Feed aggregator

This week, Nebraska Extension Range and Forage Specialist Jerry Volesky shares his tips on producing quality hay from summer annual grasses like sorghum-sudangrass hybrids, forage sorghum and pearl millet.

Wednesday, July 7, 2021

Hot, dry weather is impacting part of the state which in turn is impacting the water quality for grazing cattle.  In some pastures, the only water source available are ponds and dugouts which can contain hidden dangers to the cattle.

Blue-green algae also known as cyanobacteria blooms are caused by excess levels of nitrogen and phosphorus.  These nutrients are commonly introduced from runoff or soil erosion from fertilizer and manure.

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Congratulations to the 2021 Nebraska 4-H Foundation scholarship recipients! The Nebraska 4-H Foundation offers 4-H members the opportunity to apply for scholarships and awards up to $22,000 worth of scholarships each year to 4-H members from across the state. 

• Fletcher Larsen, Cherry County
• Abby Scholz, Phelps County
• Allison Rippe, Red Willow County
• Madelyn Kreifels, Lancaster County
• Logan Hicks, Nemaha County
• Emily Loseke, Colfax County
• Galayna Erickson, Hitchcock County
• Jacob Wells, Howard County
• Cooper Koch, York County
• Kristen Herrick, Franklin County
• Sheridan Wilson, Arthur County
• Jessica Wilkinson, Scotts Bluff County
• Blake Bruns, Lincoln County
• Gracie Schneider, Dawson County
• Logan Cast, Seward County
• Kaleb Hasenkamp, Cuming County
• Gracie Philpot, Buffalo County
• Kacee Dvorak, Custer County
• Kaylee Davis, Grant County
• Sarah Treffer, Dawson County
• Wyatt Siwinski, Merrick County

Congratulations to the 4-H Clubs recognized with 2021 Governor's Ag Excellence Awards. Sponsored by the Nebraska Investment Finance Authority, the purpose of the Nebraska 4-H Foundation's Governor's Ag Excellence Awards is to recognize 4-H Clubs for the work of the individuals in the club and the community service work of the entire club.

• 4 Star Hamilton Hero's, Hamilton County
• Always Busy Clovers, Butler County
• Badger Buddies, Washington County
• Better Ba-C's, Otoe County
• Blazing Saddles, Otoe County
• Blue Hill Better Herds, Webster County
• Dakota County 4-H Council, Dakota County
• Farnam Clovers 4-H, Frontier County
• Five Start 4-H, Lancaster County
• Fusion 4-H'ers, Lancaster County
• Happy Helpers, Frontier County
• Joe's Clover Knights, Lancaster County
• Lancaster County 4-H Teen Council, Lancaster County
• Nance County Robotics, Nance County
• NEquestrian, Lancaster County
• Pathfinders, Gage County
• Sandhills Critters, Custer County
• Sheridan County Junior Leaders, Sheridan County
• Southern Lancaster Kids, Lancaster County
• Spring Creek Boots and Buckles, Thayer County
• Sterling 4-H Club, Johnson County
• Unified Showing, Lancaster County
• Unified Showing, Otoe County
• Westside Hustlers, Saunders County

In this photo from the Platte Basin Timelapse Project, an irrigation canal delivers water to farmland in Scotts Bluff County. Scotts Bluff National Monument is on the horizon.

Photo 1. Rhizoctonia root rot of soybeans. Lesions near the soil line tend to be sunken and dry.

Congratulations to all 160 Nebraska 4-H members who participated in the 2021 State 4-H Public Speaking Contests. The event was held on July 30 at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. Youth participating in the contests presented their speeches or public service announcements that were selected at county-level contests. All state-level participants were awarded ribbons, and top winners for each contest and age division were also recognized. 

Senior Division Speech Winners:

1. Paige Bunn, Dodge County
2. Sydney Hutchinson, Cuming County
3. Breanna Bosshamer, Buffalo County
4. Acacia Carlson, Lancaster County
5. Rachel Brhel, Clay County
6. Grace Soucie, Franklin County
7. Grace Brennemann, Frontier County
8. Valerie Bennie, Otoe County

Senior Division PSA Winners:

1. Reece Snodgrass, Cumming County
2. Campbell Snodgrass, Cumming County
3. John Roscoe, Burt County
4. Miya Carey, Holt County
5. Chelsea Potts, Cedar County
6. Ashley Bauer, Buffalo County

Intermediate Division Speech Winners:

1. Melanie Wiggins, Lancaster County
2. Carson Reiman, Dawson County
3. Devon Rasmussen, Gage County
4. Luke Sylliaseen, Saunders County
5. Mollie Lambert, Cass County
6. Greta Rickertsen, Dawson County
7. Micah Gerlach, Furnas County
8. Kara Brockman, Gosper County

Intermediate Division PSA Winners:

1. Melanie Wiggins, Lancaster County
2. Hope Roscoe, Burt County
3. Harley Hedrick, York County
4. Jaden Hunke, Dawson County
5. Joshua Snodgrass, Cuming County
6. Marshall Bratetic, Knox County

2021 State 4-H Public Speaking Results

The 2021 PASE and Life Challenge contest results are now available. Contests at this year's Premier Animal Science Event included livestock judging, poultry judging, meats judging, livestock skill-a-thon, and livestock quiz bowl. Eligible winners of these state-level contests also have the opportunity to advance to national competitions. Opportunities for youth at this year's Life Challenge event included the foods and nutrition challenge, design challenge, and adulting challenge. Congratulations to all the 4-H members from across the state who participated in the state-level contests held June 28-29 at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. 

2021 PASE & Life Challenge Results

The growth stage of corn during WBC flight is critical as moths prefer to lay their eggs on corn plants between the late whorl to early tassel stage. Survival of young WBC larvae is highest if they can feed on newly emerged tassel prior to moving into the ears.

Image Source: Jackie Steffen

What sparks your curiosity?  What sparks the curiosity of your children?  I would venture to guess that nature and animals might rank pretty high on the list of interests for you and the children you work with every day.  Using animals and nature with children is a wonderful opportunity to teach empathy, conservation and environmental stewardship.  Fortunately, Nebraska Extension has an exciting early childhood resource to share with you this year around animals and their habitats.  This year, we are thrilled to provide eight guides highlighting habitats such as the tundra, rainforest, and desert.

Image Source: Sarah Roberts

Nebraska Extension has created this great resource for parents, early childhood professionals, care takers, grandparents, and anyone who loves to read with young children that ties directly with local libraries’ summer reading programs.  Summer reading programs are taking place right now and the theme across the state is Tails and Tales.  Our STEM Imagination Guides are designed to provide several opportunities to connect with each year’s theme by featuring:

• Familiar storybook suggestions:
  • The stories that have been selected for each guide are well-known stories and often children’s favorites.  It is okay if you child has already heard the story prior to taking part in the lesson.  Sharing a story multiple times helps children develop language and listening skills. 
• Conversation starters:
  • When a two-way conversation is initiated with children during story time, participation in dialogic reading is encouraged.  Open-ended questions are provided in each lesson to foster dialogic reading which has tremendous academic and social-emotional benefits for young children. 
• STEM connection experiments:
  • Children love finding out how things work through fun, hands-on projects.  The experiment included in each guide relates to the featured habitat and teaches a variety of STEM concepts that are engaging and educational.
• Sensory explorations:
  • Sensory play stimulates children’s senses and is important for brain development.  During the suggested sensory activities, children use multiple senses which allows them to learn more from their experiences and retain more information.
• Music and movement activities:
  • Research shows that music ignites all areas of child development and enhances skills for school readiness.  Not only is singing songs and playing games fun, but these activities also encourage self-expression and physical activity. 
• Creative arts investigations:
  • When children create pictures of stories that they have read, comprehension improves and often motivates children to want to read and interact with books even more.  Art is an early form of communication.  Creative art suggestions allow children to express themselves and make meaningful connections with the stories.
• Additional related readings:
  • Since each of the Imagination Guides focus on a different habitat, children often have additional questions and are interested in learning MORE!   Supplemental fiction and nonfiction books are suggested so children can expand their knowledge.

Image Source: Jackie Steffen

The STEM Imagination Guides can be utilized in a variety of ways.  No need to panic if you do not have access to the featured storybook.  Consider listening to the story online or sharing the story orally from memory.  Each Imagination Guide has a variety of options and can be customized to meet the needs and interests of the children in your care.  Incorporate all of the activities or just a few.  It is up to you!  The shared reading experience and creative play opportunities are sure to create an excitement for animals as well as foster a joy for reading.   

All of these resources are free and available for download and print at https://go.unl.edu/imagination.  This website also houses the previous year’s resources focusing on fairy tales.  This website is like a treasure chest of great literacy and STEM resources right at your fingertips.  All Imagination Guides, whether from this year or previous years can be utilized at no cost.  Enjoy this year’s habitat exploration!

SARA ROBERTS AND JACKIE STEFFEN, EXTENSION EDUCATORS | THE LEARNING CHILD

Peer Reviewed by Amy Napoli, Assistant Professor & Early Childhood Extension Specialist and LaDonna Werth and Lynn DeVries Extension Educators, The Learning Child

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

The Yield Forecasting Center (YFC) will provide real-time information on corn phenology and forecasts of corn yield potential every three weeks, starting in mid-July, to aid growers and ag industry in making management, logistics, and marketing decisions through the 2021 season.

Get Lost Mike/Pexels

With in-person meetings resuming, there are seven dates and locations set for free farm and ag law clinics in July.

Thursday, July 1, 2021

Are you getting enough rain?  What management decisions do you have in place if it stops raining? Below are some past BeefWatch articles and BeefWatch webinars that may help you with management decisions related to drought.

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