The impact of global warming on local incomes from range livestock systems

Using standard census data, an index is developed expressing the contribution of range livestock systems to total county incomes. This index is then applied to results of a simulation of the effects of global warming on the productivity of cow-calf range livestock systems in the western USA. Estimates of declining range-based incomes in a southern tier of states coupled with increasing productivity in the middle and northern Great Plains, the inter-mountain Rockies and the Pact& Northwest suggest that sign$cant shifts could occur in the location of feeder calf production if these climate changes occur.