Explore every episode of the podcast WildAg Podcast
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prairie Strips: Practical Conservation for Modern Farms and Wildlife | 01 Dec 2025 | 01:10:59 | |
This month we are joined by Dr. Jordan Giese, Research Assistant Professor at the Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute at Texas A&M University - Kingsville, to talk about prairie strips and his research on bird responses to prairie strips in row crop acres. From songbirds to Ring-necked pheasants, Dr. Giese shares how prairie strips can be beneficial for a range of wildlife within agricultural landscapes. Whether you are interested in birding, hunting, wildflowers, or soil health, prairie strips offer immense benefits for farmers across the Midwest. Resources:
Dr. Jordan Giese [website, @birdnbiologist] 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 | |||
| Productive Plains: The secret is in the soil | 03 Nov 2025 | 01:12:11 | |
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 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]
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 | |||
| The Wild Turkey Today with Dr. Mike Chamberlain | 03 Feb 2025 | 01:00:49 | |
This month we are joined by Dr. Mike Chamberlain, National Wild Turkey Federation Distinguished Professor at the University of Georgia to talk about the state of the wild turkey across the country and what the future looks like for this iconic bird. Resources:
Dr. Mike Chamberlain [website, @wildturkeydoc] 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!
Music by Humans Win Produced and edited by Iris McFarlin | |||
| Oh, deer! Hunting and Management | 06 Jan 2025 | 00:48:09 | |
This month we are joined by Luke Meduna, Big Game Program Manager at the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission to talk about all things deer-related, from hunting and disease to the inside scoop on management.
Resources:
Luke Meduna [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!
Music by Humans Win Produced and edited by Iris McFarlin | |||
| Fences of the Future | 02 Dec 2024 | 01:07:49 | |
This month we are joined by Dr. Mitch Stephenson, Range Management Specialist at University of Nebraska, and Kaitlyn Dozler, Virtual Fence Program Manager at University of Missouri, to talk about Kaitlyn's research with virtual fencing and how it can be safely used for conservation on ranchlands.
Resources:
Dr. Mitchell Stephenson [academic profile] Kaitlyn Dozler [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!
Music by Humans Win Produced and edited by Iris McFarlin | |||
| Conservation in Practice | 04 Nov 2024 | 01:04:07 | |
This month we are joined by Mr. Bob Bettger, a fifth-generation Nebraska landowner and producer, to tell his story – both the benefits and challenges – of integrating conservation practices into his operation.
Resources:
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!
Music by Humans Win Produced and edited by Iris McFarlin | |||
| The Wonders of Wetlands | 07 Oct 2024 | 00:56:47 | |
This month we are joined by Ted LaGrange, Wetland Program Manager at the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, to discuss the incredible benefits that wetlands offer, the challenges facing them, and opportunities for farmers to work with wetlands.
Resources:
Ted LaGrange [email] 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!
Music by Humans Win Produced and edited by Iris McFarlin | |||
| The Aldo Leopold Legacy, Then and Now | 02 Sep 2024 | 00:53:33 | |
This month we are joined by Buddy Huffaker, Executive Director of the Aldo Leopold Foundation, to discuss Leopold's legacy on wildlife management and what it means for modern conservation.
Resources:
Buddy Huffaker [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!
Music by Humans Win Produced and edited by Iris McFarlin | |||
| Improving Soil Health Across Nebraska | 05 Aug 2024 | 01:06:24 | |
This month we are joined by Carlos Villarreal, Nebraska State Soil Scientist at USDA-NRCS, to discuss all things soil health in Nebraska and beyond.
Resources:
Carlos Villarreal [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!
Music by Humans Win Produced and edited by Iris McFarlin | |||
| Mountain Lions with Sam Wilson and Jason Clark | 01 Jul 2024 | 00:51:19 | |
This month we are joined by Sam Wilson, Furbearer Carnivore Program Manager at Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, and Jason Clark, Conservation Forester at the Nebraska Forest Service, to discuss mountain lions in Nebraska.
Resources:
Sam Wilson [website] Jason Clark [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!
Music by Humans Win Produced and edited by Iris McFarlin | |||
| Building a Research Project | 03 Jun 2024 | 00:37:52 | |
Co-hosts Andrew Little and Nathan Pflueger discuss how research projects come about including funding, the process, and necessary components.
Resources:
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!
Music by Humans Win Produced and edited by Iris McFarlin | |||
| Introduction | 03 May 2024 | 00:13:50 | |
Welcome to the WildAg Podcast! WildAg is part of the Natural Resources University podcast network and serves as a connection point for natural resource professionals and landowners who want to integrate conservation with agriculture. Join our hosts, Dr. Andrew Little of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Nathan Pflueger of Pheasants Forever, as they introduce themselves and WildAg.
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!
Music by Humans Win Produced and edited by Iris McFarlin | |||
| Nitrates & Human Health with Dr. Jesse Bell | 06 Oct 2025 | 01:02:15 | |
This month we are joined by Dr. Jesse Bell, Claire M. Hubbard Professor of Water, Climate, and Health in the Department of Environmental, Agricultural, and Occupational Health at the University of Nebraska Medical Center and the School of Natural Resources within the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. He also serves as the director of the Water, Climate and Health Program at UNMC and the director of Water, Climate and Health at the University of Nebraska's Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute. Following our previous episodes on nitrate issues in drinking water, Andy and Nate chat with Dr. Bell about the specific health risks associated with nitrates in drinking water. They dive into what the science tells us about adverse health outcomes, who should be concerned, and things we can do to help mitigate against these risks. Resources:
Dr. Jesse Bell [website, academic profile] 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 | |||
| Prescribed Fire with Brian Teeter | 03 May 2024 | 01:07:05 | |
Brian Teeter, Prescribed Fire Coordinator at Nebraska Pheasants Forever, joins us to discuss prescribed fire on agriculturally dominated landscapes.
Resources:
Brian Teeter [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!
Music by Humans Win Produced and edited by Iris McFarlin
| |||
| Predator Management with Dr. John Carroll | 03 May 2024 | 01:04:18 | |
Dr. John Carroll, professor of wildlife ecology and management at University of Nebraska-Lincoln, joins us to discuss predators and predator management in agriculturally dominated landscapes.
Resources:
Dr. John Carroll [academic profile, @galliformessg] 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!
Music by Humans Win Produced and edited by Iris McFarlin | |||
| Nitrogen Stewardship & Profitability: A Conversation with Sentinel Ag | 01 Sep 2025 | 01:35:49 | |
This month we are joined by Jackson Stansell, Founder and CEO of Sentinel Ag. Following our previous episode on nitrate issues in drinking water with Crystal Powers, Andy and Nate chat with Jackson about how his team at Sentinel is tackling the nitrate issue head on – while also helping farmers be more profitable and efficient. From being good stewards of our land and natural resources to the importance of rural prosperity for the benefit of all, we cover the ins and outs of nitrogen in farming and how new innovations are helping to build a healthier future for people, wildlife, and the land. Resources:
Jackson Stansell [website, X, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube] 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 | |||
| Shaping the Heartland: The Evolution of Working Landscapes | 04 Aug 2025 | 01:08:32 | |
This month we are joined by Dr. Larkin Powell, Director of the School of Natural Resources at University of Nebraska-Lincoln. With years of research experience in the Great Plains and beyond, Dr. Powell narrates the story of how our agricultural landscapes have changed over time and the opportunities and challenges that come along with these changes. We also discuss Dr. Powell's upcoming book, "The Best of Intentions: A story of landscape change in the Great Plains." Resources:
Dr. Larkin Powell [website, academic profile, LinkedIn, @larkinpowell] 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 | |||
| The Carbon Market - What Farmers Should Know | 07 Jul 2025 | 01:07:22 | |
Joining us this month on the podcast are Gabriella Scolio and Jacob Penner from The Nature Conservancy to talk about carbon markets and what it means for farmers in the Midwest. We learn about what a carbon credit is, why companies are interested in carbon credits and how they are measuring their emissions, and how and why farmers might want to get involved. Resources:
The Nature Conservancy [website, NE chapter 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 | |||
| From Habitat to Land Taxes: A Landowner's Conservation Journey | 02 Jun 2025 | 01:02:29 | |
Joining us this month on the podcast is a local Nebraska landowner, Merlyn Nielsen, to talk about his experiences implementing conservation practices on his farmland. From creating habitat to hunt pheasants and improve sustainability to a tip for reduced land taxes, Merlyn shares the joys and benefits of his conservation projects as well as some of the barriers encountered along the way.
Resources:
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/
Music by Humans Win Produced and edited by Iris McFarlin | |||
| Hunting Access, Hometown Impact | 05 May 2025 | 01:12:44 | |
Have you ever struggled to find areas to hunt? Especially in Nebraska, where over 97% of the state is privately owned land, access to hunting can be difficult to come by. We know from previous research that a lack of access is also a top reason why people stop hunting or don't start at all. But public access programs like Open Fields and Waters and the Nebraska Community Access Partnership are tackling this issue head-on. For any hunter interested, these programs provide access to quality private lands to hunt; for landowners, it's another way to bring in a little extra income. This month we are joined by Adam Kester, Access Program Manager at the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, and Addie Piernicky, NCAP Coordinating Wildlife Biologist at Pheasants Forever, to learn all about how these programs are transforming hunting access in Nebraska and beyond.
Resources:
Addie Piernicky [website] Adam Kester [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!
Music by Humans Win Produced and edited by Iris McFarlin | |||
| Got Nitrates? Clean Water for Healthy Communities | 07 Apr 2025 | 01:21:41 | |
This month we are joined by Crystal Powers, Research and Extension Communication Specialist at the Nebraska Water Center, to talk all about nitrates in our water systems. We talk about what nitrates actually are, best practices for keeping them out of our water supply, and how to mitigate them once they are there.
Resources:
Crystal Powers [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!
Music by Humans Win Produced and edited by Iris McFarlin | |||
| No Lazy Coyotes: Why Messy Habitat is Good | 03 Mar 2025 | 01:00:56 | |
This month we are joined by Chris Helzer, Director of Science and Stewardship at The Nature Conservancy in Nebraska, to talk about the importance of habitat diversity. Whether you have a small urban yard or 10,000 acres with cattle, Chris walks us through why messy, shifting habitat is ideal and how to create it.
Resources:
Chris Helzer [website, @prairieecologist] 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!
Music by Humans Win Produced and edited by Iris McFarlin | |||