A Better Great Plains: Bridging the Implementation Gap for a Better Future

Authors

David W. Sandahl, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow

First Advisor

Gwendŵr Meredith

Committee Members

Dan Uden, Mark Burbach

Date of this Version

10-2025

Document Type

Thesis

Citation

A thesis presented to the faculty of the Graduate College at the University of Nebraska in partial fulfillment of requirements for the degree of Master of Science

Major: Natural Resource Sciences

Under the supervision of Professor Gwendŵr Meredith

Lincoln, Nebraska, October 2025

Comments

Copyright 2025, David W. Sandahl. Used by permission

Abstract

The Northern Great Plains is experiencing extensive native grassland loss and landscape degradation, jeopardizing both ecological integrity and the socio-economic systems that rely upon these ecosystems. In an early effort to lessen degradation, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) introduced the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) which generated ecosystem services benefits such as reduced soil erosion, improved water quality, and increased species diversity through the retirement of cropland and rangeland for 10- or 15-year contracts. However, CRP has not fully modernized alongside today’s agriculturalists and adoption remains shaped by an historically fraught socio-political context characterized by deep-seated mistrust between ranchers, federal agencies, and scientific authorities. Regenerative agriculture, specifically regenerative ranching, has emerged as a promising paradigm that addresses the limitations of an aging CRP by advancing soil health, enhancing forage productivity, fostering socio-ecological resilience, and promoting more adaptive management.

This study, drawing upon qualitative thematic analysis of self-identified regenerative ranchers, develops a synthesized definition of regenerative ranching integrating rotational grazing, strategic land rest, cover cropping, forage diversification, and the minimization of tillage and synthetic inputs. Guided by the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB), this research identifies three principal barriers to participation in government programs such as CRP: negative attitudes toward government intervention, identity-based tensions with conventional management paradigms, and low perceived behavioral control over management practices.

This study also represents a novel application of the Reserves-as-Catalysts (RAC) framework in the Northern Great Plains, revealing that proximity to natural areas complements more favorable orientations toward wildlife and conservation initiatives. These findings advance the understanding that social-psychological factors influence conservation program participation and underscore the need for federal agencies to align policy instruments with regenerative principles, expand financial and regulatory flexibility, and engage ranchers as co-producers of conservation outcomes.

Finally, a new cohesive theoretical framework is proposed, synthesizing key elements of TPB and RAC models to integrate findings across chapters. Collectively, this work demonstrates that trust-building and context-sensitive engagement are critical to scaling regenerative practices and achieving meaningful grassland conservation.

Advisor: Gwendŵr Meredith