Bolze melds NGC to Ag & Range classes

For the last decade, winter and summer break for CSC Professor Ron Bolze has been spent traveling Nebraska as a part of the Nebraska Grazing Coalition (NGC).  

Students in CSC’s Rangeland program are taught ways to manage both private and public land. Bolze teaches classes based in livestock and farm management for the state of Nebraska. 

The NGC is dedicated to keeping agricultural operations profitable by using holistic management techniques. The organization aids private rangeland owners through teaching and creating management plans. 

There is no membership fee for NGC, and it is open to farmers and ranchers all over the state.  

“If you graze or own Nebraska grasslands, then you are automatically a member.” Bolze said.  

The NGC’s main events are the grazing tours they host every year. These tours bring national and international farm and ranch management speakers to speak at eight locations across Nebraska, CSC is always one of the stops.  

Bringing in speakers with new points of view on grazing and management techniques is an important part of Bolze’s teaching strategy. 

The holistic management strategies of high stock density, short duration and long recovery used by the NGC, is a primary part of Bolze’s lessons for classes.  

“Managing our grazing lands is one of the most important factors in agricultural production,” Bolze said. “We want to keep grazing for the next generation on the same land.” 

NGC uses programs that allow for multiple use land management and improving soil health while creating financial stability for agriculturalists.

Funded by the Nebraska Environmental Trust, NGC has three programs for the next three years. They want to increase cover crop use on row crop productions, decrease invasive Red Cedar populations and help farmers and ranchers with estate planning.  

Adding cover crops to row crop production and using grazing animals to graze the cover crops is one of many management strategies taught to CSC students by Bolze. 

 Invasive species management is a current and constant issue faced by land managers. Red Cedar growth has become an issue across the state, causing landowners to see a decrease in carrying capacity on grazing lands.  

One major focus of the NGC is estate planning to prepare for generational transitions. Many farms and ranches end up being sold after making a transition from older to younger generations. 

Bolze knows from experience that selling land can be caused by lack of proper estate planning and unknown financial burdens by agricultural producers. 

“They may have a federal tax burden that may necessitate selling their farm or their ranch,” Bolze said. “Then the next generation won’t have an opportunity on the land. “ 

With many CSC students coming from rural areas and agricultural families Bolze feels that it is important for students to learn about estate planning. The future of Nebraska grasslands is in the hands of  the next generation of private landowners. 

“If students want a chance on their family land, they need to encourage their parents to do estate planning,” said Bolze.