Cattlemen’s Update: Nevada Ranchers With Latest Market and Production Insights

Nevada ranchers will have multiple opportunities this January to hear directly from university specialists, veterinarians, and agricultural economists during the annual Cattlemen’s Update hosted by the University of Nevada, Reno.

The Cattlemen’s Update is designed to provide practical, research-based information to help producers navigate ongoing challenges, including market volatility, rising production costs, drought, wildfire risk, and emerging animal health concerns. The event begins with a virtual session Jan. 12, followed by in-person meetings at four locations across Nevada Jan. 13–16.

The program is led by the University’s College of Agriculture, Biotechnology & Natural Resources, along with its Extension and Experiment Station units. It is supported by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Nevada Gold Mines, and other local sponsors. Presenters include university researchers, local veterinarians, and representatives from the Nevada Department of Agriculture and USDA.

The free virtual session will be held Jan. 12 from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. and will cover topics not included in the in-person meetings. Those topics include wildfire preparedness, emerging animal diseases, updates to Nevada’s Meat and Poultry Inspection Program, and changes tied to the USDA’s recent reorganization. Registration and the full agenda are available online.

In-person sessions will take place in Fallon, Ely, Elko, and Winnemucca. Topics will include grazing management for soil and ecosystem health, biosecurity planning, genetic tools to improve herd performance, the potential reemergence of the New World screwworm, and an outlook on Nevada’s cattle market, including heifer retention decisions. A requested $20 donation per ranch, per location, will support the University of Nevada, Reno Foundation. Lunch or dinner will be provided at each in-person session, and on-site registration will be available.

Paul Meiman, Extension rangeland and wildlife state specialist and associate professor in the University’s Department of Agriculture, Veterinary & Rangeland Sciences, will serve as master of ceremonies. Other speakers include Luis Schütz, Extension livestock specialist Tracy Shane, State Veterinarian Peter Rolfe, and Washington State University livestock economist Shannon Neibergs. Local veterinarians will also address cattle health issues specific to Nevada.

This year’s keynote speaker is Tipton D. Hudson, a professor with Washington State University Extension and creator of the Stocksmart grazing app. Hudson is also host of the “Art of the Range” podcast, which focuses on rangeland management. His presentation is titled, “Place-based intelligence trumps artificial intelligence in ecologically driven grazing enterprises.”

New for 2026, two special in-person sessions will be offered prior to the main Cattlemen’s Update meetings. One session will focus on wildfire preparedness, response, and post-fire recovery, including information on the Rancher Liaison Program. The session is organized by Extension’s Living With Fire Program in coordination with state fire personnel and agency partners and will include a 30-minute networking opportunity.

A second new offering is a free, 60-minute Youth for the Quality Care of Animals training for youth ages 8–21. The program emphasizes animal stewardship, food safety, and character development through hands-on instruction in livestock care.

The in-person schedule includes:
Jan. 13, Fallon Convention Center, beginning at 3:30 p.m. with special sessions, followed by the main program at 5:30 p.m.
Jan. 14, Bristlecone Convention Center in Ely, following the same schedule.
Jan. 15, Great Basin College Theater in Elko, with special sessions at 10:30 a.m. and the main program at 12:30 p.m.
Jan. 16, Extension Humboldt County Office in Winnemucca, with special sessions at 9 a.m. and the main program at 11 a.m.

For more information, ranchers may contact Kaley Chapin at [email protected] or 702-467-2668, or Staci Emm at [email protected] or 775-312-0424. Additional contacts are listed for wildfire and youth program sessions.