Join Conservation Nebraska for an engaging webinar exploring the importance of grassland management and prescribed burns in preserving Nebraska’s prairie and grasslands. Hear from Dr. David Wedin, the Director of the Center for Grassland Studies and Professor of the School of Natural Resources for the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
This event was organized by Conservation Nebraska and with the support of an AmeriCorps grant. Opinions or points of view expressed in this presentation are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the official position of, or a position that is endorsed by, AmeriCorps or Conservation Nebraska.
Content
Nine-Mile Prairie
Three hundred and ninety-two vascular plant species and over 80 species of birds have been observed on the prairie. Notable species include the federally-threatened prairie white fringed orchid (Platanthera praeclara) and the rare regal fritillary butterfly (Speyeria idalia). The prairie is also used as a seed source of local genotypes of grasses and wildflowers for use in prairie restoration efforts in the region. The Nine-Mile Prairie Management Committee, comprised of University of Nebraska–Lincoln faculty from several different departments plus resource people from several agencies and organizations, is charged with the stewardship of this biological treasure. Management consists of springtime burning on a 3-year fire-return interval, along with periodic haying and weed/brush control using herbicides. The prairie has not been grazed since 1968.
DALBEY PRAIRIE
The Dalbey Section, comprised of 640 acres, near Virginia, Nebraska was given to the University of Nebraska Foundation in January 1944 by Dwight Stout Dalbey. The section was native prairie and the university agreed to never plow it but to use it for livestock and grassland management research and education programs. In April of 2020, 505 acres of the Dalbey Section were sold by the University of Nebraska. The remaining 135 acres of the Dalbey Section were established as the Dalbey Prairie under the management of UNL’s Center for Grassland Studies.
These changes for the prairie were the result of five years’ efforts to honor the intentions of the Dalbey family. A conservation easement with the Nebraska Land Trust was placed on the 505 acres of the Dalbey Section before it was sold in April 2020 to guarantee the land is never plowed, subdivided or developed. This also promises that it will remain productive, private grassland that contributes to the local economy and local tax base.
“We’re interested in maintaining the quality of the habitat and also still showing that it’s compatible with being a working grassland that produces some grazing or hay,” said David Wedin, director of the Dalbey Prairie. “In that sense, it’s kind of a demo project for how conservation and management can go together.”
The remaining 135-acre prairie was kept by the university because it was the property’s best quality prairie with a high diversity of native prairie plants and low numbers of invasive plants. The long-term management and research at the property has always and will continue to integrate haying, with prescribed burns interspersed, as management tools. The stewardship of the hay meadow over the last 75 years is apparent in its biodiversity.
Barta Brothers Ranch
Located in the northeastern Nebraska Sandhills, spanning Brown and Rock counties, the Barta Brothers Ranch serves as an important research, education, and demonstration site for the University of Nebraska–Lincoln.
In 1992, the University of Nebraska Board of Regents authorized an agreement between the University of Nebraska, brothers James and Clifford Barta, and the University of Nebraska Foundation. Through this generous contribution, the ranch was established as a resource dedicated to advancing research, education, and sustainable management practices across Nebraska's grasslands.
The ranch encompasses approximately 5,156 acres across two properties:
- Home Place: 3,428 acres located along the Brown and Rock county line.
- Edwards Place: 1,728 acres located approximately five miles west of the Home Place headquarters.
The Barta Brothers Ranch supports research and educational programs focused on grazing management, rangeland ecology, livestock production, prairie forestry, wildlife management, and conservation. These efforts provide valuable insights into the sustainable use and management of Nebraska's grassland resources.
Gudmundsen Sandhills Laboratory
Located in the heart of Nebraska’s Sandhills across Grant, Hooker, and Cherry counties, the Gudmundsen Sandhills Laboratory (GSL) has served as an important research and educational facility for the University of Nebraska–Lincoln for more than four decades. Originally known as the Rafter C Ranch, the property was generously donated to the University of Nebraska Foundation by Elmer “Pete” and Abbie Gudmundsen in 1978. The University began leasing the ranch in 1981, transforming it into a research facility through improvements to fencing, livestock watering systems, cattle handling facilities, and buildings. Over the years, additional facilities, including a dormitory, conference center, and the Wagonhammer Education Center, have expanded opportunities for hands-on learning, research, and educational outreach.
Today, the Gudmundsen Sandhills Laboratory encompasses approximately 12,800 acres, including 11,600 acres of upland Sandhills rangeland and 1,200 acres of subirrigated and wetland meadows. The laboratory maintains a research cattle herd of approximately 500 head, supporting studies in grazing management, beef cattle production, rangeland ecology, and natural resource conservation. Through ongoing research, education, and outreach, GSL continues to provide valuable information and practical management solutions for ranchers, students, researchers, and land managers throughout Nebraska and beyond.
Solomon Butcher: Frontier Photographer
