RESEARCH INTERESTS:

My primary area of research is on grazing management and systems. The majority of this work is conducted on Sandhills rangeland at the Gudmundsen Sandhills Laboratory near Whitman or the Barta Brother Ranch located south of Long Pine. I also have additional projects at the Research and Extension Center involving various aspects of seeded perennial and annual forages under irrigated and non-irrigated conditions.

MAJOR PROJECT ACTIVITIES:

My research project contains experiments designed to answer critical questions pertaining to livestock grazing and efficient utilization and sustainability of the wet meadow and upland range in the Nebraska Sandhills. Current rangeland studies are focused on: 1) defoliation effects on root growth of meadow forage species, 2) meadow and upland range grazing strategies for yearling cattle, 3) spring grazing effects on upland Sandhills range, and 4) a GPS assessment of livestock distribution in 4- and 8-pasture rotation grazing systems. Current trials with seeded, cool-season perennial grasses focus on variety evaluation, water-use efficiency, and effects of cutting height on production and persistence.

EXTENSION INTERESTS:

The focus of my Extension activities is the development and implementation of range and forage management programming for both youth and adult clientele in the West Central District.

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS:

• Volesky, J.D., W.H. Schacht, and D.M. Richardson. 2004. Stocking rate and grazing frequency effects on Sandhills meadows. J. Range Manage. (in press).
  
  
• Phillips, W.A., F.T. McCollum, J.D. Volesky, and H.S. Mayeux. 2003. Weight changes in fall and spring lambing ewes grazing fallow wheat fields during the summer. Sheep and Goat J. 18:47-54 .
  
  
• Volesky, J.D., D.C. Adams, and R.T. Clark. 2002. Windrow grazing and baled-hay feeding strategies for wintering calves. J. Range Manage. 55:23-32.
  
  
• Reece, P.E., J.D. Volesky, and W. Schacht. 2001.Cover for wildlife after summer grazing on sandhills rangeland. Journal of Range Management 54:126-131.
  
  
• Volesky, J.D. and S.B. Connot. 2000. Vegetation response to late growing-season wildfire on Nebraska Sandhills rangeland. Journal of Range Management 53:421-426.
  
  
• Schacht, W.H., J.D. Volesky, D. Bauer, A.J. Smart, and E.M. Mousel. 2000. Plant community patterns on upland prairie in the eastern Nebraska sandhills. The Prairie Naturalist 32:43-58.
  
  
• Volesky, J.D. W.H. Schacht, and P.E. Reece. 1999. Leaf Area, Visual Obstruction, and Standing Crop Relationships on Sandhills Rangeland. J. Range Manage. 52:494-499.
  
  
• Adams, D.C., R.T. Clark, P.E. Reece, and J.D. Volesky. 1998. Research and education for managing resources within the Nebraska Sandhills: The Gudmundsen Sandhills Laboratory. Rangelands 20:4-8.
  
  
• Volesky, J.D. and S.W. Coleman. 1996. Estimation of botanical composition of esophageal extrusa samples using near infrared reflectance spectroscopy. J. Range Manage. 49:163-166.
  
  
• Volesky, J.D., D.P. Mowrey, and G.R. Smith. 1996. Performance of rose clover and hairy vetch interseeded into Old World bluestem. J. Range Manage. 49:448-451.
  
  
• Volesky, J.D. 1996. Forage production and grazing management of chicory. J. Prod. Agric. 9:403-406.
  
  
• Adams, D.C., R.T. Clark, T.J. Klopfenstein, and J.D. Volesky. 1996. Matching the cow with forage resources. Rangelands. 18:57-62.
  
  
• Volesky, J.D. 1994. Tiller defoliation patterns under frontal, continuous, and rotation grazing. J. Range Manage. 47:215-219.
  
  
• Volesky, J.D., F.D. O'Farrell, W.C. Ellis, M.M. Kothmann, F.P. Horn, W.A. Phillips, and S.W. Coleman. 1994. Comparison of frontal, continuous, and rotation grazing systems. J. Range Manage. 47:210-214.