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A representative cow-calf ranch operation in Elko County, Nev., was modeled using a linear programming procedure to determine effects of selected ranch resource differences on profitability of seeding crested wheatgrass. Net present value (NPV) results suggest seeding crested wheatgrass as a spring forage can be a profitable investment if there are associated increases in calf weaning weights of 9.07 kg and increases in calving rates of 5 percentage points. Amount of meadow hayland, deeded range, and BLM forage available to the representative ranch were increased and decreased 50%. NPV’s of the crested wheatgrass investment are greater for ranches with excess meadow hay and excess deeded range. NPV’s are lower for ranches with limiting resources of meadow hayland, deeded range, and BLM forage. Herd size and profit potential on many western ranch operations are limited by availability of high quality, low cost early spring forage. Increased infestation of rangeland with low quality forage species may decrease the amount of spring forage produced. Overgrazing of the perennial grass community during the 1880’s destroyed much of the native understory, with degraded stands of sagebrush remaining (Young et al. 1979). Also, domination of rangeland by late maturing range species may delay early spring usage of the range. Given a permanent physical shortage of early spring forage, an operator may choose to buy hay, lease pasture, or graze other forage sources earlier than desired to maintain stand productivity. However, depending on costs and returns, it may be more profitable for the operator to maintain a smaller herd size and have excess ranch forage later in the grazing season. One possible investment alternative to inadequate spring forage is to remove existing forage and seed the rangeland with an earlier maturing grass. The adaptability of crested wheatgrass (Agropyron deserrorum) as a forage source on western range operations has been established, as more than 5 million ha have been seeded in the U.S. (Dewey and Asay 1975). Crested wheatgrass has its high

Ranch Resource Differences Affecting Profitability of Crested Wheatgrass as a Spring Forage Source