Summary
Beef cattle production is Nevada's largest agricultural commodity in terms of value of sales. As an Extension livestock specialist, it is my vision to leverage UNR research and resources to deliver timely, research-based information to Nevada livestock producers. My mission is to engage with livestock producers, identify their research and education needs, form partnerships to conduct needed applied animal research, and deliver research-based information in a clear, concise, and easy-to-understand format. I seek funding and partnerships that will bring desired animal health, range/pasture management, technological developments, etc., to livestock producers, from backyard livestock enthusiasts to multi-generational ranches.
Previous positions:
- Lecturer, Animal and Rangeland Science, AVRS Department, 推荐杏吧原创
- Lecturer, Agriculture and Natural Resources, Science Department, Great Basin College
- Rangeland Management Specialist/GIS Specialist, Resource Concepts, Inc.
- Rangeland Management Specialist, USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service
Relavent Certifications:
- FAA Section 107 Remote Pilot License
- Certified Professional in Rangeland Management, Society for Range Management
Research Experiences:
- As a PhD Candidate, meaning all but my dissertation is completed, I have been studying the use of remote sensing applications for evaluating the effectiveness of fall-season targeted grazing on cheatgrass-invaded rangelands. I have been leading a team of drone pilots and rangeland technicians in collecting data across four study sites in Nevada (see . I have been honing my skills in the practice of estimating forage production and plant functional group cover across large landscapes utilizing drones, LiDAR, other aerial imagery, and satellite data. We are pushing the research envelope in evaluating livestock use patterns and forage utilization.
- Our team has completed two years of research in using virtual fencing to achieve livestock grazing management goals. We applied virtual fencing to implement a targeted grazing project on cheatgrass and have completed a grazing season using virtual fencing to implement a management-intensive grazing system on irrigated pastures.
- A team of scientists at UNR has been working on several projects implementing GPS collar tracking on sheep in addition to the GPS positioning data through virtual fencing on cattle. We have been evaluating their effectiveness for understanding livestock pasture utilization and variation in individual grazing behaviors.
- During my master's degree, I evaluated several pinyon-juniper thinning treatments on tree-encroached sagebrush/grasslands, developed and evaluated seeding treatments, and measured the germination and survival response of seeds of different native species to various pinyon/juniper mulch treatments.
Teaching/Education/Outreach
I have taught over 17 different courses in animal science, agriculture management, and rangeland management at two different institutions within the Nevada System of Higher Education. I have experience developing courses, converting courses to online formats, and co-producing courses that fit UNR's definition of a service-learning course. I have taught typical in-person semester-long courses but have also instructed multi-site courses and workshops, short courses including principles of rangeland management and grass identification.
Recent education/outreach events include:
- Fallon Canteloupe Festival
- Nevada Cattlemen's Convention
- California Cattlemen's Convention
Current Interest:
- Livestock health and biosecurity planning, including how to complete enhanced biosecurity plans for business continuity
- Use of drones and remote sensing to improve livestock as well as rangeland and pasture management, weed management, and monitor and reduce erosion
- Agriculture program curriculum design and implementation of online learning instruction best practices
- Monitoring and evaluating 75+ years of livestock grazing history in Nevada
- Improving consumer demand for beef and consumer perceptions of cow-calf production, the largest component of Nevada's farm receipts.
- Technology transfer of rangeland monitoring protocols and assistance to livestock producers and NGOs in rangeland management planning and monitoring
- Development of landscape-level, remote sensing informed, landscape metrics and products to help agencies perform NEPA analysis for projects impacting vegetation or rangeland resources