Hands-On Learning at Nebraska Ranch Practicum Focuses on Efficiency and Profitability

UNL Extension’s Troy Walz discusses the Nebraska Ranch Practicum, where sessions are held, how producers can get involved, and what ranchers can gain from participating in the program.

LINCOLN, Neb. (RFD NEWS) — Livestock producers across the region are continually looking for ways to improve efficiency and long-term sustainability on their operations. One program working to meet that need is the Nebraska Ranch Practicum, which focuses on sharing research-based strategies to help ranchers evaluate management decisions.

Troy Walz, a Nebraska Extension educator, joined us on Tuesday’s Market Day Report to explain the program’s goals and what participants can expect.

In his interview with RFD NEWS, Walz explains how the practicum is designed to help producers better understand the economic, environmental, and operational impacts of their day-to-day decisions, with a strong emphasis on real-world application.

The sessions are held at multiple locations across Nebraska, making the program accessible to producers throughout the state. Topics range from grazing management and herd efficiency to financial analysis and long-term planning, all grounded in the latest university research and on-ranch data.

Walz noted that producers can register through Nebraska Extension channels and encouraged those interested to take advantage of the hands-on learning environment so participants leave the practicum with practical tools, greater confidence in their decision-making, and strategies they can immediately apply to strengthen their operations.

Related Stories
While artificial intelligence, or AI, is reshaping both jobs and messaging in agriculture, CoBank data suggests human expertise still matters.
Bubba and Amy Miller run Miller Cattle Company in Eros, Louisiana. After visiting other homesteading fairs, they decided to put on their own.
University of Nebraska–Lincoln (UNL) representative Dr. Dirac Twidwell joins us with the latest on woody encroachment conservation efforts in the Great Plains.
We highlight an Iowa FFA student who is harnessing the power of AI technology to assess stress in agriculture-related careers.

Marion is a digital content manager for RFD News and FarmHER + RanchHER. She started working for Rural Media Group in May 2022, bringing a decade of digital experience in broadcast media and some cooking experience to the team.

LATEST STORIES BY THIS AUTHOR:

The National FFA Organization hosts the Washington Leadership Conference, where thousands of FFA members gather to learn how to be change makers in their communities.
Having a good read on fuel prices is a must during harvest, but one analyst says grain farmers should also be watching the crude oil markets.
National Farmers Union (NFU) President Rob Larew discusses the urgent need for aid as farm families face mounting input costs and long-term market uncertainty.
Bradley Roy was the youngest angler to compete in a Bassmaster Elite Series event. Now, he’s prepping to hit the water with MLF Hall of Famer Greg “The Rooster” Vinson in the Team Series Patriot Cup.
Stories like this remind us what FFA is all about — leadership, service, and growth.
The new antitrust agreement between the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) aims to enforce antitrust laws and monitor market activity across the ag sector.
Agriculture Shows
Hosted by Scott “The Cow Guy” Shellady and RFD News Markets Specialist Tony St. James, Commodity Talk delivers expert insight into the day’s ag commodity markets just before the CME opens. Only on RFD-TV and Rural Radio SiriusXM Channel 147.
A look at the news, weather and commodities headlines that drove agriculture markets in the past week.
Everything profits from prairie. Soil, air, water — and all kinds of life! Learn how you can improve your land with prairie restoration, cover crops and prairie strips, while growing your bottom line.
Special 3-part series tells the story of the Claas family’s legacy, which changed agriculture forever.