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After the Dust Bowl that gripped the Great Plains in the 1930�s, researchers implemented studies in many states to determine recommended stocking rates that would sustain vegetative vigor, cover, and production and provide a sustainable income stream from grazing animals.� One such study occurred on the western rangelands of Kansas. In 1946, John Launchbaugh and Frank Kessler, both stationed in Hays, KS, initiated a long-term stocking rate study to compare stocker animal production and vegetative production at light, moderate, and heavy stocking rates through the growing season.� This 20 year study, reported from 1946-1965, showed that individual animal gains declined as stocking rate increased beyond a moderate level, and that pasture yield was inversely related to stocking rate. With increasing stocking rate, composition shifted toward low yielding buffalograss and away from greater yielding western wheatgrass and blue grama. Previously unreported, the heavy and light stocking rate treatments were reversed from 1967-1971.� Within five years of the reversal, the dry matter production in pastures also reversed.� Following the reversal, buffalograss composition rapidly declined and western wheatgrass rapidly increased in the heavy to light pasture. The light stocked pasture also changed composition after the reversal to a heavy stocked pasture, but the change was not as drastic. Composition changes occurred at a slower rate transitioning from a light to heavy stocking rate than when transitioning from a heavy to light stocking rate. �At this site, desirable western wheatgrass appears at a faster rate from reducing stocking rate than it disappears from increasing stocking rate. �In shortgrass rangelands over utilized for over 20 years from heavy stocking rates, great improvements in rangeland health are possible within five years by simply lowering the stocking rate.