Abstract There is considerable controversy regarding the best and highest use of federal lands as well as how to properly manage resources. Decisions regarding proper use of resources need to be based upon the best science available. By having this information available, it will enable land managers, ranchers, and the public to have a better starting point from which to base decisions and mediate conflict. In 2000, a USDA grant, Reading the Range ( RTR ) was obtained and demonstration ranches for range monitoring were established with technical assistance provided. It was hoped that establishment of demonstration ranches for range monitoring would encourage neighboring ranches to consider implementing similar practices on their ranches. Expectations for rancher participants were to assist in data collection and to be willing to share the process with others. The USDA grant expired in 2002, but with additional grant support ($170,000), RTR has been able to continue. From the original 6 participants with 100,000 acres RTR has now grown to 33 ranches with 900,000 acres. Currently, approximately 30% of the Tonto National Forest is enrolled in the RTR program. There have been 57 Extension Reports produced encompassing approximately 8,000 pages. An online database for entering monitoring data is available at http://cals.arizona.edu/gila/animalsciences/dnloadsprdsht.html Monitoring data are being included in National Environmental Policy Act grazing permit renewals. Several participants in RTR have received awards from the Arizona Cattlegrowers’ Association, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, and the Arizona Section, Society for Range Management for environmental stewardship and range management. Program Identification Several regional and statewide program interest surveys for AZ ranchers have identified range monitoring as the number 1 program. However, it was determined that although range monitoring had been taught by the University of Arizona for over two decades, it had been sporadically adopted as a standard operating procedure on AZ ranches. Therefore, it was decided to seek grant money to implement a tried and true historical Extension teaching method, the demonstration ranch. This program effort was called Reading the Range ( RTR ). Acknowledgments We wish to acknowledge those entities that provided grant funding which made this program possible. They are listed in the Program Inputs above. Program Inputs $10,000 seed money was obtained from the USDA Renewable Resources Extension Act for RTR. The USDA-RREA grant expired in 2002, but $170,000 additional funding was obtained from the Gila County Board of Supervisors, the Tonto Natural Resources Conservation District, the Natural Resources Conservation Service ( NRCS ), and DC Cattle Co., LLC. Range consultants were hired to assist in data collection. Student interns from Brigham Young University - Idaho have assisted in data collection. Grant money from the above sources was used to hire part time employees for data entry . Each ranch assisted in collecting monitoring data. The United States Forest Service, NRCS, AZ State Land Department, the University of Arizona School of Natural Resources, AZ Game and Fish, and other private individuals have assisted in data collection. Program Results Changes in vegetation have been documented through RTR. This has influenced grazing decisions and provided information for NEPA grazing permit renewals. Sprinkle, J. E. 1 , Schalau, J. W. 2 , Ruyle, G. B. 3 1 Gila County Cooperative Extension, University of Arizona, Payson, Arizona 85541 2 Yavapai County Cooperative Extension, University of Arizona, Prescott, Arizona 86305 3 School of Natural Resources, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721 Range Monitoring Workshops have been taught by the University of Arizona since the 1970’s. Ranchers and Forest Service receive instruction on monitoring procedures to be used in RTR by Dr. George Ruyle, University of Arizona. For further information Please contact [email_address] or call 928-474-4160. More information on this and related projects can be obtained at http://cals.arizona.edu/gila/animalsciences/range_resources.html . Reading the Range Program Delivery Original participants were screened by a review committee consisting of Extension agents, range professionals, and county cattle grower association presidents. Expectations for ranchers were: Provide needed information (e.g. stocking rates). Commit at least 50 hours to the process. Have a ranch employee or owner present for data collection. Coordinate monitoring with agency partners. Take the initiative and be honest. Be committed to continuing monitoring. Share the process with others. New participants after the original were expected to meet the same expectations. Educational objectives were: Provide training in range monitoring. Establish 6 demonstration ranches for monitoring in Gila and Yavapai Counties. Use data collected to assist in management. Provide training in the National Environmental Policy Act ( NEPA ) grazing permit renewal process. Range monitoring data collected included: Trend (Plant Species Frequency) Plant Composition (Dry Weight Rank) Ground Cover (Point Data) Canopy Cover (for Browse only) Distance to Closet Perennial (Fetch) Forage Production Forage Utilization Precipitation Photos Stocking Rates Monitoring on the Greenback Allotment. Program Impact In a 2003 University of AZ survey, agency employees reported that as a result of monitoring, relationships had greatly improved in 37% of the cases and somewhat improved in 46% of the cases http/www.srmjournals.org/pdfserv/i1551-5028-58-1-89.pdf . Two participants in RTR received the Environmental Stewardship Award from the AZ Cattlegrowers’ Association. One participant received a national Environmental Stewardship Award from the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association. One participant was named the AZ Society for Range Management Range Manager of the Year. Acres monitored in Reading the Range have increased exponentially since the program begin in 2001. About 30% of the Tonto National Forest is now enrolled in RTR. 57 Extension Reports encompassing 8,058 pages have been produced.

Program Identification

Several regional and statewide program interest surveys for AZ ranchers have identified range monitoring as the number 1 program.

However, it was determined that although range monitoring had been taught by the University of Arizona for over two decades, it had been sporadically adopted as a standard operating procedure on AZ ranches.

Therefore, it was decided to seek grant money to implement a tried and true historical Extension teaching method, the demonstration ranch. This program effort was called Reading the Range ( RTR ).

Program Inputs

$10,000 seed money was obtained from the USDA Renewable Resources Extension Act for RTR.

The USDA-RREA grant expired in 2002, but $170,000 additional funding was obtained from the Gila County Board of Supervisors, the Tonto Natural Resources Conservation District, the Natural Resources Conservation Service ( NRCS ), and DC Cattle Co., LLC.

Range consultants were hired to assist in data collection.

Student interns from Brigham Young University - Idaho have assisted in data collection.

Grant money from the above sources was used to hire part time employees for data entry .

Each ranch assisted in collecting monitoring data.

The United States Forest Service, NRCS, AZ State Land Department, the University of Arizona School of Natural Resources, AZ Game and Fish, and other private individuals have assisted in data collection.

Program Delivery

Original participants were screened by a review committee consisting of Extension agents, range professionals, and county cattle grower association presidents.

Expectations for ranchers were:

Provide needed information (e.g. stocking rates).

Commit at least 50 hours to the process.

Have a ranch employee or owner present for data collection.

Coordinate monitoring with agency partners.

Take the initiative and be honest.

Be committed to continuing monitoring.

Share the process with others.

New participants after the original were expected to meet the same expectations.

Educational objectives were:

Provide training in range monitoring.

Establish 6 demonstration ranches for monitoring in Gila and Yavapai Counties.

Use data collected to assist in management.

Provide training in the National Environmental

Policy Act ( NEPA ) grazing permit renewal process.

Range monitoring data collected included:

Trend (Plant Species Frequency)

Plant Composition (Dry Weight Rank)

Ground Cover (Point Data)

Canopy Cover (for Browse only)

Distance to Closet Perennial (Fetch)

Forage Production

Forage Utilization

Precipitation

Photos

Stocking Rates

Program Impact

In a 2003 University of AZ survey, agency employees reported that as a result of monitoring, relationships had greatly improved in 37% of the cases and somewhat improved in 46% of the cases http/www.srmjournals.org/pdfserv/i1551-5028-58-1-89.pdf .

Two participants in RTR received the Environmental Stewardship Award from the AZ Cattlegrowers’ Association. One participant received a national Environmental Stewardship Award from the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association. One participant was named the AZ Society for Range Management Range Manager of the Year.

57 Extension Reports encompassing 8,058 pages have been produced.