74 NEBRASKA CATTLEMAN March 2025 IANR CONTINUED FROM PAGE 72 and fertility. While primarily designed for row-crop operations, this tool has direct applications for pasture management, helping ensure high-quality forage for cattle. Other advances in precision ranching – including water-monitoring devices, improved GPS collars for virtual fencing and new uses for drones in livestock systems – support producers in optimizing resources while maintaining animal welfare and land stewardship. At the Klosterman Feedlot Innovation Center, cutting-edge research is exploring how precision technologies can enhance feedlot efficiency, animal health monitoring and resource management. By integrating remote sensing, soil science and agronomy, IANR is helping bridge the gap between research and real-world application. Sustainability is about more than environmental goals; it’s also about strengthening the economic and social well-being of beef producers and their communities. Research into renewable energy and alternative fuel sources is unlocking new opportunities for operations across the supply chain. Studies on distillers grains are helping producers navigate pricing and seasonal variability, ensuring a reliable and cost-effective feed source. Extension programs continue to support sustainable grazing systems, providing producers with strategies to enhance grassland health, improve animal performance and maintain the viability of their operations for future generations. Programs like the Nebraska Ranch Practicum, which has generated more than $500,000 in economic impact, play a vital role in ranch management, fiscal sustainability and adaptive grazing strategies, reinforcing Nebraska’s leadership in sustainable livestock development. As conversations around carbon credits continue to evolve, having access to accurate, science-driven data is critical. Our research is helping ensure that producers have the tools to measure carbon sequestration and emissions accurately, equipping them with the information they need to assess opportunities and make sound business decisions. Nebraska’s beef producers are key players in a complex national and international food system, and it is essential that policy and market-based initiatives recognize and support the realities of production agriculture. Partnerships with programs like the Long-Term Agroecosystem Research Network and expanded research at facilities such as Gudmundsen Sandhills Laboratory and Barta Brothers Ranch will continue to provide insights that drive industry advancements. While our investments in the beef industry today are essential, nothing excites me more than seeing our academic programs intersect with research and innovation to prepare the next generation of leaders. If you ever need a reason to feel optimistic about the future, look no further than the students in our classrooms at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. These young adults will be shaping the industry in the coming decades. Programs like the Krutsinger Beef Scholars and the Elite 11 Veterinary Scholarship Program equip students with the knowledge and skills needed to make a meaningful impact in beef production. Events like the annual Ag Careers Summit connect students with professionals across the industry, ensuring a strong pipeline of talent that extends beyond the ranch to researchers, veterinarians, policymakers and industry advocates who will continue advancing sustainable beef production. The Ag Builders of Nebraska annual meeting in January was a wonderful opportunity to connect with leaders who share a deep commitment to advancing IANR’s teaching, research and Extension mission. The progress we have made together speaks to the power of collaboration and innovation. Nebraska’s beef producers have long set the standard for resilience, adaptability and forward-thinking, and I have no doubt that the future holds even greater promise. It has been an honor to serve in this role, and I look forward to continuing this important work alongside you in the months and years ahead. As always, don’t be a stranger. Reach out anytime at mboehm3@unl.edu. ~NC~ YOUR COWS SHOULD WORK FOR YOU. DISPERSING 1,400 EASY KEEPERS MARCH 26, 2025 OGALLALA LIVESTOCK AUCTION MARKET Ogallala, Nebraska WINEGLASSRANCHINC.COM 308.883.7770 (NOT THE OTHER WAY AROUND.)
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