Outcome-Based Grazing

what is outcome-based grazing?

Outcome-Based Grazing offers increased flexibility in livestock grazing authorizations.

The goal? Promote ecological health and livestock operation sustainability.

This initiative aims to to improve the Bureau of Land Management (BLM)’s management of public lands livestock grazing by incorporating objectives, flexibilities, and monitoring plans into the terms and conditions of grazing authorizations.

Outcome-Based Grazing allows the BLM and livestock operators to better respond to changing on-the-ground conditions such as:

Environmental Changes: Including drought, extreme weather, wildfire, stockwater and forage availability

Operational Changes: Including BLM or ranch staff turnover, livestock manager changes, and variation in herd composition

OUTCOME-BASED GRAZING FLEXIBILITIES

Outcome-Based Grazing incorporates pre-authorized grazing plan modifications, called flexibilities, into grazing authorizations, to give livestock operators an increased ability to respond in a timely way to changes Mother Nature has in store for us.

Flexibilities may include:

Changes in livestock numbers
Changes in rotation timing and duration
Changes to grazing dates in response to seasonal conditions
Targeted grazing implementation to reduce herbaceous fuels

Learn more:

Outcome-Based Grazing FAQ

Outcome-Based Grazing Webinars

Grazing Management for the Future: A new film series on Outcome-Based Grazing

Watch the Video Series

THE GOALS:

The goal of Outcome-Based Grazing is to provide rangeland managers with the flexibility to change their grazing plan in ways that will help adapt to challenges that arise in their particular landscape in any given season.

Every livestock operation is different—and therefore each Outcome-Based Grazing authorization is designed to provide flexibility options tailored to the needs of each operation.

Demonstration projects on specific ranches are being used to demonstrate and develop best practices for the Outcome-Based Grazing program. Eleven livestock operations across the West were selected as Demonstration Projects that included an OBG alternative in their authorization renewal process. Eight of these projects have fully processed and are now implementing the objectives, flexibilities and monitoring plans that were developed collaboratively in their grazing authorizations.

Ensure livestock operators have the ability to collaboratively manage ranching operations to provide for healthy rangelands and wildlife habitat, while being economically sustainable
Decrease response time to changing field conditions
Support enhanced partnerships for managing public lands livestock grazing
Implement grazing based on conservation and ecological outcomes
Cooperatively improve, manage and protect public lands
Provide livestock managers the ability to make decisions based on experience, objectives, monitoring, and knowledge of local conditions
Achieve positive economic and social outcomes