If you would like to view the presentations from this year’s (and recent years) Gudmundsen Sandhills Laboratory Open House, you can view them at https://mediahub.unl.edu/channels/39298?orderby=datecreated&order=DESC&f=video
Local Interest
The Colorado State University Department of Animal Sciences is proud to host the 28th Range Beef Cow Symposium, Dec. 13-14, 2023, at The Ranch in Loveland, Colo. A pre-symposium Beef Quality Assurance training will be provided on Tuesday, Dec. 12. The biennial symposium, sponsored by the Cooperative Extension Service and animal science departments of Colorado State University, South Dakota State University, University of Nebraska and University of Wyoming, offers an exclusive program of practical production management information specific to the region’s cattle producers. The program and registration information are available at https://rangebeefcowsymposium.com/.
Hay quality varies depending on when it was cut, growing conditions and how it is harvested and stored. While we had more rain this year, hay quality tests on some meadows appear to be lower in crude protein than expected. Accurately sampling and testing hay is the only way to get an accurate nutritive value to make sure cows are meeting requirements and to minimize hay waste. Central Sandhills Area Extension loans out hay probes for ranchers to collect hay samples. Call 645-2267 if you would like to borrow one or just have questions on sampling hay.
Beef Quality Assurance is a voluntary, producer-driven program based on recommended national guidelines and research. Currently the program influences the management of more than 80% of U.S. cattle today. To attend an in-person training or get certified online, please visit https://bqa.unl.edu/ or call TL Meyer, beef educator, at the Central Sandhills Area Extension office. Upcoming trainings include December 14 in Ogallala.
Planning for winter feed, marketing the calf crop, or other management decisions? Looking for information to help with those decisions? You can find a wide range of resources at https://beef.unl.edu/ or contact T.L. Meyer, your local Nebraska Extension beef systems educator at 308-645-2267, tl.meyer@unl.edu, or in-person. You can also follow her daily posts on social media by searching Central Sandhills Beef Educator.
Livestock -- UNL Disaster Resources: This is a short list of federal and state programs available. With recent wildfires, please remember to document your losses, with photos, if possible. Find your local USDA Service Center at https://www.farmers.gov/working-with-us/service-center-locator
Home, Health and Safety -- UNL Disaster Resources: Resources for homes damaged by wildfires.
Nebraska Extension in the Central Sandhills
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Wheat shows good promise going into winter
Walbrecht opens 4-H livestock opportunities to youths with disabilities
“Youth getting agricultural experience and the skills that 4-H teaches them — there’s no limit on how valuable that is.” —Allison Walbrecht, sophomore animal science major and founder of the Unified Showing 4-H Club.