Cows, and soils, and birds – oh my! Ecological outcomes of ranch conservation plans

We reviewed 1021 Natural Resource Conservation Service contracts, including 72 contracts with prescribed grazing as a contracted practice. We analyzed relationships among types of conservation practices implemented. There was a significant, positive relationship between prescribed grazing and fencing, pipeline, and water pumps. There was a significant, negative relationship between prescribed grazing and restoration plantings. Neutral associations existed between prescribed grazing and irrigation water management and wildlife habitat enhancements. Finally, we examined relationships between grazing intensity, measured as animal days per acre, and found that ranches with the lowest animal days per acre reported the most conservation practices.