Findings from a social research project exploring the conversation surrounding the use of grazing as a land management tool in Iowa's remaining grasslands.
4. Private/ Farm Level Benefits
• Dependent on grazing management
• What's in it for producers?
– Buffer against fluctua=ng cost of feed
– Lands unsuited for crop produc=on
– Alterna=ve & emerging market channels
– Economic winner when subsidy payments not
considered
Cherney and Kallenbach 2007; Janovick et al. 2001; Digiacomo et al. 2001; Entz et al. 2002; Mathews and Johnson 2010; Acevedo et al.
2006; Hogberg et al .2005; Flora et al. 2004.
19. Make all same
color
20 Case Study Par=cipants
FOCUS GROUP:
IA DNR Private
Lands Biologists
5
University
Research/NonGovernmental
Organizations
3
Exclusively
Manage Cattle
on Pastures
and/ or
Feedlots
4
Manage Crop
and Beef
Enterprises
3
Government
Field Agents
Who Manage
Land/ Provide
Technical
Assistance
5
20. Semi‐structured Interviews & Focus Group
Livestock Producers/
Farmers
Natural Resource
Managers/ Experts
Context
• Land use History
• Reliance on grazing
• Scope of job
• How involved with
graziers?
Community/ Place
• Resources for grazing
• Influence/ knowledge of
RRSBCA
• Experience with livestock
enterprises in area
• Understanding of/ role in
BCA
Characterizing
Knowledge
• Benefits of grazing system
• Understanding of pasture
health
• View of grazing systems for
multiple benefits
• Examples
Characterizing
barriers and
facilitating factors
• Grazing relative to goals
• Factors that inhibit application
• Ability to promote
implementation
• Factors influencing viability
• Ideal farm landscape
• Vision for outreach and
ways to influence
implementation
Vision