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Friday, November 1, 2019

This article was originally published on the “Manure Scoop” by Dan Andersen on September 11, 2015 and has been modified and published here with his permission.

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Enrollment is now open for the 2020 program year! Enrollment is not required for many 4-H programs and events. However, club and independent members are required to officially enroll through 4-H Online each year to maintain membership. By enrolling, youth have the opportunity to participate in county fairs, the Nebraska State Fair, and additional statewide events and events. Club and project leaders must also enroll through 4-H Online each year. There is no state-level fee for officially enrolling. However, some counties or clubs may implement their own annual fees. Additionally, each county implements their own enrollment deadlines. Please contact your local 4-H office for more information.

Enrollment instructions are available for new club members, returning club members, new club leaders, and returning club leaders.

Enrollment InstructionsNebraska 4-H Online Enrollment System

Nebraska's 4-H Horticulture Team and Honors Division individual placed at the National Horticulture Contest. The contest was held in Lincoln, Nebraska on October 12, 2019. The four-person team placed fourth overall. Each individual also placed in the top 20, with one team member placing in the top 10. The team, coached by Elizabeth Killinger, Nebraska Extension Educator, consisted of:

• Josiah Ketelsen, Boone County
• Grace Cruise, Dodge County
• Sawyer Kappel, Colfax County
• Jeffrey Lohse, Gage County

The competition included eight sets of judging, an 80 question test, and identification of 100 horticulture specimens such as weeds, twigs, leaves, fruit, flowers, and underground structures. Lohse placed sixth individually overall. Cruise placed 12th, Kappel placed 13th, while Ketelsen placed 18th overall. Together, the four-person team placed fourth. 

Members of the team and individuals that placed 1st previously at Nationals are invited back to participate in the Honor's Division. Erik Henry of Omaha was a member of the Nebraska 2017 National Champion Horticulture Team. This year, he participated as an individual in the Honor's Division at Nationals and had to identify 25 additional samples that were more challening. Henry placed 5th in the Honors Division.

"I'm extremely proud," Killinger said. "They worked hard and it all paid off."

The team held practice on the University of Nebraska–Lincoln campuses to prepare for the contest. The students brough plant specimens to examine and identify, and Killinger also collected some for the team. 

The Nebraska 4-H Foundation also contributed to the team, helping to defray travel costs for the members.

The 2020 contest will be October 9 in Wilmington, DE.

Friday, November 1, 2019

Have you ever been overwhelmed by the amount of manure regulations in Nebraska? Or anywhere? Let’s make it a little easier to digest.

The good news is that Nebraska regulations related to manure do not change very often. In fact, the current regulations have been in effect since October 2011. So everyone can better follow the rules, let’s break it down into something that is a little easier to follow.

Take Home Message:
The ultimate purpose of all manure regulations is to keep water free from contamination.

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Figure 1. Starburst pattern on Fusarium-infected corn kernels. (Photos by Kyle Broderick) Root and crown rots lead the list of corn and soybean diseases reported in samples submitted to the UNL Plant and Pest Diagnostic Lab from October 1 to October 17.

While the ARC and PLC programs under the new farm bill are similar to those in the previous farm bill, a few program changes coupled with changes in market conditions and outlook could significantly impact producer decisions. More farm bill meetings are scheduled sites across the state for November through December.

Figure 1. Comparison of chickpeas grown in no-till (L) and tillage (R) at Grant in 2018

The Nebraska Extension crop insurance workshop, “Disasters, Farm Bill, Trade and Hemp … Oh My!,” will offer information and resources to help agricultural professionals and their clients make more profitable risk management decisions.

Filming of the US Farm Report's college road show will be Oct. 24 in front of Chase Hall on the university's East Campus. Chase Hall is on the right in the photo.

While not widely used in Nebraska, adoption of GAAP (Generally Accepted Accounting Principles) will allow farmers and ranchers in Nebraska to make more informed decisions, contributing to greater short- and long-run profit.

Warm temperatures and continued precipitation in much of Nebraska in September further complicated crop production. Extremes ranged from 34°F at Harrison to 99°F at Indianola. Highest one-day rain was 4.42 inches at Ainsworth.

Figure 1. After recent rains, water stands in the border of this Filmore County soybean field. While wet conditions across much of the state will complicate harvest, taking steps to avoid compaction can reduce the challenges for future crops. (Photo by Brandy VanDeWalle)

Sorghum-sudangrass hybrid planted as a cover crop at the university's Haskell Ag Lab in northeast Nebraska. The two photos on the left show plants that were cut for hay in early October and now have new shoots coming out of the base. (These plants were damaged by a light frost last week.) This new growth would be at extremely high risk for purssic acid poisoning. (Photos by Ben Beckman) With many of Nebraska’s acres in cover crop mixtures due to prevented planting, it's important to make a quick check of your acres after a freeze and before grazing or feeding as some plants may be hazardous if fed incorrectly.

 

Photo by rawpixel.com on Pexels.com

 

I have many fond memories of celebrating Halloween as a child.  Carving out our pumpkins a few days before Halloween, toasting pumpkin seeds, and making little ghosts out of tissues and cotton balls.  However, the thing I remember the most are my favorite costumes!  One of the best ways to help your child have a safe and memorable Halloween is to be sure they have a safe and comfortable costume:

• Consider your child’s gross motor skills; such as walking, running, going up stairs, turning, etc. Bulky costumes or those with accessories such as tails or wings may be difficult for some children to navigate in.  Give the costume a test run by having your child wear it around the house, or even on a walk to make sure everything fits correctly.
• Masks, hoods or hats can really make some costumes complete, but they may not be safe, or comfortable. If your child’s costume comes with a mask or other head wear, give it a ‘test run’ and make sure they can see, breath and be comfortable with it on.  (Sometimes the elastic straps that hold the masks on cause the discomfort, so check those, too!)  If your child doesn’t want to wear a mask, hood, etc., respect their decision.  They will look great, with or without it.
• Fashionable footwear may be a must for some adults, but for children, it’s all about function. Properly fitting tennis shoes or boots (depending on the weather) are going to be your best bet.  Avoid sandals, open toed shoes, clogs or  ‘high’ heels as they increase the risk of ankle injuries, blisters, cuts, and stubbed toes.
• Adaptable outfits are a must in most US cities at the end of October. The record low in Omaha on October 31 is 35 degrees, and the high, 83!  Choose a costume that can maintain the ‘look’ if you have to add layers, but won’t be so warm your child is hot and uncomfortable.
• Add a little pizazz to your child’s costume, and help make them more visible, by adding glow sticks, glow necklaces or bracelets, or little flashing lights.
• Let your child help choose what outfit they are going to wear. The best way to help young children choose an outfit is for you to decide on two or three choices that you think will work well and then let your child make the final decision.  When children are given choices, it helps them increase their self-esteem and independence.  Being able to make the choice about their costume may also help your child be more excited about wearing the costume and attentive to adults during the Halloween festivities.

KATIE KRAUSE, EXTENSION EDUCATOR | THE LEARNING CHILD

Peer Reviewed by Lynn DeVries, Extension Educator, The Learning Child, Tonia Durden and Gail Brand

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