I’ve noticed an increase in both the number and accessibility of web-based maps. I’ve gathered a few that have caught my attention and will be sharing them here over the next few months.
The first that I want to highlight is the Southeast Grazing Exchange website, which was developed by UF IFAS Extension as part of Dr. Jose Dubex’s research and extension programs. Broadly, integrated crop-livestock systems (ICLS) can improve yields on grain and fiber crops, and can improve nutrient cycling for both the crop and livestock production sides of integrated systems (there are many places to learn more about ICLS, but this is one great Extension pub to start with).
But, there are a variety of barriers to entry, including both infrastructure and knowledge. For example, many row crop farmers don’t have the capacity to haul animals between fields for grazing, and many ranchers don’t have the equipment necessary to add row crops into their operations. But, there are many parts of the SE US where experienced farmers and ranchers live and work adjacent to each other and there are opportunities for them to work together. Dr. Dubex’s team developed their SE Grazing Exchange website to help pair farmers and ranchers who are interested in working together. The project focuses on Alabama, Georgia, and Florida, although producers from elsewhere have submitted their information to the database too (see below).
There are a couple of things I really like about the SE Grazing Exchange website. Firstly, I really like their symbology/ key (see the upper right hand corner of the first screenshot) it’s both eye-catching and easy to interpret. Secondly, I like that you can filter results based on forage or livestock type. You can click on each marker to learn more about the producer (see below), and producers can edit their database entry at any time.
One thing I was surprised by is that the website does take a while to load, even on a high-speed internet connection. It took around 2 minutes for the markers to appear on my screen, even when I was zoomed in to a smaller geographic area. But, it doesn’t decrease the site’s functionality for me now that I know to be patient.
Bigger picture, I’m excited to see the evolution of web-based maps. Online maps just a few years ago were pretty bare bones, and adding customizable markers was kinda difficult. There are also great opportunities for collaborative maps where users can contribute and edit information, and they’re becoming easier than ever to use. I look forward to sharing more tools like this over the next few months, and in the meantime I invite you to share online maps you love in the comment section. Thanks!
Spatially Challenged 