The 24th annual University of Nebraska Gudmundsen Sandhills Laboratory (GSL) Open House will be held Wednesday, August 23. Speakers at this year’s event will cover a wide range of topics, ranging from weather to research. Numerous commercial exhibits, and a free lunch will round out the day. The Open House can also be watched live on the internet if unable to attend.

In the morning session, Katelyn McCullock, Livestock Marketing Information Center, will provide an update on the cattle markets. Don Day, DayWeather, Inc., will deliver a long-range weather forecast. David Augustine, ARS-USDA, will discuss flexible grazing strategies. The morning session will finish with a panel of Sandhills ranchers affected by wildfires in 2022 and 2023 to share their follow-up management stories along with UNL range specialists and what they’ve found out in post-wildfire research.

After lunch, Shelby Rosasco, University of Wyoming Extension Beef Specialist, will discuss young cow management strategies to increase reproductive performance and longevity of the cowherd. Alfredo DiCostanzo, Nebraska Extension Beef Educator, will talk through how retaining ownership may look for a cow-calf producer. The afternoon session will wrap up with updates from UNL faculty and graduate students conducting research at GSL.

The GSL Open House is free, but please RSVP for an accurate lunch count by Friday, August 18. To view the agenda or to register to attend, either in-person or online, please visit https://go.unl.edu/2023-gsl-openhouse or call 308-696-6700.

The Gudmundsen Sandhills Laboratory is located where Cherry, Grant, and Hooker counties meet, northeast of Whitman and is owned by the University of Nebraska Foundation. It is comprised of 11,600 acres of upland native range and 1,200 acres of sub-irrigated meadow. The University of Nebraska-Lincoln leases the Gudmundsen Sandhills Laboratory from the Foundation where they conduct joint research projects with animal science, range management, soil science, economics, entomology, geology, hydrology, forestry, and wildlife specialists.