NORTH PLATTE – An April in-person seminar offered by the Nebraska Extension Office and Farm Credit Services of America is looking to address solutions to cattle producers’ concerns regarding hay shortages in early spring, and how to plan and manage a herd’s consumption during what may be a dry summer.
The seminar will discuss some options for getting lactating cows fed until pastures are ready. With the drought of 2022, many pastures have been heavily grazed, leaving little forage remaining for the time being.
As the uncertainty of the conditions of the 2023 season persists, including the possibility of a continuing drought, the seminar hopes to illuminate the coming summer’s pasture management, nutrition, reproduction management, and animal well-being due to limited feed resources. The Extension Office will be hosting an expert to touch on each topic.
UNL Range and Forage Specialist Jerry Volesky will discuss range and grazing management, Karla Wilke and Rick Funston, Beef Extension Specialists, will discuss post-winter herd nutrition management and reproductive considerations, respectively, and Beef Extension Specialist Ruth Woiwode will talk about animal well-being.
The seminar will take place on Monday, April 3 from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the West Central Research Extension & Education Center Auditorium located at 402 West State Farm Road in North Platte. Registration is free but must be completed by Friday, March 31. To register, individuals can call the Nebraska Extension Office in North Platte at (308) 532-2638, or email Randy Saner. A flyer is attached.
