Center for Grassland Studies plans Monday fall seminars

The 16th annual fall seminar series offered by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln's Center for Grassland Studies will feature faculty and guest lecturers on topics ranging from future challenges in the turf industry to reclaiming rangeland using prescribed burns to issues relating to wildlife in grassland habitats.

The seminars, which may be taken for academic credit and are also free and open to the public, are held most Mondays during the fall semester from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Nebraska East Union (see kiosks for location).

The series features Trey Patterson, this year's Leu distinguished lecturer. Patterson is the chief operating officer for Paddock Ranch Company headquartered in Ranchester, Wyo.

"In his previous role as a beef specialist for South Dakota State University, Dr. Patterson led statewide extension programs in beef cattle nutrition and management and conducted research in the areas of management systems, water quality, and use of co-product feeds," said Martin Massengale, director of the center and instructor of the seminar course. "In his current position, he works with the Paddock Ranch management team to develop and implement strategies to improve profitability of the ranching operations."

On Nov. 15, Patterson will present "A Systems Approach to Grassland Management." Patterson's visit to UNL is made possible by a gift from the Frank and Margaret Leu family to the University of Nebraska Foundation.

Videos of all seminars will be available for checkout from the center. For more information, contact the Center for Grassland Studies at (402) 472-4101, e-mail grassland@unl.edu.

Below is the latest seminar schedule:

Aug. 23 - M.A. Massengale, Center for Grassland Studies, UNL, "Introduction and Orientation" (for students only)

Aug. 30 - Zac Reicher, professor, Department of Agronomy and Horticulture, UNL, "Some Challenges Facing the Future of Turfgrass"

Sept. 6 - No seminar (holiday)

Sept. 13 - Larkin Powell, associate professor, School of Natural Resources, UNL, "Bush Control and Fight for Grasslands in Namibia"

Sept. 20 - Gerry Steinauer, botanist, Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, "Grassland Management Plans for the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission Wildlife Management Area"

Sept. 27 - Bill Whitney, executive director, Prairie Plains Resource Institute, "Native Grass Seeding and Other Observations at the Prairie Plains Resource Institute"

Oct. 4 - Matt Stockton, assistant professor, West Central Research and Extension Center, UNL, "How Different Calving Times and Rangeland Productivity Are Affected by Drought"

Oct. 11 - Doug Whisenhunt, state prescribed burn/grazing specialist, Nebraska Natural Resource Conservation Service, "Working with Fire and Private Landowner Groups to Reclaim Rangelands"

Oct. 18 - No seminar (semester break)

Oct. 25 - Al Steuter, private landowner and rancher, Johnstown, Neb., "The Value of Rangeland Heterogeneity in a High Cost Future: A Producer's Perspective"

Nov. 1 - No seminar (professional meetings)

Nov. 8 - Swapna Purandare, graduate student, School of Biological Sciences, UNL, "Role of Aphid Honeydew in Foraging Behavior of Ladybird Beetle Larvae"

Nov. 15 - Trey Patterson, chief operating officer, Paddock Ranches, Ranchester, Wyo. "A Systems Approach to Grassland Management"

Nov. 22 - Karla Jenkins, assistant professor, Panhandle Research and Extension Center, UNL, "Utilization of Western Rangelands by Livestock"

Nov. 29 - TJ Fontaine, assistant unit leader, USGS Nebraska Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, "Avian Conservation in the Prairie Pothole Region"

Dec. 6 - TBA

The schedule is subject to revision. Any changes will be noted on the fall 2010 seminar listing on the center's Web site, http://www.grassland.unl.edu.

More details at: http://go.unl.edu/5v3