Feed aggregator

Wednesday, February 21, 2024

Webinar: Maximizing Herd Value with the Bull Value Cow-Q-Lator Tool

Thursday, Feb. 22, 2024 at Noon (CT)

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A cow's energy requirements increase about 30% and protein needs nearly double after calving. Because of this, it's important to use your best quality forages with any needed supplements to provide adequate nutrition. Tips on meeting nutrient requirements of cows after calving season and improving pasture production by frost seeding or interseeding legumes.

Monday, February 19, 2024

An upcoming four-part extension workshop for women in agriculture will focus on emergency preparedness for rural families.

The program will be held at numerous locations across Nebraska and Indiana. The series will focus on farm and ranch emergency management, first aid, fire protection, and hazardous materials. Workshops will be held from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. CT on March 5, 7, 12 and 14.

The program is a collaboration between extension women in agriculture programs at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Purdue University.

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Nebraska 4-H members from across the state will showcase their designs during Omaha Fashion Week runway showcase. Omaha Fashion Week is highlighting themes of reckless self-expression during their Spring 2024 AUDACIOUS Season. As they focus on fashion-for-good they are honoring the audacity it takes to use our voices to create meaningful change in our communities.

Amongst the seven groups that will be presenting their designs on the runway during student night, Nebraska 4-H youth will be modeling their designs on Wednesday, February 21, 2024, during the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Student Night at 8:00 pm.

Youth across the state were invited to apply with the design they have sewn for 4-H in 2023. Thirty-two 4-Her’s were chosen from 17 counties in Nebraska. They have been practicing their walk for the runway, will be getting their hair and makeup ready by the SOHO hair academy, and will have family and friends in attendance!

Participating youth are:

• Emily Barfknecht – Adams County

• Ayvrie Waldron – Box Butte County

• Danica Romshek – Butler County

• Macie Koch – Cedar County

• Kate Cox – Cherry County

• Morgan Schommer – Dawes County

• Karla Herrarte – Dawson County

• Maya Soria – Dawson County

• Melissa Montano – Dawson County

• Sydni Ringenberg – Dawson County

• Ava Caldwell – Douglas-Sarpy County

• Coralee Schurr – Frontier County

• Amelia Dieckman – Gage County

• Audrey Diekman – Gage County

• Cora Novacek – Gage County

• Alison Schimmer – Hall County

• Carmin Gramke – Kearney County

• Alexa Smith – Lancaster County 

• Clara Johnson – Lancaster County

• Dayton Jons – Lancaster County

• Josie Johnson – Lancaster County

• Lauren Johnson – Lancaster County

• Piper Pillard – Lancaster County

• Tenley Bauman – Lancaster County

• Vanessa Peterson – Lancaster County

• Josie Williams – Nance County

• Delaney Cheloha – Platte County

• Karis Kersting – Platte County

• Maura Tichota – Saunders County

• Abigail Nelson – Sheridan County

• Emily Nelson – Sheridan County

• Zayling Ott – Washington County

Doors open at 6:00 pm. To purchase tickets, visit https://omahafashionweek.ticketleap.com/ofw-spring-2024-student-night/.

Friday, February 16, 2024

Spring sale season in the Great Plains is in full swing. This is when seedstock producers get to showcase their program's progeny, and buyers can acquire bull power for the upcoming breeding season. The primary purpose of buying bulls is to improve herd genetics through an outside seedstock producers’ breeding program. Since nearly all herd improvements over time are a deliberate effort through purchased bulls or modern technologies such as artificial insemination, genetics are instilled in a herd through new bulls.

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Prospective Planting survey results will be published in the Prospective Plantings and quarterly Grain Stocks reports to be released on March 28, 2024. NASS will mail the survey questionnaire in late February, asking producers to provide information about the types of crops and amount of acreage they intend to plant in 2024.

To use the new Pay My Loan feature for direct loans, producers must establish a USDA customer account and a USDA Level 2 eAuthentication account or a Login.gov account. See more details below. To better assist producers during seasons of limited free time, such as planting and harvest, farm loan payments can now be made at the borrower’s convenience, on their schedule.

Jill O’Donnell, director of the Clayton Yeutter Institute on International Trade and Finance, recently offered insight on how to boost ag innovation with gene editing technologies.

Nebraska Extension Educator Amy Timmerman shares insights to help Nebraska producers decide whether drones would be a beneficial precision ag investment for their operations.

Except for a short-lived cold front next week beginning on Wednesday, Nebraska is expected to have mild weather for the rest of February.

Friday, February 16, 2024

There are as many ways to feed and develop young beef bulls as there are seedstock producers. There are many and varied reasons that bulls are managed and fed the way they are. Whether bulls are developed on the ranch, in a commercial facility, or at a central bull test, they are usually fed to gain 2.8 to 4.0 pounds daily from weaning to one year of age.

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USDA’s REAP and FPEP programs were devised to help ag producers and rural small business owners expand their use of clean energy, modernize equipment, adopt new technologies, build production plants and more. One of the program fund recipients is a Nebraska-based business that plans to construct a fully automated fertilizer facility.

Thursday, February 15, 2024

The spring bull sale season is underway. Producers are studying catalogs, comparing EPDs and individual animal performance numbers, and choosing which bulls will be the next herd sires. This article includes a link to a spreadsheet producers can use to figure actual bull costs, and addresses some of the things producers should consider before heading to the sale. Hint: It's more than just the lunch menu.

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The February Land Management Quarterly webinar will include an “Ask the Experts” session, allowing participants to get answers to their land or lease questions. The Center for Agricultural Profitability's first Land Management Quarterly of 2024 will cover the latest trends in Nebraska cash rental rates, new leasing considerations, and more on Feb. 19.

In a new episode of Nebraska FARMcast, Dave Aiken, professor and extension agricultural law specialist, discusses two new Nebraska legislative bills aimed at restricting alien land ownership. Dave Aiken, professor and extension agricultural law specialist, discusses two new Nebraska legislative bills aimed at restricting alien land ownership.

Thursday, February 15, 2024

Mud conditions in calving areas can lead to health concerns in both the cow and calf.  Mud and moisture prevent the hair coat from insulating and maintaining body temperature, leaving newborn calves vulnerable to hypothermia.  Mud also increases the energy requirements for the cow and may lead to decreases in body condition score (Nickles, et al. 2022).

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Throughout each Center for Agricultural Profitability Returning to the Farm workshop, participants receive help from experts in developing estate and transition plans, setting personal and professional goals and improving the communication process between family members. This workshop series assists families and agricultural operations with developing financial plans and successful working arrangements to meet their unique needs.

Thursday, February 15, 2024 Coccidiosis is caused by a microscopic protozoan parasite. The parasite invades intestinal cells and destroys the cells while multiplying, causing diarrhea in the process. Coccidiosis in cattle is characterized by straining and bloody diarrhea. The organism is widespread - almost all cattle become infected at some time in their lives, although many never show signs of illness. Illness is more common in concentrated livestock operations because there is more opportunity for the environment to become contaminated in large numbers, and for calves to be exposed to large doses of the parasite.Spanish: 

Thursday, February 15, 2024 In this webinar Dr. Halden Clark talks about preventing calf scours and how to use the Sandhills Calving Method. The key to preventing scours in calves is reducing their exposure to the pathogens that cause scours, and coming up with a system to keep newborn calves in clean, dry areas whenever possible. Spanish: 

Strategic planning is a dynamic process that requires continuous adaptation to changing circumstances and is most effective when it includes input from stakeholders, including family, partners, employees, and even customers, suppliers, and buyers. (CAP photo) Center for Agricultural Profitability Director Larry Van Tassell discusses two steps that make planning strategic: defining the mission of the business and assessing the external environment and its implications for the farm business.