|Central Plains Experimental Research Location|
In the mid 1930's, many farms and ranches of the western Great Plains were abandoned due to drought, overgrazing and soil blown from plowed fields. The U.S. Forest Service requested that the Central Plains Experimental Range (CPER) be established to research improved management practices on fragile grasslands. The first research project was initiated in 1939 by the U.S. Forest Service. The Agricultural Act of 1953 reorganized the USDA and transferred administration of the CPER from the Forest Service to the Agricultural Research Service (ARS). Grazing studies begun in the 1930's are still being conducted to evaluate the long-term impacts of livestock on rangeland resources. Early studies at CPER focused on understanding plant life on native prairie and abandoned plowed lands, and on gaining knowledge of experimental techniques for measuring vegetation and livestock responses to different grazing systems. Numerous seeding trials for various range grasses were conducted; the resulting principles are used by consultants today. One of the most widely used scientific findings from past research at the CPER is livestock management decision-making based on ungrazed residue. Applicable information has been used to aid producers from Iceland to Africa. CPER is a part of the world wide Long-Term Ecological Research (LTER) Program. Colorado State University and the Natural Resources Ecology Laboratory (NREL) have conducted extensive research at the site.