This year’s Cattlemen’s Update, hosted by University of Nevada, Reno, was conducted online early this year due to ongoing health restrictions. Participants received current research-based information about issues that may affect the efficiency, productivity, profitability and sustainability of their businesses and Nevada’s cattle industry. The sessions were also recorded and are now available online.

The event, led by the University’s College of Agriculture, Biotechnology & Natural Resources, and its Extension and Experiment Station units, offered sessions on animal health, livestock processing and slaughter, economic overview of agriculture in Nevada, and rangelands and rangeland management. Throughout the event, the sessions had audiences of 80 to 100 people via Zoom.

Since the event was held online, agriculture producers were able to join the various presentations and sessions from more locations than previous years. Participants joined from across the state, as well as from other states. Although past events were held completely in person, the event could have more of a hybrid model, where both in-person and virtual sessions are offered, in the future.

“One producer even told us he was able to listen to one of the sessions while working on his tractor,” said Professor and Extension Educator in Mineral County Staci Emm, who coordinates the program. “We hope to reach as wide of an audience as possible in the future, and move toward a hybrid model utilizing online tools while still getting faculty and industry speakers out to meet with producers one-on-one.”

The University has hosted the Cattlemen’s Update for 53 years and will begin planning the next one later this summer. This year’s event was free, with partial funding provided by the Western Extension Risk Management Education Center.