Nebraska Rangeland Management Strategies
Traveling through Nebraska provides an opportunity to explore the vast and varied landscapes that the state has to offer. As part of the larger Great Plains region, Nebraska's rangelands are an essential component of the state's ecosystem, supporting both livestock production and wildlife habitat. Effective rangeland management is crucial to maintaining the health and productivity of these areas. Rangeland management in Nebraska involves a combination of grazing management, habitat conservation, and restoration of degraded lands.
One of the primary goals of rangeland management in Nebraska is to maintain a balance between livestock grazing and the conservation of natural resources. The Sandhills region, located in north-central Nebraska, is a unique rangeland ecosystem characterized by gently sloping hills and shallow lakes. This region is home to the largest remaining area of native prairie in the United States, making it an essential area for conservation efforts. The Nebraska Sandhills are managed by a combination of private landowners and public agencies, including the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission and the US Forest Service.
A key component of rangeland management in Nebraska is grazing management. This involves implementing strategies such as rotational grazing, where livestock are moved between different pastures to allow for recovery of vegetation, and adjusting stocking rates to match the productivity of the land. For example, the Red Canyon Ranch, located in the Sandhills region near the town of Alliance, Nebraska, has implemented a rotational grazing system to manage its 10,000 acres of rangeland. By dividing the ranch into smaller pastures and moving the cattle regularly, the owners are able to maintain a healthy and productive rangeland ecosystem.
In addition to grazing management, habitat conservation is also an essential component of rangeland management in Nebraska. The state is home to a diverse range of wildlife species, including the greater sage-grouse, which is listed as a species of special concern. Management strategies, such as reducing the density of coniferous trees and maintaining a diverse mix of native grasses and forbs, are being implemented to conserve habitat for this species. For example, the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission has partnered with the Natural Resources Conservation Service to implement a sage-grouse habitat conservation project on the Fort Niobrara National Wildlife Refuge, located in the Sandhills region near the town of Valentine, Nebraska.
Restoration of degraded lands is also an important aspect of rangeland management in Nebraska. Invasive species, such as eastern redcedar and sericea lespedeza, can outcompete native vegetation and reduce the productivity of rangelands. Management strategies, such as prescribed burning and herbicide application, are being used to control the spread of invasive species and restore native vegetation. For example, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln has implemented a restoration project on the Barta Brothers Ranch, located in the Sandhills region near the town of Ainsworth, Nebraska. The project involves the use of prescribed burning to control sericea lespedeza and promote the growth of native grasses.
Effective rangeland management in Nebraska requires a combination of technical knowledge, ecological understanding, and collaboration among landowners and agencies. By implementing strategies such as grazing management, habitat conservation, and restoration of degraded lands, it is possible to maintain the health and productivity of Nebraska's rangelands for future generations.
The region's ecological diversity is in part a function of its location in the transition zone between the semi-arid Great Plains to the west and the more humid prairies to the east. This unique setting, combined with the importance of the region in terms of biodiversity, agricultural productivity, and wildlife habitat, make effective rangeland management critical to the conservation of natural resources in the region.
Nebraska's unique geology also plays a key role in the health of its rangelands. Groundwater, provided through the Ogallala Aquifer, is essential for irrigation in the state, providing water for the highly productive croplands of the High Plains region. However, overuse of groundwater threatens to decrease the water table, potentially reducing productivity and altering the state's ecosystems.
One of the primary goals of rangeland management in Nebraska is to maintain a balance between livestock grazing and the conservation of natural resources. The Sandhills region, located in north-central Nebraska, is a unique rangeland ecosystem characterized by gently sloping hills and shallow lakes. This region is home to the largest remaining area of native prairie in the United States, making it an essential area for conservation efforts. The Nebraska Sandhills are managed by a combination of private landowners and public agencies, including the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission and the US Forest Service.
A key component of rangeland management in Nebraska is grazing management. This involves implementing strategies such as rotational grazing, where livestock are moved between different pastures to allow for recovery of vegetation, and adjusting stocking rates to match the productivity of the land. For example, the Red Canyon Ranch, located in the Sandhills region near the town of Alliance, Nebraska, has implemented a rotational grazing system to manage its 10,000 acres of rangeland. By dividing the ranch into smaller pastures and moving the cattle regularly, the owners are able to maintain a healthy and productive rangeland ecosystem.
In addition to grazing management, habitat conservation is also an essential component of rangeland management in Nebraska. The state is home to a diverse range of wildlife species, including the greater sage-grouse, which is listed as a species of special concern. Management strategies, such as reducing the density of coniferous trees and maintaining a diverse mix of native grasses and forbs, are being implemented to conserve habitat for this species. For example, the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission has partnered with the Natural Resources Conservation Service to implement a sage-grouse habitat conservation project on the Fort Niobrara National Wildlife Refuge, located in the Sandhills region near the town of Valentine, Nebraska.
Restoration of degraded lands is also an important aspect of rangeland management in Nebraska. Invasive species, such as eastern redcedar and sericea lespedeza, can outcompete native vegetation and reduce the productivity of rangelands. Management strategies, such as prescribed burning and herbicide application, are being used to control the spread of invasive species and restore native vegetation. For example, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln has implemented a restoration project on the Barta Brothers Ranch, located in the Sandhills region near the town of Ainsworth, Nebraska. The project involves the use of prescribed burning to control sericea lespedeza and promote the growth of native grasses.
Effective rangeland management in Nebraska requires a combination of technical knowledge, ecological understanding, and collaboration among landowners and agencies. By implementing strategies such as grazing management, habitat conservation, and restoration of degraded lands, it is possible to maintain the health and productivity of Nebraska's rangelands for future generations.
The region's ecological diversity is in part a function of its location in the transition zone between the semi-arid Great Plains to the west and the more humid prairies to the east. This unique setting, combined with the importance of the region in terms of biodiversity, agricultural productivity, and wildlife habitat, make effective rangeland management critical to the conservation of natural resources in the region.
Nebraska's unique geology also plays a key role in the health of its rangelands. Groundwater, provided through the Ogallala Aquifer, is essential for irrigation in the state, providing water for the highly productive croplands of the High Plains region. However, overuse of groundwater threatens to decrease the water table, potentially reducing productivity and altering the state's ecosystems.
