Now entering its 25th year, Nebraska Extension's Farmers and Ranchers College continues to be a cornerstone for agricultural education in south-central Nebraska, offering a new season of events focused on production, finance and family transition planning.
The Farmers and Ranchers College will kick off its 2025-26 season with the Cover Crop Grazing Conference on Friday, Nov. 21, 2025, at the Clay County Fairgrounds in Clay Center, Nebraska. The annual event — also serving as the Cow/Calf College — will highlight strategies for grazing cover crops, with presentations on managing nitrates and prussic acid, updates on virtual fencing technology, and a producer panel sharing practical experiences. Attendees will also explore poster sessions featuring current research and guided field tours focused on real-world grazing management.
The Cover Crop Grazing Conference is the first of three programs in the 2025-26 Farmers and Ranchers College series, which continues to provide high-quality, research-based education for producers and agribusiness professionals across south-central Nebraska.
Other upcoming sessions include:
- The Agricultural Update and the Road Ahead with Dr. David Kohl — 1 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2025, at the Opera House in Bruning, Nebraska. A longtime Farmers and Ranchers College favorite, Dr. Kohl brings decades of experience in ag finance and global economics, offering producers valuable insight into trends shaping the future of the industry.
- Family Farm Transitioning Workshop — Thursday, March 19, 2026, at Lazy Horse Brewing near Ohiowa, Nebraska, focused on couples and families planning the next generation of farm ownership.
All programs are free to attend, thanks to support from area businesses. For sessions that include meals, participants are asked to RSVP at least one week in advance by calling the Fillmore County Extension Office at 402-759-3712.
Additional details are available on the registration page.
About the Farmers and Ranchers College
Established in 2000, the Farmers and Ranchers College is a collaborative effort among business, industry and higher education leaders to deliver dynamic, up-to-date educational workshops for agricultural producers in south-central Nebraska. The steering committee includes Fred Bruning (Bruning), Bryan Dohrman (Grafton), Sarah Miller (Carleton), Jennifer Engle (Fairmont), Jim Donovan (Geneva), Bryce Kassik (Geneva), and Brandy VanDeWalle (Ohiowa).
