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A Systems Approach |
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Unless specifically designed for it, most information is
difficult to relate to the whole production unit of a farm or ranch
business. Our program includes a number of unique features that make it
both a sound scientific project and one that has elements with which
ranchers have a close affinity. It is a 35,000-acre systems project, with
4000-5000 acres per replicate, making each replicate a "whole"
ranch operation. The systems framework allows the incorporation of
"component" research results and adds quantitative continuity by
incorporating relevant past and future research. The project deals with
soil differences and effects, hydrology, plant differences and effects,
livestock, wildlife, biodiversity and profitability. This has been
possible only by working very closely with economists and scientists from
these different disciplines in TAMU, USDA-ARS at various locations, and
other universities. By working at the "whole ranch" systems
level and at time scales of 6 to 30 years, our results have greater
relevance to the ranching community than if we had only short-term, small
plot research. The
systems approach also allows for a quantitative application of information
developed beyond the site and times of individual experiments themselves.
Ranchers are interested in most experiments but they really want to know
what would happen if various management options were carried out under the
different circumstances on their own ranches, or under different weather
sequences. Towards this end we are assessing and modifying the SPUR range ecosystem simulation model as a base, including links to
GIS databases, and developing smaller resource-economic models for use as
decision aids in the future. This facilitates quantitative information
transfer to different spatial and temporal situations and enables
strategic analyses that are possible only with field-corroborated models.
We have been testing the adequacy of
SPUR with field data to ensure the model is used only where it is
adequate. We have been able to make intensive use of past research from
other locations, in particular the Texas Experimental Ranch at
Throckmorton, to combine with more recent and current work to enhance
information continuity and the number of years over which data are
gathered. The systems modeling framework will provide a unique platform
for developing computer-based decision-aid tools to make accounting for
economic and environmental goals achievable. SPUR - Presentations in Power Point
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