By Kristina Jackson
A University of Nebraska–Lincoln program brings the newest agricultural research and hands-on education to ranching professionals, bolstering one of the region’s major industries in the process.
The Nebraska Ranch Practicum, run by Nebraska Extension, takes a systemic approach to help ranchers from across the region build their knowledge of the industry. Troy Walz, extension livestock systems educator and coordinator of the practicum, said it has provided programming on all aspects of ranching for more than 25 years, in the classroom and in the field, helping people make the best choices for their businesses.
“We want to strengthen their economics, sustainability and efficiency of their livestock operation,” Walz said. “We want them to learn how to make decisions and think through how that’s going to affect everything else in their operation.”
The practicum is held in eight sessions over an entire growing season and production cycle, from June through January, at the West Central Research, Extension and Education Center in North Platte and its Gudmundsen Sandhills Laboratory. Enrollment typically begins in January. Sessions cover topics like pasture grasses, calving and reproduction practices, and cattle body condition scoring, from the beginning of the season to the end, including presentations by university researchers.
Source : unl.edu