July 1, 2010New coordinator for Nebraska Grazing Lands Coalition
Nebraska Grazing Lands Coalition recently contracted Ron Bolze as the NGLC coordinator. In this role, Bolze will be implementing workshops and tours across the state, handling grant fulfillment, and conducting communications and public awareness for the organization as part of his job responsibilities. He also oversees the Cowboy Logic Stewardship Network and the NGLC Rangeland Monitoring Program, and serves as the Nebraska representative of the national Grazing Lands Conservation Initiative.
Bolze’s experience in the beef cattle industry is diverse including beef cattle extension specialist work with Kansas State University and industry positions with Certified Angus Beef, the American Shorthorn Association, the Red Angus Association of America and currently is also employed as Executive Vice President of the Braunvieh Association of America.
“We, as Nebraskans, are very fortunate to have an individual with such diverse experience," said Jim Carr, NGLC Chairman. "The preservation of the abundant resources provided by Nebraska grazing lands is vital for the future of generations to come.”
May 1 - June 30, 2010
Grassland Management to Improve Grazing Lands (May 20)
Held at the Franklin County Fairgrounds, this workshop was sponsored by Rainwater Basin Joint Venture, NRCS, NGLC and Quail Forever. Terry Gompert, UNL Extension Service, discussed Holistic Management Grazing Principals, Kort Kemp with NGLC presented Monitoring Grazing Lands “Making Decisions That Make Sense, and Matt Steffl with Nebraska Game and Parks Commission reviewed Eastern Red Cedar Control and Management. In the afternoon Kelsi Wehrman, Pheasants Forever, discussed Grassland Improvement Program and Other Opportunities, John Laux, Nebraska Game and Parks Commission presented the South Central Prescribed Burn Association, Ted LaGrange, Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, reviewed the Rainwater Basin Joint Venture and Grazing Opportunities in the Basins. The tour ended with field demonstrations at various sites south of Naponee.
Rangeland Monitoring Demonstration and Pasture Walk (May 21)
This tour was held at the Arrow Hotel in Broken Bow, NE. Kort Kemp, NGLC< presented Monitoring Grazing Lands “Making Decisions that Make Sense”. A rangeland monitoring discussion including CSP monitoring requirements was discussed during lunch. A Pasture walk and demonstration of the Custer County rangeland followed.
Sandhills Cattle Association Annual Meeting (May 27)
This meeting took place at the Custer County Fairgrounds in Broken Bow, NE. NGLC held a booth at the annual meeting while discussing programs and grazing benefits.
Nebraska Sandhills Grazing Systems and Grassland Bird Diversity Tour (June 2-3)
The Nebraska Grazing Lands Coalition created this tour for participants to view abundant bird populations and learn how rangeland management plays an important role in the state’s agricultural industry as well as provides an exceptional environment for Nebraska’s bird habitat. This tour was sponsored by Natural Resources Conservation Service, Loup Basin RC&D, Audubon Nebraska, Grassland Foundation, World Wildlife Fund, Nebraska Environmental Trust, Sandhills Task Force, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Nebraska Bird Partnership and Nebraska Grazing Lands Coalition.
The two-day Nebraska Sandhills Grazing Systems and Grassland Bird Diversity Tour will begin at the Switzer Ranch-Calamus Outfitters where guests will check in and learn about the Switzer Ranch rangeland management view and history. Soon after, they began plant identification with Natural Resources Conservation Services and Loup Basin RC&D. Audubon Nebraska presented classroom and field-based bird identification sessions with information regarding habitat needs of various species and how grazing practices influence the quality of grassland bird habitat. That evening, a buffet dinner was served in the Switzer Ranch barn while Audubon Nebraska officially presented the Morgan, Price Gracie Creek and Switzer Ranch with their Important Bird Area designation, the first private-lands IBA in Nebraska. Following dinner, habitat speaker, Bob Budd, with the State of Wyoming Wildlife and Natural Resource Trust, spoke on the importance of wildlife on the ranch.
The second day started out early with bird watching and recording species with the Audubon Nebraska. Mid-morning, guests stopped by the Barta Brothers ranch for a break and discussion. The tour then traveled by bus to a research site near Rose, NE where a study is being conducted on habitat use of prairie chicken during nesting and brooding which was presented by Walt Schacht, Larkin Powell and Lars Anderson with the Department of Agronomy and Horticulture and the School of Natural Resources at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. To finish the tour, guests traveled to the ranch of Bob and Aaron Price for a picnic lunch and presentation on the Price Ranch holistic management and its positive impact on grassland birds.
Loess Canyons Rangeland Alliance Prescribed Burn Tour & BBQ (June 4)
Sponsored by LCRA, Nebraska Game and Parks, NGLC, Nebraska Environmental Trust, Pheasants Forever and NRCS, this tour focused on the review and monitoring of recently burned pastures to see how local ranchers and conservation professionals used prescribed fire to improve their pastures for cattle and wildlife. Kort Kemp, NGLC range tech, presented a monitoring site during the tour.
Panhandle Grazer Rangeland Review (June 9)
The Nebraska Grazing Lands Panhandle Grazers Group sponsored an afternoon of range management and discussion with ranchers at the ranch of Brock Terrell, NGLC Board Member.
Nebraska Youth Range Camp (June 7-11)
The 47th annual Nebraska Youth Range Camp was held June 7th – 11th, 2010. The camp appeals to students with a wide array of interests including, but not limited to, rangeland management, conservation, ecology, animal science, and wildlife. NGLC sponsored the event, provided range sticks to the students as well as presented NGLC activities and grazing management and goals at the event.
Forage and Range Management Program and Tour in Banner County, Nebraska (June 11)
Forage production and range management were the topics covered at a tour to be held June 11 in Banner County. The first stop on the tour was at the Darnall Ranch to view different annual forage combinations being grown for grazing. The second stop was at the Robert Post ranch where range monitoring techniques were demonstrated by Kort Kemp, Nebraska Grazing Lands Coalition, and the Post family talked about their range management practices. The University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension together with the Nebraska Grazing Lands Coalition sponsored the event.
Sandhills Ranch Expo (June 16-17)
NGLC held a booth at the 2010 North Central Nebraska’s Sandhills Ranch Expo where they discussed NGLC program, activities and grazing benefits.
Rangeland Monitoring Demonstration and Pasture Walk (June 24)
Sponsored by NGLC, NRCS, and Big Blue Ranch, this tour was held at the Big Blue Ranch and Lodge in Burchard, NE. Monitoring Grazing Lands “Making Decisions That Make Sense” was presented by Kort Kemp, Nebraska Grazing Lands Coalition Range Technician, Cowboy Logic Stewardship Network and Southeast Nebraska Grassland Association Overview was presented by Rod Christen, Steinauer NE a rangeland monitoring discussion including CSP monitoring requirements review by Justin Linder, NRCS. A pasture walk and rangeland monitoring demonstration of Pawnee County rangeland followed.
January 1 - April 30, 2010
Meeting with Kansas Grazing Lands Coalition in Lincoln, NE (April 7) Marcy Hunter, NGLC coordinator, is meeting with KGLC coordinator Tim Christian to discuss NGLC and KGLC activities and programs and how to make them beneficial for producers and grazers through the Midwest.
Meeting with Rainwater Basin Joint Venture in Lincoln, NE (March 18) Marcy Hunter, NGLC coordinator, met with Rainwater Basin Joint Venture Coordinator, Andy Bishop, to discuss what RBJV has to offer grazers in Nebraska. Marcy and Andy discussed opportunities in working together to help producers through education.
NRCS State Technical Committee Meeting in Lincoln, NE (March 12) Marcy Hunter, NGLC coordinator, joined the State Technical Committee for a meeting in Lincoln to review CRP conservation priority areas in Nebraska. Marcy is a member of the committee which meets quarterly.
New Monitoring and Mob Grazing Workshop in Pierce, NE (March 3) This meeting, sponsored by Pierce County NRCS, NGLC, and UNL Extension created an opportunity for producers to learn about pasture and range monitoring, mob grazing, available farm programs and insect control. Jim Carr, NGLC chairman and producer, presented monitoring as well as discussed NGLC activities and programs. Other speakers included Terry Gompert and Wayne Ohnesorg, both UNL Extension Educators, and Joyce Reicks with Pierce County NRCS.
Sandhills Task Force Board Meeting in Thedford, NE (February 24) The NGLC coordinator, Marcy Hunter, was invited to join STF during their board meeting in Thedford. Marcy discussed NGLC goals, activities and programs and opportunities for partnerships with the STF board.
Network #8 – Southeast Nebraska Grassland Association Meeting in Tecumseh (February 19) NGLC sponsored a meeting and dinner for the SENGA group in Tecumseh. With special emphasis on grazing, UNL Extension Educator, Terry Gompert, was invited as guest speaker. Terry discussed various enterprises and holistic goals.
Fourth Annual Southeast Nebraska Pasture Management Workshop in Auburn, NE (February 19) This producer workshop held at the Nemaha County 4-H Bldg. in Auburn covered mob grazing, grazing cover crops, grass fed beef, holistic management and NGLC programs. NGLC coordinator, Marcy Hunter, presented a power point reviewing NGLC activities and programs to benefit producers.
9th Annual Planned Grazing Systems Educational Workshop in Norfolk, NE (February 9) This workshop was held at the Lifelong Learning Center in Norfolk, NE and was sponsored by Natural Resources Conservation Service, Lower Elkhorn Natural Resources District and UNL Cooperative Extension. NGLC coordinator, Marcy Hunter, presented a power point presentation reviewing NGLC activities and programs. Other presenters included Lucas Negus, Wildlife Biologist, discussing Cedar Tree Control with Fire, Pete Berthelsen, Pheasants Forever, reviewing Available Burn Units & Starting a Burn Association, Tim Carlisle, Private Burn Consultant, presenting Fire breaks and Burn preparation, Shanna Waterman, FSA CED, discussing 2010 NEWS at FSA, Robin Sutherland, NRCS, presenting NRCS update on Programs & Cost-Share, Bruce Anderson, UNL Extension Forage Specialist, discussing Annual Crops – a grazing tool, Dan Gillespie, NRCS, presenting No-Till and Loren Pestal, Producer, reviewing Cover Crops.
Rural Advantage/Healthy Farms Conference in Lincoln, NE (February 5-6) A joint conference of UNL Extension and the Nebraska Sustainable Agriculture Society provided participants a variety of interactive educational opportunities such as networking with experts, university faculty and fellow agricultural colleagues. The conference also provided educational sessions, exhibits, auctions and dinner the All Nebraska Dinner predominately made with Nebraska-grown products. Marcy Hunter, NGLC coordinator, presented a power point during the educational sessions on resources for grazers and how NGLC can help them.
Network #2 – Panhandle Grazers Meeting in Hays Springs, NE (January 19) The Nebraska Grazing Lands Coalition invited interested grazers from the northern Panhandle to join them for dinner and grass and beef based discussion at Bar J Steakhouse in Hay Springs, NE. Roger Berry, Alliance for the Future of Agriculture in Nebraska discussed the importance of agriculture to rural communities. Kort Kemp, Nebraska Grazing Lands Coalition, reviewed the NGLC programs available to Nebraska grazers. Sandhills Task Force discussed their current programs as well. NGLC sponsored the meeting and dinner.
Nebraska Grazing Conference Planning Call (January 15) The NGLC coordinator, Marcy Hunter, joined the call to help plan and coordinate the 2010 Nebraska Grazing Conference. The group discussed grazing speakers for the conference.
NGLC and NRCS Meeting in Lincoln, NE (January 7) The NGLC board of directors met with Steve Chick and Michael Kucera of NRCS to discuss NGLC activies and programs and future partnerships and involvement.
February 2, 2010
NGLC has officially joined Facebook and Twitter! Help our organization grow, become a fan or follow us by clicking on the links below.
October 1 - December 31, 2009
NGLC finished off 2009 with some great activities. Below you'll find what we've been up to:
Range and Forage Faculty Tour, Buckboard Ranch in McPherson County (October 20) NGLC coordinator, Marcy Hunter, attended the Range and Forage Tour at her family ranch in McPherson County. The tour mainly focused on the history and grazing management of the ranch but Marcy also presented activities and programs provided by NGLC as well as reviewed a monitoring site Kort Kemp installed previously with Dan Kelly. Approximately six range and forage faculty plus two producers attended the tour.
Annual Meeting of the Nebraska Society for Range Management in Sidney, NE (Oct. 20, 21, 22) NGLC was heavily involved in the annual SRM meeting this year. The first evening Marcy Hunter and Kort Kemp set up a banner and materials and discussed NGLC programs with attendees and networked with producers. Marcy and Kort also gave a presentation on Rangeland Monitoring during the meeting on day two. Day three the attendees traveled to Randy and Beau Mathewson’s ranch where Randy and Beau discussed their grazing management and Kort reviewed a monitoring site set up on their land. Beau Mathewson joined NGLC as a board member this fall and has been active in involvement. Nearly 100 producers and agencies attended the meeting.
Sustainable Ranching Workshop in Crawford, NE (October 27) Scott Cotton, Vice Chairman of NGLC, producer and UNL Extension agent from Chadron, NE organized this workshop. Designed for ranchers, the workshop focused on profit, production, enjoyment and family, the keys to long term sustainability. Key concepts that were covered include:
• Ranch Financials--how to determine your unit cost of production and compare against regional benchmarks.
• Integrating Nutrition, Body Condition Scoring and Reproductive Performance.
• Grazing Systems--Developing an applied grazing system and simple methods for monitoring rangeland systems.
• Strategic Planning--Working on the ranch business and with the people involved in it.
Network #4 Meeting: Rangeland Conservation Workshop in North Platte, NE (October 29) New opportunities in changing landscapes was the topic of discussion at the Rangeland Conservation and Management indoor seminar which was held at the Anchor In Restaurant in North Platte.
NGLC helped sponsor the lunch with Nebraska Game and Parks Commission and Quail Forever. Marcy Hunter and Kort Kemp with Nebraska Grazing Lands Coalition discussed activities and programs and presented a power point on the Rangeland Monitoring Program. Following the meeting, Kort Kemp did a field demonstration at a monitoring site he installed at Rich and Julie Bringelson’s Ranch near Maxwell. Other presenters included: NE Farmers Union, NRCS, NE Game and Parks Commission and Quail Forever, and Loess Canyons Rangeland Alliance. Nearly 30 producers and agencies attended the meeting.
NRCS Leadership Meeting in Lincoln, NE (November 4) Marcy Hunter met with the NRCS leadership group to present NGLC activities of 2009. There were approximately 20 leaders from NRCS who attended the meeting and provided feedback on what NGLC has participated in. The group also discussed our possible involvement in the future.
West Central Nebraska Cattleman’s Day and Trade Show in North Platte, NE (November 16) This program was developed to help cow/calf be on top of the latest research and technology to keep their operations profitable. NGLC sponsored a booth where Marcy Hunter discussed the Cowboy Logic Stewardship Network and Rangeland Monitoring Program as well as NGLC activities.
West Central Nebraska Cattleman’s Day and Trade Show in Ogallala, NE (November 17) This program was developed to help cow/calf be on top of the latest research and technology to keep their operations profitable. NGLC sponsored a booth where Bob Broweleit, NGLC Advisor, discussed the Cowboy Logic Stewardship Network and Rangeland Monitoring Program as well as NGLC activities.
Network #7 Meeting: Monitoring Pastures Information Meeting in Creighton, NE (November 19) An information meeting was offered for area producers near Creighton, NE. Terry Gompert, UNL Extension Educator presented the value of monitoring. NGLC sponsored lunch, Marcy Hunter discussed NGLC activities and the Cowboy Logic Stewardship Network while Justin Frick, Range Tech East, introduced the Rangeland Monitoring Program. Kort Kemp, Range Tech West also attended the meeting and offered support to area producers. Approximately 20 producers attended the meeting.
Nebraska Cattlemen Annual Convention in Kearney, NE (December 09, 10, 11) NGLC sponsored a booth at the annual NC/NCW convention this year. Marcy Hunter discussed NGLC activities and the Cowboy Logic Stewardship Network and Rangeland Monitoring Program with producers and agency attendees.
National Conference on Grazing Lands in Sparks, NV (December 13, 14, 15, 16) Nebraska producers, agencies and educators were invited to present an array of topics including technical assistance, improvement to management systems, and increasing public awareness of the economic and environmental benefits of grazing at the 4th National Conference on Grazing Lands. Sherry Vinton, producer and NGLC treasurer, and her daughter Jessica, described young ranchers’ commitment to continuing the ranching tradition in the Sandhills. Loess Canyons rancher and NGLC member, Stan Pilcher, talked on Imbedding Fire and the Axe to Combat Eastern Red Cedar Invasion. Lewellen rancher and NGLC board member, Lynn Myers, shared his ranching experiences as a roadmap for success and also presented an overview of the unique NGLC Cowboy Logic Stewardship Program. Nebraska Grazing Lands Coalition Coordinator Marcy Hunter presented the Coalition’s activities as well as the rangeland monitoring program. NRCS District Conservationist Mary Reece related the history of the Range Youth Camps, and Sutherland rancher and NGLC steward, Mike Kelly, covered grazing lands economics on a panel of experts. Atkinson rancher and NGLC chairman, Jim Carr, talked about tools for Leafy Spurge control. UNL Extension Educator Terry Gompert made a presentation on “The Power of Stock Density.” UNL Extension Educator, producer, and NGLC vice chairman, Scott Cotton, presented "Utilizing Eragrostis Teff (TEFF) as a Short-Term Annual Crop to Rest Native Rangelands". Mary Reece presented a poster on Nebraska's partnership effort to control invasive species, while Thedford Range Conservationist Leah Carson shared her poster on using a new tool for rangeland inventory and photo points.
Network #3 Meeting: Rangeland Conservation Workshop in Valentine, NE (December 15) Nebraska Grazing Lands Coalition sponsored the workshop which discussed new opportunities in changing landscapes. Kort Kemp, Range Tech West, presented NGLC activities and programs and finished with a field presentation at a monitoring site he installed. Other presenters included UNL Extension, NRCS, NE Game and Parks, Nebraska Forest Service, and Niobrara Valley Prescribed Fire Association.
Network #6 Meeting: Monitoring Pastures Information Meeting in Belvidere, NE (December 17) Justin Frick, Range Technician East, hosted an information meeting and presented the Cowboy Logic Stewardship and Rangeland Monitoring programs. NGLC sponsored the dinner and nearly 15 producers attended the meeting.
Network #8 Meeting: Southeast NE Grazing Association (December 22) An information meeting was scheduled for the SENGA network to include a roundtable discussion with Terry Gompert, UNL Extension Educator and program and activities update by NGLC coordinator Marcy Hunter. This meeting was cancelled due to weather and will be rescheduled at a later date.
July 1 - September 30, 2009
Welcome to my blog! You might have seen me recently in your area of the state promoting our Rangeland Monitoring Program (RMP) and Cowboy Logic Stewardship Network. Below is a quarterly summary of events NGLC has been involved in:
Broken Box Ranch Range Management Tour in Lincoln County (July 9) The NGLC Range Tech West, Kort Kemp, attended the Broken Box Ranch Range Management Tour.
SD/NE Joint Bus Tour near Plainview, NE (July 21‐22) The SD Grassland Coalition partnered with the NE Grazing Lands Coalition to have a joint bus tour of the Yankton, SD and Northeast Nebraska Area. During the tour, three producers in Nebraska were visited. Pat Steffen raises Scottish Highlander cattle and markets them as grass fed organic. David Fischer is converting his organic hay farm to an organic grazing farm. And finally, Wayne Rasmussen does some grass finishing as well as some forage feeding of cattle for the grass fed market. A discussion panel was held during the evening featuring Jim Faulstich, Larry Wagner, Jim Carr, Angela Jackson and Tom Neuberger. NGLC chairman Jim Carr attended the tour and was part of the discussion panel. I joined our Range Technicians, Justin Frick and Kort Kemp, in attending the tour as well.
Southeast NE Grazing Association Meeting in Tecumseh, NE (July 28) Range Tech East, Justin Frick and I attended the SE NE Grazing Association meeting and presented NGLC activities including Cowboy Logic and Rangeland Monitoring.
Nebraska Grazing Lands Coalition Network Development Meeting in Kearney, NE (August 10) NGLC prepared a workshop for producers, stewards and board members to attend. The workshop was put on by The National Drought Mitigation Center (NDMC), United States Department of Agriculture Risk Management Agency (RMA) and the Nebraska Grazing Lands Coalition and discussed two new drought-related tools being developed, the Drought Planning Guide for Livestock and Forage Producers and VegDRI. All attendees were then invited to join NGLC for the board meeting following the workshop.
Nebraska Grazing Conference in Kearney, NE (August 11-12) NGLC had a booth during the conference where Range Tech West, Kort Kemp and I discussed the NGLC activities with producers, grazing sticks were distributed, and interest forms for Cowboy Logic and Rangeland Monitoring were submitted. NGLC Coordinator, Marcy Hunter prepared a power point about Cowboy Logic for Lynn Myers, NGLC board member, to present during the conference. Chairman of NGLC, Jim Carr, also presented on grazing invasive species.
Pasture Walk Tour near Norfolk, NE (August 20) The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), Northeast Nebraska Forestry, Nebraska Grazing Land Coalition and the Lower Elkhorn Natural Resources District (LENRD), worked together and planned an informational tour of different grazing systems, forage inventory, monitoring and plots of different chemicals for brush control. Justin Frick, NGLC Range Tech East attended and did a presentation on the Rangeland Monitoring Program.
Broken Bow Grazing Tour in Broken Bow, NE (August 21) NGLC worked with Ben Wheeler of the Nebraska Legacy Project to plan a ranch tour near Broken Bow in August. NGLC helped with the meals, sent speakers to present, and provide materials for an information packet.
UNL Gudmundsen Open House Field Day near Whitman, NE (August 26) The 10th Annual University of Nebraska-Lincoln Gudmundsen Sandhills Laboratory was held on August 26. NGLC received a complimentary booth for the day and Kort Kemp and I discussed NGLC activities with producers and distributed brochures and interest forms.
Network Meetings (prep work for fall/winter meetings) I have been contacting our 8 different networks throughout the state to schedule meetings for the Rangeland Monitoring Program and producers in the area. I look forward to seeing you soon!