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.

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:

An independent grocery store is making a big difference in the community of Marks, Mississippi, a small town in the Mississippi Delta region that was long considered a “food desert.”
The Cowboy Channel’s spectacular 55-foot float to include live performances by rising country music star Annie Bosko, escorted by a cavalcade of world-champion cowgirls
If you are thinking about making substantial gifts and/or doing so in a complicated fashion, make sure to get good professional advice beforehand. In his latest Firm to Farm blog post, RFD-TV Agri-Legal Expert Roger McEowen tackles the complex rules surrounding financial gifts, charitable donations and estate transfer.
A newly retired Farm Credit System employee recently took home a big award — and to celebrate, the Mississippi Farm Bureau talked with some of his closest friends about his contributions to agriculture.
A glimpse into the mindset of the University of Kentucky’s trio of arborists as they relish their role in fostering healthy urban spaces across campus.
Getting strange calls or texts from “Amazon” after placing holiday gift orders? In this AARP Live Minute, experts from AARP reveal three Amazon imposter scams to watch out for as you navigate the holiday season.
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.
From soil to harvest. Top Crop is an all-new series about four of the best farmers in the world—Dan Luepkes, of Oregan, Illinois; Cory Atley, of Cedarville, Ohio; Shelby Fite, of Jackson Center, Ohio; Russell Hedrick, of Hickory, North Carolina—reveals what it takes for them to make a profitable crop. It all starts with good soil, patience, and a strong planter setup.