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Home Page: http://grl.ars.usda.gov/

Mission:
The mission of the Grazinglands Research Laboratory is to provide new technology and management strategies which enhance profitability and sustainability of forage and livestock production while reducing economic and environmental risk. Emphasis is placed on development of forage/livestock production systems for the stocker calf component of the U.S. beef cattle industry. Objectives are to minimize periods during the year when high-quality forage is unavailable, requiring producers to importpurchased feeds at high cost; resolve constraints to rapid weight gain by stocker cattle and develop beef cattle finishing systems that utilize more forages in the diet; evaluate and adapt seasonal climate forecasts developed by NOAA's Climate Prediction Center for agricultural applicationsand incorporate them with other information about variability in climate and weather into risk-based decision and management tools; utilize long- term climatic and hydrological data bases to assure availability and efficient use of water; develop new technology to monitor soil water content and forage characteristics, using remote sensing; and address problems unique to marginal farms, with emphasis on low-input forage production and natural resource conservation (at Langston University).