Determining the quality of grazed forage remains a challenge for nutritional modeling and monitoring in livestock.

One method used to accomplish this task has been near-infrared spectroscopy of feces (FNIRS) combined with the Nutritional Balance Analyzer Model (Nutbal).

Users of the FNIRS-Nutbal system in the Edwards Plateau of Texas have observed inaccurate predictions of diet quality on rangelands.

Application of a regional-specific FNIRS calibration improved the estimation of grazing animal diet quality in this region.

Nutritional monitoring of beef cows grazing Edwards Plateau rangeland via the FNIRS-Nutbal system was accurate enough (± 0.5 body condition score, 80% occurrence) to inform management decisions, but incorrect predictions of animal performance did occur.

Whitebrush (Aloysia gratissima) is a native shrub in South Texas that has become a nuisance on rangelands by forming monoculture stands often requiring intensive management. Whitebrush is drought deciduous (i.e., defoliation in response to moisture stress), which limits the traditional window of opportunity for foliar herbicide applications.

In 2020, a new herbicide in the picolinic acid family (Invora; aminocyclopyrachlor + triclopyr [ACP + T 1:2]) capable of offering high levels of control for select resprouting woody species was approved for use in rangelands. Our field trials demonstrated Invora provided high levels of control when applied as individual plant (IPT, mortality = 100%) and broadcast (BC, mortality = 98.6%) foliar treatments regardless of season (P = 0.29, α = 0.05) two years after treatment.

We also found foliar-like applications of other commonly used herbicides can be highly effective when applied to dormant shrubs (IPT mortality = 99.7%, BC mortality = 83.5%) with at least 2.5% surfactant in the chemical mix.

Laboratory testing indicated high variation in the percentage of viable seed produced annually between whitebrush populations (6%–49%), providing insight into population recruitment strategies post-treatment.

Managed grazing systems strive to improve rangeland health and forage utilization.

Novel grazing technologies are enabling managed grazing to be more effectively applied to rangeland systems.

Herd instinct tags are a new technology that aim to promote migratory grazing and increased stocking density with lesser technical knowledge and management inputs than virtual fencing applications.

Herd instinct tags maintained animals at a higher stock density but did not affect animal behavior or fecal cortisol levels.

Evaluation of animal performance and ecological health is needed to determine suitability in production scenarios.

Retention of privately owned open space is becoming an increasing imperative throughout the United States, particularly in densely developed regions.

As of 2022, 35 states have adopted some form of preferential tax treatment to conserve land based solely on its environmental value.

In 11 states, including Texas, agricultural or timber production is a prerequisite to receiving this property tax reduction, which precludes ecologically valuable, nonworking land from being conserved through preferential property tax treatment.

We evaluated 17 states that do not necessitate agricultural or timber use and present alternative strategies to protect land based on ecological significance.

Our results provide options for possible modification of Conservation Open Space Valuation to programs that do not possess production-oriented qualification requirements.