Feed aggregator

After a long stretch of mostly warm weather — especially for eastern Nebraska — Mother Nature is going to give us our first taste of winter this weekend.

Wednesday, November 1, 2023

Looking back at late November of 2014, when the negotiated fed steer price reached an all-time high, $172.06/cwt, makes one wonder why—today, at fed steer prices at least $10/cwt higher, margins are still narrow.  A 1,550-lb fed steer is worth $155 more today than one finished in late November 2014.

While cattle placed against current live cattle marketing might have a wider margin for profit, cattle placed in October of 2023 will have a narrower margin of profit.  Why?

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An example of processing yield monitor data, as presented during a new Center for Ag Profitability webinar with Joe Luck, professor of biological systems engineering and associate director of the Eastern Nebraska Research, Extension and Education Center (ENREEC). This Center for Ag Profitability webinar delves into the intricacies of working with harvest yield monitor data straight from the combine, including how to access yield data, software requirements, quality control checks and more.

Wednesday, November 1, 2023

As the 2023 calendar year winds down, this is a good time for spring calving herds to look at what it cost them to produce a calf in the past year. What did it cost to run a cow on your operation this year? How do you calculate the costs? How do you value raised feed, labor, equipment, as well as replacement females grown on the ranch? These questions are frequently asked when the conversation of annual cow costs comes up.

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Participants are encouraged to attend all three workshops, as each will review different tax fundamentals and information. The workshops will cover a comprehensive range of tax topics relevant to ag producers, including an introduction to income taxes, completing Schedule F forms, claiming deductions, tax strategies to shift income and lower tax bills, and compliance requirements.

Webinar attendees will learn how to ask open-ended questions to recognize someone’s stress levels, and how to improve their awareness of warning signs of suicide and provide available resources to support someone in need. “Mending the Stress Fence” will build awareness of the signs and symptoms of stress in rural communities and cover the eight dimensions of wellness.

Sorghum stems are a little higher in quality than the corn stem, but care is still needed if cows are forced to graze the lower stems due to the potential of prussic acid toxicity immediately following a frost. A review of the pros and cons of grazing sorghum and corn residue, and how to maximize the nutritional benefits of each.

Wednesday, November 1, 2023

It’s fall, and for cow/calf producers throughout the region that often means it’s time to preg check. Confirming pregnancy in the herd is an important milestone in the overall cow/calf production system, but there’s still a lot that needs to go right before you’re admiring next year’s weaned calf crop. Unfortunately, reproductive losses can still happen between confirmation of pregnancy and calving. Beef producers and veterinarians often refer to any death loss before calving as an “abortion”, but in reality, true abortions only make up a portion of this loss.

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Wednesday, November 1, 2023

Now that fall is here, and most spring-born calves are being weaned, 4-Hers and FFA students across Nebraska are looking over the calf crops and picking out market steer prospects for the 2024 county fair.  Calves are carefully evaluated against a list of criteria, selected, and brought home.  Now what?

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Wednesday, November 1, 2023

The Range Beef Cow Symposium (RBCS) has a new website https://rangebeefcowsymposium.com/.

This year Colorado State University will be hosting the RBCS at the Ranch in Loveland, CO.

The RBCS has been held every other year since 1969 and is hosted by South Dakota State University, Colorado State University, University of Wyoming, and University of Nebraska beef cattle extension.

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Historical crop progress data for Nebraska is available at USDA. As of Oct. 22, dry bean harvest reached 92% complete in Nebraska, closely followed by soybean at 83% and corn at 62% — all within normal range for late October.

Every fall, as towns and organizations gear up for holiday events and activities, a common refrain is heard: "We need new people!" Yet transitioning to new leadership and volunteers is easier said than done.

So why do we hear these statements – what is happening? There could be a couple of things going on…

The next seven to 10 days could feature a bit of severe weather and heavy rain in eastern Nebraska, cold temperatures statewide, a chance of heavy snow, and possibly even a white Halloween.

While precipitation varied widely in Nebraska throughout September, temperatures were well above average across the entire state, with several cities setting record highs.

Rural Prosperity Nebraska is leading the charge on revolutionizing leadership development for Nebraska’s rural communities by hosting a leadership Chautauqua on Nov. 8 in Kearney, which kicks off a multi-step revisioning of traditional leadership development programs.

Most rural Nebraskans see the lack of civil discourse in the political system as at least a somewhat serious problem, according to the 2023 Nebraska Rural Poll. About one-third of rural Nebraskans surveyed rate this lack of respectful discourse as either a very serious (32%) or somewhat serious problem (33%). Only 5% say it is not a serious problem.

On-farm research in Nebraska on the impact of Pivot Bio's Proven 40 has had promising results so far in 2023.

The Nov. 20 workshop for producers to learn more about 2023 cash rental rates and land values is free to attend. See registration info below. (Center for Ag Profitability photo) The workshop will cover current Nebraska cash rental rates and land values, crop-share arrangements, terminating verbal leases, and other contract considerations.