Welcome to the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists!
What are Rangelands?
Since Doug used to work with USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), we will provide the NRCS definition of Rangelands.
Rangelands are described as lands on which the indigenous vegetation is predominately grasses, grass-like plants, forbs, and possibly shrubs or dispersed trees. Existing plant communities can include both native and introduced plants. Disturbed lands that have been revegetated naturally or artificially are included. Management of rangelands occurs primarily through ecological processes, rather than agronomic applications. Grazing, by both domestic livestock and wildlife, is the most common ecological management process, with fire and weather extremes also being significant ecological factors. Rangelands include grasslands, savannas, shrublands, most deserts, tundra, alpine communities, marshes and meadows. (Source USDA NRCS)
Here at DS Family Farm, our pastures or fields or paddocks meet the definition of “Rangelands” by NRCS. The term “Pasture” is really for lands that are managed more intensively with additional inputs such as fertilizer and pesticides. Since the main management tool we use on our “pastures” is animal impact and grazing, our lands fit the “Rangelands” definition.
What are Pastoralists?
For Pastoralists, we will provide the definition from Science Direct.
Pastoralists are individuals or groups engaged in pastoralism, a mode of subsistence that involves raising domestic animals on natural pastures, characterized by herd and household mobility to seek fresh grazing in dry grassland environments. They often rely on family or community-based labor for animal care and focus on optimizing the human population supported in these areas rather than maximizing livestock numbers. (Source Science Direct)
Here at DS Family Farm, we do not exactly fit the definition for Pastoralists as described above. We do raise domestic livestock on “natural pastures” or “Rangelands”. The herds are mobile but our household is not. We do graze in a dry grassland environment relying on rainfall. We do rely on family labor for animal care and do focus on supporting our local community with quality “pasture protein” from the animals we raise. Overall, we fit the definition more than we do not fit the definition.
Looking for Rangeland Resources?
Definitely reach out to us if you would like to visit our Rangelands or would like Doug to share more information on how we manage our small part of the Tallgrass Prairie. We are always happy to host visitors to the pastures and the herd. Here are some other resources we recommend related to Rangelands: