Nebraska Grazing Conference 2026
Make plans now to attend the 2026 Nebraska Grazing Conference in Kearney on Tuesday, Aug. 4 and Wednesday, Aug. 5.
For 26 years, the Nebraska Grazing Conference has served as a forum for advancing the science and practice of grazing management by bringing together producers, researchers, educators, conservation professionals and industry leaders from across the Great Plains.
This year's conference will feature two keynote speakers. Gail Fuller will talk on regenerative management and how to incorporate it into a grazing strategy. Tom Noffsinger will present on the important role of stockmanship in grazing management.
We will also have speakers and producer panels that will focus on carbon credits on rangelands, grazing for wildlife habitat, small ruminant grazing for defined objectives and emerging grazing technologies such as virtual fencing.
In recognition of the 2026 United Nations' International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists (IYRP), the conference will host a special evening celebration highlighting the ecological, economic and cultural importance of Nebraska's grasslands through educational exhibits, displays and networking opportunities.
For more information and to register for the conference, visit the website. To encourage the next generation of grazing managers, the Center for Grassland Studies will cover the registration fee for all high school or college students.
We look forward to seeing you there.
Pasture Heat Stress
Heat stress is often talked about with feedlot cattle, but animals on pasture can be at risk too. All livestock can struggle when high temperatures, humidity, low wind and warm nights stack together.
During a heat wave, water is the first place to start. During hot weather, livestock water demand can increase quickly. Check water sources before a heat event, not after animals are already stressed. Make sure tanks are clean, water flow is adequate, and animals have enough space to drink without crowding. Weak flow or limited tank space can lead to bunching, and bunching adds heat.
Shade can help, but only if it is used well. Natural shade from trees can be valuable, but it can also concentrate animals in one area. If shade is limited, cattle may bunch tightly, reduce airflow, damage grass, and avoid grazing. When possible, make sure water, shade and grazing areas are not pulling livestock into one small spot during the hottest part of the day.
Air movement is also important. Wind helps animals cool themselves. Pastures with draws, heavy tree cover, or low areas may have less airflow, especially on still, humid days. Watch where animals are spending time and whether they have room to spread out.
Fly control also plays a role. Flies and other pests can cause cattle to bunch, stomp and stand instead of grazing or resting. Good fly control will not eliminate heat stress, but it can reduce one more reason animals crowd together.
Finally, avoid handling, hauling or rotating livestock during the heat of the day. If animals need to be moved or worked, do it early in the morning and keep it quiet and low stress.
Signs of heat stress include open-mouth breathing, heavy salivation, restlessness, bunching, and crowding around water or shade. Once severe signs appear, options are limited.
Haying Summer Annuals
With summer annual grasses like sorghum-sudan, pearl millet, and forage sorghum coming into their own, getting good hay put up can be a bit of a challenge — especially when you’re dealing with thick stems and drying delays. A few simple steps can go a long way in making sure your hay is both high quality and safe to feed.
First, timing is everything. Cutting before plants become excessively tall, ideally around 4 feet is key. At this stage, stems are thinner, digestibility is higher, and protein and energy levels are better. Smaller stems also mean quicker drying times. You’ll give up some yield on the front end, but early cutting leaves time for regrowth and a second harvest — which can make up for it in the long run.
Next, cut high — around 8 to 10 inches of stubble. That taller stubble does three things: it jumpstarts regrowth, keeps the windrow off the ground to improve airflow under the windrow improving drying, and helps keep nitrates concentrated in the base of the plant instead of your hay bale.
Finally, don’t forget to crimp. Even with smaller stems, the waxy coating on these plants can really slow drying. Crimping helps break open the stems so moisture can get out and dry down more quickly. Even when crimping, set the windrow as wide as possible to speed up dry down even more.
To sum it up: cut early, cut high, and crimp. Your hay will dry faster, be safer, and feed better.
