Managing people is a vital component of managing a large ranch. Employee management practices have an effect on turnover in any organization, and our study specifically examined management practices on ranches.

Our study describes the state of employee management on large ranches and provides useful and practical information that may help ranch managers build their personnel management skills.

Managers could potentially enhance employee performance by reviewing their operations management procedures and incentive structures and adjusting them as needed.

Lupines are legumes and may provide a source of protein and other nutrients late in the growing season. However, toxins are concentrated in the pods and will poison animals, especially sheep, if gluttonous consumption occurs.

Risk of lupine-induced crooked calf syndrome depends on multiple factors including lupine population density, availability of other quality forages, weather/climate patterns, breeding schedules, stage of pregnancy, grazing management strategies, and others.

Using stockers, open heifers, or other livestock species to graze lupine-infested pastures is one way to utilize high-risk rangelands. Do not over-graze as animals may be poisoned if forced to subsist on lupines.

Identify lupines and obtain a chemical analysis for risk assessment on rangelands before turning pregnant cows out. Plant samples may be submitted to the USDA–Agricultural Research Service Poisonous Plant Research Laboratory for identification, chemical analysis, and a follow-up risk assessment at no charge. Contact kip.panter@ars.usda.gov.

Purple needlegrass responds positively to early spring grazing that reduces competition from invasive annuals.

Rest during flowering allows for seed set and re-growth before soil moisture is depleted.

Dry season grazing can create a harsh soil surface microclimate during germination and seedling establishment of competing annuals the following year.

Purple needlegrass is not preferred by grazing livestock during the dry season, but high stock densities can increase its utilization.