Thank you to all of the Sandhills ranchers who shared their information with us. Thanks to your help and feedback we exceeded our target response rate of 20%.

Executive Summary

  • Most ranchers are closely connected to their land and have long history with the Sandhills region
  • Majority of respondents incorporate both livestock and prairie haying in their operations
  • Most prairie hay cutting begins in early July
  • Hay cutting is usually concluded by most ranchers by the end of August
  • Ranchers are most likely to set aside up to 40% of their prairie hay until mid-August for cutting

General Information

In 2019 a survey was produced and made accessible to ranchers in Holt and Cherry counties in Nebraska. The goals of this survey were to get a better understanding of rancher hay cutting practices and how those practices coincide with Nebraska bird conservation.

A paper version of the survey questionnaire was sent to the addresses of Nebraska ranchers through publically available parcel ownership information. Completed surveys were returned to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. The survey packet included a short description as to the nature and purpose of the survey. Respondents had the opportunity to take the survey from February 6, 2019 through March 31, 2019.

There were 823 invited to participate in the survey, 529 did not return a survey, there were 65 who returned a survey and did not consent, and 229 who completed the survey (a response rate of 27.8%). The total number of responses given for each question are depicted below. Respondents that did not provide an answer are not included.

Section 1: Ranching Operation

Respondents were asked basic questions about their connections with ranching and some of their ranching practices. Questions ranged from years spent with ranching to haying practices.

About how many years total have you been involved with ranching?

Did you grow up on a ranch?

Did you grow up in the Sandhills region of Nebraska?

What is your connection to the ranching operation?

No responses were given for the third choice: “Tenant”. Other responses included: “power of attorney”, “married to rancher”, “management”, and “family own”.

Do you live on the ranching property?

Have you ever worked with the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, Sandhills Task Force, or US Fish and Wildlife to make decisons about your ranching operation?

Does your ranching operation incorporate haying of any prairie meadows?

On average, about how large are each of your prairie meadow fields?

In an average year, when do you typically begin mowing your prairie meadows (example: 3rd week of June)?

The specificity of responses for this question varied from “when it’s dry” to “June 1st”. Some answered with only the month, while others offered the week (example: 1st or 2nd week in July). Responses were combined by the month described.

In an average year, when do you typically finish mowing all of your prairie meadows?

The specificity of responses for this question varied from “depends on weather” to “Labor Day.” Some answered with only the month, while others offered the week (example: 1st or 2nd week in July). Responses were combined by the month described.

Do you have livestock in your ranching operation?

Do you typically produce enough hay to sustain the livestock in your operation each year?

Do you incorporate rotational grazing in your ranching operation?

Section 2: Standing Water in Prairie Meadows

Prairie meadows are often saturated in the spring and fall. Repondents were asked if they were willing to retain or restore standing water during different migration times.

Spring migration (February-May)?

Fall migration (September-November)?

Section 3: Hunting and Organization Membership

Respondents were asked the species they hunted and to what organizations they belong.

Which of the following do you hunt (select all that apply)?

Which of the following organizations do you belong to (select all that apply)?

Section 4: Willingness to Adjust Haying Practices

Many ranching operations depend on prairie meadows to graze cattle and produce hay. Nebraska meadows also serve as habitat for wild game birds and native songbirds. Studies have shown that waiting to cut hay until after the middle of July improves the chances that birds can nest and raise chicks successfully.

For Prairie Songbird Conservation

Likelihood of cutting at least a portion of your prairie hay AFTER mid-July?

What proportion of your prairie hay acres would you be willing or able to cut AFTER mid-July?

For Game Bird Conservation

Likelihood of cutting at least a portion of your prairie hay AFTER mid-July?

What proportion of your prairie hay acres would you be willing or able to cut AFTER mid-July?