CentralSandhills Beef Educator

Serving beef cattle producers in the Nebraska Sandhills and beyond.

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UPCOMING EVENTS

Nebraska Women in Agriculture Conference Feb 26-27
2026 Land Application Trainings
Nebraska Extension to host March 10 webinar on low pregnancy rates in young cows
Online Courses from the Center for Agricultural Profitability | Center for Agricultural Profitability | Nebraska
Private Applicator Training and Certification | Pesticide Safety Education Program | Nebraska
Webinars | Center for Agricultural Profitability | Nebraska

RECENT POSTS

Navigating Farm Succession Without a Family Heir: A Practical Guide | Center for Agricultural Profitability | Nebraska
Preparing for calving season
Fire risk and record temps tomorrow. Snow likely later in the week | Nebraska State Climate Office | Nebraska
Protecting Farms & Ranches from Wildfires | UNL Beef
What Heifers Will Fit my Forage Resources?
Understanding Flight Zone and Point of Balance for Low Stress Handling of Cattle, Sheep, and Pigs
Sample, Test, Inventory and Stage Harvested Hay
2026 Protocols | Beef Reproduction Task Force
Determining how much forage a beef cow needs per day | UNL Beef | Nebraska
Nutrients, Inventory, and Mother Nature | UNL Beef | Nebraska
Understanding and Mitigating Methane Emissions from Cattle | UNL Beef | Nebraska
Tips for Selecting a Hay Core Sampler
Hunting Lease Comparisons for Wild Game Across Nebraska in 2025 | Center for Agricultural Profitability | Nebraska
Producer Questions: Weaning & Weaned Calves | UNL Beef | Nebraska
How Winter Rate of Gain, Implant Strategy, and Housing System Impact Growing Calves
Good Movement Draws Good Movement Podcast
Tax Planning for Cow/Calf Operations: Don’t Let the Snowball Roll Out of Control | UNL Beef | Nebraska
PregCard Program: Help Benchmark Reproductive Success in Nebraska’s Beef Herds | UNL Beef | Nebraska
Management, Health, and Nutritional Considerations for Weaning Calves
Reviewing Cow-Calf Share and Cash Lease Agreements | UNL Beef | Nebraska
Livestock Decision Tools
Nebraska Custom Rates | Center for Agricultural Profitability | Nebraska
Nebraska Land Link | Center for Agricultural Profitability | Nebraska
Document Library – Ag Lease 101
Nutrient Requirements of Beef Cattle
UNL BeefWatch on YouTube
UNL BeefWatch on YouTube
Grazing Management Following Wildfire | UNL Beef | Nebraska
Nebraska Rural Response Hotline 800-464-0258
Cow Depreciation for Cow-Calf Producers | UNL Beef | Nebraska
Guide to Body Condition Scoring Your Beef Cow Herd

Cow-Calf

Heat stress in newborn
TDN Translation: Understanding Energy of Forages
Do You Know the Difference Between 9% and 7% Crude Protein Hay?
Winter Management Options for Weaned Calves
Heifer percent mature body weight at breeding: What does it mean for pregnancy rates and calf performance?
Post-weaning Cowherd Management
Protein is not Protein is not Protein

Ranch Transition/Estate Planning

Navigating Farm Succession Without a Family Heir
Farm and Ranch Succession and Estate Planning | Center for Agricultural Profitability | Nebraska
Budgeting Family Living into Cost of Production: Why It Matters for Farm and Ranch Families
Verbal Leases: What Happens If Someone Dies?
Land and Leasing | Center for Agricultural Profitability | Nebraska
Written Farmland Lease Checklist

Sandhills Range/Forage Resources

Common Forbs and Shrubs of Nebraska: Rangeland, Prairie, and Pasture
Nebraska Plants Toxic to Livestock
Hay Reports | Agricultural Marketing Service
Nebraska Department of Agriculture Hay and Forage Hotline
Range Judging Handbook and Contest Guide for Nebraska | EC150 | 2024 | Nebraska Extension Publications

Gudmundsen Sandhills Laboratory

GSL Researcher
Research and education for managing resources within the Nebraska Sandhills: The Gudmundsen Sandhills Laboratory
2024 GSL Open House Recordings at UNL MediaHub
How Many Pounds of Meat Can We Expect From A Beef Animal?
4-H Bucket Calf Members Manual
North Platte Fire Weather Forecast Services
Management After Wildfire in Central and Western Nebraska
Beef. It’s what’s for dinner.
SWOT Analysis for Your Ranch
Reducing Woody Encroachment in Grasslands (pdf)
Late Season Pasture Fly Control
Tools for Adjusting Stocking Rates during Drought
Water Requirements for Beef Cattle
Fire Effects: Fencing - Oklahoma State University
Principles for Care and Management of the Cow and Calf at Calving
Ten Things to Consider When Evaluating Moving Calving Date
Grazing and Forage Management During and After Drought
Using Replacement Strategies to Decrease Real Cow Depreciation
Replacement Heifer Forecast for 2022
Cow-Calf Costs: Cow Depreciation
‎UNL BeefWatch: Getting Ready for Calving
The Value of Hay as Fertilizer
Download Ranch Resource Inventory Worksheet
It Costs How Much?!
Rural Wellness
‎UNL BeefWatch: Adding Goats to a Cow-calf Operation in the Sandhills - A Producers Perspective
‎UNL BeefWatch: Adding Goats to a Cow-calf Operation in the Sandhills - A Producers Perspective
UNL BeefWatch Podcast-One Rancher's Perspective on the Unit Cost of Production
Differences Between High-, Medium-, and Low-Profit Cow-Calf Producers
UNL Pesticide Safety Education Program
How to Develop a Custom Calving Agreement
CHAPS Benchmark Data – A Review
beef.unl.edu Videos & Webinars
Love of the Land Conference Recordings/Slides
Land Management, Farm Resiliency Workshops Planned Statewide
Winter Supplementation of Beef Calves-does it pay?
Caring for Cattle in Cold Weather
Breeding Bull Management: It’s a Year-Round Commitment
Valuing Corn Stalk Bales
Building Blocks for a Financial Record Keeping System
Updated Nebraska Cow Herd System Budgets
Winter Grazing On Upland Range
Tax Implications If Liquidating a Beef Herd
Fall Seminars & Leu Lectures | Center for Grassland Studies
Changing Supplementation Frequency May Impact Cow Weight and Body Condition Score
Impact of Price and Management on Culling Decisions
Principles for Attracting and Retaining Quality Ag Employees Webinar – A Panel Discussion
What to Consider When Selecting Replacement Heifers
Cow-Calf Share Lease Cow-Q-Lator
Livestock Decision Tools
2022 Nebraska Beef Cattle Report
Cow-Calf Management with Limited Perennial Acres – Workshop Series
Cow-Calf Cost Breakdown – Cow Depreciation
Grazing Corn Residue Can Be an Economical Winter Feed Source for Cows
Veterans & Beginning Farmers
Cost and Value of Gain for Retained Feeder Cattle in Nebraska
Reducing Yucca in Rangeland
Management of Non-Pregnant Cows
Nebraska Land Link connects land seekers with retiring landowners
Preparing for Cattle Transport Saves Time, Money and Stress
Where is Value being created in your Ranch Operation?
Myth Busting: Cattle and Climate IANR Heuermann Lecture Oct 25
‎UNL BeefWatch: How should producers analyze and think about market impacting news events?
Exercise Caution when Grazing Cattle on Drought Stressed Cornstalks
Free Quickbooks and Quicken Courses for Farmers and Ranchers
Effects of a Freeze on Forages
Safely Grazing Frosted Sorghums
Don't Drown in Paperwork
Starting Newly Weaned Calves on Feed
Crop Residue Exchange Links Cattle Producers with Available Feed Resources
Producers Perspective: Management Practices that Improved Ranch Profitability A Producers Perspective
Reducing Yucca in Rangeland
GSL 2021 Open House Presentations
Management, Health, and Nutritional Considerations for Weaning Calves
Keeping an Eye on Body Condition in Fall Calving Cows
What to do with High Nitrate Forage?
Questions to Ask When Developing Winter Cow Care Agreements
Body Condition Scoring Your Beef Cow Herd
Sandhills Plant ID
Preconditioned vs Weaned Calves Affect Bunk Space Req's
Do You Know the Difference Between 9% and 7% Crude Protein Hay?
Test, Don’t Guess - sampling and testing hay
Q2 Report on Livestock Industry’s 75% Rule
Choosing a Method for Pregnancy Diagnosis
Weaning Date as a Supplement Strategy
Planning for a Potentially Short Hay Inventory on the Ranch
2021 Beef Improvement Federation Recordings/Proceedings
Ag Lease 101 Document Library
Detecting Pregnancy in Heifers and Cows with Technology - A Producer’s Perspective
Ensuring Beef Quality Assurance to Beat the Heat
Early Pregnancy Detection
Pinkeye in Summer Grazing
Managing Summer Calving Herds During the Breeding Season
Iowa Beef Center's Estrus Synchronization Planner
Managing Early Weaned Calves
Center for Grassland Studies Podcast
How Stocker-Yearling Cattle Complement a Cow-Calf Operation in the Sandhills - A Producer’s Perspective
Heat Stress: Handling Cattle Through High Heat Humidity Indexes
UNL Beef Tailgate Talks
Quality of Forage and Impacts on Intake and Animal Performance
Drought-Related BeefWatch Articles
Nebraska Plants Toxic to Livestock
Pasture and Forage Minute: Poisonous Pasture Plants
Blue-Green Algae Impacts on Cattle
GSL Researcher Technical Note: Acetate Tolerance Test
Livestock Decision Tools
Crop Residue (and PASTURE) Exchange
Beware of Stocking Rate Creep
UNL BeefWatch Podcast: Producer Perpective on BQA
Body Condition Scoring Your Beef Cow Herd
Write a Drought Plan
Are Livestock Producers Willing to Pay for Traceability Programs?
Nebraska Beef Quality Assurance
Nebraska BQA Upcoming Events
Cattle Heat Stress Forecast/Info from USDA MARC
Implants Equate to Efficiency in Stocker Cattle
Helping Cattle Cope with Summer Heat
Nebraska Mesonet Real-Time Maps (including Cattle Comfort)
Spring 2021 GSL Researcher
UNL Beef Upcoming Events
Tips for Managing Free Choice Mineral Intake
Dealing w/ Conflict Dynamics for Farm & Ranch Families
What Should Farmers and Ranchers Be Paying Attention to Now?
Using Goals with Ranch Decision Making - A Producer’s Perspective
'Know Your Numbers, Know Your Options' Record-Keeping Course Set for June
BeefRepro.org Resources Page
7 & 7 Synch (University of Missouri)
Controlling Horn Flies on Pastured Cattle
Spring Turn-Out to Pastures
Management Strategies for Minimizing Early Pregnancy Loss
Feed, Ship or Sell – Three Options to Reduce Stocking Rates
Bull Management – It’s a Year-round Commitment
Nebraska FARMcast
Fireproofing Cattle Health: A Perspective on Health Management
Selecting an Optimum Breeding Season Length
Mineral and Vitamin Considerations When Drylotting Cows
Evaluation of the Water Footprint of Beef Cattle Production in Nebraska
What to Expect from Pregnancy Rates in a Cow Herd
Management Factors that Influence Reproductive Success
Why Should You Become BQA Certified?
BeefWatch Podcast: Using sexed semen & AI in beef production
Invasive Plants Watch List Priority: AbsinthWormwood
Moving Calving Date – A Producer’s Perspective
Federal Livestock Insurance Market Performance and Use in Nebraska
Managing Postpartum Anestrus in Beef Cows for a Successful Breeding Season
Windbreaks for Protection and Snow Diversion
Legal Aid of NE Farm and Ranch Project/Clinics
New Extension Land Link Connects Land Seekers with Retiring Landowners
Will Record Cold Temperatures Bring Bigger Calf Birthweights?
Quickbooks Training for Farm and Ranch Record Keeping
Assisting the Beef Cow at Calving on FB
Managing for Heterogeneity on Rangelands in the Nebraska Sandhills
Grazing and Forage Management During and After Drought
Calving Management and Reducing Calf Losses in Beef Herds
Nebraska Hay and Forage Hotline
The Livestock Indemnity Program: A Case for Managing Risk with Good Recordkeeping
Grazing and Forage Management During and After Drought
Breeding Cost Cow-Q-Lator
Federal Livestock Insurance Market Performance and Use in Nebraska
System Budgets for a Cow Herd
Nebraska Land Link
Calving Season – Not the Time to Skimp on Nutrition
Helping Cows Cope with Cold Stress
Nebraska Extension Wildlife Damage Management
2021 Nebraska Beef Cattle Report
Livestock Indemnity Program Year-end Updates
Annual Cow Costs – The Big Three
Managing Drought Risk on the Ranch
Directory of UNL Contacts for Beef Cattle Production Issues
Considerations for Maintaining Condition in our Breeding Bulls during Winter
Study: Ranchers with drought plans make some pivotal moves sooner
Making Dollars out of Decisions: Three State Beef Conference
Year-end Financial Analysis and Tax Management Strategies
Winter Nutrition: Are You Staying Ahead or Getting Behind?
Livestock Facility Inspections: Do I need one? If so, what should I expect?
Can Your System Sustain the Ranch? NDSU Series Fall 2020
Adding sheep to a cattle ranch in central Nebraska - A Producers Perspective
Buying Bulls by Value
Use the Numbers (correctly) this Bull Sale Season
Cornstalk Residue Grazing with Weaned Calves, Dry Pregnant Cows or Pairs – What Supplementation Do They Need?
Addressing Cow-Calf Ownership Costs
Beef Heifer Replacement Forecasts for 2020 – 2021
Preg-Checking Decisions (aka managing late calvers)
Winter Tetany in Beef Cattle
Stockmanship and Stewardship Virtual Event Recordings
Things to Consider before Harvesting a Market Animal at Home
FAQ's About Beef Nutrition
King Ranch Institute for Ranch Management Video Library
Remove Net Wrap and Twine
Valuing Corn Stalk Bales
Crop Residue Exchange Links Available Residue with Cattle Producers
CME Cattle Contracts – A look at cattle futures, the CME Rulebook, and CME Live Cattle and Carcass Specifications
Great Plains Veterinary Educational Center - Meet the Faculty
Tailgate Talks on YouTube
Managing a Shortage of Forage for the Cow-Calf Operation
Do You Know the Difference Between 9% and 7% Crude Protein Hay?
Grazing Corn Stalks or Corn Residue?
Fencing & Water for Beef Cattle
Hunting Leases as an Added Enterprise
Grazing Alfalfa in Fall or Winter
CSU GUIDE TO POISONOUS PLANTS
Rangeland Analysis Platform (RAP)
Cautions for Cattle Grazing Frosted Forages
Profit Maximizing Decisions During and After Drought Conditions
Drought and Pasture Lease Considerations
Forage Testing Can Save Dollars
Beef Management and Reproduction Report Card
Detecting Pregnancy in Heifers and Cows with Technology - A Producer’s Perspective
Drought and Pasture Lease Considerations
Keep It Tight; Store Hay Right
Chute Side BQA Checklist
Don’t risk abortions this winter: Double check your cow herd vitamin A supplementation plans
Grassland Production Forecast
Keeping an Eye on Body Condition in Fall Calving Cows
Overgrazing Pastures
Gudmundsen Sandhills Lab 2020 Open House Recorded Speakers
Farm and Ranch Filing Systems
Nebraska Management Guide for Insect Pests of Livestock & Horses
Quicken for Farm and Ranch Recordkeeping
Gudmundsen Sandhills Laboratory
Nebraska Fire Danger
Value of Standing Forage Tool
Sandhills Defoliation Response Index (SanDRIS)
Leafy Spurge
How Many Lbs of Meat Can We Expect From a Beef Animal?
Estrus Synchronization Planner
Grazing Management w/ Variable Plant Production in the Sandhills
Cornhusker Economics: Estimating a Fair Value of Standing Forage
Pollinators and Nebraska Rangelands
Creep Feeding Calves
2020 Nebraska Farm Custom Rates
UNL Beef's Drought Management Planning
Summer Pneumonia in Spring-born Beef Calves
UNL Center for Grassland Studies
Managing Cows through Dry Conditions
Matching the Cow with Forage Resources (1996 Rangelands)
Options for Reducing Stocking Rates Due to Dry Conditions

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