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Grassland studies group takes tips from area experts
Growing and maintaining grass and the animals that depend on it is different in Southwest Nebraska than anywhere else in the state.
The University of Nebraska-Lincoln Center for Grassland Studies Citizens Advisory Council toured the landscape, range lands and habitats of Southwest Nebraska on Tuesday to find out more.
"We learned quite a bit about the practices and challenges for producers and superintendents of the area," said Dr. Martin Massengale, Director for the Center for Grassland Studies, President Emeritus of the University of Nebraska and Foundation Professor in the Department of Agronomy and Horticulture.
The CGS Advisory Council consists of 50 professionals with different backgrounds and interests within the pasture, range and turf field. The advisory council meets twice a year, once in the summer at various spots around the state, and once in the fall in Lincoln.
"We get input from the advisory council on things that concern them and we have researchers look at them see if we can solve their problems," Massengale said.
On Monday morning the advisory council examined the condition of Heritage Hills Golf Course in McCook and superintendent Bill Bieck addressed the group about the varying native grasses around his course and the problem of algae control on the greens, which Massengale said researchers at the CGS have been testing for a control option.
"We had a good chance to review and learn how Bill maintains his course and greens," Massengale said.
From Heritage Hills the advisory council traveled to the Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture in Curtis for presentations from college faculty about the college's grasslands and livestock systems and toured private and public projects around North Platte.
While in the area they examined the loess hills, a Natural National Landmark between Moorefield and Brady. Loess, which means 'wind blown soil', can only be found at similar depths to the loess hills of Medicine Valley region in Iowa and China. Jerry Volesky, a UNL range specialist at the West Central Research and Extension Center, and Dan Rochford from the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission in North Platte showed the advisory council projects that produce a benefit for both cattle producers and wildlife. One project includes eradication of cedar trees for improved grazing, which is a range renovation joint effort between the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources at UNL, the Game and Parks Commission and the Natural Resources Conservation Service.