By Scout Nelson
Nebraska Extension is hosting a Summer Grazing Field Day focused on strategies to maintain pasture and cattle performance during the hot summer months. The event takes place at the Eastern Nebraska Research, Extension and Education Center (ENREEC) near Mead, NE, on Wednesday, July 24, from 8:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
This hands-on event will cover innovative grazing approaches using warm-season forages and the latest in virtual fencing technology. Attendees will explore how to improve cattle gains and pasture productivity during the summer grazing slump.
Field demonstrations will showcase:
- Sudangrass and Sudangrass–Sunnhemp Mix: Learn how grazing different forage combinations affects carrying capacity and cattle performance. Results from two years of grazing trials will be shared.
- New Prussic Acid-Free Sorghum-Sudangrass: Attendees will see this new forage variety in action and learn how it eliminates prussic acid risk while offering flexibility in summer grazing systems.
- Virtual Fencing on Bromegrass: Learn how virtual fencing can support rotational grazing, reduce labour needs, and improve pasture use.
“See how virtual fencing is being used for intensive rotational grazing of cow/calf pairs on bromegrass. Learn how it can reduce labor, increase flexibility, and improve pasture utilization.”
The registration fee is $20, which includes lunch and event materials. RSVP is requested by July 18 to help with lunch planning, although walk-ins are welcome. Register at https://go.unl.edu/summergraze.
The afternoon sessions will dive deeper into performance data, forage yields, and the cost structures of different grazing systems. The day wraps up with practical tips and a discussion of key takeaways.
Photo Credit:gettyimages-eugenesergeev
Categories: Nebraska, Crops, Hay & Forage