Impermanence factors and rangeland management in the desert southwest

Title	Impermanence factors and rangeland management in the desert southwest
Publication Type	Thesis
Year of Publication	2012
Authors	Parry SFlake
Academic Department	Department of Agricultural Economics and Agricultural Business
Degree	MS
Number of Pages	144
Date Published	August 2012
University	New Mexico State University
City	Las Cruces
Accession Number	JRN00596
Keywords	cropland, farming, impermanence syndrome, public rangeland, rangeland management, urbanization
Abstract	Impermanence syndrome has been defined as a condition of anticipation or even apprehension by farmers due to their perception of increasing urbanization pressures on cropland. This condition has been found to account for disinvestment as well as an erosion of producer confidence and long-run planning. This research attempts to determine the degree to which impermanence factors are perceived by western rangeland livestock producers operating on federal lands in the southwestern United States. Factors other than urbanization are explored as potentially contributing to impermanence perceptions and conditions. Results from a survey of southwestern New Mexico ranch operators in six counties located in the U.S. Bureau of Land Management Las Cruces District were analyzed in order to identify ranch planning and management impacts related to proximity to the U.S.-Mexico border, multiple-use issues, public perception, as well as economic and regulatory issues. This thesis will present results of the survey and data analysis, discuss ranch management and planning implications, and explore policy implications of impermanence issues on public rangelands.