Change on the range

Abstract

As more and more ranchland is converted to non-agricultural uses every year, ranchers and land managers are increasingly concerned about loss of open space and impacts on ranching communities. Between 1990 and 1999. Colorado farmland declined by 1.3 million acres; 400,000 acres were lost in 1999 alone. In this same decade, the average size of a Colorado farm shrunk by 152 acres (Colo. Dept. of Agr. 2000). In face of such problems we need to look closely at rancher decisions behind these sales. What strategies will ranchers use if faced with federal grazing reductions? How likely is it that public land ranchers will resort to selling their ranchers if faced with public policy changes? What alternatives to selling the ranch do ranchers have? Knowledge of rancher alternatives and preferences can aid in developing strategies that will help ranchers adapt to changing economies and policies.