Grazing Management Transition Dynamics in the U.S. Great Plains: Evidence from 2018 to 2022 Producer Surveys

Abstract This study analyzes grazing management transitions among cattle producers in North Dakota, South Dakota, and Texas using producer survey data collected in 2018 and 2022. Results show a clear shift toward more intensive systems: 32.7% of producers moved from continuous grazing to rotational grazing (RG), RG exhibited a 77.8% retention rate, and a subset (9.2%) progressed to management-intensive grazing (MIG). Upward transitions were motivated by accessible information and reduced uncertainty, while producers in wetter regions were more likely to disadopt RG or MIG. These patterns highlight meaningful transition dynamics and inform policies supporting sustainable grazing-system adoption.