West Texas Rangelands

Save for a Rainy Day: Navigating Wildlife Water Needs in a Changing Climate

March 5, 2025 by jaime.sanford

Dr. Jacob Dykes and colleagues have recently published a factsheet exploring the diversity of wildlife using free water sources in arid environments in Far West Texas. As we know in that neck of the world, access to water is crucial. As extreme climatic events and variability intensify spurring flash droughts, dry spells, and extended drought conditions, the availability and predictability of water sources is becoming increasingly unpredictable and that much more of a priority.

Structural Changes Drive Functional Changes

February 26, 2025 by jaime.sanford

Rangelands, vast and vital, are more than just scenic landscapes. They’re complex ecosystems providing essential services, from clean air and water to livestock grazing and wildlife habitat. But these valuable areas face a growing threat: woody plant encroachment. This occurs when shrubs and trees increase in density and coverage, often at the expense of grasslands. While it might seem like a simple change in vegetation, the consequences are far-reaching, impacting everything from soil health to water availability.

Get Ready: Hot. Dry. And More Dry.

February 19, 2025 by jaime.sanford

If you felt like 2024 was a scorcher, you weren’t wrong. Texas experienced its warmest year in 130 years, mirroring a global trend that likely marks the hottest year in nearly 100,000 years. That’s not just hot; it’s historically significant (Figure 1a courtesy of Texas + Water)!

A Comparison of the 2017 & 2022 USDA Ag Census Data for West Texas Counties

February 12, 2025 by jaime.sanford

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) has released 2022 Census of Agriculture data. The graphic presents a fascinating snapshot of the ranching landscape impacting four West Texas counties: Tom Green, Schleicher, Crockett, and Menard. Using data from the 2017 and 2022 USDA Agricultural Census, we can glean valuable insights into trends and shifts within this vital sector of Texas’s economy and heritage.

Are Ponds a Continuation of Rangelands?

February 5, 2025 by jaime.sanford

As Texas A&M AgriLife experts and colleagues, Dr. Todd Sink and Brittany Chesser, can certainly attest that ponds are just a continuation of rangelands. Brittany Chesser and Dr. Todd Sink continue to dedicate their expertise to advancing aquaculture, fisheries management, and aquatic conservation through innovative research and community education. Their unwavering commitment to sustainable resource management and public outreach empowers stakeholders with the knowledge and tools necessary to enhance aquatic ecosystems across Texas and beyond. Check out this new factsheet by the best of the best!

Non-Target Woody Plant Response to Herbicides

January 29, 2025 by jaime.sanford

Ranchers in West Texas frequently encounter a double-decker challenge with intense canopy coverage from honey mesquite and dense pricklypear in the understory. Synergistic broadcast herbicide applications are commonly employed to tackle these layered problematic, opportunistic, and abundant species. However, it is crucial to recognize the potential for unintended consequences on nontarget woody plant species. A recent study delved into the effects of various herbicide treatments on both target and nontarget woody plant species.

Wildfire Preparedness: Protecting Your Ranch

January 22, 2025 by jaime.sanford

Texas A&M AgriLife has released a new publication in preparing the ranch for wildfire!

Wildfire: Preparing the Ranch is an online educational resource debuting at Texas Panhandle wildfire preparedness educational meetings in Pampa and Canadian. The resource is designed to equip Texas agricultural producers with educational information and tools to prepare for wildfires.

Gone With the Wind: Examining the Impact of Windfarms on Property Value

January 15, 2025 by jaime.sanford

Solar and wind energy development on rangeland is everywhere. They accounted for a whopping 40% and 18% of new electricity generation capacity in the United States in 2019, respectively. Inevitably, these projects often lead to habitat fragmentation, soil disturbance, and changes in hydrology, which can negatively impact native vegetation and wildlife species reliant on these landscapes. However, few ecological studies exist documenting plant community impacts, soil health dynamics, and wildlife habitat alterations, however, some studies conducted on wind and solar development have shown that proximity to wind farms can often reduce overall property values. This reduction is more significant when the wind turbines are visible from the property. The visual impact of wind turbines is a major factor in overall property value depreciation. Research suggests that the visibility radius for wind turbines can extend up to 8.7 miles.

Masticator Sparks Wildfire – Rapid Lesson Sharing

January 8, 2025 by jaime.sanford

This past October in the Wichita Mountains National Wildlife Refuge (Comanche County, OK, USA) a skid steer masticator was conducting a hazardous fuels reduction treatment along a paved road. There was additional road grading and other mechanical fuel reduction work for a future prescribed burn occurring on other parts of the refuge that day. Unfortunately, the masticator hit a rock that was hidden underneath the vegetation and, unknowingly, sparked a fire.

Blue Grama (Bouteloua gracilis)

December 18, 2024 by jaime.sanford

As stewards, let’s all just take a Christmas moment reflection and a deep breath of blue grama. Did you know that blue grama is the most common plant found throughout the mixed prairie? Even more impressively, blue grama possesses the most general distribution thriving as far north as Canada and as far south as Mexico.