Data from: USDA ARS Northern Great Plains Research Laboratory (NGPRL) legacy livestock production (1916-2016) under various rangeland managements with stocking rate and seeded crested wheatgrass

<p>Established in 1912, the Northern Great Plains Research Laboratory (NGPRL) is a USDA Agricultural Research Service facility located in Mandan, Morton County, North Dakota.  In 1916, NGPRL scientists established a long-term rangeland management research project focusing on developing the most appropriate stocking rates for rangelands in the region.  The research project ran for 100 years and included pasture 62, a heavily stocked pasture, and 66, a moderately stocked pasture for the entire time. Also, in 1931, pasture 37 was converted from smooth bromegrass to crested wheatgrass, which was both lightly and moderately stocked. NGPRL's grazing season is traditionally May-October which reflects the surrounding region. Animals may be put on slightly later or pulled earlier due to extreme weather conditions or events (e.g. drought, blizzard). The legacy livestock production data from these pastures include 100 years (1916-2016) of livestock production data from pastures 62 and 66 and 84 years (1932-2016) from pasture 37. Pasture 37 was fertilized annually in spring with 40 pounds nitrogen urea [46-0-0] per acre until 2010 and after that it was fertilized intermittently. Grazing treatments on these pastures were applied with stocking rates calculated in 1916 based on 600 lb. animal. Stocking rates were adjusted when pasture sizes were decreased, and this information is included in the data dictionary for the stocking rate and AUM data table. Please note data is missing from 1984 and 1985 from all the pastures.
Johnson Thatcher Sarvis established the experiment in 1915 and managed it until 1940. The experiment was continued by George Rogler from 1940 to 1952, Russell Lorenz and George Rogler from 1953 to 1973, Russell Lorenz from 1974 to 1979, Lenat Hofmann from 1980 to 1992, and James Karns from 1993 to 2002. Numerous technicians and part-time students were also involved in the day-to-day management and conduct of the experiment. We would like to recognize these scientists and support staff for their extraordinary foresight and determination in skillfully managing and continuing this experiment into the twenty-first century. Thanks also to Holly Johnson at the Northern Great Plains Research Laboratory for organizing, cataloging, and annotating the publications from the long-term experiment.</p>
<div><br>Resources in this dataset:</div><br><ul><li><p>Resource Title: Legacy Livestock Production .</p> <p>File Name: LegacyProduction.csv</p><p>Resource Description: In 1916 long-term rangeland management research was established to meet the needs of farmers and ranchers in the region.  These are the legacy livestock production data from those research pastures, which included pastures: 62, a heavily grazed pasture; 66, a lightly grazed pasture; and 37, a pasture planted with crested wheatgrass and subsequently fertilized was both moderately and lightly grazed. NGPRL's grazing season is traditionally April-October.  </p></li><br><li><p>Resource Title: Data Dictionary Defining Attributes of Legacy Production Data.</p> <p>File Name: DataDictionaryLegacyProduction.csv</p></li><br><li><p>Resource Title: Calendar Dates for Legacy Livestock Production Data.</p> <p>File Name: CalendarDates.csv</p><p>Resource Description: Animals may be put on slightly later or pulled earlier due to extreme weather conditions or events (e.g. drought, blizzard).  </p></li><br><li><p>Resource Title: Data Dictionary for Calendar Dates for Legacy Livestock Production Data.</p> <p>File Name: DataDictionaryCalendarDates.csv</p></li><br><li><p>Resource Title: Animal Unit Months and Stocking Rates for Legacy Livestock Production Data.</p> <p>File Name: AUM_StockingRates.csv</p><p>Resource Description: Pastures 62 and 66 have over one hundred years of data (1916-2016).  Pasture 37 was cultivated out of brome-grass in 1931 to plant crested wheatgrass and thus has eighty-four years of data.  Pasture 37 was fertilized annually in spring with 40 pounds nitrogen urea [46-0-0] per acre, per year.  Grazing treatments on these pastures were applied with stocking rates calculated in 1916 based on 600 lb. animal.  Stocking rates were adjusted when pasture sizes were decreased, and this information is included in the data dictionary for the stocking rate and AUM data table.  </p></li><br><li><p>Resource Title: Data Dictionary for Animal Unit Months and Stocking Rates for Legacy Livestock Production Data.</p> <p>File Name: DataDictionaryAUM_StockingRates.csv</p></li></ul>

Tags: ars, data-gov, grazing, grazing-management, livestock-grazing, np216
Organization: Department of Agriculture