Rangeland

Preserving Grasslands Funding Available

Five Natural Resources Districts (NRDs) were awarded grant funding for the “Partnering to Preserve Central Nebraska’s Core Grasslands” project sponsored by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation  https://www.nfwf.org/. The partnering NRDs include Central Platte, Twin Platte, Tri-Basin, Middle Republican and Lower Loup.  The total grant award through the NFWF grant was $300,000 and runs through July 2025.  Additional funding of $149,500 for this project was awarded to the Central Platte NRD through the Nebraska Environmental Trust.

Program funding is available for pasture improvement projects such as cedar cutting and grazing deferment to prepare for a pasture burn and are necessary to preserve grazing and improve wildlife habitat.  Cost-share funding is also available through the USDA NRCS. Landowners interested in having a pasture cleared of cedar trees or are wanting more information about prescribed burning may contact David Carr, Central Platte NRD Range Management Specialist, at (308) 385-6282 or carr@cpnrd.org.

Prescribed Fire Program

Prescribed fire is a very valuable practice for Nebraska’s rangelands and prairies. Farmers in Central Platte NRD are having great success using fire to improve their pastures. It does entail some risk, which is why safety training and proper equipment are necessary.

Learn More

Noxious Weeds Found in CPNRD and Herbicide Treatment Periods
Musk Thistle
Commonly Found In: Disturbed areas, pastures
Counties reporting in 2021: Buffalo, Custer, Dawson, Frontier, Hall, Hamilton, Merrick, Polk, Platte
Emerges: April  Treat: Fall then following May with mowing in early July to set back any regrowth

Canada Thistle
Commonly Found In: Disturbed areas, pastures
Counties reporting in 2021: Buffalo, Custer, Dawson, Hall, Platte
Emerges: April  Treat: May & June or October

Leafy Spurge
Commonly Found In: Disturbed areas, pastures
Counties reporting in 2021:  Buffalo, Custer, Dawson, Frontier, Hall, Hamilton, Merrick, Polk, Platte
Emerges: April  Treat: June & July during flowering stage or October/November before first killing frost

Purple Loosestrife
Commonly Found In: Wetlands, lowlands, river banks
Counties reporting in 2021: Along Platte River, close tributaries, and wetlands
Emerges: April  Treat: June & July during flowering stage or October/November before first killing frost
Repeated Treatments: Check treated areas the following year for regrowth

Saltcedar
Commonly Found In: Wetlands, lowlands, river banks, dry channels, and islands
Counties reporting in 2021: Along Platte River in Dawson and Merrick
Emerges: April  Treat: June through October

Phragmites
Commonly Found In: Wetlands, river banks, dry channels, and islands
Counties reporting in 2021: Along Platte River, close tributaries, and wetlands
Emerges: April  Treat: May & June, when 2 to 3' tall or September/October before first killing frost

Find more detailed information at the following:
Nebraska Weed Control Association (NWCA)  http://www.neweed.org/
NWCA Web Map  http://www.neweed.org/WebMap.aspx
UNL Herbicide Guide ($15.00 for print and/or download)  https://marketplace.unl.edu/extension/ec130.html
Nebraska Dept. of Ag – Noxious Weeds http://www.nda.nebraska.gov/plant/noxious_weeds/index.html

Show Off Your Planted Prairie!

Native grassland and pollinator habitat conservation is vital to agriculture and to Nebraska wildlife. If you’re one of the thousands of folks who have visited the Natural Resources building at Husker Harvest Days, you may have picked up a packet of the Native Prairie or Pollinators seed from the NRDs. If you received and planted some of our native prairie or pollinator seed, or if you have another prairie area you’d like to show off, upload your photos!

In 2008, CPNRD began conducting the Native Prairie Outreach Project at Husker Harvest days, distributing native prairie seed packets and educational materials to approximately 1,500 people annually including approximately 300 packets of seed totaling 11 acres worth of restored prairie are handed out. Visitors to the booth are also given information on native plant propagation and patch-burn grazing systems.  The event is sponsored by CPNRD, other NRDs, with assistance from the Nebraska Association of Resources Districts.  If you have any questions about the native seed project or the website call  David Carr at (308) 385 -6282 or email carr@cpnrd.org.

Upload pictures of your planting!  You'll be able to place a “pin” on the map to show where you have grown your native prairie or pollinator habitat.
Upload photos here