Initially, the most active states in developing IRM efforts were Kentucky, Nebraska, Kansas, Texas, Colorado and Idaho. In March 1984, guidelines for IRM were established that are still very much the standard of how the program operates today with the exception of the change of reproduction to resource in the acronym. Many effective tools for implementing IRM have been created and there are numerous models available on demonstration farm and ranches. The concept of IRM was founded and has evolved to a point. That evolution should continue to involve more producers because it is imperative that the public sector providers will not and should not be the ultimate IRM program.
Integration implies the organization of various disciplines into one harmonious personality.
This process will require a facilitator or coordinator. Ideally this coordinator should be the individual producer or ranch manager, not the public agencies. Our society cannot afford to provide extensive implementation of IRM to all producers with our limited state and federal budgets. While the integration concept can sometimes seem ambiguous, the resource aspect of IRM is more concrete. The major resources available to ranchers are land, labor and capital.