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https://instituteofagriculturenaturalresources.exposure.co/barta-brothers-field-day
The July 2025 University of Nebraska Barta Brothers Ranch Field Day provided an opportunity to get updates on some of the latest research projects and progress at the ranch.
During the field day, Jacob Harvey, Barta Brothers Ranch Manager; Mitch Stephenson, Associate Center Director at the Panhandle Research, Extension and Education Center and Range Management Specialist; Gwendwr Meredith, UNL Social-Ecological Rangeland Scientist; and Hannah Allen, UNL Agronomy Graduate Student provided updates on research initiatives at the ranch. They reported on effects of prescribed burning and patch-burn grazing on plant production and the Advancing Development of Assessments, Practices, and Tools (ADAPT) to Produce Climate Smart Beef in Grazing Systems project. A common thread in the reports was working with and along-side ranchers for real-world input and results.
Rick Funston, University of Nebraska Beef Cattle Reproductive Physiologist and Extension Specialist, provided insights into livestock nutrition and cattle reproduction, highlighting strategies to enhance cattle health and productivity.
Livestock Systems Extension Educator, Bethany Johnston led a session on managing Eastern red cedar in the eastern Sandhills. And Grant Gydesen, Prescribed Burn Specialist at USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service advised ranchers on resources available for prescribed burns and discussed NRCS grassland planning strategies.
Nebraska Beef Extension Educator Ryan Benjamin moderated a panel discussion focusing on first-hand perspectives and sharing experiences with prescribed burns, red cedar control and pasture health. The panel included Clint Kruml and Ethan Osnes with The Nature Conservancy as well as Bethany Johnston and Grant Gydesen.
Jacob Bocian with UNL Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research provided an update on the Greater Prairie Chicken and CRP Research Project. Over 300 birds have been studied at 5 sites. As part of the study, hens have been fitted with GPS transmitters to track movement through nesting and brood rearing, as well as winter survival.
The Barta Brothers Ranch field day wrapped up with a pasture tour of a burned pasture from 2024. Looking at plant regrowth in the year after the burn was of interest to the participants to see how forage supplies responded despite the drought at the end of last summer and a dry winter. Participants also looked at a mulched tree break where research aims to better understand native plant reclamation after removal of mature Eastern red cedars.
Learn more about the University of Nebraska Barta Brothers Ranch: https://go.unl.edu/bartabrothers
