The High Plains Ranch Practicum is an eight-day, five-session, hands-on educational program designed to give participants the skills and application of management tools needed in today’s complex ranching industry.
Enjoy the camaraderie among participants and instructors and facilitators through three seasons. Friendships and exchanges of ideas among participants are some of the most-valued aspects of the program. High-quality educational materials include software, notebooks with laminated field guides, and an outstanding collection of university publications.
You’ll also benefit from instruction and research in range livestock production, financial management, and marketing systems from nationally recognized research and education faculty members.
By Attending, Participants Will:
Develop the ability to efficiently use decision-support tools to critically evaluate numerous management and marketing alternatives including:
· Developing individualized unit cost of production
· Grazing strategies and systems
· Methods of managing risk
· Calving and weaning dates
· Livestock nutrition and cow body condition scoring
· Family business and working relationships
· Protein and seasonal mineral supplements
Understanding Range and Forage Resources
Sound grazing management begins with an understanding of plant growth and response to grazing, forage quality, and grazing systems on irrigated land and upland range. Participants will develop skills in range monitoring, designing and implementing planned grazing systems, and managing land to better meet objectives.
Participants Evaluate Range Condition
Insight Into Range Beef Cow Production
Monitoring cow body condition scores with stage of production allows effective evaluation of decisions for events such as time of calving, time of weaning, and needed level of supplementation. You will also learn to use beef cattle nutrition software to determine pre- and post-calving nutrient requirements based on analysis of forage samples and range conditions. Managing milk production is one of the most important nutritional management tools available to range cow-calf enterprises.
Participants body condition score cows
Understanding Unit Costs of Production
Knowing unit costs of production is a critical tool for ranch managers to effectively make decisions. Participants will learn how to calculate unit costs of production and use this information to analyze their operations.
A Systems Approach
Natural resource management, livestock management, and economics are integrated throughout the practicum. Throughout the five sessions, participants will evaluate present range conditions, and cow body condition scores along with current market prices to discuss management options available and decisions that could be made at various points in the year. Livestock nutrition programs will be analyzed from an integrated system approach evaluating the purchasing of supplements and ways to extend the grazing season.
Additionally, the economics of replacement heifer development, and using seasonal and long-term cattle cycles as a tool to improve net ranch income, will be discussed. The critical personnel component of managing and communicating with people involved with the ranch will be addressed related to goal setting and planning, working relationships, and estate planning.
Credit and Certifications
The High Plains Ranch Practicum can be taken for college credit (four undergraduate hours or three graduate hours) through the animal science or agronomy departments at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and the University of Wyoming. Arrangements for college credit will be made during the initial practicum session. The Farm Service Agency has approved the High Plains Ranch Practicum for meeting the education requirements for borrowers.
Calendar and Site
Sessions are at held at the Panhandle Research and Extension Center (PHREC) at Scottsbluff, Nebraska and the Sustainable Agriculture Research and Extension Center (SAREC), a 3,400-acre research and education facility near Lingle, Wyoming.
Tentative Dates for 2008-9 class:
Tuesday, June 3, 2008 — PHREC, Scottsbluff, NE
Wednesday, June 4, 2008 — SAREC, Lingle, WY
Tuesday, July 8, 2008 — SAREC, Lingle, WY
Tuesday, September 9, 2008 — SAREC, Lingle, WY
Wednesday, September 10, 2008 — SAREC, Lingle, WY
Tuesday November 11, 2008 — SAREC, Lingle, WY
Wednesday, January 7, 2009 — PHREC, Scottsbluff, NE
Thursday, January 8, 2009 — SAREC, Lingle, WY
Attendance at all sessions is important because of the sequential nature of the curriculum. Participants must attend at least seven of the eight days to receive a certificate of completion. Check the Web site below for a detailed schedule.
For additional information, contact:
Aaron Berger (308) 235-3122 or aberger2@unl.edu
Dallas Mount (307) 322-3667 or dmount@uwyo.edu
Web site: http://HPRanchPracticum.com
