Environmentally protective agricultural practices: A spatial analysis of the cattle and calf industry of Florid

The Florida livestock cow and calf producers are reviewed in terms of its environmentally protective practices. Utilizing a Florida cattle rancher survey conducted in 1993, cattle ranching is perceived as an agricultural practice that is capable of safeguarding Florida's natural environment and face the future in a satisfactory manner.;Florida ranchers were asked how important political and economic factors are to the future of Florida ranching. Their responses revealed that Florida ranchers are well informed of the external forces that affect their industry. Results indicate that cattle ranchers in Florida believe they are using many cow/calf production practices which are environmentally benevolent. The data also indicate that they are concerned about the potential impacts of environmental issues and government regulation on both individual ranch profitability and the future of ranching in the state. Unfortunately, results also show that most ranchers are probably not monitoring their ranch operations effectively to prove that their operations are environmentally sound.;Nevertheless, fierce competition for land resources exists throughout Florida and affects cattle ranching. Urbanization is expanding the MSA areas in a manner that will make it necessary to impose legislation to control land consumption. Also other forms of agricultural exploitation are encroaching on the land formerly utilized by cattle ranching. Both herd size and surface covered with natural or improved pastures are changing and this change is more dramatic in southern counties than in northern counties.