A significant amount of carbon is locked up underneath the ancient grasslands of North America. Grasses naturally absorb carbon during their lifecycle, and over time can sequester that carbon into the underlying soils. Grasslands carbon is considered safely locked away and out of the picture when it comes to rapidly accelerating global greenhouse gas emissions Read more about Grasslands Can Help Fight Climate Change —Jeffrey Conti[…]
Ranch Crew was an excellent opportunity that I was able to take ahold of, but I was not entirely prepared for what all it entailed. When first glancing over the flyer for it I thought that it might be working as a ranch hand for part of the two weeks, but it was not to Read more about Ranch Crew: 2018 Overview — Caleb Gray (a Uni. of WY student)[…]
Throughout our two weeks with Ranch Crew we became intimate with the Forks Ranch. Assessing ground cover and clipping grasses to measure biomass, we came to understand the natural characteristics of the ranch. We also came to appreciate the deep history of the place through our hosts Cole and Elaine Benton of Grizzly Outfitters. Cole Read more about The Forks and Fire — Brendan Boepple[…]
For the past few months, my project partner, Seila De Leon, and I have been given the challenge of creating a soil-drying field device for the Ucross Quick Carbon project. As Seila explained in her first blog post, we were initially given this assignment as a final project last fall semester. We then chose to Read more about A Change of Perspective — Nat Irwin[…]
I had the pleasure of arriving to Sheridan, Wyoming via road trip. My father, recently retired, proposed to turn the drive into a camping trip, and he and I spent three great days traveling the plains and mountains of Utah and Wyoming. Passing through Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks, the drive was extraordinary. Coming Read more about Changing Perspectives: The Enemy is Everywhere — Reid Lewis[…]
June 2018 was Ranch Crew month for several students (including myself), Ucross members, and collaborating partners from ranch managers to plant ecologists. Ranch Crew is not necessarily what it sounds like. It is so much more than that. Ranch Crew is a two-week immersive experience in rangeland ecology, management, and last but not least…culture! Since Read more about Ranch Crew 2018: An Immersive Experience in Rangeland Ecology and Management — Lexi Smith[…]
A year ago, I traveled out to Wyoming to visit a few properties managed by The Nature Conservancy and test a new field method for measuring soil carbon content. Our initial results from last year’s work suggested we were on to something. The method worked! We were able to successfully use just a simple handheld Read more about Measuring Soil Carbon – Dan Kane[…]
I’m writing from Red Canyon Ranch, a working ranch and nature preserve owned by the Nature Conservancy. I’m fortunate to have the opportunity to live at the Ranch this summer while working with Conservancy staff on questions related to beaver restoration and water management. Red Canyon Ranch covers some 5,000 acres in the foothills of Read more about Beaver Restoration and Water Management in Wyoming – Austin Rempel[…]
Calving bison on the prairie, with nothing but grass and sky as far as the eye can see. It is a scene which, without knowing any better, could have been identical to what I would have seen if I stood on this ridge three hundred years ago. For anyone who knows better, however, it is Read more about Bison Revival – Anthony Bell[…]
Thirteen days and nearly 600 soil samples later, we’re back from our last trip to Wyoming. The trip was a huge success! We started at Ten Sleep Preserve, where I left off earlier in July, taking three days there to sample an area of the preserve that is still grazed by cattle. I was struck Read more about Sampling Soil across Wyoming Landscapes – Dan Kane[…]
As I wrap up my research with Beartooth Capital Partners in Bozeman, Montana, I want to take a moment to reflect on all of the incredible experiences and insights this summer has provided. Beartooth operates with a small but efficient team of just seven people out of an office building in downtown Bozeman. The company Read more about Restoring Ranches with Beartooth Capital Partners- Jay Chancellor[…]
For those who are familiar with the beef industry, grass-fed and finished beef seems like a no-brainer. Healthier cows, healthier grasslands, healthier people, higher prices… so what’s stopping every rancher from transitioning to grass-finished beef? This is the daunting question I have elected to take on this summer. I think I have the answer then Read more about The grass-fed challenge – Lucyann Murray[…]
Hello from Portland, OR – pretentious foodie capital of the world! Paleo, gluten free, local, grass-fed, heritage, etc. are plastered all over restaurants and food carts. I love it. I’m out here working for a timber investment management organization and building a business plan for mobile slaughter on Boot Ranch. The primary focus of my Read more about Grass Fed Beef Explorations – Lucyann Murray[…]
Thirteen days and nearly 600 soil samples later, we’re back from our last trip to Wyoming. The trip was a huge success! We started at Ten Sleep Preserve, where I left off earlier in July, taking three days there to sample an area of the preserve that is still grazed by cattle. I was struck Read more about Sampling Soil across Wyoming Landscapes – Dan Kane[…]
Hello from Wyoming! Two weeks ago, I spent four days collecting soil samples at the Tensleep Preserve after the rest of the Western Research Fellows departed from our retreat. Tensleep Preserve is a beautiful property owned by The Nature Conservancy in Wyoming that used to be a Girl Scouts Camp. Since acquiring it, The Nature Read more about Update from the Field – Dan Kane[…]