Upper Loup Scoop - Nebraska's Natural Resources Districts
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Upper Loup Scoop
Upper Loup Natural Resources District
Special Edition
April 2021
Celebrating Beef Month!
May is Beef Month in Nebraska, and we’re celebrating the positive impact of
the beef industry in our state. In celebration of Beef Month, we honor Nebraska’s
cattle producers – many who serve in leadership roles including on the Upper Loup
Natural Resources District board of directors. We thank our ranchers for their
commitment to the land, their animals and our communities.
Supporting Grazing Land Management
Beyond the protein USDA Natural Resources eat is forage and plant
April 22, 2021 on our plate, the cattle Conservation Service, leftovers that people can’t
Calendar of Events industry brings a lot to rangelands offer a well- eat.
Earth Day
the table. Cattle grazing established approach to The U.S. beef industry is
April 30, 2021 preserves and provides retaining and sequestering a critical component of a
Arbor Day habitat for wildlife, carbon. In fact, grasslands sustainable food system.
defends against the spread are one of three major It is the most productive
May 13, 2021 of wildfires, and improves places that carbon and efficient in the world,
Board Meeting soil health and carbon sequestration occurs— producing 18 percent
ULNRD Office sequestration potential. forests and oceans are the of the world’s beef with
7 p.m. CT Grazing accelerates and other two. just 6 percent of the
amplifies the storage of Approximately 90 world’s cattle.
May 31, 2021 carbon. According to the percent of what cattle
Holiday, Office Closed
June 6-9, 2021 ACE Camp is Back for 2021!
Adventure Camp about Middle school students include water quality, return forms to the Upper
the Environment (ACE) interested in the outdoors wildlife, soil, trees, Loup NRD office no later
are encouraged to sign up range and grasslands. than Friday, May 21.
June 10, 2021 for this fun, educational Campers will also get the Space is limited due to
Board Meeting and action-packed camp. opportunity to go tubing, safety precautions, so sign
ULNRD Office Adventure Camp about fish, zipline, build water up early!
7 p.m. CT the Environment (ACE) rockets, and much more.
is for students who have The Upper Loup NRD
Correction: Due to an
completed 6th, 7th or 8th offers several full-ride
oversight, we recently ACE Camp
reprinted an article that
grades in the 20-21 school scholarships for students
did not express our shared year. in the district to attend. June 6-9, 2021
Nebraska values. The article The four-day adventure To qualify for a State 4-H Youth Camp
was not produced in-house camp gives students an scholarship, fill out the Halsey, Nebraska
and not properly vetted. The opportunity to dive into camp registration and
content in question has been hands-on activities with a scholarship forms found $225/Camper
removed from our platforms, Deadline: May 21, 2021
natural resources focus. at upperloupnrd.org.
including our newsletter and
website.
Core camp sessions Please complete and
Nebraska Soil & Water Conservation Program
Cost-share Funds Still Available for District Landowners
The Upper Loup NRD offers cost-share assistance for Conservation Program (NSWCP) are administered by
several conservation practices including the following: the Upper Loup NRD, but provided by the State of
• Pasture planting or range seeding (NC 10) - to Nebraska. The USDA Natural Resources Conservation
establish grass on land being converted from other Service (NRCS) staff provide technical assistance and
uses or the renovation of existing pasture or range. certify that the practice is needed and meets the policy
• Critical area planting (NC 11) - to stabilize the and guidelines established by the State of Nebraska
soil, reduce damage from sediment and runoff to and Upper Loup NRD.
downstream areas. The cost-share rate for sign up is 50 percent of the
• Windbreaks (NC 12) - to establish a stand of county average cost. Payment for completed practices
trees to conserve soil and moisture and to prevent is limited to 50 percent of the actual cost, or 50 percent
erosion. of the average cost, whichever is less.
• Planned grazing systems (NC 14) - to reduce Cost-share funds are limited to $4,500 per producer
erosion and improve water quality by maintaining per year. Signing a cost-share application does not
or improving plant cover for increased forage guarantee approval of cost-share funds. The Upper
production, enhanced wildlife habitat, grazing Loup NRD Board of Directors reviews all applications
uniformity and water use efficiency. at monthly board meetings and makes approvals based
• Windbreak renovation (NC 16) - to provide for upon the cost of the practice and the conservation
restoration of farmstead or field windbreaks that benefit provided.
have been rendered substantially ineffective due to In addition to cost-share programs, the Upper Loup
the death of trees or other windbreak plantings as a NRD offers the following services:
result of weather, disease or other natural causes. • Recycling
• Irrigation water management (NC 17) - to • No-till drill
conserve groundwater and surface water by • Gopher machine rental
improving water-use efficiency on irrigated lands. • Deer and small rodent repellent
• Brush management (NC 20) - removal or • Tree and shrub planting
reduction of non-herbaceous plants to restore • Weed barrier installation
natural plant community balance, create the desired • Water testing
plant community, and reduce competition between • Chemigation Permits & Inspections
desired and unwanted plants. For a full list of cost-share opportunities and services,
Cost-share funds for the Nebraska Soil & Water please call the NRD office at 308.645.2250.
Trivia – Cattle Conundrums
1. What family does cattle belong to?
Equidae, Bovidae or Anatidae
2. How many stomach chambers do cattle have?
Four, Three or One
3. What is the most common breed of cattle in the U.S.?
Jersey, Holstein or Black Angus
4. Tallow is an ingredient in soaps, cosmetics, candles and
more. Tallow comes from cattle _______?
Hair, Fat or Bone
5. How many different medicines, including insulin and
estrogen, come from cattle?
50, 75 or 100
Answers on page 4
The Lesser-known Faces of the Cattle Industry
Meet the Cattle(wo)man Herding Family, School, Careers and Cattle
Western heritage has painted demand of caring for cattle. May
the picture of a rugged cowboy marks the beginning of calving
on the ranch. However, according season, and family is even busier as
to the most recent Agriculture they help cows give birth and tend
Census, more than 230,000 farms to the calves’ needs throughout
or ranches across America have a summer.
woman at the helm. In addition to the family’s
Check out this profile of Sandhills dedication to animal care, Drieling
Rancher Terryn Drieling who and her family, like beef farmers
illustrates this growing group and ranchers across the country,
of cattle ranchers, and the daily are committed to preserving the
demands they meet at the ranch, land they live on and keeping
in their homes, and at their their operation environmentally
professions. sustainable. They move the cows
Drieling, and her husband, live and their calves every three to five
and work on a large ranch in the days through their growing season
Sandhills. Drieling spends her days grazing rotation. The grazing
caring for the land, cattle and their rotation – or grazing plan – is us make the best decisions we can
three young children, and still finds mapped out at the start of every for the land and livestock in our
time to manage a family business year and helps ensure they are not care,” said Terryn. “No matter what
and various social media profiles. over-using the land, but rather are Mother Nature throws at us, we’re
“Ranching and raising beef cattle helping to improve the soil health. better prepared.”
is more than our livelihood: It’s our The plan considers what has taken Check out Drieling’s blog, “Faith,
passion. It’s what lights our fire and place in past years, grass quality Family and Beef ” to learn more
gets us out of bed in the morning. and availability and herd events like about their ranching operation in
It’s our calling,” she said. calving season. the Sandhills.
The ranch is always a busy place as “While it is a plan and nothing
the family works through weather is set in stone, having this grazing
Article courtesy of BeefItsWhatsForDinner.com and
and temperature swings and the plan year-in and year-out helps photo courtesy of Drieling/Laura Johnson Photography
Seeking Input on Drought Management Plan
The Upper Loup NRD is taking proactive steps to is one of the important steps in planning. Stakeholders
reduce the negative impacts of future drought events include, but are not limited to, landowner/operators
by developing a Drought Management Plan with a within the district, community and county personnel,
FEMA planning grant. water dependent businesses, and other government
Components of the plan include defining drought agencies. Being a stakeholder is not a long term or
using local data, identifying regional drought time-consuming commitment. Stakeholders will meet
vulnerabilities, and developing mitigation and once or perhaps twice during the development of the
management alternatives to reduce the impacts from plan to review and understand management techniques
future droughts. Having this blueprint in place will currently in place and to examine what other practices
allow the district to respond to the challenges of an might be more beneficial. If you are interested in
acute drought situation. serving on the stakeholder committee, please contact
JEO Consulting Group will assist with the plan the Upper Loup NRD at 308.645.2250 by Monday,
development, and public and stakeholder engagement May 3, 2021.
ULNRD Staff
PRSRT STD
Anna Baum ECRWSS
General Manager US Postage Paid
Thedford, NE 69166
Shane Young Permit No. 11
Resources Technician
Jake Ginkens
Resources Technician
Lexi Spurlin
Information & Education,
Resources Technician
Jamie Green
Administrative Secretary
Earl Rowley
Recycling Coordinator
Pam Petersen
Field Office Secretary
ULNRD Board
Sub-District 1 Trivia Answers – 1. Bovidae 2. Four 3. Black Angus 4. Fat 5. 100
Eric Storer
Rebecca Connealy
Sub-District 2
Judy Ridenour
John Kraye
BeefItsWhatsForDinner.com
Sub-District 3
Chris Higgins Ingredients
Miles Maseberg 1 beef Top Round Steak, Cut 3/4 inch thick (~1 pound) Marinade:
1 pound asparagus, trimmed 1/4 cup red wine vinegar
Sub-District 4 1 teaspoon olive oil 2 tablespoons olive oil
3 tablespoons shaved parmesan cheese 1 tablespoon fresh thyme
Eric Schipporeit
Hot, cooked orzo (optional) 2 teaspoons steak seasoning blend
Tony Ruhter 2 teaspoons minced garlic
1 teaspoon crushed red pepper
Sub-District 5 Cooking
Tom Johnson 1. Combine marinade ingredients in medium bowl. Place beef Top Round Steak and marinade in
Richard Burnside food-safe plastic bag; turn steak to coat. Close bag securely and marinate in refrigerator 6 hours or as
long as overnight, turning occasionally.
At Large
Patrick Wright 2. Remove steak from marinade; discard marinade. Toss asparagus with oil. Place steak in center
of grid over medium ash-covered coals; arrange asparagus around steak. Grill steak, covered, 10-11
Upper Loup NRD minutes (over medium heat on preheated gas grill, times remain the same) for medium rare (1450F)
doneness, turning occasionally. (Do not overcook) Grill asparagus 6-10 minutes (over medium heat
39232 Hwy 2
on preheated gas grill, covered, 8-12 mintues) or until crisp-tender, turning occasionally.
Thedford, NE 69166
308.645.2250 3. Immediately sprinkle cheese over asparagus. Carve steak into thin slices. Season with salt, as
upperloupnrd.org desired. Serve with asparagus and orzo, if desired.You can also read
