University of Idaho Rangeland Center

09/29/2026

🐂 Another successful Lost Rivers Grazing Academy in the books!

The Lost Rivers Grazing Academy (LRGA) is a four-day workshop offered annually to producers who want to increase their forage productivity, animal performance, and income. The program has now been running for over 25 years, and momentum remains strong. The 2026 workshop happened last month, with producers from Idaho, Utah, Washington, and Oregon attending.

Rangeland Center Member Scott Jensen has been helping facilitate the workshop since 2000 and reported that turnout was high and participants were happy. Testimony from past participants has indicated that the lessons learned from the LRGA paid off big dividends down the road, such as achieving 20% more grazing days than ever before and improved management for cost-saving measures.

09/28/2026

Join us next Tuesday to discuss wildfire prevention and mitigation.

The I-ROAM youth education trailer is available for outdoor educational events. To add your event to the schedule, download this reservation form, or complete this online form and submit it to the IRRC.

09/21/2026

📝Our latest research summary examines balancing sage-grouse resources with livestock production in wet meadows.

Wet meadows, also known as mesic meadows, are a valuable source of water, habitat, and forage for wildlife and livestock - including the greater sage-grouse. Considering these areas are also important grazing areas for livestock, it is critical to identify grazing strategies that are compatible with improving or managing this important sage-grouse habitat.

This summary is based on the Randall et al. 2022 paper in Rangeland Ecology and Management titled "Managing Forbs Preferred by Greater Sage-Grouse and Soil Moisture in Mesic Meadows with Short-Duration Grazing."

Read the full summary:https://rangelandcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/UIRC_Grazing-Wet-Meadows_summary.pdf

09/18/2026

Join us next Tuesday from 4:30-7:30pm at the Idaho Botanical Garden in Boise for Community Conversations, an educational gathering focused on protecting our homes and communities from wildfire.

Interim Director Eric Winford will be among the speakers, a list that includes local, state, and federal partners, as well as range animal and soil experts, land managers, and local enforcement.

Attendees will also have the opportunity to tour the Idaho Firewise Garden and connect with rangeland, fire, and horticulture experts to learn practical ways to create more fire-resilient landscapes.

Register here: https://47709.blackbaudhosting.com/47709/Community-Conversations

09/15/2026

Looking back on a great Rangeland Fall Forum.

A big thank you to our co-hosts, the University of Idaho McClure Center, and all of the fantastic panelists and speakers who shared their time and expertise with us.

Over the course of two days we explored the topic of post-fire recovery in rangelands from a variety of angles, from science to policy and beyond. Some key themes that emerged from the event were the importance of building and maintaining relationships, storytelling, and inviting diverse and flexible thinking into our approaches.

We’re already looking forward to next year!

09/12/2026

🔥That’s a wrap on the 2026 Rangeland Fall Forum!

Day 2 was filled with interesting field site stops and learning about all of the cool research happening at Rinker Rock Creek Ranch

Thanks to everyone who joined us, we’re already looking forward to next year!

09/12/2026

🔥Wrapping up a great first day of the Rangeland Fall Forum!

We dove into a wide range of post-fire topics and heard from many great speakers and engaged attendees. Some themes that emerged from the day were the importance of building relationships, communication within and across groups, flexibility, and so much more. We ended the day with a tour and social hour at the Orton Botanical Gardens.

Thanks to everyone for a good day; the momentum continues with a field tour at Rinker Rock Creek Ranch tomorrow.

09/08/2026

🎉UI Nancy M Cummings Research, Extension and Education Center celebrates 25 years!

The public is invited to attend a 25th anniversary celebration of NMCREEC on September 15th. The celebration will include a free lunch, research posters, featured speakers, and tours of the scenic facility.

U of I scientists have conducted cattle research at NMCREEC since 2001, when Sherry and Ron Auen began giving land to the university through their foundation. NMCREEC now encompasses 1,100 acres, including 850 acres of irrigated land, and supports 340 cow-calf pairs, 125 replacement heifers, and 12 bulls, while providing the facilities needed for forage, nutrition, feed-efficiency, reproductive and cattle-management research.

NMCREEC is an important part of the Rangeland Center's work. Center members from the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences and the College of Natural Resources work together, recognizing that livestock production, rangeland health, wildfire and public-land management are interconnected challenges across the West.

We hope to see you there next Tuesday! https://www.uidaho.edu/extension/events/celebrations

09/04/2026

📰Find our September newsletter in your inbox now!

In this edition:
- Rangeland Fall Forum registration ends today!!
- Register for Lost Rivers Grazing Academy by Sept. 7th
- Stocking Rate Workshop recap
- New research summary published
& much more!

Subscribe to the newsletter on our website: rangelandcenter.org

09/03/2026

Registration closes tomorrow; register now: https://marketplace.uidaho.edu/C20272_ustores/web/store_main.jsp?STOREID=65&SINGLESTORE=true