WildAg Podcast

Joining us this month on the podcast are Gabriella Scolio and Jacob Penner from The Nature Conservancy to talk about carbon markets and what it means for farmers in the Midwest. We learn about what a carbon credit is, why companies are interested in carbon credits and how they are measuring their emissions, and how and why farmers might want to get involved.   Resources:  Natural Climate Solutions: How nature can fight climate change (TNC)  Carbon Markets (TNC)  Carbon Markets Resource Center (TNC)    The Nature Conservancy [website, NE chapter website]  Dr. Andrew Little [academic profile, @awesmlabdoc]  Nathan Pflueger [website]  AWESM Lab [website, @awesmlab]  Nebraska Pheasants Forever [website, @pheasants_quailforever_of_ne]    Watch these podcasts on YouTube  If you enjoy this podcast, leave a rating and review so others can find us!    We are dedicated to bringing important information and new ideas to listeners just like you. Help us keep WildAg going by donating to the podcast: https://nufoundation.org/fund/01155570/  Or, learn more about how your organization can sponsor episodes: https://awesmlab.unl.edu/wildag-sponsorship/    Music by Humans Win  Produced and edited by Iris McFarlin 

Joining us this month on the podcast is a local Nebraska landowner, Merlyn Nielsen, to talk about his experiences implementing conservation practices on his farmland. From creating habitat to hunt pheasants and improve sustainability to a tip for reduced land taxes, Merlyn shares the joys and benefits of his conservation projects as well as some of the barriers encountered along the way.    Resources:  Natural Resources Conservation Service | USDA  Farm Service Agency | USDA  Seward County (NE) Pheasants Forever    Dr. Andrew Little [academic profile, @awesmlabdoc]  Nathan Pflueger [website]  AWESM Lab [website, @awesmlab]  Nebraska Pheasants Forever [website, @pheasants_quailforever_of_ne]    Watch these podcasts on YouTube  If you enjoy this podcast, leave a rating and review so others can find us!    We are dedicated to bringing important information and new ideas to listeners just like you. Help us keep WildAg going by donating to the podcast: https://nufoundation.org/fund/01155570/    Music by Humans Win  Produced and edited by Iris McFarlin 

Have you ever struggled to find areas to hunt? Especially in Nebraska, where over 97% of the state is privately owned land, access to hunting can be difficult to come by. We know from previous research that a lack of access is also a top reason why people stop hunting or don't start at all. But public access programs like Open Fields and Waters and the Nebraska Community Access Partnership are tackling this issue head-on. For any hunter interested, these programs provide access to quality private lands to hunt; for landowners, it's another way to bring in a little extra income. This month we are joined by Adam Kester, Access Program Manager at the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, and Addie Piernicky, NCAP Coordinating Wildlife Biologist at Pheasants Forever, to learn all about how these programs are transforming hunting access in Nebraska and beyond.    Resources:  Nebraska Community Access Partnership  Open Fields & Waters (website)  Open Fields and Waters: Expanding Hunter Opportunity (via YouTube)  Nebraska Game and Parks Commission Offices: Alliance: 308-763-2940, Bassett: 402-684-2921, Kearney: 308-865-5310, Lincoln: 402-471-5561, Norfolk: 402-370-3374, North Platte: 308-535-8025    Addie Piernicky [website]  Adam Kester [website]  Dr. Andrew Little [academic profile, @awesmlabdoc]  Nathan Pflueger [website]  AWESM Lab [website, @awesmlab]  Nebraska Pheasants Forever [website, @pheasants_quailforever_of_ne]    Watch these podcasts on YouTube  If you enjoy this podcast, leave a rating and review so others can find us!    Music by Humans Win  Produced and edited by Iris McFarlin 

This month we are joined by Crystal Powers, Research and Extension Communication Specialist at the Nebraska Water Center, to talk all about nitrates in our water systems. We talk about what nitrates actually are, best practices for keeping them out of our water supply, and how to mitigate them once they are there.    Resources:  UNL Extension | Water  Nebraska Water Center (Twitter, Facebook)  Water testing in Nebraska    Crystal Powers [website]  Dr. Andrew Little [academic profile, @awesmlabdoc]  Nathan Pflueger [website]  AWESM Lab [website, @awesmlab]  Nebraska Pheasants Forever [website, @pheasants_quailforever_of_ne]    Watch these podcasts on YouTube  If you enjoy this podcast, leave a rating and review so others can find us!    Music by Humans Win  Produced and edited by Iris McFarlin 

This month we are joined by Chris Helzer, Director of Science and Stewardship at The Nature Conservancy in Nebraska, to talk about the importance of habitat diversity. Whether you have a small urban yard or 10,000 acres with cattle, Chris walks us through why messy, shifting habitat is ideal and how to create it.    Resources:  The Prairie Ecologist  The Nature Conservancy in Nebraska [@nature_ne]  Ranch Management for Wildlife | The Prairie Ecologist    Chris Helzer [website, @prairieecologist]  Dr. Andrew Little [academic profile, @awesmlabdoc]  Nathan Pflueger [website]  AWESM Lab [website, @awesmlab]  Nebraska Pheasants Forever [website, @pheasants_quailforever_of_ne]    Watch these podcasts on YouTube  If you enjoy this podcast, leave a rating and review so others can find us!    Music by Humans Win  Produced and edited by Iris McFarlin 

This month we are joined by Dr. Mike Chamberlain, National Wild Turkey Federation Distinguished Professor at the University of Georgia to talk about the state of the wild turkey across the country and what the future looks like for this iconic bird.  Resources:  Wild Turkey Lab  Ongoing research: Wild Turkey Ecology in Western Nebraska    Dr. Mike Chamberlain [website, @wildturkeydoc]  Dr. Andrew Little [academic profile, @awesmlabdoc]  Nathan Pflueger [website]  AWESM Lab [website, @awesmlab]  Nebraska Pheasants Forever [website, @pheasants_quailforever_of_ne]    Watch these podcasts on YouTube  If you enjoy this podcast, leave a rating and review so others can find us!    Music by Humans Win  Produced and edited by Iris McFarlin 

This month we are joined by Luke Meduna, Big Game Program Manager at the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission to talk about all things deer-related, from hunting and disease to the inside scoop on management.    Resources:  Big Game Guide  2024 Big Game Recommendations  River Anterless Nebraska Unit Map  Nebraska Game and Parks Commission    Luke Meduna [website]  Dr. Andrew Little [academic profile, @awesmlabdoc]  Nathan Pflueger [website]  AWESM Lab [website, @awesmlab]  Nebraska Pheasants Forever [website, @pheasants_quailforever_of_ne]    Watch these podcasts on YouTube  If you enjoy this podcast, leave a rating and review so others can find us!    Music by Humans Win  Produced and edited by Iris McFarlin 

This month we are joined by Dr. Mitch Stephenson, Range Management Specialist at University of Nebraska, and Kaitlyn Dozler, Virtual Fence Program Manager at University of Missouri, to talk about Kaitlyn's research with virtual fencing and how it can be safely used for conservation on ranchlands.    Resources:  Influence of virtual fence on heart rate response in beef cattle  Precision Livestock Management on Extensive Rangelands  University of Missouri Center for Regenerative Agriculture    Dr. Mitchell Stephenson [academic profile]  Kaitlyn Dozler [website]  Dr. Andrew Little [academic profile, @awesmlabdoc]  Nathan Pflueger [website]  AWESM Lab [website, @awesmlab]  Nebraska Pheasants Forever [website, @pheasants_quailforever_of_ne]    Watch these podcasts on YouTube  If you enjoy this podcast, leave a rating and review so others can find us!    Music by Humans Win  Produced and edited by Iris McFarlin 

This month we are joined by Mr. Bob Bettger, a fifth-generation Nebraska landowner and producer, to tell his story – both the benefits and challenges – of integrating conservation practices into his operation.    Resources:  Federal Conservation Programs (Farm Service Agency)    Dr. Andrew Little [academic profile, @awesmlabdoc]  Nathan Pflueger [website]  AWESM Lab [website, @awesmlab]  Nebraska Pheasants Forever [website, @pheasants_quailforever_of_ne]    Watch these podcasts on YouTube  If you enjoy this podcast, leave a rating and review so others can find us!    Music by Humans Win  Produced and edited by Iris McFarlin 

This month we are joined by Ted LaGrange, Wetland Program Manager at the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, to discuss the incredible benefits that wetlands offer, the challenges facing them, and opportunities for farmers to work with wetlands.     Resources:  Wetlands of Nebraska  Landowner Habitat Programs in Nebraska    Ted LaGrange [email]  Dr. Andrew Little [academic profile, @awesmlabdoc]  Nathan Pflueger [website]  AWESM Lab [website, @awesmlab]  Nebraska Pheasants Forever [website, @pheasants_quailforever_of_ne]    Watch these podcasts on YouTube  If you enjoy this podcast, leave a rating and review so others can find us!    Music by Humans Win  Produced and edited by Iris McFarlin 

This month we are joined by Buddy Huffaker, Executive Director of the Aldo Leopold Foundation, to discuss Leopold's legacy on wildlife management and what it means for modern conservation.     Resources:  The Aldo Leopold Foundation  75th Anniversary Edition A Sand County Almanac    Buddy Huffaker [website]  Dr. Andrew Little [academic profile, @awesmlabdoc]  Nathan Pflueger [website]  AWESM Lab [website, @awesmlab]  Nebraska Pheasants Forever [website, @pheasants_quailforever_of_ne]    Watch these podcasts on YouTube  If you enjoy this podcast, leave a rating and review so others can find us!    Music by Humans Win  Produced and edited by Iris McFarlin 

This month we are joined by Carlos Villarreal, Nebraska State Soil Scientist at USDA-NRCS, to discuss all things soil health in Nebraska and beyond.     Resources:  Soil Health Basics and Benefits  Unlock Your Farm's Potential: Dig a Little, Learn a Lot  Unlock Your Farm's Potential: Discover the Cover  Unlock Your Farm's Potential: Do Not Disturb    Carlos Villarreal [website]  Dr. Andrew Little [academic profile, @awesmlabdoc]  Nathan Pflueger [website]  AWESM Lab [website, @awesmlab]  Nebraska Pheasants Forever [website, @pheasants_quailforever_of_ne]    Watch these podcasts on YouTube  If you enjoy this podcast, leave a rating and review so others can find us!    Music by Humans Win  Produced and edited by Iris McFarlin 

This month we are joined by Sam Wilson, Furbearer Carnivore Program Manager at Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, and Jason Clark, Conservation Forester at the Nebraska Forest Service, to discuss mountain lions in Nebraska.     Resources:  Medullary Configurations Illustration  Mountain Lion Management in Nebraska  ***Updated population estimates in Nebraska (updated 6/27/2024)    Sam Wilson [website]  Jason Clark [website]  Dr. Andrew Little [academic profile, @awesmlabdoc]  Nathan Pflueger [website]  AWESM Lab [website, @awesmlab]  Nebraska Pheasants Forever [website, @pheasants_quailforever_of_ne]    Watch these podcasts on YouTube  If you enjoy this podcast, leave a rating and review so others can find us!    Music by Humans Win  Produced and edited by Iris McFarlin 

Co-hosts Andrew Little and Nathan Pflueger discuss how research projects come about including funding, the process, and necessary components.    Resources:  The Scientific Method – University of Nevada, Reno Extension  The Scientific Method – Purdue University Extension  How Science Works [Video] - California Academy of Sciences    Dr. Andrew Little [academic profile, @awesmlabdoc]  Nathan Pflueger [website]  AWESM Lab [website, @awesmlab]  Nebraska Pheasants Forever [website, @pheasants_quailforever_of_ne]    Watch these podcasts on YouTube  If you enjoy this podcast, leave a rating and review so others can find us!    Music by Humans Win  Produced and edited by Iris McFarlin 

Welcome to the WildAg Podcast! WildAg is part of the Natural Resources University podcast network and serves as a connection point for natural resource professionals and landowners who want to integrate conservation with agriculture. Join our hosts, Dr. Andrew Little of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Nathan Pflueger of Pheasants Forever, as they introduce themselves and WildAg.     Dr. Andrew Little [academic profile, @awesmlabdoc] Nathan Pflueger [website]  AWESM Lab [website, @awesmlab]  Nebraska Pheasants Forever [website, @pheasants_quailforever_of_ne]    Watch these podcasts on YouTube  If you enjoy this podcast, leave a rating and review so others can find us!    Music by Humans Win  Produced and edited by Iris McFarlin 

Brian Teeter, Prescribed Fire Coordinator at Nebraska Pheasants Forever, joins us to discuss prescribed fire on agriculturally dominated landscapes.     Resources:  Nebraska Burn Associations  Nebraska Prescribed Fire Council    Brian Teeter [website]  Dr. Andrew Little [academic profile, @awesmlabdoc]  Nathan Pflueger [website]  AWESM Lab [website, @awesmlab]  Nebraska Pheasants Forever [website, @pheasants_quailforever_of_ne]    Watch these podcasts on YouTube  If you enjoy this podcast, leave a rating and review so others can find us!    Music by Humans Win  Produced and edited by Iris McFarlin   

Dr. John Carroll, professor of wildlife ecology and management at University of Nebraska-Lincoln, joins us to discuss predators and predator management in agriculturally dominated landscapes.     Resources:  Wild Turkey Science Podcast: Habitat Managements = predator management  Impacts of Predators on Northern Bobwhites in the Southeast  The Pheasant: A Special Report by the Game Conservancy Trust  Provision of brood-rearing cover on agricultural land to increase survival of wild ring-necked pheasant Phasianus colchicus broods at Seefeld Estate, Lower Austria, Austria  Landscape Features Affecting Northern Bobwhite Predator-Specific Nest Failures in Southeastern USA  Reduction in Meso-Mammal Nest Predators Improves Northern Bobwhite Demographics  Impacts of Predation on Quail    Dr. John Carroll [academic profile, @galliformessg]  Dr. Andrew Little [academic profile, @awesmlabdoc]  Nathan Pflueger [website]  AWESM Lab [website, @awesmlab]  Nebraska Pheasants Forever [website, @pheasants_quailforever_of_ne]    Watch these podcasts on YouTube  If you enjoy this podcast, leave a rating and review so others can find us!    Music by Humans Win  Produced and edited by Iris McFarlin