Mapping with Maida: Introduction to Stocking Rate Tools & DIY Ranch Mapping  

Overview of this Mapping Learning Series 

January 6th, 13th and 20th-  2pm-4pm

This learning series offers an introduction and hands-on tutorial to three free mapping applications commonly used in rangeland agriculture: the Rangeland Analysis Platform (RAP) Production Explorer, Stock Smart, and Google Earth Pro. RAP and Stock Smart are  stocking rate calculation tools that help land managers assess forage production and make data-driven grazing management decisions. Google Earth Pro, on the other hand, will be used for do-it-yourself ranch mapping, allowing participants to create and save detailed maps of infrastructure such as fences, pipelines, and stock tanks. Together, these geospatial mapping tools can help support grazing management decisions and give landowners a practical and accessible ways to plan, visualize, and manage rangeland resources. 

No prior mapping experience is needed—this series is designed for beginners! All tools and services covered are open source, completely free, and best accessed on a computer (tablets are not recommended). 

The course will be led by Maida Knapton, Mapping & GIS Specialist at the Ranchers Stewardship Alliance. Maida brings expertise in mapping education, technical support for producers, data analysis, and drone imaging, making her a valuable guide throughout this series. 

About the Stocking Rate Calculation Tools & Google Earth Pro 

The Range Land Analysis Platform (RAP) Production Explorer & Stock Smart are online mapping tools that utilize satellite imagery to map and monitor vegetation across the rangelands of the United States. The RAP Production Explorer is useful in monitoring and analyzing trends in range conditions across time since 1989 and calculating pasture specific stocking numbers based on heard variables. Stock Smart is useful in monitoring present day vegetation conditions and calculating stocking numbers based on factors in heard variables and physical grazing variables such as water source locations, grass utilization, and slope. 

Google Earth Pro is a desktop application that offers powerful mapping tools for both professional and casual users. Users can utilize tools for measuring distance, area, and elevation, draw points, lines and polygons, import and export map data, and explore satellite imagery from both the past and present. Additionally, the points, lines, and polygons you make in Google Earth Pro can be exported and used in other applications such as OnX, RAP Production Explorer, and Stock Smart. Whether you’re customizing maps, checking out land features, planning out a pipeline, sharing a gate location with a neighbor, or trying to get the most out of a pasture, it’s a handy tool for all kinds of mapping needs.  

Detailed Schedule 

The virtual learning series will include three 2-hour blocks in total throughout January 2026. See the schedule below for more details.    

For all virtual learning sessions, a computer and internet connection are mandatory, and an extra screen connected to your computer (such as a monitor) is recommended. Having dual screens can allow you to participate in the virtual session while also navigating the RAP & Google Earth Pro sites.  

Series 1: Learn how to navigate and effectively use RAP Production Explorer and Stock Smart to support grazing management decisions. We’ll walk through how to explore these application’s interactive vegetation data, how to interpret trends over time, export and save data, and apply forage production insights directly to your ranching operation.  

Additionally, you’ll get a high-level introduction to how Google Earth Pro compliments stocking rate tools in custom ranch mapping. Google Earth Pro allows you to draw custom features, such as pastures, that can then be used with applications such as RAP, Stock Smart, and OnX, helping you to continuously and accurately interpret location-specific vegetation and forage conditions. 

Series 2: Learn how to use Google Earth Pro to map ranch infrastructure and landscape features. This will include an overview of how to create and save points, lines, and polygons in Google Earth Pro to map features such as pastures, pipelines, and points of interest. This series will teach you how to export custom features to use on a mobile device and in stocking rate applications for easy & expedited analysis, and access to navigable maps while out in the field.  

Series 3: Question and Answer Help session for any follow up questions.  

Note- Each series will come with a step-by-step PDF document that describes the topics and tools that were covered and additional resources.