The sound of swallows faintly singing on the overhangs outside the building at the Semi-Arid Grasslands Research Center on USDA’s Central Plains Experimental Range could be heard as Randy Reichert welcomed attendees to AgNext’s first on-site research field day.
“Research on the Range” was an event coordinated by AgNext’s Grazing Management Outreach and Research Coordinator, Anna Shadbolt and co-hosted with the Colorado Section Society of Range Management (CSSRM) and the United States Department of Agricultural-Agricultural Research Service Central Plains Experimental Range. This interactive field day combined information about virtual fence, methane collection technology, grazing principles, and plant identification into a robust learning experience. The content for this field day focused on showcasing a collaborative research project called “Innovative Technologies to Reduce Beef Industry Greenhouse Gas Emissions.”
Sponsors of the event included the Colorado Cattlemen’s Association and Pawnee Buttes Seed Inc. Research supporting the Research on the Range event was made possible by Natural Resource Conservation Service-Conservation Innovation Grants, Western SARE, and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation.
Anna Shadbolt – Grazing Management Outreach and Research Coordinator at AgNext and Randy Reichert – Information and Education Chair at CSSRM
The event began with a presentation from Melissa Johnston, lead research technician at the Central Plains Experimental Range, about the utilization of virtual fence technology. Johnston describes virtual fence as “21st century barbed wire”. During her session, attendees got an overview of mapping, installation, and set-up requirements for virtual fence on an operation.
Dr. Kim Stackhouse-Lawson was the next to present her area of expertise: enteric methane. In her presentation, Dr. Stackhouse-Lawson offered context on methane gas sources, including cattle, and a snapshot of how greenhouse gas emissions intersect with the food system. In addition, Stackhouse-Lawson offered attendees a glimpse into what is known about methane production from recent trials including how AgNext has sampled over 1,500 individual animals at the Climate-Smart Research Facility and several grazing systems across Eastern Colorado.
After these brief presentations, attendees went out to the range to get a glimpse of these technologies in action. Virtual fence technology and greenhouse gas emissions monitoring equipment have been key research areas for AgNext and will continue to be important for our work over the next several years. These technologies are also highly important to producers as agriculture is in an era of innovation and scientific growth.
After lunch which was provided by CSU’s Ram Country Meats, sponsored by Colorado Cattlemen’s Association, Anna Shadbolt presented on the Principles of Grazing Management. This resource was created to help ranchers work through grazing management in a scientific but tangible and digestible way that can be tailored to each operation. Shadbolt then workshopped a discussion of the grazing principles in small groups to further engage the attendees.
The Research on the Range event is an excellent example of how AgNext works alongside producers and agencies to share knowledge and uphold Colorado State University’s land grant mission. As part of a land grant university, the AgNext team values the history of our institution and acknowledges the power that education and research provides to the future. The AgNext team continuously works to provide resources for academics, producers, and consumers which can all be accessed on our website.
Jenn "JR" Rieskamp
Head of Strategy and Communication
Anna Shadbolt
Grazing Management Outreach and Research Coordinator