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Saturday, January 1, 2022

This study by Dustin L. Pendell Ph.D. and Kevin L. Herbel can be found at the Kansas State University AgManager.info website. Review and summary by Aaron Berger, Nebraska Extension Educator.

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Saturday, January 1, 2022

The next session of “Know Your Numbers, Know Your Options,” Nebraska Extension’s four-part record-keeping course, will be held virtually from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. central time on January 18, 20, 25, and 27.

Participants should plan on attending each of the four workshop dates. The course requires participants to have an internet connection. 

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Saturday, January 1, 2022 Area beef producers should make plans to attend the annual Three-State Beef Conference that is scheduled for January 11, 12 and 13, 2022 with locations in Iowa, Missouri, and Nebraska. The Three-State Beef Conference is designed to give beef cattle producers and others in the beef industry in Iowa, Missouri, and Nebraska a regular update on current sire, cow-calf, and economic topics. All sessions will be held during the evening to help accommodate producers who work off the farm during the day. Spanish: 

Image Source: Katie Krause

I love the holidays. I love the traditions I grew up with – that I continue with my own family – like cutting down our own tree each year. I love the new traditions we have started, like taking my birthday off at the end of November to put up Christmas lights and decorate. Being able to share these traditions our young children (2 yo and 4 yo), makes this time of year seem even more magical. While all families have their own magical moments that are important to them, I thought of one I’d like to share that has shifted for me over the years – Santa. Not every family believes or celebrates this tradition, but for those that do I wanted to take a few minutes to share some thoughts about some of the Santa-related issues I’ve been asked my perspective on by others

Scared of Santa

One of our children’s favorite traditions is to visit Santa, multiple times! Since the photos are free, and it’s nearby, we usually go several times in December. While the screaming baby on Santa’s lap may bring a few laughs, consider what that experience is like for the child. When an adult places a child on a stranger’s lap and leaves them there when they are clearly upset what message is that sending? Did you know that the brain wires for trust and mistrust during the first years of life? We want our children to be able to trust that we will keep them safe, be responsive to their needs, and honor their feelings. Is this really a big deal? Well, when children have their needs met (like, being comforted after a scary situation) routinely, it ensures the wiring in the brain will be laid down for trust. Dr. Pam Schiller says it best, “One way or another, the brain is going about its work of wiring.”

“But you do not understand, it’s a tradition to get that photo.” I hear you. Here are some other ways to still get that photo, without reinforcing a negative experience.

• Let your child sit on a bench next to Santa (very common now), or stand next to Santa at a comfortable distance.
• Join in – rather than handing off your child to Santa, hop in the picture too, keeping your little one safely in your arms.
• Visit multiple times – The place we go offers a basic photo for no cost. If we go after school, there is never a line. If needed, we could probably spend a few minutes to get the kiddos a bit more comfortable.
• Try to keep calm– the more stressed or frustrated you get, the less comfortable your children are going to be.
• Ask your child what they prefer, “Would you like to sit or stand next to Santa? Do you want me to go with you?” Even children that are not yet verbal are able to make choices like this.
• Prepare your child for the experience in advance. Show them pictures or videos and talk to them about what will happen. When you arrive, continue to narrate the experience for them.

Image Source: Katie Krause

Presents from Santa

Ever wonder why Santa brought you underwear, but he brought your neighbor a Nintendo?  Research has shown that children as young as four years old notice differences in social class (Heberle & Carter, 2020).  So children that are still young enough to believe in Santa may very well be able to notice the differences between the cost and quantity of presents ‘Santa’ has brought their friends. A great suggestion is that ‘Santa’ only brings one (not expensive) present and maybe fills the stockings.  Help your fellow families who might not be able to splurge over the holidays and give yourself the credit for that awesome present.

Santa is watching

We have been struggling with this one in my house lately. My husband has been doing a lot of the Santa threats, and I’ve been joining in. It might sound something like this: “Santa isn’t going to bring you presents if you don’t do xyz”, “Santa only brings presents for good kids”, “I’m going to tell Santa not to bring you a present this year”.  I even started singing ‘Santa Claus is coming to Town” the other day….yuck! What was I thinking?! I love Christmas…why on earth would I want to turn Santa into someone that can’t look past a bad day, or cancel Christmas?!

While these threats might produce a quick result, the Santa threats don’t work for long, and are often empty threats. They can also leave children feeling scared, sad, or confused. Are you really not going to give your children the present you bought them? And even if you did, young children are not old enough to connect a behavior they did a day, a week or even a month before Christmas to not getting a present Christmas morning. 

Is it not ok to cry, or be upset, or feel frustrated during the holiday season? Remember that negative behaviors are way children communicate a need and how they show us they are struggling with something. Also keep in mind, as an adult, you probably feel sad, frustrated, mad, scared, and a range of other emotions that we often view as ‘bad’ when children feel this way. You’ve had a bit more time to learn how to appropriately cope with those emotions (or sadly…how to punch them back down and put on a happy face, which is certainly not what we want to teach our children). 

Check out our other blog for some great tips on handling your kiddos Temper-tantrums and try to use Time-In J  https://learningchildblog.com/2020/05/01/temper-tantrums-and-time-in/

Is Santa even real?

There are lots of opinions for families and even from the experts regarding the idea of Santa.  Some of us just love the magic of Christmas, and Santa is a big part of that. I’ve got some friends that go all-out moving that darn little elf Every. Single. Day. However, some families are very much against the idea of Santa. Families feel that they are lying to their children if they include Santa in their holiday traditions. 

The key here is to really do what feels right for your family. Yes, some adults look back on their childhood and may have felt lied to or deceived by their parents about Santa. Others look back and have amazing memories of the magic. I’ll never forget being amazed the year I got a wooden desk with my name on it. Santa was truly magical if he could get in my house without a chimney, bring this huge thing along with him and he really did know my name!

We have no way of knowing if, or how, our children will remember these early years. We cannot stress out over trying to create ‘perfect memories’ of our children, or ourselves.  Each family needs to focus on what is meaningful for us, and be mindful of what our intentions are for the various activities we do – or do not – decide to participate in.

At the end of the day, or the end of the holiday season, the thing our children are going to remember the most is the love of their family and time spent together.

Here are some ideas you and your family might enjoy doing together.

Sesame Street: Kids Talk About Holidays

Sesame Street: The Power of We Holiday Party

4-H Holidays at Home

I wish you and yours a wonderful holiday season!

KATIE KRAUSE EXTENSION EDUCATOR | THE LEARNING CHILD

Peer Reviewed by Kara Kohel, Linda Reddish, and Lynn DeVries, Early Childhood Extension Educators

Resource: Heberle, A. E., & Carter, A. S. (2020). Young children’s stereotype endorsement about people in poverty: Age and economic status effects. Children and Youth Services Review, 108, 104605.

Make sure to follow The Learning Child on social media for more research-based early childhood education resources!

Friday, January 1, 2021

Spring born calves are often weaned in the fall, supplemented through the winter at a low rate of gain, and then graze summer grass, taking advantage of compensatory gain until feedlot entry. Many producers assume providing minimal protein supplementation to target approximately 1.0 pound/day gain during the winter is the most economical system. However, research data would suggest this assumption is not the most economical management system.

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County-level estimates for 2021 small grain acreage, yield and production are now available through the Quick Stats online database.

For its spring 2022 season, FarmBits will focus podcast interviews on automation and robotics technology in crop and livestock production with a concurrent emphasis on stories of diversity and inclusion in digital agriculture.

Getting to know CropWatch's editor, Katy Moore, and what it's like to work behind the scenes for one of Nebraska Extension's main sources of crop and pest news.

The University of Nebraska–Lincoln’s Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources has named Mary Emery as the inaugural director of Rural Prosperity Nebraska. She will begin her appointment Feb. 15.

The 2022 Crop Production Clinics begin Wednesday, Jan. 5.

Nebraska 4-H members across the state were recognized as Members of Excellence for their participation in a new livestock program launched in 2021. The Nebraska 4-H Livestock Achievement Program was designed to promote all educational aspects of 4-H livestock projects including selection, production, leadership, and exhibition by recognizing youth striving to improve in their livestock project knowledge and leadership.

The program recognizes Members of Excellence across all 4-H livestock project areas, including beef, sheep, meat goat, swine, dairy cattle, dairy goat, rabbit, and poultry.

At the beginning of the 4-H year, youth applied to participate in the program. Upon acceptance, participants set goals for their 4-H project experience. At the end of the summer, they reported on their accomplishments. Participants were also required to complete their annual 4-H online enrollment process, YQCA requirements, and project record books to receive a Member of Excellence distinction.

In its inaugural year, 26 youth from 20 counties received a Member of Excellence distinction. The youth chose to participate for a variety of reasons, including to learn more about their project and the ag industry, to grow their leadership skills, and to introduce new people to 4-H livestock project areas.

“I think it is great for my daughter to get a better idea about how much [their project] costs and what goes into it,” said a participant’s parent. As part of their experience, many participants chose to educate others through static exhibits or public speaking presentations. One participant stated, “I learned to present information in a way to help educate others,” while another shared, “I also worked through my fear of presenting and talking in front of people.”

4-H members  recognized as Members of Excellence in the beef project area include:

• Ella Miller, Cass County
• Everett Funk, Loup County
• Faith Miller, Hooker County
• Greyson Hollopeter Swan, Cherry County
• Lacey Schmidt, Thayer County
• Logan Schmidt, Thayer County
• McKenzie VanDeWalle, Fillmore County
• Trapper Wyatt Wilcox, Antelope County

4-H members recognized as Members of Excellence in the dairy cattle project area include:

• Kaitlyn Hanson, Saunders County

4-H members recognized as Members of Excellence in the meat goat project area include:

• Autumn Hoppe (Holt)
• Brooke Carey (Holt)
• Miya Carey (Holt)

4-H members recognized as Members of Excellence in the poultry project area include:

• Anne Nygren, Saunders County
• Janae Oberg, Frontier County
• Jon Oberg, Frontier County

4-H members recognized as Members of Excellence in the rabbit project area include:

• Adriana Hernandez, Washington County
• Andrew Frain, Lancaster County
• Elisa Oberg, Frontier County

4-H members recognized as Members of Excellence in the sheep project area include:

• Ava Myers, Hamilton County
• Cora Roth, Boyd County
• Katelyn Dorsey, Valley County
• Maggie Roberts, Otoe County
• Arabella Rolfsmeyer, Buffalo County
• Trapper Wyatt Wilcox, Antelope County

4-H members recognized as Members of Excellence in the swine project area include:

• Hunter Creech, Scotts Bluff County
• Kade Goedeken, Platte County
• Maggie Roberts, Otoe County
• Olivia Beel, Brown County

The Nebraska 4-H Livestock Achievement Program is now accepting applications for 2022.

Livestock Achievement Program

A prescribed burn continues to be the most economical approach to controlling Eastern red cedar trees. (Photo by Troy Walz)

This photo illustrates growth differences of two fungal pathogens and how they are identified from the Disease Index. Characteristic hyphal growth in culture of Aphanymyces cochliodes (right) and Rhizoctonia solani (left) emerging from infected seedlings plated at the same time in the plant pathology lab.

Source:

Purdue Extension Nutrition Education Program

Nutrition Software Used: ESHA Food Processorhttps://food.unl.edu/recipes/documents/spanish/lentil-veggie-tacos-spanish-nep.pdfhttps://food.unl.edu/recipes/documents/lentil-veggie-tacos-nep.pdfNewsletter/Program:  Nutrition Education Program Archive Link: https://food.unl.edu/nutrition-education-program-nepContact Info: Jean Ann FischerTaxonomy Term Description: 

The Nutrition Education Program (NEP) delivers evidence-based nutrition education and obesity prevention interventions through a combination of education strategies coupled with multi-level community changes that occur within the environment to promote healthy eating and active lifestyles.

This material was funded by USDA's Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program – SNAP and Expanded Food & Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP).

Ingredients:

• ¾ cup dry lentils
• 1 ¾ cup water
• ⅓ cup onion, scrubbed with clean vegetable brush under running water, finely chopped
• 1 ½ teaspoon cumin OR chili powder
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ¼ teaspoon garlic powder OR gently rub 1 clove under cold running water and mince
• 10 hard corn taco shells
• 2 cups finely chopped fresh vegetables (choice of broccoli, zucchini, tomatoes, summer squash, bell pepper, cauliflower, and/or carrots) scrubbing vegetables with clean vegetable brush under running water before chopping)
• 1 ¼ cups shredded Cheddar cheese

Directions:

1. Wash hands with soap and water.
2. Place lentils in a colander and rinse with cold running water. Drain.
3. In medium saucepan, combine drained lentils, water, onion, cumin or chili powder, salt and garlic. Cook over high heat until boiling. Reduce heat. Boil gently, covered, for 12 to 15 minutes or until lentils are very soft.
4. Remove lid from lentil mixture. Boil gently, uncovered, for an additional 2-3 minutes or until most of the liquid is gone, stirring frequently and mashing lentils with the back of a spoon.
5. Remove pan from heat.
6. Preheat oven to 400ºF.
7. Spread lentil mixture inside of taco shells. Arrange desired vegetables and cheese on top of lentil mixture. Stand filled tacos in a 9 x 13-inch baking dish. Loosely cover with foil.
8. Bake 3 to 5 minutes or until cheese melts. Serve warm.
9. Store leftovers in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

Category:  Main Dishes Yield: 5 servings Serving Size: 2 tacosCalories: 370Total Fat: 16Saturated Fat: 8Potassium: 8Total Sugars: 4Iron: 15Vitamin D: 0Calcium: 20Protein: 17Fiber: 6Added Sugars: 0Total Carbohydrates: 41Sodium: 540Cholesterol: 60