrease the prevalence of parasites in the latter. Additionally, multi-species grazing has been shown to positively impact cash flow and mitigate financial risks.
Article
On Pasture Resource: “Small Ruminant Toolbox"
Article & VIdeo
On Pasture Resource: “Multi-species Grazing – Diversification Instead of Expansion”
Article
On Pasture Resource: “Managing multi-species grazing”
Small Ruminants and Multi-Species Grazing
Erosion control on rangeland
Soil is the foundation of any successful operation. Erosion can damage root systems, impede water retention, cause pollution into waterways, and more. This section covers a variety of topics in erosion control that include stream-side management, erosion control basics, and treatment options to combat erosion on landscapes.
Tech Guide
An Introduction to Erosion Control
Tech Guide
An introduction to induced meandering - a method for restoring stability to incised stream channels”
Tech Guide
Erosion Control Field Guide
Tech Guide
"The Plug and Spread Treatment: Achieving Erosion Control, Soil Health, and Biological Diversity"
REGENERATE 2022 – Erosion Control video
Riparian and wetland restoration
Riparian areas are extremely sensitive habitat types. Grazing these areas can result in degradation of stream banks and more. Zeedyk structures and beaver dam analogs are inexpensive, low-tech methods for stream restoration. They enhance fish and wildlife habitat, bolster connectivity and ecological complexity, and foster biodiversity.
Tech guide
An Introduction to Meandering
Articles
Restoration of Wet Meadows (Zeedyk Structures)
Tech guide
Characterization and Restoration of Slope Wetlands in New Mexico
Quivira Conference Bill Zeedyk
Let the Water Do the Work, Bill Zeedyk
Using organic amendments on rangeland
There has been more research, studies, and work done related to adding organic amendments (compost, biochar, mulching) to irrigated systems and croplands. While much work has been done related to bale grazing trials and studies on rangelands, there is also a need for more applied research and trials of adding compost, biochar, and mulch to rangelands and dryland systems. Efforts to investigate best practices for incorporating organic amendments into grazing plans and erosion control work may help the success of both efforts, and in ultimately improving soil health.
On Pasture Article
Comparing Cost of Fed Hay and Spreading Compost
On Pasture Article
Do You Know the Difference Between Organic Material and Soil Organic Matter
Podcast
On Pasture Resource - Using IMap to Map Grazing Pastures
Article
Compost on rangeland
White Paper
Exploring Organic Amendments on New Mexican Rangeland
Tech guide
Rural Dryland Composting publication
Introduction to Aerated Static Pile Composting
Aerated static pile composting is one way to create compost on your own land. Learn the basics of this method.
Worm and Aerated Static Pile Composting in Rural Drylands
REGENERATE 2022 Organic Amendments on Rangelands
Explore More
Biochar production from rangeland waste
In the context of this toolkit, place-based biochar refers to the process of producing biochar from the waste material of an agricultural operation. Biochar can be purchased from a large-scale distributor, or can be made in-place where there is large enough space to clear for flammable material. Biochar production can be used as both a tool as well as waste management, acting as compost while building circular systems where waste can be returned to the soil.
Podcast
Down to Earth "Sustainable Development, Climate Mitigation, and Biochar"
Tech Guide
Biochar in the Southwest
Video Serries
Kelpie Wilson's YouTube Channel linked in "Velarde Biochar Workshop"
Website
Prescribed Burning For Forestry
Website
Wildland and Fire Learning Portal
Website
US Biochar Initiative
Article
NMSU Circular on Biochar
Biochar in the Southwest Webinar
We hope to increase awareness of biochar’s potential benefits across Southwestern landscapes- for contributing to soil health, particularly drought resilience, and for mitigating the risk of catastrophic wildfires.
Biochar in the Southwest Panel Discussion – Production Methods and Quality (REGENERATE 2022)
Understanding different grazing enterprise models
Having a proper understanding of the different values, risks, and scale for an enterprise will allow you to choose what will work best for your operation. Understand the variety of options available before you jump into business to ensure you remain profitable and successful.