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Ok-disaster2022 t1_ixf8gzc wrote

Reply to comment by jayrocksd in [Bloomberg] Here’s How America Uses Its Land by JPAnalyst

Much of the western prairie environment is adapted for large mammal grazes, though historically that was mostly bison, not cattle. Overgrazing is also a massive problem compared to what bison would have done. Cattle sequester on smaller pasture will contaminate water sources and cause erosion.

Fun fact, some Native American groups would have control burns of forest to expand the prairie and increase capacity for bison.

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jayrocksd t1_ixfan2q wrote

Overgrazing can be a huge problem. That is why the Taylor Grazing Act was passed, to avoid the issues seen in the Dust Bowl. If grazing herds aren't allowed to move once they have mowed over an area it can have a severely negative affect. That's why the Federal Government hires scientists to monitor and plan these leases. There is plenty of area for herds to move as we're talking about a combined area (630,000 square km) larger than Ukraine.

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