AbstractThe climate of the campos in Uruguay, extensive animal production systems on natural grasslands, grassland improvement, intensive animal production systems, and sheep and cattle production are described. It is considered that farms on shallow soils are best suited to fine and ultra fine Merino wool production, that the development of new plant material adapted to high-fertility soils is important, that the impact of irrigation should be investigated, that product quality requires improvement, that farmers should be facilitated to adopt new technology, that the impact of farming technology on natural resources be assessed; that social, ecological and economic considerations at the farm level be included in further research plans; and to train each agent of the wool and meat industry chain.