West Texas Rangelands
West Texas RangelandsWe hope to provide a variety of science-based rangeland information and current research on prescribed fire, wildfires, brush management, and grazing management!

The Long-Term Cost of Overgrazing—and How to Avoid It

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Rangeland health is shaped by cumulative management decisions rather than single events. Grazing practices that consider timing, recovery, and monitoring support long-term productivity and resilience.

Avoiding overgrazing requires consistency, observation, and flexibility. Just as our environmental conditions change (whiplash drought), so must our grazing strategies.

Connecting the Pieces

Understanding overgrazing, reading rangeland condition, and applying recovery-based grazing strategies work together. Each piece informs the next, creating a management approach that responds to what rangeland needs.

When these elements are aligned, rangelands are better equipped to handle drought, variable weather, fires, woody plant encroachment, and changing conditions.

Long-Term Benefits of Intentional Grazing

Over time, well-managed grazing supports stronger plant communities, improved soil cover, and greater forage stability. These benefits accumulate gradually, reinforcing the importance of patience and long-term thinking.

Stewardship Over Short-Term Gains

Successful rangeland management prioritizes sustainability over short-term use. Grazing decisions made with long-term outcomes in mind help ensure rangelands remain productive and functional for future generations. These strategies also create more flexibility across the operation because pastures are kept productive, healthy, and ready for the next grazing rotation despite challenging environmental conditions.

What Long-Term Success Looks Like on Rangeland

Long-term rangeland success is not defined by a single good year, but by consistent patterns over time. Healthy rangelands tend to show stable plant communities, adequate ground cover, and the ability to recover after grazing or environmental stress.

Successful grazing systems remain flexible. Stocking rates, timing, and pasture use are adjusted based on current conditions rather than fixed plans or continuous use. Monitoring becomes a regular habit, allowing managers to respond early instead of reacting after damage has occurred.

Over time, this approach supports more reliable forage production, improved soil protection, and greater resilience during drought and variable weather. Long-term success is built through intentional decisions made season after season, with the rangeland guiding every single management choice.

Grazing Isn’t the Problem. Unmanaged Pressure Is.

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Grazing is often viewed as a disturbance or impediment to rangeland health, but it is just the opposite! When applied intentionally, it can support plant diversity and ecosystem function. The key is managing pressure, timing, and recovery rather than applying constant use in a continuous grazing system.  Even if managers are conservatively or low-stocked, continuous grazing is a recipe for poor rangeland condition.  

Grazing strategies that prioritize rest allow plants to recover and strengthen root systems. 

Rest and Recovery Matter 

Plants need time after grazing to regrow leaves and rebuild energy reserves that sustains populations during drought and dormancy. Without sufficient recovery, repeated grazing weakens native perennial grasses and reduces long-term productivity and diversity. 

Planned grazing systems incorporate rest periods that match plant growth patterns and environmental conditions. 

Managing Pressure, Not Just Numbers 

Stocking rate alone does not determine grazing success. Duration and distribution of grazing pressure often have a greater impact on plant health than animal numbers. 

Adjusting pasture size, rotation timing, and water placement can help distribute grazing pressure more evenly across the landscape. 

Grazing as a Management Tool 

When managed properly, grazing can reduce excess vegetation, promote plant diversity, and support soil health. Used intentionally, livestock become a win-win synergistic balance that contributes to rangeland resilience rather than degradation. 

What Your Rangeland Is Telling You: If You Know How to Look

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The condition of your rangeland shows how management decisions are affecting it. By paying attention to plant communities, soil cover, and overall structure, land managers can identify potential issues early and respond effectively. Regular observation is one of the most important tools in long-term rangeland stewardship. 

Key Indicators to Watch 

Plant diversity is a strong indicator of rangeland health. A mix of grasses, forbs, cool and warm season species, and varying plant heights often signals a functioning system. Uniform vegetation or dominance by a single species may indicate stress or management imbalance. Think monocultures of Purple Threeawn or Texas Wintergrass.  

Soil surface condition is equally important. Adequate litter and ground cover protect soil from erosion, temperatures, and help retain moisture. Increasing bare ground can signal declining rangeland condition.  Bare ground between bunchgrasses of plants will slowly start to expand, increasing soil movement and soil loss.  

Monitoring Beyond the Growing Season 

Rangeland monitoring does not stop when plants are dormant! Winter and early spring observations can reveal grazing patterns, hoof impact, and areas where pressure may be too concentrated.  Monitoring native perennial grasses during the winter is just as important as monitoring during the growing season, because what you protect in the winter is what jumpstarts new growth this spring.   

Tracking changes season-to-season rather than reacting to a single observation provides a clearer picture of trends and management outcomes.  

Using Monitoring to Guide Decisions 

Monitoring allows managers to make informed adjustments to grazing timing, duration, and intensity. When rangeland conditions are regularly evaluated, management becomes proactive rather than reactive setting pastures off to a great start this spring.  

When Does Grazing Become Overgrazing?

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Overgrazing is often attributed to having too many animals in the pasture. In reality, overgrazing is less about the number of livestock and more about how long plants are consistently exposed to grazing pressure. On West Texas rangelands, the timing and duration of grazing and rest from grazing play a much larger role in native, perennial grass health than simple stocking numbers. 

Understanding what overgrazing actually looks like is the first step toward preventing long-term damage and supporting resilient rangeland systems. 

What Is Overgrazing? 

Overgrazing occurs when plants are grazed repeatedly without adequate time to recover. A pasture can be overgrazed even with a small number of animals if those animals remain in one area too long. When plants are repeatedly defoliated (grazed), they lose the ability to regrow effectively and rebuild root systems, steadily shrinking in mass and function. 

Functioning rangelands depend on periods of rest. Without recovery time from grazing, plant vigor declines, soil cover decreases, and erosion risk and bare ground increases. 

Overgrazing vs. Heavy Grazing 

Heavy grazing and overgrazing are not the same thing. Heavy grazing refers to short-term use where plants are grazed intensively but then allowed time to recover. Overgrazing happens when grazing pressure continues without rest, and plants are repeatedly defoliated.  

This distinction is important because grazing can be used as a management tool when paired with recovery. Problems arise when grazing pressure is constant rather than planned and rotated. 

Early Signs of Overgrazing 

Early indicators of overgrazing include reduced plant height, loss of preferred forage species, and increasing bare ground. Over time, these changes can lead to reduced forage production and increased weed or invasive species presence- including woody species establishment like honey mesquite and redberry juniper 

Monitoring these early signals from your rangeland grasses should spur managers to adjust grazing before long-term and irrecoverable damage occurs. 

 

Prepared Today, Resilient Tomorrow: Making Wildfire Preparedness Part of Rangeland Stewardship

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Wildfire risk is a natural part of West Texas rangelands, but preparedness is most effective when it is part of ongoing land stewardship. Managing rangelands with long-term resilience in mind not only protects property and resources, but also supports ecosystem health and sustainable operations. 

Integrating Preparedness into Stewardship Practices 
Preparedness begins with everyday land management decisions. Practices such as targeted grazing, rotational grazing, and selective vegetation management help reduce fuel loads while maintaining healthy grass and brush cover. These strategies are not one-time solutions—they are ongoing practices that strengthen the landscape over years. 

Infrastructure and Access as a Stewardship Tool 
Maintaining roads, fence lines, water sources, and access points is a long-term investment in rangeland resilience. Clear access allows for safe movement of equipment and personnel if wildfire conditions arise. Roads and defensible corridors also serve as strategic breaks in fuel, reducing potential fire spread while supporting everyday operations. 

Monitoring Conditions Over Time 
Ongoing observation of vegetation, fuel, and weather trends is central to long-term preparedness. Tools like the Jornada Rangeland Analysis Platform provide historical and current data on vegetation growth and drought patterns. Combining this data with on-the-ground monitoring helps landowners make adaptive decisions, such as adjusting grazing or vegetation treatments, in a way that supports both land health and wildfire preparedness. 

Preparedness as a Continuous Practice
Long-term wildfire preparedness is not about expecting a fire every year. It is about creating a resilient, well-managed landscape that can better withstand unpredictable events. Maintaining native grasses, managing fuel continuity, and planning infrastructure improvements over time ensures the land remains productive and safer under a variety of conditions. 

Building Resilient Rangelands
By treating preparedness as part of overall stewardship, landowners reinforce their long-term investment in rangeland health. The combined effect of fuel management, infrastructure planning, monitoring, and adaptive management reduces potential wildfire impact while sustaining the ecological and economic productivity of West Texas rangelands. 

Fuel, Weather, and Risk: Monitoring Wildfire Conditions on Your Land

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Wildfire risk on rangelands is influenced by changing conditions rather than a fixed season. Weather patterns, vegetation growth, and fuel dryness all vary throughout the year. Monitoring these conditions helps landowners and managers understand when wildfire risk may increase and supports better decision-making. 

Tracking Fuel Conditions
One of the most important factors to watch is fuel condition. Grasses and other fine fuels dry at different rates depending on temperature, wind, and recent precipitation. After periods of rainfall, rangelands may produce increased vegetation that later becomes dry fuel. Observing changes in fuel amount and dryness over time provides valuable context for management activities. 

Watching Weather Patterns
Weather conditions also play a key role. Low humidity, strong winds, and extended dry periods can increase fire potential. Monitoring forecasts and short-term weather trends helps identify periods when caution may be needed. These conditions can occur at any time of year in West Texas, including winter months. 

Using Regional Data Tools
In addition to on-the-ground observations, land managers can use online tools to track broader trends. The Rangeland Analysis Platform (RAP) provides data and visual tools that help users assess vegetation productivity, drought patterns, and long-term rangeland conditions. This platform allows landowners to view changes across large areas and compare current conditions to historical averages. 

Connecting Data with Local Knowledge
Using tools like RAP alongside local knowledge creates a clearer picture of rangeland conditions. While no single dataset can predict wildfire, combining field observations with regional data improves awareness and supports informed planning. 

Applying What You Observe
Monitoring conditions also helps guide everyday decisions. Timing of equipment use, grazing rotations, or vegetation treatments can be adjusted based on current fuel and weather conditions. This approach reduces unnecessary risk while maintaining normal land management operations. 

Staying Aware Over Time
Monitoring is not about expecting wildfire to occur. Instead, it is a way to stay informed and adaptable. Conditions change, and understanding those changes helps landowners respond thoughtfully rather than reactively. 

Roads, Buffers, and Water: Preparing Your Ranch for Wildfire

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Wildfire is one of several natural disturbances that can affect West Texas rangelands under certain conditions. While wildfire does not occur every year or on every property, periods of dry weather, low humidity, and strong winds can increase risk. January provides a useful time to evaluate infrastructure and address potential vulnerabilities ahead of higher-risk periods. 

Infrastructure influences both wildfire prevention and response. Roads, fences, water sources, and access points affect how fire may move across a landscape and how landowners or responders may access an area if a wildfire occurs. Maintaining these systems can reduce potential impacts and improve safety. 

Roads and Access Points 

Well-maintained roads improve access for routine management and can be important if emergency access is needed. Roads also create breaks in vegetation that may slow fire spread under certain conditions. Keeping roads passable and managing vegetation along road edges helps maintain these benefits. 

Fence Lines and Corridors 

Fence lines, pipelines, and utility corridors often accumulate grasses and debris. These areas can create continuous fuel pathways if ignited. Managing vegetation along these corridors helps reduce fuel continuity and may limit fire movement between pastures. 

Water Availability

Water infrastructure can support wildfire response if needed. Stock tanks, ponds, and troughs should be accessible and free of excessive vegetation. Clearly identifying water access points ahead of time improves readiness without assuming they will be needed. 

Structures and High-Use Areas 

Barns, sheds, working pens, and equipment areas are commonly used spaces where ignition sources may be present during dry and windy conditions. Reducing fine fuels around these areas helps lower the chance that a fire could spread to structures. Maintaining open space around buildings also improves visibility and access. 

Planning and Timing 

Infrastructure preparation is most effective when addressed well before high-risk conditions develop. Reviewing access routes, identifying areas with heavy fuel accumulation, and making gradual improvements allows flexibility in management decisions. 

Wildfire is not guaranteed, but preparation supports resilience. Maintaining functional infrastructure improves overall land management and ensures that, if wildfire conditions develop, landowners are better positioned to respond safely and effectively. 

Visit our site to learn more about wildfire risk.

Fuel on the Ground: Managing Vegetation to Reduce Wildfire Risk 

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In West Texas, wildfire risk does not wait for summer. By January, grasses are dry, humidity is low, and wind events are common across open rangelands. These conditions make early preparation important. Taking steps now to manage fuel helps reduce how fast fire can move and improves safety when wildfire season approaches. 

What Are Fuel Loads? 

Fuel loads are the amount and arrangement of vegetation available to burn. Heavy fuel loads include thick grasses, dense brush, and dead plant material. These fuels dry out easily during drought or winter, making them more flammable. Reducing fuel loads helps slow fire spread and gives firefighters better chances to contain fires.  

Targeted Grazing to Reduce Fuel 

Targeted grazing uses livestock to reduce fine fuels like grasses and forbs. Cattle, goats, or sheep can be placed in specific areas to eat vegetation before wildfire season. This process lowers grass height and reduces the total fuel available. Research shows that targeted grazing can reduce flame height and fuel continuity, especially where herbaceous fuels are high and woody cover is low.  

Targeted grazing can also be used to form fuel breaks—strips of land with reduced vegetation. Fuel breaks slow fire spread and help protect key areas such as roads, fences, or infrastructure. Placing livestock to graze along these strips before fire season can improve their effectiveness.  

Infrastructure and Access 

Good infrastructure supports fuel management and wildfire response. Well-maintained roads and access points allow managers and fire crews to reach critical areas quickly. Roads also act as breaks in fuel continuity. Regularly clearing vegetation along fence lines, around water sources, and near buildings reduces fuel near structures and allows safer movement of equipment and personnel during a fire event.  

Integrated Fuel Management Fuel reduction works best when multiple tools are used together. In addition to targeted grazing, mechanical treatments, mowing, and prescribed burns may be appropriate on certain sites. Planning fuel management before wildfire season improves its success. Collaboration with local Extension services and wildfire professionals can help tailor strategies to specific rangeland conditions. 

For more information, please download Wildfire…Preparing the Ranch!

Managing Old World Bluestems…A Review

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Merry Christmas!

As we gather with family and friends this holiday season, many of us are also thinking ahead to 2026 rangeland goals, especially the ongoing battle against invasive monocultures of Old-World bluestems. In the spirit of giving useful gifts, here’s a practical, research-backed summary from TAMU RWFM’S Dr. Lucero’s lab on the newest science on how to fight these tough grasses, just in time for your 2026 management planning!

Old-World bluestems, non-native grasses from the genera Bothriochloa and Dichanthium, were originally introduced to the United States for forage and erosion control. However, these species have become invasive, spreading aggressively across rangelands, reducing biodiversity, and providing limited nutritional value to livestock as the growing season progresses. Their crude protein content, for instance, can decline from approximately 19% in early summer to as low as 3-4% later in the year, impacting grazing quality and ecosystem health.

A recent systematic review and meta-analysis, published in Rangelands (DOI: 10.1016/j.rala.2025.10.002) from TAMU Rangeland, Wildlife, and Fisheries Department Dr. Talia Humphries, Christopher J. Lortie and Dr. Jacob Lucero, synthesizes existing research on controlling these invasive grasses. This study examined 16 peer-reviewed articles from Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas, yielding 89 observations. The analysis identifies effective management strategies while highlighting gaps in the literature.

Challenges Posed by Old-World Bluestems

These warm-season perennial grasses, native to regions in Africa, Asia, Australia, and Europe, thrive in drought-prone, disturbed environments. Introduced since the late 1800s for their resilience to grazing, fire, and poor soil conditions, they now form dense monocultures that outcompete native species. This leads to decreased plant, insect, bird, and mammal diversity, as well as potential facilitation of pests and diseases, such as serving as hosts for vectors of sugarcane white leaf disease.

The review emphasizes the ecological and economic urgency of control, as these species continue to expand across southern U.S. states and Hawaii, threatening rangeland productivity and sustainability.

Key Findings on Control Strategies

The meta-analysis evaluated 15 treatments, measuring their impact on bluestem cover, frequency, biomass, and other metrics using Hedge’s g effect size. The overall effect across treatments was a moderate reduction in invasion (Grand mean = -0.49 ± 0.12). Notably:

  • Prescribed Fire: This standalone treatment significantly reduced bluestem abundance (Hedge’s g = -0.9961, P < 0.0001), offering a practical option for rangeland restoration.
  • Herbicide Combined with Burning: Integrating herbicide application prior to burning yielded strong control (Hedge’s g = -3.1234, P = 0.0018), enhancing efficacy through synergistic effects.
  • Rain Shelter Combined with Burning: Simulating drought conditions via rain exclusion before burning also proved effective (Hedge’s g = -0.8887, P = 0.0100), particularly in arid regions where water stress weakens the grasses.
  • Competition through Overseeding: Introducing competitive native or desirable species significantly curbed bluestem spread (Hedge’s g = -1.1602, P < 0.0001), promoting long-term ecosystem recovery.

Conversely, mechanical removal alone increased bluestem invasion (Hedge’s g = 0.9636, P = 0.0072), likely due to soil disturbance favoring regrowth. Standalone herbicide applications showed no significant effect.

Study duration influenced outcomes, with longer-term experiments indicating potential bluestem resurgence, underscoring the need for repeated or sustained interventions.

Research Gaps and Implications for Management

The analysis reveals a scarcity of studies—only 16 met inclusion criteria despite over 30 years of concern—limiting statistical power for some treatments. Most research focused on Bothriochloa ischaemum, with limited data on other species like Bothriochloa bladhii or Dichanthium annulatum. Few studies explored integrated approaches, suggesting a need for more research on combined strategies and broader geographic representation.

For ranchers, landowners, and conservationists:

  • Prioritize burning or herbicide-burn combinations, consulting local experts for safe implementation and regulatory compliance.
  • Incorporate overseeding with native species to foster competition and biodiversity.
  • Avoid isolated mechanical removal, as it may exacerbate the issue.
  • Monitor sites over multiple years to assess and adapt management plans.

This synthesis provides evidence-based guidance for addressing Old-World bluestems, supporting sustainable rangeland management. For detailed methodologies and results, refer to the full article in Rangelands. Collaboration with extension services can help tailor these strategies to specific locales.

From all of us who work to keep America’s grasslands healthy, we wish you a very Merry Christmas, a prosperous New Year, and strong success in restoring your pastures and prairies in 2026. May your cattle gain well, your native grasses flourish, and your Old-World bluestems finally meet their match.

Merry Christmas!

Fire and Follow-Through!

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This amazing class at TAMU RWFM is focused on Communicating Natural Resources. It covers principles for effectively sharing natural resource science with diverse stakeholders, building essential skills for careers in rangeland, wildlife, and fisheries management. Topics include audience analysis, mixed-media presentations, and interpersonal communication tailored to natural resource contexts. Check out 2025 spring semester’s capstone project!