The 2024 Nebraska Grazing Conference will be Aug. 6 and 7 at the Younes Conference Center in Kearney, Nebraska.  This year’s conference features speakers highlighting soil health and grasslands as well as a session on public wildlife and private rangelands.

A field tour kicks off the conference on Tuesday, Aug. 6 from 9 to 11:30 a.m. at the Platte River Prairies south of Wood River.  Grassland soils and soil health will be the focus of this field activity.  The field tour discussion will be led by Chris Helzer (The Nature Conservancy), Patrick Freeze (Ward Labs), and Greg Pec (University of Nebraska — Kearney).  There is no fee to attend the field tour.

The formal part of the conference will begin Tuesday at 1 p.m. with recognition of the Trumler Ranch, who was the 2023 Leopold Conservation Award winner.  Chris and Jenifer Trumler operate the ranch near Rockville, Nebraska. 

The primary focus of the afternoon program will be on soil health and grasslands with speakers covering soil health measurements, carbon markets, grassland productivity, and grassland stability.  Speakers include Jerry Hatfield (USDA-ARS), Bijesh Maharjan (University of Nebraska — Lincoln), Dave Wedin (UNL), and Riley Hackbart (USDA-NRCS).

On Tuesday evening, there will be a banquet with Dr. Ray Ward as the featured speaker. Dr. Ward will reflect on a career in soils and plant quality analysis.

The second day of the conference is devoted to the topic of public wildlife and private rangelands.  Speakers include Larkin Powell (UNL), Jenny Prenosil, Luke Meduna, and Adam Kester (Nebraska Game and Parks Commission).

To learn more about the conference or to register, or for information for sponsors or exhibitors, go to https://grassland.unl.edu/nebraska-grazing-conference .  Questions about the conference may be directed to Jerry Volesky at jerry.volesky@unl.edu.

Sponsor and exhibitor booths will showcase new programs, equipment, and products to conference participants.