A brief introduction to rangeland management in Yavapai County
About 75% of Yavapai County’s land is public and used as rangelands. Research specialist Caleb Miller outlines what rangelands are and how they are used and monitored.
Cooperative Extension
Range is especially important in Yavapai County, as about 75% of our county’s land is public land, and almost all of that is rangeland. I’ve been working in Yavapai county as a Research Specialist for range monitoring and now as an Assistant in Extension and two of the most common questions I get are: what are rangelands and what is rangeland management? Although most people in range tend to have slightly different definitions of a rangeland, it usually falls along the lines of land with native vegetation that is incapable of cultivation for crops and managed as a natural landscape with the potential for grazing. Basically, if animals (livestock and wildlife) can graze an area, it has native plants, and you can’t irrigate it, it’s a rangeland. This broad definition means all sorts of ecosystems can be rangelands, from deserts and grasslands to forests and tundra. In fact, rangelands cover over 50% of the world’s land surface.
Managing public lands such as Prescott National Forest or Agua Fria National Monument is often done using rangeland management techniques, such as livestock grazing or prescribed fire. Further, Yavapai has a rich history of ranching, and according to the 2022 Census of Agriculture, we sold about $17, 659, 000 in cattle products. Range management is something that impacts almost all of Yavapai County, with the ranchers using responsible stewardship of our public lands, ensuring that we have a sustainable future and a strong economy.
Rangeland management is a broad field. Range professionals are very concerned with ensuring the stewardship of the land is cared for responsibly, allowing for both the land and all who utilize it to thrive. Range professionals have countless specialties, with some having expertise in wildlife, others into ranching and grazing management, and some even specialize in law, policy, and the social science of range management. Hydrology, botany, meteorology and climatology, animal science and nutrition, and soil science all have their niches within the ecology of the rangeland management umbrella as we all work towards the responsible stewardship of rangelands.
If you would like to learn more about rangeland management practices, Cooperative Extension is offering a FREE Range 101 workshop for new producers, agency personnel, and anyone interested in range. This event will take place November 20, 2025, from 9:00 am to 5:00 p.m. at the Deep Well Ranch, located at 8400 Hwy 89, Prescott, AZ. Registration is encouraged for an accurate lunch count, but walk-ins are welcome. Visit our events page on our website for details and registration information.
Other upcoming calendar events from Yavapai County Cooperative Extension include presentations from the Yavapai County Master Gardeners on “Bonsai” at libraries across Yavapai County November 18, and 20. Our Family and Consumer Science agent Hope Wilson is doing an event on “High Altitude Baking” on November 18. Registration for “High Altitude Baking” ends November 14. There is also a webinar discussing the New World Screwworm on November 17 at 6 pm. Applications for the 2026 Master Gardener Volunteering training are available – email barnesm@arizona.edu
Caleb Miller is an Assistant in Extension for Yavapai County Cooperative Extension where he is responsible for running the range program, predominantly through range monitoring.