IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v10y2018i6p2021-d152590.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Linkages Between acequia Farming and Rangeland Grazing in Traditional Agropastoral Communities of the Southwestern USA

Author

Listed:
  • Stephanie C. López

    (Formerly Department of Animal and Range Sciences, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM 88003, USA)

  • Andrés F. Cibils

    (Department of Animal and Range Sciences, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM 88003, USA)

  • Ursula R. Smedly

    (Formerly Sustainable Agriculture Science Center at Alcalde, New Mexico State University, Alcalde, NM 87511, USA)

  • Steven J. Guldan

    (Sustainable Agriculture Science Center at Alcalde, New Mexico State University, Alcalde, NM 87511, USA)

  • Alexander G. Fernald

    (Department of Animal and Range Sciences, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM 88003, USA)

  • Carlos G. Ochoa

    (Department of Animal and Rangeland Sciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA)

  • Kenneth G. Boykin

    (Center for Applied Spatial Ecology, NM Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM 88003, USA)

  • Lilian Cibils

    (Department of Curriculum & Instruction, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM 88003, USA)

Abstract

Many agropastoral systems worldwide are supported by important linkages between crop production and rangeland grazing. We explored the connections between smallholder farming and public rangeland grazing in northern New Mexico, USA. We retrieved historical data of livestock inventories, drought, and hay production which we analyzed using either ordinary least squares models, generalized autoregressive conditional heteroscedasticity models (GARCH), or exponential GARCH models. We also conducted a survey of farmers and ranchers ( n = 74) of traditional communities in our study area using a mixed methods design. County hay production was the only predictor that explained year-to-year variation in allotment livestock numbers. Allotments that increased livestock numbers tended to have larger base properties (mostly irrigated cropland). Most survey respondents (95%) raised livestock and slightly more than half agreed that livestock provided better financial security than crops. Availability of summer grazing lands and ability to grow or purchase hay to feed livestock during winter were the factors cited least (6% of responses) and most (42%), respectively, as limiting farmers’ ability to increase their herd size. Livestock-raising apparently continues to be critical to the acequia agropastoral economy. Ability to acquire winter feed (hay) appears to regulate the demand for summer grazing on public forested rangelands.

Suggested Citation

  • Stephanie C. López & Andrés F. Cibils & Ursula R. Smedly & Steven J. Guldan & Alexander G. Fernald & Carlos G. Ochoa & Kenneth G. Boykin & Lilian Cibils, 2018. "Linkages Between acequia Farming and Rangeland Grazing in Traditional Agropastoral Communities of the Southwestern USA," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(6), pages 1-17, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:10:y:2018:i:6:p:2021-:d:152590
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/10/6/2021/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/10/6/2021/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Alexander Fernald & Vincent Tidwell & José Rivera & Sylvia Rodríguez & Steven Guldan & Caitriana Steele & Carlos Ochoa & Brian Hurd & Marquita Ortiz & Kenneth Boykin & Andres Cibils, 2012. "Modeling Sustainability of Water, Environment, Livelihood, and Culture in Traditional Irrigation Communities and Their Linked Watersheds," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 4(11), pages 1-25, November.
    2. Roncoli, Carla & Jost, Christine & Perez, Carlos & Moore, Keith & Ballo, Adama & Cisse, Salmana & Ouattara, Karim, 2007. "Carbon sequestration from common property resources: Lessons from community-based sustainable pasture management in north-central Mali," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 94(1), pages 97-109, April.
    3. Alary, Véronique & Corniaux, Christian & Gautier, Denis, 2011. "Livestock's Contribution to Poverty Alleviation: How to Measure It?," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 39(9), pages 1638-1648, September.
    4. Cox, Michael & Ross, Justin M., 2011. "Robustness and vulnerability of community irrigation systems: The case of the Taos valley acequias," Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, Elsevier, vol. 61(3), pages 254-266, May.
    5. Johann Baumgärtner & Getachew Tikubet & Gianni Gilioli, 2010. "Towards Adaptive Governance of Common-Pool Mountainous Agropastoral Systems," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 2(6), pages 1-24, May.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Ashraf J. Zaied & Hatim M.E. Geli & Jerry L. Holechek & Andres F. Cibils & Mohammed N. Sawalhah & Charlotte C. Gard, 2019. "An Evaluation of Historical Trends in New Mexico Beef Cattle Production in Relation to Climate and Energy," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(23), pages 1-17, December.
    2. Ashraf J. Zaied & Hatim M. E. Geli & Mohammed N. Sawalhah & Jerry L. Holechek & Andres F. Cibils & Charlotte C. Gard, 2020. "Historical Trends in New Mexico Forage Crop Production in Relation to Climate, Energy, and Rangelands," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(5), pages 1-22, March.
    3. Ashraf J. Zaied & Hatim M. E. Geli & Andres F. Cibils & Mohammed N. Sawalhah & Jerry L. Holechek & Charlotte C. Gard & Saleh A. Idhirij & Melakeneh G. Gedefaw & Greg L. Torell, 2021. "Beef Cattle Price and Production Patterns in Relation to Drought in New Mexico," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(18), pages 1-20, September.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Benjamin L. Turner & Vincent Tidwell & Alexander Fernald & José A. Rivera & Sylvia Rodriguez & Steven Guldan & Carlos Ochoa & Brian Hurd & Kenneth Boykin & Andres Cibils, 2016. "Modeling Acequia Irrigation Systems Using System Dynamics: Model Development, Evaluation, and Sensitivity Analyses to Investigate Effects of Socio-Economic and Biophysical Feedbacks," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 8(10), pages 1-30, October.
    2. Liang Liu & Cong Feng & Hongwei Zhang & Xuehua Zhang, 2015. "Game Analysis and Simulation of the River Basin Sustainable Development Strategy Integrating Water Emission Trading," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 7(5), pages 1-21, April.
    3. Hrozencik, Aaron & Aillery, Marcel, 2021. "Trends in U.S. Irrigated Agriculture: Increasing Resilience Under Water Supply Scarcity," Economic Information Bulletin 327359, United States Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service.
    4. Florence Jacquet & A Aboul-Naga & Bernard Hubert, 2020. "The contribution of ARIMNet to address livestock systems resilience in the Mediterranean region," Post-Print hal-03625860, HAL.
    5. Howard, Rebecca Joy & Tallontire, Anne & Stringer, Lindsay & Marchant, Rob, 2015. "Unraveling the Notion of “Fair Carbon”: Key Challenges for Standards Development," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 70(C), pages 343-356.
    6. Ralph Lasage & Sanne Muis & Carolina S. E. Sardella & Michiel A. Van Drunen & Peter H. Verburg & Jeroen C. J. H. Aerts, 2015. "A Stepwise, Participatory Approach to Design and Implement Community Based Adaptation to Drought in the Peruvian Andes," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 7(2), pages 1-32, February.
    7. Habtamu Tilahun Kassahun & Bo Jellesmark Thorsen & Joffre Swait & Jette Bredahl Jacobsen, 2020. "Social Cooperation in the Context of Integrated Private and Common Land Management," Environmental & Resource Economics, Springer;European Association of Environmental and Resource Economists, vol. 75(1), pages 105-136, January.
    8. Otto, Ilona M. & Wechsung, Frank, 2014. "The effects of rules and communication in a behavioral irrigation experiment with power asymmetries carried out in North China," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 99(C), pages 10-20.
    9. Athanasios Ragkos & Alexandros Theodoridis & Georgios Arsenos, 2019. "Alternative Approaches of Summer Milk Sales from Transhumant Sheep and Goat Farms: A Case Study from Northern Greece," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(20), pages 1-21, October.
    10. Langarudi, Saeed P. & Maxwell, Connie M. & Bai, Yining & Hanson, Austin & Fernald, Alexander, 2019. "Does Socioeconomic Feedback Matter for Water Models?," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 159(C), pages 35-45.
    11. Clifford, McKenna E. & McKendree, Melissa G.S. & Hodbod, Jennifer & Swanson, Janice C., 2020. "Adaptive Multi-Paddock Grazing: Cattle Producer Survey Results," Staff Paper Series 307453, Michigan State University, Department of Agricultural, Food, and Resource Economics.
    12. Hrozencik, Aaron & Aillery, Marcel, 2021. "Trends in U.S. Irrigated Agriculture: Increasing Resilience Under Water Supply Scarcity," USDA Miscellaneous 316792, United States Department of Agriculture.
    13. Totin, Edmond & Segnon, Alcade & Roncoli, Carla & Thompson-Hall, Mary & Sidibé, Amadou & Carr, Edward R., 2021. "Property rights and wrongs: Land reforms for sustainable food production in rural Mali," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 109(C).
    14. Alexander Fernald & Vincent Tidwell & José Rivera & Sylvia Rodríguez & Steven Guldan & Caitriana Steele & Carlos Ochoa & Brian Hurd & Marquita Ortiz & Kenneth Boykin & Andres Cibils, 2012. "Modeling Sustainability of Water, Environment, Livelihood, and Culture in Traditional Irrigation Communities and Their Linked Watersheds," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 4(11), pages 1-25, November.
    15. Wang, Ying & Bilsborrow, Richard E. & Zhang, Qi & Li, Jiangfeng & Song, Conghe, 2019. "Effects of payment for ecosystem services and agricultural subsidy programs on rural household land use decisions in China: Synergy or trade-off?," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 81(C), pages 785-801.
    16. Hannah Gosnell & Kerry Grimm & Bruce E. Goldstein, 2020. "A half century of Holistic Management: what does the evidence reveal?," Agriculture and Human Values, Springer;The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), vol. 37(3), pages 849-867, September.
    17. Rawlins, Jonathan M. & De Lange, Willem J. & Fraser, Gavin C.G., 2018. "An Ecosystem Service Value Chain Analysis Framework: A Conceptual Paper," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 147(C), pages 84-95.
    18. Dutilly, Céline & Alary, Véronique & Bonnet, Pascal & Lesnoff, Matthieu & Fandamu, Paul & de Haan, Cees, 2020. "Multi-scale assessment of the livestock sector for policy design in Zambia," Journal of Policy Modeling, Elsevier, vol. 42(2), pages 401-418.
    19. Alary, V. & Messad, S. & Aboul-Naga, A. & Osman, M.A. & Daoud, I. & Bonnet, P. & Juanes, X. & Tourrand, J.F., 2014. "Livelihood strategies and the role of livestock in the processes of adaptation to drought in the Coastal Zone of Western Desert (Egypt)," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 128(C), pages 44-54.
    20. Turner, Benjamin L. & Kodali, Srinadh, 2020. "Soil system dynamics for learning about complex, feedback-driven agricultural resource problems: model development, evaluation, and sensitivity analysis of biophysical feedbacks," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 428(C).

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:10:y:2018:i:6:p:2021-:d:152590. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.