Feed aggregator

Rulon Taylor is the newest Extension educator to join the Rural Prosperity Nebraska team. Based in Curtis on the Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture campus, Taylor works as a statewide engagement coordinator for the Nebraska Regional Food Systems Initiative. Having grown up in Curtis, he’s not only familiar with the state, but he also knows what helps rural communities thrive.

Tell us about your family life.

I come from a large family. There is myself, my parents and four siblings. My whole family lives in Nebraska.

Most communities in Nebraska have had a declining populations for decades. The Iowa State Extension program has a project called Rural Shrink Smart. This is a program that studies and helps communities that have a shrinking population but still figure out ways to increase their quality of life.

If you or someone you know needs help this harvest season, contact Farm Rescue or apply online using the link below. (Photo courtesy Farm Rescue) Farm Rescue helps farmers and ranchers who have experienced a major illness, injury or natural disaster by providing the equipment and volunteer workforce to plant, hay or harvest their crop.

In crop and pasture land leases, hunting rights default to the tenant unless otherwise stipulated in a verbal or written agreement. A look at landlord and tenant hunting rights in land leases, and tips on managing pasture thistles this fall.

Soybean cyst nematode can cause up to 30% yield loss with no significant aboveground symptoms, making soil sampling at the end of soybean season a critical part of managing this crop pest.

Historical crop progress data for Nebraska is available at USDA. As of Oct. 1, harvest for all Nebraska crops continued at or above average pace.

Historical acreage reports for Nebraska are available at USDA. In October, USDA NASS will begin surveying Nebraska producers on total acres planted and harvested, and total yield and production of row crops, to calculate county-level estimates.

Nebraska Extension Educator Amy Timmerman explains how to conduct a push test to identify stalk rot before harvesting your corn fields.

Colfax County #2 team members participate in a discussion during the 2023 Regional Youth Crop Scouting Competition. After winning first place in the state competition, the team placed second in regionals. All Nebraska youth participating in the 2023 Regional Youth Crop Scouting Competition earned accolades for exhibiting their knowledge and skills throughout nine separate crop scouting exercises for the contest.

A near-record warm period is expected to close out September, and October will begin with widespread rainfall in Nebraska.

Sunday, October 1, 2023

With harvest around the corner, you might be considering trading manure for cornstalks or vice versa. In many ways, it’s easier to pay cash for either product, but there are advantages to trading. This article will focus on what kinds of things to consider to be sure any deal made is a fair trade.

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Sunday, October 1, 2023

In 2017, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources (IANR) and Nebraska Extension made a commitment to implement a multidisciplinary Beef Systems Initiative (BSI) to develop and support implementation of beef production systems in Nebraska. In addition to the BSI, a parallel project funded by the Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research (FFAR) implemented a study of the best practices for incorporating beef cattle onto cropping systems while improving ecosystem services to ensure sustainability.

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Sunday, October 1, 2023

Calves with blemishes are usually cut off when taken to a sale barn and sold for a reduced price.  What can a producer do with these calves to add value? 

First, let’s look at what determines price.

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Sunday, October 1, 2023

This article was first published by "In the Cattle Markets" in September 2023.

The annual fall feeder run is about to begin. Given cattle prices, forage conditions, and the economy the question of whether heifers will be retained to rebuild the beef cow herd remains uncertain. Consider these factors that give pause to whether this expansion will occur with as much momentum we might think. Continue reading on the Center for Ag Profitability website.

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Sunday, October 1, 2023

Manure stockpiles must be built following some regulations, but where those regulations end, manners should remain. I suspect that just about everyone reading this article has been told on more than one occasion, “Mind your manners!” Or, perhaps as a parent, it’s this very simple instruction that you now give to your kids as they head out the door to spend time with someone outside the household. Continue reading on the UNL Water website.

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In a dry edible bean plot at the UNL PREEC Mitchell Lab, Maria Alvarado, UNL graduate student, left, Kainyon Tay, head of the legume program in Chile, and Carlos Urrea, UNL dry bean breeder, look for desirable bean plants. (Photo by Chabella Guzman) Continuing international collaborations on dry bean genetic research, UNL's Carlos Urrea hand-selects quality dry bean plants during harvest in Nebraska to send to researchers across the world for cross-breeding.

Sunday, October 1, 2023

Wildfires affect America’s farm and ranches, damaging and destroying homes, barns, agriculture production facilities, crops, and livestock.  Below are some tips to help avoid or minimize fire damage to your property.

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Sunday, October 1, 2023

Would you like to grow your grass knowledge and better understand range and pasture resources? Nebraska Extension will host a six-session webinar series on Monday and Thursday evenings beginning October 3 through November 9 from 7:30 - 8:45 p.m. CT that will explain the basics of knowing, growing and grazing grass. 

Topics will include:

•           Identifying key grass species you want more of in your pastures.

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By the close of the fiscal year on Sept. 30, USDA, through the delivery of FSA programs, will have invested more than $19 billion in America’s agricultural producers with more economic support on the way in fiscal year 2024. This week, FSA will issue more than $581 million in 2021 and 2022 drought and wildfire emergency relief to eligible ranchers, and $1.17 billion in crop disaster assistance.

Sunday, October 1, 2023

Producers that attended the Nebraska Grazing Conference (NGC) August 8-9, in Kearny, NE. may have noticed a difference from previous proceedings. This year “TechCorner” was added to the exhibition, highlighting new and emerging products in precision livestock management (PLM) such as virtual fencing, data management software and smart water monitoring. In addition to PLM exhibitors, Wednesday morning’s programs were focused primarily on precision grazing management, of which the virtual fencing (VF) technologies were spotlighted in presentations and panelist discussion.

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