Stay ConnectedWildAg is a podcast that serves as a connection point for landowners and conservation professionals who want to integrate conservation and agriculture. Our project brings perspectives from both landowners and conservation professionals for lively discussions.
WildAg is part of the Natural Resources University podcast network.
Copyright: © 2024
What happens when floods, fish and farms all connect? Flooding is a natural process, but it can cause major problems for farms and residential areas alike. Joining us this week is Mitch Paine, Flood Risk Policy and Planning Specialist with the Washington Department of Ecology and lecturer for University of Washington's Urban Planning program, to walk us through how conservation, agriculture and flooding can all work together. From the history of flood policy in the US to modern approaches, we discuss a collective move away from trying to strictly control rivers to a more integrated and holistic flood management strategy. To showcase this approach, we look to the Snoqualmie Valley in Washington, where a collaborative effort has helped reduce flood damage while also recovering vital salmon habitat.
Resources:
Mitch Paine [website, LinkedIn, Instagram]
Dr. Andrew Little [academic profile, @awesmlabdoc]
Nathan Pflueger [website]
AWESM Lab [website, @awesmlab]
Nebraska Pheasants Forever [website, @pheasants_quailforever_of_ne]
Watch these podcasts on YouTube
If you enjoy this podcast, leave a rating and review so others can find us!
We are dedicated to bringing important information and new ideas to listeners just like you. Help us keep WildAg going by donating to the podcast: https://nufoundation.org/fund/01155570/
Or, learn more about how your organization can sponsor episodes: https://awesmlab.unl.edu/wildag-sponsorship/
Music by Humans Win
Produced and edited by Iris McFarlin
Implementing conservation practices like prairie strips or cover crops on your farm might feel like an overwhelming or confusing process. But private lands biologists and other conservation professionals are an invaluable resource to help farmers and landowners navigate the process and choose the best options. This month, we are joined by longtime Nebraska farmer Ed Olson along with Rob Peterson, a Farm Bill Wildlife Biologist with Pheasants Forever. From decision-making and motivations to mishaps and problem-solving, we get a unique inside look into the working relationship between a farmer and biologist. Whether you are a farmer, landowner, conservation professional, or just interested in the interplay of conservation and working lands, this is a unique episode you won't want to miss.
Resources:
Ed Olson
Rob Peterson [website]
Dr. Andrew Little [academic profile, @awesmlabdoc]
Nathan Pflueger [website]
AWESM Lab [website, @awesmlab]
Nebraska Pheasants Forever [website, @pheasants_quailforever_of_ne]
Watch these podcasts on YouTube
If you enjoy this podcast, leave a rating and review so others can find us!
We are dedicated to bringing important information and new ideas to listeners just like you. Help us keep WildAg going by donating to the podcast: https://nufoundation.org/fund/01155570/
Or, learn more about how your organization can sponsor episodes: https://awesmlab.unl.edu/wildag-sponsorship/
Music by Humans Win
Produced and edited by Iris McFarlin
Join us in celebrating the 100th year of pheasant hunting in Nebraska! In this episode of the WildAg Podcast, we welcome Lonnie Shafer, hunter and author of Shafer's Nebraska Pheasant Hunting Almanac, to explore the history of the Ring-necked pheasant in Nebraska and across the United States. Schafer traces the bird's origins in Asia, its introduction to North America, and the events that led to its establishment as one of the nation's most iconic game birds. The conversation also examines the evolution of pheasant hunting in the U.S., highlighting how changing landscapes, wildlife management, and conservation efforts have shaped hunting and stocking over time.
Resources:
Lonnie Shafer [website]
Dr. Andrew Little [academic profile, @awesmlabdoc]
Nathan Pflueger [website]
AWESM Lab [website, @awesmlab]
Nebraska Pheasants Forever [website, @pheasants_quailforever_of_ne]
Watch these podcasts on YouTube
If you enjoy this podcast, leave a rating and review so others can find us!
We are dedicated to bringing important information and new ideas to listeners just like you. Help us keep WildAg going by donating to the podcast: https://nufoundation.org/fund/01155570/
Or, learn more about how your organization can sponsor episodes: https://awesmlab.unl.edu/wildag-sponsorship/
Music by Humans Win
Produced and edited by Iris McFarlin
In this episode, we chat with Josh Murman and Colton Rathman to explore how PTx Ag is bringing autonomous technology to the farm by transforming compatible tractors into self-operating machines. We discuss how the system works and how it helps farmers tackle labor shortages, improve efficiency, and complete critical fieldwork on time. But we also look beyond productivity, exploring how autonomy could make conservation practices such as cover cropping, reduced tillage, and other stewardship efforts more practical and accessible by reducing the time and labor they require. Whether you're curious about autonomous farming or the future of sustainable agriculture, this episode offers an inside look at the opportunities this technology can create.
Resources:
Josh Murman [LinkedIn]
Colton Rathman [LinkedIn]
Dr. Andrew Little [academic profile, @awesmlabdoc]
Nathan Pflueger [website]
AWESM Lab [website, @awesmlab]
Nebraska Pheasants Forever [website, @pheasants_quailforever_of_ne]
Watch these podcasts on YouTube
If you enjoy this podcast, leave a rating and review so others can find us!
We are dedicated to bringing important information and new ideas to listeners just like you. Help us keep WildAg going by donating to the podcast: https://nufoundation.org/fund/01155570/
Or, learn more about how your organization can sponsor episodes: https://awesmlab.unl.edu/wildag-sponsorship/
Music by Humans Win
Produced and edited by Iris McFarlin
In this episode, Dr. Grace Schuster joins co-hosts Andy and Nathan to discuss her PhD research on how bioenergy crop production impacts grassland bird communities in southwestern Nebraska. From the feasibility of large-scale switchgrass production to conservation strategies, this episode explores the balance between fueling the future and protecting our wildlife. Can agricultural landscapes support both renewable energy goals and healthy bird populations? Tune in for a fascinating conversation at the intersection of ecology, agriculture, and conservation.
Resources:
Bioenergy Crop Production: Implications for Grassland Bird Communities in Southwestern Nebraska (Thesis)
Dr. Grace Schuster [website]
Dr. Andrew Little [academic profile, @awesmlabdoc]
Nathan Pflueger [website]
AWESM Lab [website, @awesmlab]
Nebraska Pheasants Forever [website, @pheasants_quailforever_of_ne]
Watch these podcasts on YouTube
If you enjoy this podcast, leave a rating and review so others can find us!
We are dedicated to bringing important information and new ideas to listeners just like you. Help us keep WildAg going by donating to the podcast: https://nufoundation.org/fund/01155570/
Or, learn more about how your organization can sponsor episodes: https://awesmlab.unl.edu/wildag-sponsorship/
Music by Humans Win
Produced and edited by Iris McFarlin
In this episode, we're joined by Jake Koenig, Midwest Habitat Program Manager for the Monarch Joint Venture, to explore the fascinating world of monarch butterflies. Jake shares insights into their incredible multi-generational migration, the challenges they face, and what conservation efforts are underway to support their survival and growth. He also takes us along on his recent trip to Mexico, where monarchs gather in breathtaking numbers at their overwintering grounds. From the incredible spectacle of migration to possible ventures in milkweed production, we explore the incredible world of the monarch and the role we can play in it.
Resources:
Jake Koenig [website, Instagram, Facebook]
Dr. Andrew Little [academic profile, @awesmlabdoc]
Nathan Pflueger [website]
AWESM Lab [website, @awesmlab]
Nebraska Pheasants Forever [website, @pheasants_quailforever_of_ne]
Watch these podcasts on YouTube
If you enjoy this podcast, leave a rating and review so others can find us!
We are dedicated to bringing important information and new ideas to listeners just like you. Help us keep WildAg going by donating to the podcast: https://nufoundation.org/fund/01155570/
Or, learn more about how your organization can sponsor episodes: https://awesmlab.unl.edu/wildag-sponsorship/
Music by Humans Win
Produced and edited by Iris McFarlin
If you grew up on or near a farm, you might think back fondly on summer days spent fishing in your local pond. From small ponds to large reservoirs, water in working landscapes providesnumerous opportunities while also facing challenges. This month we are joined by Jeff Jackson, Aquatic Habitat Program Manager at the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, to talk about fishery and pond management in agricultural and working landscapes. From water quality and sedimentation to healthy bass fisheries and beyond, Jeff covers the challenges facing our ponds and lakes and what we can do to ensure healthy waters for everyone.
Resources:
Jeff Jackson [contact]
Dr. Andrew Little [academic profile, @awesmlabdoc]
Nathan Pflueger [website]
AWESM Lab [website, @awesmlab]
Nebraska Pheasants Forever [website, @pheasants_quailforever_of_ne]
Watch these podcasts on YouTube
If you enjoy this podcast, leave a rating and review so others can find us!
We are dedicated to bringing important information and new ideas to listeners just like you. Help us keep WildAg going by donating to the podcast: https://nufoundation.org/fund/01155570/
Or, learn more about how your organization can sponsor episodes: https://awesmlab.unl.edu/wildag-sponsorship/
Music by Humans Win
Produced and edited by Iris McFarlin
If you drive across the Midwest, much of the landscape is under production for corn and soybeans. But, it didn't always look like that. Only a couple of generations ago, farmers were planting more diverse fields, many of them including wheat. This month we are joined by Nathan Mueller, Executive Director of Nu Horizon Genetics and producer, to talk about the "third crop" -- winter wheat. Learn how wheat can improve farms, provide valuable habitat for wildlife, and help improve our landscapes and ecosystems.
Resources:
Nathan Mueller [website]
Dr. Andrew Little [academic profile, @awesmlabdoc]
Nathan Pflueger [website]
AWESM Lab [website, @awesmlab]
Nebraska Pheasants Forever [website, @pheasants_quailforever_of_ne]
Watch these podcasts on YouTube
If you enjoy this podcast, leave a rating and review so others can find us!
We are dedicated to bringing important information and new ideas to listeners just like you. Help us keep WildAg going by donating to the podcast: https://nufoundation.org/fund/01155570/
Or, learn more about how your organization can sponsor episodes: https://awesmlab.unl.edu/wildag-sponsorship/
Music by Humans Win
Produced and edited by Iris McFarlin
This month we are joined by Carlie Gizel, Wild Turkey Biologist with National Wild Turkey Federation and the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. As a native species of Nebraska, wild turkeys have lived and evolved in the Great Plains for years, at times exploding in numbers and at others succumbing to new threats. Through it all, they have remained an iconic species of the landscape, and hunters from near and far come to Nebraska seeking out this special bird. Join Carlie, along with co-hosts Andy and Nate, to talk about all things turkey.
Resources:
Carlie Gizel [website]
Dr. Andrew Little [academic profile, @awesmlabdoc]
Nathan Pflueger [website]
AWESM Lab [website, @awesmlab]
Nebraska Pheasants Forever [website, @pheasants_quailforever_of_ne]
Watch these podcasts on YouTube
If you enjoy this podcast, leave a rating and review so others can find us!
We are dedicated to bringing important information and new ideas to listeners just like you. Help us keep WildAg going by donating to the podcast: https://nufoundation.org/fund/01155570/
Or, learn more about how your organization can sponsor episodes: https://awesmlab.unl.edu/wildag-sponsorship/
Music by Humans Win
Produced and edited by Iris McFarlin
This month we are joined by Sam Wilson, Furbearer Biologist at the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, and Frank Andelt, retired Furbearer Biologist and Sam's predecessor at Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, to share the amazing story of the river otter in Nebraska. From thriving populations to complete extirpation, river otters were wiped out across the state. But as our guests share, otters are a resilient species. After a few local otter sightings, Frank shares the story of reintroduction of otters to Nebraska and how far they have come since then.
Resources:
Sam Wilson [website]
Frank Andelt
Dr. Andrew Little [academic profile, @awesmlabdoc]
Nathan Pflueger [website]
AWESM Lab [website, @awesmlab]
Nebraska Pheasants Forever [website, @pheasants_quailforever_of_ne]
Watch these podcasts on YouTube
If you enjoy this podcast, leave a rating and review so others can find us!
We are dedicated to bringing important information and new ideas to listeners just like you. Help us keep WildAg going by donating to the podcast: https://nufoundation.org/fund/01155570/
Or, learn more about how your organization can sponsor episodes: https://awesmlab.unl.edu/wildag-sponsorship/
Music by Humans Win
Produced and edited by Iris McFarlin
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