David Little Endowment

The David Little Livestock Range Management Endowment was established in 1981 to organize research, extension and educational programs dedicated to the study of more efficient uses of Idaho’s rangelands for livestock forage production.

The intent of the endowment is to support high quality outputs relevant to scientists and practitioners. Emphasis is on developing interdisciplinary studies focused on profitable and sustainable range livestock production, including but not limited to:

  • Fuels management
  • Endangered species conflicts
  • Range rehabilitation following fire
  • Undesirable plant control
  • Improved water quality
  • Wildlife habitat enhancement/wildlife-livestock conflict
  • Supplementation strategies to improve rangeland utilization
  • Systems for timely database acquisition of published literature pertaining to grazing impacts on rangelands.

Project Proposals and Funding Requests

The Rangeland Center at the University of Idaho oversees endowment activities and requests proposals from U of I faculty and extension educators each year the first Monday of December. Proposals will be reviewed by the David Little Livestock Range Management Endowment committee and funds are distributed to awarded projects early in January.

2024
Non-Target Effects of Herbicide Application: Restoration Potential for Greater Sage-Grouse Habitat — Tracey Johnson (PI), Tim Prather, Kirby Lau
New tools for rangeland productivity: opportunity or hazard — Jessica Windh (PI), Karen Launchbaugh
Technology to Manage Livestock Location Within RANGE and REALITY — Dev Shrestha (PI), Hope de Avila
Exploring how spring grazing of meadows effects soil carbon and vegetation productivity — Eric Winford (PI), Laurel Lynch, Tim Johnson

2023
Non-Target Effects of Herbicide Application: Restoration Potential for Greater Sage-Grouse Habitat — Tracey Johnson (PI), Tim Prather, Kirby Lau
Technology to Manage Livestock Location Within RANGE and REALITY — Dev Shrestha (PI), Hope de Avila
Virtual fence technology used to manage cattle in riparian habitats and wildfire burn areas — Melinda Ellison (PI), Joel Yelich

2022
Grouse and Grazing: How Does Spring Livestock Grazing Influence Sage-Grouse Populations? — Courtney Conway (PI), Cody Tisdale, Nolan Helmstetter, Jason Karl, Karen Launchbaugh, Sanford Eigenbrode, Ty Styhl, Grace Overlie
Off-Stream Stock Watering Systems Demonstration and Field Day — John Hall (PI), Cameron Packer, Wyatt Prescott
Measuring Recreation Use and Its Potential Impacts on Grazing Cattle at Rinker Rock Creek Ranch — Jason Karl (PI), Eric Winford, Cameron Packer, Jim Sprinkle
Maternal Influences Upon Calf Adaptability to Rangeland — Jim Sprinkle (PI), John Hall, Landon Sullivan, Scott Jensen, Benton Glaze, Morgan Stegmiller, Brenda Murdoch

2021
Does Protein Supplementation in Fall Increase Digestibility and, Consequently, the Amount of Invasive Grass Species that are Grazed by Cattle on Idaho Rangeland? — Gwinyai E. Chibisa (PI),  Scott Jensen
Grouse and Grazing: How Does Spring Livestock Grazing Influence Sage-Grouse Populations? — Courtney Conway (PI), Cody Tisdale, Nolan Helmsetter, Jason Karl, Taylor Fletcher, Karen Launchbaugh, Ty Styhl
The Influence of Livestock Grazing on Greater Sage-Grouse Nest Predators — Courtney Conway (PI), Nolan Helmsetter, Lisette Waits, Cody Tisdale, Ty Styhl
Mesic Meadow Habitat Responses to Variation in Grazing Management Practices: Balancing the Habitat Requirements of Greater Sage-Grouse with Livestock Production — Melinda Ellison (PI), Tracey Johnson
Maternal Influences Upon Calf Adaptability to Rangeland — Jim Sprinkle (PI), John Hall, Landon Sullivan, Scott Jensen
Fact Sheets for the Promotion of Early Seral Species in Rangeland Seedings and Selection of Fire-Wise Plants for Greenstrips in Idaho Rangelands — April Hulet (PI), Derek Tilley
Plants in Pastures: Relationship between Cattle Grazing and Diet of Greater Sage-Grouse — Dave Tank (PI), Tyrell Styhl, Lisette Waits, Courtney Conway, Cody Tisdale

2020
Mesic Meadow Habitat Responses to Variation in Grazing Management Practices: Balancing the Habitat Requirements of Greater Sage-Grouse with Livestock Production — Tracey Johnson, Melinda Ellison, Kenneth Randall (progress report (pdf))
Grouse and Grazing: How Does Spring Livestock Grazing Influence Sage-Grouse Populations? — Courtney Conway, Andrew Meyers, Nolan Helmsetter, Jason Karl, Taylor Fletcher, Karen Launchbaugh, Ty Styhl (progress report (pdf))
Increasing Rangeland Awareness Among Idaho High School Students — Kasee Smith, Karen Launchbaugh (progress report (pdf))
Plants in Pastures: Relationship between Cattle Grazing and Diet of Greater Sage-grouse — Dave Tank, Lisette Waits, Courtney Conway, Andrew Meyers, Tyrell Styhl (progress report (pdf))

2019
Investigating Seasonal Changes in the Nutritive Value of Invasive Grass Species to aid in their Control using Targeted Grazing on Idaho Rangelands — Gwinyai Chibisa, Scott Jensen (progress report (pdf))
Myers C. A., K. S. Jensen, G. E. Chibisa. 2019. In vitro fermentation characteristics of Cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum L.) and Medusahead (Taeniatherum caput medusae L.) harvested on Idaho rangeland in different seasons. Journal of Animal Science. 97(Suppl. 3): 246-247.
Sage-grouse Habitat use on Rinker Rock Creek Ranch: Preliminary Data for Understanding Compatibility with Livestock Grazing and Development of an “Adopt-a-Grouse” Outreach Program — Tracey Johnson, April Hulet (progress report (pdf))
Plants in Pastures: Relationship between Cattle Grazing and Diet of Greater Sage-grouse — Dave Tank, Lisette Waits, Courtney Conway, Andrew Meyers, Tyrell Styhl (progress report (pdf))

2018
Livestock Management to Facilitate Sage-grouse Habitat in Wet Meadows: Effects of Grazing Intensity on Preferred Forbs. — Melinda Ellison and Tracey Johnson (progress report (pdf))
Development and Testing of a New Low-cost GPS Collar System for Livestock using Commercial Off-the-shelf Parts. — Jason Karl and Courtney Conway (progress report (pdf))
Seed Bank Response to Wildfire Frequency in Sagebrush Steppe Plant Communities. — Brad Stokes and April Hulet (progress report (pdf)) | (progress report (pdf))
Ranchers Monitoring on their Public Land Grazing Allotments. — Shannon Williams (progress report (pdf))
Idaho 4-H Rangeland Skill-a-thon and Curriculum. — Tyanne Roland (progress report (pdf))

2017
Controlling invasive grass species ventenata (Ventenata dubia) invasion in Pacific Northwest rangelands through early-season grazing by goats. — Anne Laarman, Gwinyai Chibisa, Timothy Prather and Beverly Shirts (progress report (pdf))
Bacteria vs Cheatgrass: Use of Plateau and Pseudomonas fluorescens for control of cheatgrass and reestablishment of native rangeland species. — Carmen Willmore, Patti Hurley and Terry Gregory (progress report (pdf))
Livestock Management to Facilitate Sage-grouse Habitat in Wet Meadows: Effects of Grazing Intensity on Preferred Forbs. — Melinda Ellison and Tracey Johnson (progress report (pdf))

2016
Investigating Palatability of Invasive Grass Species Ventenata (Ventenata dubia) in Idaho Range Livestock. — Anne Laarman, Gwinyai Chibisa, Timothy Prather and Beverly Shirts (progress report (pdf))
Grouse and Grazing: How Does Spring Livestock Grazing Influence Sage-Grouse Populations? — Courtney Conway (progress report (pdf)) | (progress report (pdf))
Range Outreach Activities Manual for 4-H and Classroom Curriculum and 2016 Idaho Rangeland Skillathon Competition. — Tyanne Roland (progress report (pdf)) | (2017 final report (pdf))

2015
Informing the Ecology and Management of Ventenata dubia in Invaded Rangelands. — Tim Prather and Nick Norton (progress report (pdf))
Jones, L. C., Norton, N., & Prather, T. S. (2018). Indicators of Ventenata (Ventenata dubia) Invasion in Sagebrush Steppe Rangelands. Invasive Plant Science and Management, 11(1), 1-9.
Impacts of Feral Horses on Riparian Areas in Idaho. — John Hall and Sarah Baker Kaweck, M. M., Severson, J. P., & Launchbaugh, K. L. (2018). Impacts of Wild Horses, Cattle and Wildlife on Riparian Areas in Idaho. Rangelands, 40(2), 45-52.

2014
Distribution of Fuel Components in Sagebrush Steppe — Targeted Grazing Applied to Reduce Wildfire Spread. — Eva Strand and Scott Jensen (progress report (pdf)) | (progress report (pdf))

2013
Evaluating the Impacts of Mechanical and Chemical Treatments to Reduce Dense Sagebrush Cover and Enhance Sage Grouse Habitat. — Jonathon Hogge and Amanda Gearhart (progress report (pdf))
Distribution of Fuel Components in Sagebrush Steppe — Implications for the Impact of Livestock Grazing on Wildfire Spread. — Eva Strand and Amanda Gearhart (progress report (pdf))

2012
Study of Plant Composition Inside Established Riparian Exclosures. — Shannon Williams, Alex Fremier and Allen Bradbury
Effects of long-term exclosures on riparian vegetation composition (2014). University of Idaho Extension Impact Statement

2011
Dynamics of Grazed and Ungrazed Slickspot Peppergrass Populations on the Snake River Plain. — Stephen Bunting (progress report (pdf)) | (2012 progress report (pdf)) ;| (2013 final report (pdf))
Impact of Livestock Grazing on the Primary Insect Food Items of the Greater Sage Grouse. — Stephen Cook and Kelly Crane (progress report (pdf)) | (2012 progress report (pdf))

2009
Landscape Scale Assessment of the Effect of Livestock Grazing on Fire Behavior under Wildfire Conditions. — Eva Strand (final report (pdf))
An Integrated Approach to Extension Education: The Intermountain Rangeland Beef Cow Symposium. — Kelly K. Crane, Benton Glaze, Jason Ahola, Scott Jensen, John Hall, Bill Likely and Ted Hoffman

2008
Rangeland Curriculum Modules for Secondary Schools in Idaho. — Lori L. Moore, Karen Launchbaugh and Jodie Mink (final report (pdf))

2006
Targeted Grazing to Control Yellow Starthistle in Canyon Grasslands of Northern Idaho. — Karen Launchbaugh (2007 progress report (pdf)) | (2008 final report (pdf))
Goehring, B.J., K.L. Launchbaugh, & Wilson, L.M. (2010). Late-Season Targeted Grazing of Yellow Starthistle (Centaurea solstitialis) with Goats in Idaho. Invasive Plant Science and Management. 3:148-154.

2003
Using Livestock Grazing to Manage Rangeland Weeds in Idaho: What We First Need to Know. — Linda Wilson, Shannon Williams, Karen Launchbaugh, Frost, R. A.
Wilson, L. M., Launchbaugh, K. L., & Hovde, E. M. (2008). Seasonal change in forage value of rangeland weeds in northern Idaho. Invasive Plant Science and Management. 2(4)343-351.

2002
Cattle and Sheep Grazing to Control Yellow Starthistle and Implications to Biological Control. — Karen Launchbaugh, Linda Wilson and Troy Ott
Wallace, J.M., Wilson L.M. & Launchbaugh, K.L. 2008. The effect of targeted grazing and biological control on yellow starthistle (Centaurea solstitialis) in Canyon Grasslands of Idaho. Rangeland Ecology and Management. 61:314–320.

Project Proposal & Guidelines

Application details and form can be found using this link

Apply here