Baseline survey for beef cattle producers in the Southwest and Southern Plains

This data package includes survey questions from beef cattle producers collectively operating in at least 31 counties in at least 7 states (California, Illinois, Missouri, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas) - "at least" because there were some respondents who chose not to provide the location of their operation. Responses were collected between January 22, 2020 and May 31, 2021. Most of the surveys were administered in person at the 2020 Southwest Beef Symposium in Amarillo, TX. The survey was also placed online and an additional few responses were collected through the online survey. These data represent a sample of convenience as no formal sampling scheme was employed in soliciting responses. Survey responses are summarized in the publication, Snapshot of Rancher Perspectives on Creative Cattle Management Options (Elias et. al, 2020).The purpose of gathering these data was to learn more about the characteristics of beef cattle producers in the region and to gauge producer interest in precision livestock ranching technologies and heritage cattle – both strategies being researched by the Sustainable Southwest Beef Project to support sustainability of ranching operations in the Southwest and Southern Plains regions of the US.