Merilynn C Schantz

Dr. Merilynn Schantz is a Rangeland Research Scientist at the USDA-ARS, Grassland, Soil and Water Research Laboratory in Temple, TX. Dr. Schantz’s research focuses on developing tools and assessing management strategies for advancing grassland science and management. Her current research includes developing seasonal climate and plant production forecasting tools for agricultural management applications, assessing large scale grazing land management strategies on the spatiotemporal variability of ecosystem structure and function, and evaluating the utility of grazed forages for improving plant production, animal nutrition, and soil health. Other research areas include weather and climate modeling, precision management, rangeland restoration, invasive species, and ecological succession. Dr. Schantz is a member of three professional societies; the Society for Range Management, the Soil Water Conservation Society, and the Crop Science Society of America where she serves on multiple committees. As a scientist at the Grassland, Soil, and Water Research Station, Dr. Schantz serves as a member of the USDA-Long Term Agroecosystem Research (LTAR) and Conservation Effects Assessment Program (CEAP) networks where she participates in four LTAR committees, is the Texas Gulf site lead for the LTAR common grazing land study and is currently leading the LTAR Weather and Climate working group. Dr. Schantz is also currently serving as the Managing Editor for Rangeland Ecology and Management.