Safely operating a chainsaw, from the moment you start the engine to the moment you turn it off, is a critical piece of safe habitat management in many ecosystems. In our final episode of our 5-part Habitat Safety Miniseries, forestry educator and chainsaw expert Chris Evans from the University of Illinois takes Adam through every step of safe chai…

From large bulldozers to small ATVs, habitat management often necessitates the use of heavy machinery. And safely transporting and using that equipment ensures we protect the people and the land engaged in this critical work! In this episode, the fourth in our Habitat Safety Miniseries, Adam visits with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Heavy Eq…

Herbicides can be a critical tool for habitat management, especially when it comes to invasive species. But their use does not come without risk to the applicator or the environment. In this episode, Adam visits with Dr. Fred Whitford, clinical engagement professor and director of the pesticide programs at Purdue University. Fred talks through the …

Prescribed fire is crucial for managing fire-adapted ecosystems worldwide. To ensure this tool remains effective, the safety of those who use it and those nearby is essential too. In this episode, Adam talks with Jennifer Fawcett from North Carolina State University. Jennifer is the Prescribed Fire Work Group Coordinator for the Southeast Regional …

Nothing is more important in habitat management than the people doing habitat management! That’s why this month we’re focusing on the basics of habitat safety with a series of episodes featuring experts in the field. In this first episode, Adam and Jarred set the stage for the mini-series. Then Adam interviews Rich Gassman from Iowa's Center for Ag…

Interested in improving your property for ruffed grouse or American Woodcock? Tune in as we travel north and chat about all things grouse and woodcock with Jon Steigerwaldt, Great Lakes and Upper Midwest Region Forest Conservation Director from the Ruffed Grouse Society. Topics include: grouse ecology and habitat, woodcock ecology and habitat, grou…

This week we talk with Dr. Jessica Outcalt one of the creators of the Forestry for the Birds program in Indiana about how Hoosier conservationists are leveraging the connections between people and birds to help encourage landowners and foresters to provide better homes for Indiana’s forest birds. Give us some feedback or potential topics you would …

How can forest management be used to improve habitat for various songbird species? And what resources are available to help guide landowners, managers, and foresters to help be intentional about creating songbird habitat through their forest management? Listen in as we chat with Steve Hagenbuch from Vermont Audobon about a program called Foresters …

Often, the term “clearcut” is viewed as a 4-lettered word when it comes to forest or wildlife management. But, can clearcuts provide vital resources for songbirds – including those species typically associated with mature closed canopy forests? Join us for our conversation with Dr. Patrick Ruhl as we explore his research into songbird use of clearc…

What distinguishes a forest, woodland, and savanna? How does wildlife and plant diversity differ between them? How do we restore woodlands and savannas? Join Jarred as he talks with Dr. Andy Vander Yacht about his research into restoring oak woodlands and savannas and the wildlife that thrive within in. In part 2, we discuss how birds and bats resp…

What distinguishes a forest, woodland, and savanna? How does wildlife and plant diversity differ between them? How do we restore woodlands and savannas? Join Jarred as he talks with Dr. Andy Vander Yacht about his research into restoring oak woodlands and savannas and the wildlife that thrive within in. This is a two-part series. In part 1, we disc…

Ahead of a forthcoming mini-series on forest management for birds, Adam and Jarred discuss a paper reviewing the state of the science examining bird responses to forest management in the eastern U.S. The paper published last year by Michael Skresh and colleagues presents a compelling case for the importance of managed disturbances in eastern forest…

In this episode we talk with Dr. Mark McConnell, Assistant Professor of Upland Birds at Mississippi State, about wildlife conservation in agricultural landscapes and his research into creating win-win solutions for wildlife and agricultural producers. We cover a variety of topics in this episode from reacting to Adam’s new mustache, Mark’s use of m…

In the final episode of our second season, Jarred and Adam review the conversations we’ve had on the theme of private lands habitat conservation, discuss some things “left on the bone,” and share with the listeners where Habitat University is heading in the new year! Be sure to check out the previous episodes in the podcast, including those from Se…

SwineCast 1250 Show Notes: The Swine Disease Reporting System (SDRS) invited Dr. Gustavo Silva (Iowa State University) to discuss the importance of disease diagnostics for production management and the cost of Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae elimination. This SwineCast episode shares the most recent report number 68, that can also be found at https://fiel…

We are joined this week by Matt Ross from the National Deer Association to chat about the importance of private lands and private land management for America’s favorite game species, the white-tailed deer. We discuss how whitetails can be a catalyst for private lands habitat management and all the work NDA does to assist private landowners. Resourc…

SwineCast 1245 Show Notes: The Swine Disease Reporting System (SDRS) invited Dr. Craig Bowen (Purdue University) to discuss Purdue’s Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory contributions, motivations to join the SDRS project, and the expected benefits for swine stakeholders. This SwineCast episode shares the most recent report number 67, that can also…

SwineCast 1244 Show Notes: The Swine Disease Reporting System shares aggregate data from participating veterinary diagnostic laboratories (VDLs) in the United States of America. Plus Dr. Thomas Petznick (ArkCare) joins the conversation on the PRRSV scenario in Nebraska, enteric coronavirus biosecurity strategies, and Sapovirus epidemiology. This Sw…

SwineCast 1242 Show Notes: The Swine Disease Reporting System team discusses the project’s new developments funded from the USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). New developments include monitoring new PRRSV variants, traceability of pathogen co-detections, and SDRS representativeness. This SwineCast episode shares the most rece…

SwineCast 1239 Show Notes: The Swine Disease Reporting System team features special guest Dr. Pablo Pineyro (Iowa State University) to discuss discusses PCV2 monitoring strategies. This SwineCast episode shares the most recent report number 64, that can also be found at https://fieldepi.research.cvm.iastate.edu/sdrs/.…

SwineCast 1237 Show Notes: The Swine Disease Reporting System team features special guest Dr. Amy Maschhoff (The Maschhoffs) to discuss tips and pitfalls for eliminating Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae from a large production system. This SwineCast episode shares the most recent report number 63, that can also be found at https://fieldepi.research.cvm.ias…

SwineCast 1233 Show Notes: The Swine Disease Reporting System team features special guest Dr. Maria Clavijo (Iowa State University) to discuss Streptococcus suis dynamics, diagnostic process, and interventions to control the clinical expression of this pathogen. This SwineCast episode shares the most recent report number 62, that can also be found …

In this episode, Jarred and Adam explain the Wildlife Habitat Education Program, which engages kids from throughout the country in wildlife habitat management through 4-H and FFA. Adam and Jarred first discuss the structure of the program and how it’s implemented in states across the country, and then they explore the national competition, includin…

When it comes to getting boots on the ground for private lands conservation, Pheasants Forever & Quail Forever is a leader. This episode we are joined by Quail Forever Tennessee State Coordinator, Brittney Viers, to discuss all the work PF & QF does for wildlife on private lands. From Farm Bill Biologists to Precision Ag & Conservation Specialists,…

SwineCast 1228 Show Notes: The Swine Disease Reporting System team features special guest Dr. Rebecca Robbins (PIC) to discuss Porcine Reproductive And Respiratory Syndrome Virus (PRRSV) L1C variant moving to US eastern states. This SwineCast episode shares the most recent report number 61, that can also be found at https://fieldepi.research.cvm.ia…

In this episode, we wrap our mini-segment on approaches to private lands habitat management with a visit to a state with only about 30% private land: Idaho! Sal Palazzolo is the State Wildlife Habitat Program Manager for the Idaho Department of Fish & Game. He works with staff and partners to manage habitat throughout the state on private and publi…

SwineCast 1225 Show Notes: The Swine Disease Reporting System team features special guest Dr. Jordan Gebhardt (Kansas State University) to discuss the dissemination of swine pathogens through animal feed manufacturing facilities, feed mitigation, and biosecurity strategies, and Swine Health Improvement Plan (US SHIP) initiatives on feed biosecurity…

SwineCast 1221 Show Notes: The Swine Disease Reporting System team features special guest Dr. Clayton Johnson (Carthage Veterinary Services) for an update on the recent data collected by the SDRS. This SwineCast episode shares the most recent report number 59, that can also be found at https://fieldepi.research.cvm.iastate.edu/sdrs/.…

SwineCast 1212 Show Notes: The Swine Disease Reporting System team features special guest Dr. Jianqiang Zhang (Iowa State University) for an update on the recent date collected by the SDRS. This SwineCast episode shares the most recent report number 55, that can also be found at http://agtoday.us/swine-reports.…

SwineCast 1209 Show Notes: The Swine Disease Reporting System team features special guest Dr. Marcelo Almeida (Iowa State University) for an important discussion post-weaning colibacillosis, APP outbreak investigation, and the importance of population-based samples for disease monitoring. This SwineCast episode shares the most recent report number …

SwineCast 1205 Show Notes: The Swine Disease Reporting System team features special guest Dr. Fernando Bortolozzo (Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul – Brazil) for an important discussion about pre-weaning mortality, United States compared to Latin America, the Importance of day 1 care, cross-fostering, and colostrum intake, and actions to i…

SwineCast 1204 Show Notes: The Swine Disease Reporting System team chats with special guest Dr. Guilherme Cezar about new features and next steps for the Swine Disease Reporting System. They also review increased PEDV activity among the US states, and PRRSV activity in the US, looking at lineages and regional spikes. This SwineCast episode shares t…