Virtual fencing systems (VF) hold considerable promise as tools to help land and livestock managers achieve desired livestock distribution on rangelands contributing to sustainable rangeland management. (full article)

The goal of the 1971 Wild Horse and Burro Act is to “maintain a thriving natural ecological balance on the public lands,” yet wild horse abundance is an ongoing management challenge on western public lands. In the arid western states of Utah, Nevada, and Wyoming, almost 90% of horse populations currently exceed the Appropriate Management Level (AML). Gathers, removals, contraception, and adoptions have been inadequate to keep pace with the 15%-20% yearly herd growth rates, making this goal difficult to achieve.  (full article)

Future warmer and drier growing environments are expected to have long-term negative impacts on agricultural productivity, resulting in decreased certainty for food security. Tef (Eragrostis tef)  is a warm season, C4-photosynthesis grass that is gaining popularity in the U.S. as a high-quality forage, fodder, and highly nutritious, gluten-free grain. (full article)

Drought, heat, and elevated nighttime temperatures are major abiotic stresses impacting the grain quality of cereal crops around the world. These stresses are being exacerbated by climate change in countries where malting and brewing of grain crops are integral to local culture and identity, yet their impacts on the malting and brewing qualities of grain are poorly understood. (full article)

The natural drought tolerance of sorghum makes it a more sustainable grain option than maize for food, feed, alcoholic beverages, and biofuels end uses. Nevada producers have been growing older varieties of forage-type sorghum for many years, but grain sorghum is emerging as a high-value domestic crop that can fill profitable specialty markets for non-GMO, gluten-free food, snacks, and craft brewing and distilling. (full article)

Long-distance migration by terrestrial mammals has been described by Berger (2004) as one of the most spectacular and imperiled ecological phenomena. Long-distance migration has been defined as one-way migration of > 60 miles, and many of Nevada’s big game species, including pronghorn and mule deer, exhibit long-distance migration within the state. (full article)

Understanding the relationship between a species and its environment is critical for wildlife conservation. To effectively conserve greater sage-grouse populations, we require knowledge of how they interact with their environment, and their response to human-induced changes to the landscape. The primary techniques used to understand species-habitat relationships currently have several shortcomings that investigators aim to address. (full article)

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University of Nevada, Reno Rangeland Ecology Professor Tamzen Stringham was recently recognized for her contributions to rangeland science and management when she received the California-Nevada Chapter Soil and Water Conservation Society’s 2019 Merit Award at the group’s Annual Conference. (full article)