Dr. Esben Kjaer joins the Blazin’ Grazin’ hosts to talk fire, forage, and the fine art of managing rangelands for both cattle and wildlife. 
His work from Kansas to North Dakota reveals how prescribed fire and strategic grazing shape biodiversity—from plant and insect communities to nesting birds. 
He shares what happens when conservation meets production, and how landowners can use grazing without losing habitat.

The conversation also dives into fire aversion, Kentucky bluegrass invasions, and why fire still beats grazing when it comes to restoring native prairies. 
From the challenges of burning in the frozen north to bringing new fire science to Oklahoma, Dr. Kjaer offers both research and real-world lessons for anyone who loves the land, livestock, and a good burn plan.

Top 10 Takeaways

1. Grazing and fire together beat either alone for boosting prairie biodiversity.
2. Light grazing has minimal impact on species composition—but does improve structure for wildlife.
3. Kansas CRP fields can support grazing without harming birds or habitat diversity.
4. Fire still drives legume and forb recovery better than grazing alone.
5. North Dakota’s attitudes toward fire are changing—now with two prescribed fire associations.
6. Patch burn grazing outperforms rotation systems for cattle and plant diversity alike.
7. Kentucky bluegrass invasion is massive—affecting up to 90% of private rangelands.
8. Fire reduces cattle selectivity, making more plant species nutritionally valuable.
9. Drought tested the system, but prairie species bounced back quickly.
10. New research at OSU will compare mowing, burning, and high-intensity grazing to fine-tune future range management strategies.

Rundown 

00:00 – 02:00 Intro: Meet hosts and guest Dr. Esben Kjaer of OSU’s Natural Resources Department.
02:30 – 04:00 Esben’s journey from Wichita State to North Dakota—early focus on grazing for biodiversity.
04:00 – 09:00 Kansas CRP research: managing 108 sites, studying grazing’s effects on plants, insects, and birds.
09:00 – 12:00 Forb diversity, native legumes, and why light grazing isn’t always enough.
12:30 – 15:00 Infrastructure barriers for CRP grazing—fences, water, and landowner cooperation.
15:00 – 17:00 Avian nesting results: grazing during nesting season shows no harm.
17:00 – 19:00 North Dakota fire story: county commissioner shuts down prescribed burn—fire aversion culture.
19:00 – 23:00 Patch burn grazing vs rotational systems—effects on cattle production and plant diversity.
23:00 – 26:00 Fire’s impact on forage quality and nutrient availability for cattle and wildlife.
26:00 – 30:00 Drought year 2021: effects on vegetation and recovery.
30:00 – 33:00 Kentucky bluegrass invasion and the challenges of managing thatch during burns.
33:00 – 36:00 Fire vs grazing selectivity—how fire reduces pickiness and boosts diversity.
36:00 – 38:00 DNA barcoding for diet analysis—how cattle diets shift after fire.
38:00 – 41:00 Future OSU research: fire alternatives, sericea lespedeza control, and comparing mowing to burning.
41:30 – 42:10 Wrap-up and closing—links to BlazinGrazenWildThings.com.

Find all resources at BlazinGrazinWildThings.com