The Metrics, Management, and Monitoring (3M) team, a multi-institutional collaboration led by the Noble Research Institute, is reporting significant progress on a five-year, $19 million study exploring the connections between grazing practices, soil health, and farmer/rancher well-being. The project, which began in 2022, is focused on understanding how different grazing management systems impact ecosystems across a wide range of landscapes and geographic regions.
Across five states – Oklahoma, Texas, Colorado, Wyoming, and Michigan – researchers have been collecting extensive data from over 60 sites, capturing information on soil characteristics, forage growth, energy flow within ecosystems, and water infiltration rates. In addition to these ecological data points, researchers are conducting comprehensive interviews and surveys with participating farmers and ranchers to understand their management practices, goals, and economic realities. This comprehensive approach aims to provide a holistic picture of the complex interactions between grazing practices, environmental outcomes, and human well-being.
As the project progresses, the team has already made some key discoveries. Preliminary data analysis suggests that the impacts of grazing events and other farm-level management practices can be observed on very short timescales, highlighting the need for ongoing monitoring and data collection. The team has also observed significant differences in water infiltration rates between fall and spring, suggesting the importance of seasonal considerations in grazing management.
The 3M project is uniquely positioned to provide valuable insights into the potential of grazing management to support both environmental sustainability and farmer/rancher livelihoods. By integrating ecological monitoring with social science research, the team is able to understand not only the physical impacts of grazing practices but also their broader social and economic implications. The project also emphasizes the importance of data-driven decision-making, aiming to empower farmers and ranchers with tools to make informed choices that can enhance soil health, improve their economic outcomes, and contribute to broader climate change mitigation efforts.
The project is funded by a consortium of organizations including the Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research, Noble Research Institute, The Jones Family Foundation, Greenacres Foundation, and ButcherBox. To learn more about the 3M project, visit www.noble.org/3m/.
