Mission

The Range Improvement Task Force (RITF) is structured around a three-part mission:

  1. Educational programs ranging from one-on-one consultations to workshops and symposia;
  2. Short-term (and a few relevant long-term) research programs focused on problem solving and answering important, management-oriented questions; and
  3. Third party assessments and mediations of conflicts related to natural resource management.

The third party negotiations are the most volatile aspects of the RITF mission and the work that most academic faculty try hard to avoid. We are asked to run toward these problems. The RITF becomes involved in cases when one or both parties have requested input and when "teachable" or precedent-setting moments are evident. Care is taken to distinguish between resource, social, and political problems. The RITF is an advocate for science and science-based approaches to solving natural resource management challenges. Information provided by the RITF to agencies, the livestock industry, and the general public has been credible, factual, accurate and not serving to any one group. This reputation, and the expectation that comes with it, affords RITF faculty the greatest flexibility in delivering quality, candid, and current science-based information.

Formation and Structure

The Range Improvement Task Force was formed in 1978 in response to New Mexico ranchers' need for expert assistance with BLM Environmental Impact Statements and the myriad of new environmental laws, regulations, and policy coming out of the Federal government at that time. Demand began to grow for assistance with confusing laws, policies, and regulations. Ranchers also envisioned the need for objective, unbiased technical science advisors from their Land Grant University community that would help them manage their resources with the best science available. The RITF concept became structured within the university system by merging faculty appointments from the Cooperative Extension Service (CES) and Agricultural Experiment Station (AES).

The RITF appropriation bill passed the legislature in 1979 stating "...to be used for employing personnel and for operating expenses to expand the research and education program in range management..." Importantly, there were no restrictions in the makeup and function of the RITF and originally included range, wildlife, and soils specialists with CES appointments. A range economist, a range scientist, and a range brush control specialist with AES appointments were also included. The major emphasis was to have a highly flexible and multi-disciplinary team to respond to the needs of the state in the broad area of range management. The team was strengthened with an extension philosophy of solving problems and working with people. The RITF is uniquely designed to work primarily on short-term applied research projects as contrasted with normal long term experiment station projects. This allows the RITF to maximize responsiveness instead of becoming committed to long-term projects that monopolize resources and personnel.

At the time of its formation, the RITF crossed the established delineations between the AES and CES, as well as the departmental lines in wildlife, agricultural economics, and range and animal science. This was not easy to accomplish, with faculty and administrators struggling to overcome "real" and "perceived" barriers to crossing traditional departmental lines. Contributing to the success in overcoming these obstacles was the mission-oriented approach and lack of distinction between what was an "extension jobs" and a "research projects". The RITF became the vehicle through which the original Land Grant Mission was carried out with Extension, Research, and Teaching working together seamlessly.

Advisory Committee 

The RITF has an advisory committee to assist in providing vision. This was important in the initial years to help RITF establish its credibility. The RITF walked a fine line to prove that it would be the "unbiased, professional, fact-finding advisors and educators in range management" it was organized to be. The advisory committee was composed of ten ranchers and the heads of the Forest Service, Soil Conservation Service, Bureau of Land Management, State Land Office, and New Mexico Department of Game and Fish. The annual meetings were open, candid, and sometimes contentious; but this was necessary to establish direction, limits, and goals during the initial years.

Publications

The RITF has a publication series that allows access to information on a timely basis regarding natural resource issues.

For Additional Information

You can call, e-mail, or write your County Extension Agent.

Or contact the Range Improvement Task Force.

Range Improvement Task Force
New Mexico State University
MSC 3AE
P.O. Box 30003
Las Cruces, NM 88003
Phone: 575-646-5944