8 NEBRASKA CATTLEMAN August 2026 NC BOARD OF DIRECTORS PRESIDENT: Craig Uden*, Johnson Lake, (308) 325-0285 PRESIDENT-ELECT: Eric Hansen*, North Platte, (308) 530-3899 VICE PRESIDENT: Jaclyn Wilson*, Lakeside, (308) 762-3196 PAST PRESIDENT: Richard (Dick) Pierce, Miller, (308) 440-2489 SECRETARY/TREASURER: Laura Field, Lincoln, (402) 326-7743 MEMBER SERVICES VICE CHAIR BY REGION 1 – Bill Baldwin, Mitchell, (308) 641-5011 2 – Lydia O’Brien, Whitman, (308) 546-7349 3 – Alfredo DiCostanza, Norfolk, (612) 590-7395 4 – John Kennedy, Primrose, (308) 396-1505 5 – Weston Svoboda, Sargent, (308) 215-0244 6 – Bob Wiseman, Hershey, (308) 530-3137 7 – Todd Schlueter, Blair, (402) 533-3741 8 – Becky Funk, DVM, Lawrence, (308) 360-3179 9 – Vacant PRODUCER COUNCIL CHAIR: Dwight Dam, Hooper, (402) 720-4250 VICE CHAIR: Reiss Bruning, Bruning, (402) 768-3332 FEEDLOT COUNCIL CHAIR: Daron Huyser, Lexington, (308) 233-4368 VICE CHAIR: Joel Weber, Dorchester, (402) 946-4551 ALLIED INDUSTRIES COUNCIL CHAIR: Austin Woltemath, Lincoln, (402) 310-2294 VICE CHAIR: Kenny Stauffer, Grand Island, (402) 435-0665 ~ COMMITTEE LEADERSHIP ~ AG POLICY AND RESEARCH CHAIR: Steve Wellman, Syracuse, (402) 269-7024 VICE CHAIR: Lewis Coulter, Bridgeport, (308) 631-8240 ANIMAL HEALTH AND NUTRITION CHAIR: Jeff Heldt, Scottsbluff, (308) 641-5781 VICE CHAIR: Scott Reynolds, DVM, Broken Bow, (308) 870-0970 BRAND AND PROPERTY RIGHTS CHAIR: Matt Blackford, Thedford, (402) 322-1377 VICE CHAIR: Robert Star, Hershey, (308) 520-3488 MARKETING AND COMMERCE CHAIR: Chance McLean, Stromsburg, (402) 366-2254 VICE CHAIR: Marshall Hansen, Omaha, (402) 616-4541 NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENT CHAIR: Sam Drinnin, Grand Island, (402) 910-0233 VICE CHAIR: Logan Pribbeno, Imperial, (308) 883-7770 TAXATION AND EDUCATION CHAIR: Stephen Sunderman, Norfolk, (402) 750-0149 VICE CHAIR: Kelly Terrell, Gothenburg, (308) 930-2162 MEMBER SERVICES CHAIR: Quentin Dailey, Lexington, (308) 293-1144 NEBRASKA LIVESTOCK MARKETING ASSOCIATION REP. Bryce Dibbern, Interior, S.D., (308) 293-7766 UNL EXTENSION REPRESENATIVE Erin Laborie, Beaver City, (419) 494-3872 UNL REPRESENTATIVE Deb VanOverbeke, Lincoln, (402) 714-5879 * member of the Executive & Finance Committee INSIGHTS BALANCING TRADITION AND INNOVATION JOEL WEBER | NC FEEDLOT COUNCIL VICE CHAIR | DORCHESTER Operating a feedyard has always been about balancing tradition and innovation. The three generations of family who fed livestock and tilled this land before me built on experience while adopting new ideas and technologies. The fifth generation just returned to our operation, educated and ready to take on the world, but first he has a few more waterers to clean and fresh calves to unload at 2 a.m.! Over time, the core principles of feeding cattle might get tweaked, but largely they remain the same. Innovation moves at a brisk pace these days as the industry looks to improve efficiency and position our operations for the future. Roller compacted concrete (RCC) is a key innovation in the feedyard industry that offers a durable, cost-effective alternative to traditional dirt, clay and sand lots. It is no wonder we are seeing it spring up throughout the Midwest and in Nebraska feedyards. RCC is a concrete mix composed of cement aggregates and water, but the water content can be as low as 6 percent vs. the traditional 33 percent. RCC is usually mixed on site and laid with dump trucks or pavers. It is then GPS leveled and compacted using heavy, vibrating rollers. Large-scale installation and quick curing make the product highly desirable for feedlot construction. Cattle can be on it in just a few days. Where did RCC originate? As early as World War II, the Allied Forces used RCC for runways, dams, roads and anything else to help the war effort. Canadian ag has long used RCC in their operations. RCC’s popularity in Nebraska feedlots has gained momentum as operations have seen the advantages come to fruition on a local level. RCC addresses several common challenges that are present in traditional openlot operations: • Mud can be eliminated. • Foot rot and lameness can be reduced. • Wet conditions are minimized, causing less stress to livestock. • Manure sticks to cattle less than dirt, resulting in cleaner cattle. Feedlots with RCC pens have also reported improved performance due to cattle expending less energy to work their way around the pens for feed and water. Investing in RCC can mean better conversions, daily gains and cost of gain. In terms of maintenance, RCC pens require less dirt hauling and scraping, and eliminates the need for fill material. Manure from RCC pens is more valuable because it has minimal dirt contamination. Overall, feedlots can increase stocking density in RCC pens: 125 square feet vs. 250 in a conventional setting. In turn, the required bunk space is reduced from 9 to 12 inches to 6 to 8 inches, which can reduce a feedlot footprint and open up expansion in areas with limited land availability. As we consider all this information and look to move our operation forward, there is no doubt RCC is a tool we look forward to utilizing. Five years ago, we renovated our feed pad and used RCC to see how it would perform in our yard. I am happy to report very good results, and we look forward to using RCC in our first pens later this summer. Have a great summer and keep those critters cool! ~NC~
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