Productive Plains - The Secret is in the Soil | Wild Ag #489
Release Date: 11/03/2025
Butterflies, Burn Units, and a Broader Vision for NREM with Dr. Jason Harmon | BGWT #497
Natural Resources University
What do grasshoppers, prescribed fire, and peer pressure have in common? In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Jason Harmon, the new head of Oklahoma State University’s Natural Resource Ecology and Management department, to find out. From his early days counting insects in Wisconsin to leading research on pollinators and rangelands in North Dakota, Dr. Harmon brings a wide-lens perspective to land management - one that blends ecology, culture, and community. Hosts John Weir, Dr. Laura Goodman, and Dr. Mark Turner chat with Dr. Harmon about everything from cattle grazing and...
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Emergency Trout Restrictions | Fish University #496
Natural Resources University
he State of Arkansas is well known for its quality fishing opportunities, particularly its tailrace trout fisheries. Although Fish University has spent several episodes discussing the self-sustaining brown trout in the Little Red River, the majority of these fisheries are supported with catchable size, hatchery produced trout. Unfortunately, the two biggest hatcheries in Arkansas experienced major issues this past spring and summer, resulting in the loss of more than a million trout. With less trout available, the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission had to take drastic measures. In this episode,...
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Waterfowl Migration | Fins, Fur, & Feathers | #495
Natural Resources University
Waterfowl and other birds often migrate long distances to optimize habitats for feeding and meeting. Join Joe and Drew as they discuss what triggers migration, how far species travel, and the cost and benefits associated with these long distance movements. Dr. Joe Gerken and Dr. Drew Ricketts are extension specialists and faculty members in the Wildlife and Outdoor Enterprise Management Program at Kansas State University. Find out more about the program at Watch the podcast on Youtube at
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Landscape level habitat corridor sustains turkeys | Wild Turkey Science #494
Natural Resources University
In this episode, we discuss our recent paper quantifying turkey abundance, highlighting the Florida Wildlife Corridor and exploring how this project preserves turkey habitat amidst increasing development pressures. Paper will be linked as soon as it is released. Resources: Citizen science for turkeys eBird Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation FWC Summer Brood Survey iNaturalist Merlin Bird ID Snapshot USA 00:00 Introduction to the Conversation 01:23 Exploring Turkey Management and Habitat 02:48 The Impact of Human Population on Turkey Habitats 05:47...
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Burn, Spray, Repeat: Taming Sericea Lespedeza | BGWT #493
Natural Resources University
In this episode of Blazin’ Grazin’ and Other Wild Things, we hear from Kayla Moss, Extension Assistant at Oklahoma State University, about her groundbreaking research in Oklahoma. Moss shares how she tackled the invasive sericea lespedeza using a combination of fire, herbicide, and grazing. She discusses how growing-season burns, when followed by a well-timed herbicide application, delivered the most effective long-term control - reducing sericea cover from 35% to under 1%. The episode also explores the unexpected return of native legumes after treatment, the resilience of sericea...
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Restoring the functionally extinct American Chestnut | Wild Turkey Science #492
Natural Resources University
We’re bringing back our episode exploring the American chestnut's history, ecological importance, challenges faced due to habitat change and disease, on-going conservation efforts, and how you can get involved in its ecological restoration. Our lab is primarily funded by donations. If you would like to help support our work, please donate here: Resources: Do you have a topic you’d like us to cover? or send us an email at ! Sara Fitzsimmons , We’ve launched a comprehensive online wild turkey course...
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After the Harvest | Fins, Fur, & Feathers #491
Natural Resources University
While a hunt may end with the release of an arrow or pulling the trigger, what a hunter does next has important legal, food safety, and food quality implications. Join Drew and Joe as they discuss important considerations for tagging and proof-of-sex requirements, care and handling of harvested game to minimize disease transmission, zoonotic diseases to be aware of, and how to handle harvested game to maximize the quality of the meat we harvest. Dr. Joe Gerken and Dr. Drew Ricketts are extension specialists and faculty members in the Wildlife and Outdoor Enterprise Management Program at...
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Scale of management for wild turkeys | Wild Turkey Science #490
Natural Resources University
In this episode, we discuss how management scale and arrangement influence turkey behavior and productivity. Resources: Our lab is primarily funded by donations. If you would like to help support our work, please donate here: We’ve launched a comprehensive online wild turkey course featuring experts across multiple institutions that specialize in habitat management and population management for wild turkeys. Earn up to 20.5 CFE hours! Dr. Marcus Lashley , Dr. Will Gulsby , Turkeys for Tomorrow UF Game Lab , ...
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Productive Plains - The Secret is in the Soil | Wild Ag #489
Natural Resources University
What makes the Great Plains such a productive agricultural hotspot? And why are some fields just more productive than others no matter what? It turns out the secret is in the soil. This month we are joined by Dr. Ray Ward, founder of Ward Laboratories, to discuss how our soils came to be and how a better knowledge of your soil can lead to healthier farms and ecosystems overall. With a PhD in Soil Fertility and personal farming experience, Dr. Ward shares how practices like cover crops and diversifying an operation can lead to massive benefits – in soil health, water quality, wildlife...
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Managing old fields for turkey | Wild Turkey Science #488
Natural Resources University
In this episode, we walk you through the steps on managing your fallow fields for turkey and deer. We cover the plants we’re after and those we want to manage against, as well as herbicide preparation, broadcast application, timing of management, and more. Resources: Our lab is primarily funded by donations. If you would like to help support our work, please donate here: We’ve launched a comprehensive online wild turkey course featuring experts across multiple institutions that specialize in habitat management and population management for wild turkeys. Earn...
info_outlineWhat makes the Great Plains such a productive agricultural hotspot? And why are some fields just more productive than others no matter what? It turns out the secret is in the soil. This month we are joined by Dr. Ray Ward, founder of Ward Laboratories, to discuss how our soils came to be and how a better knowledge of your soil can lead to healthier farms and ecosystems overall. With a PhD in Soil Fertility and personal farming experience, Dr. Ward shares how practices like cover crops and diversifying an operation can lead to massive benefits – in soil health, water quality, wildlife abundance, ecosystem health and farmer profitability.
Resources:
Dr. Ray Ward [website]
Dr. Andrew Little [academic profile, @awesmlabdoc]
Nathan Pflueger [website]
AWESM Lab [website, @awesmlab]
Nebraska Pheasants Forever [website, @pheasants_quailforever_of_ne]
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Produced and edited by Iris McFarlin