Beef producers and industry professionals looking to sharpen their management skills and decision-making tools are invited to participate in the Midwest FEEDS (Forage, Education and Efficiency in Diversified Systems) Practicum, a hands-on, multi-session educational program hosted by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL).
Designed to strengthen beef production systems across the Midwest, the practicum leverages the region’s competitive advantages—including perennial pastures, annual forages, cover crops, crop residues and harvested feeds—while emphasizing practical application throughout the production year.
Held across five sessions in 2026 at the Eastern Nebraska Research and Extension Center (ENREEC) near Mead, NE, the program blends in-field experiences with in-depth discussions led by UNL faculty and Extension specialists.
Participants will engage in hands-on learning tied directly to key decision points in beef cattle production, with sessions scheduled to align with seasonal management needs. In addition to practical instruction, the practicum emphasizes peer-to-peer learning, networking and idea exchange among producers and industry professionals.
Participants will also receive high-quality educational resources, including decision-support software, notebooks and curated UNL publications to support continued learning beyond the classroom.
Skills and topics covered
The Midwest FEEDS Practicum is designed to help participants build confidence and capability in areas such as:
• Decision-making with advanced tools. Using decision support tools and NRC software to analyze diets, match forage availability with animal requirements and optimize beef production.
• Forage and grazing strategy. Developing effective grazing and pasture management plans, including weed control and fertility strategies tailored to individual operations.
• Breeding, calving and weaning management. Applying best practices for breeding, calving, weaning, cattle handling and facility design.
• Evaluating cattle performance. Assessing cow and calf performance, estimating body condition scores and determining nutritional needs across the reproductive cycle.
Participants will also experience cutting-edge research at ENREEC, with a focus on integrating cropland for forage and cow-calf systems.
All sessions will be held at ENREEC at 1071 County Road G, Ithaca, NE.
• Feb. 28: Health, Nutrition and Systems Thinking.
• March 28: Forage Systems and Breeding.
• June 20: Facilities and Pasture Management.
• Aug. 29: Weaning, Culling and Winter Feeding.
• Dec. 5: Stalk Grazing and Preparing for Calving.
Cost and Registration is $750 per individual, $1,300 for two participants and $500 for each additional participant.
More information and registration details are available at tinyurl.com/44stm4wu. — Nebraska Extension
