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Our Place After School Care in Hastings is unique among its peers. While many Nebraska communities have found solutions to the burgeoning need for quality child care through grant funds or contracts with licensed locals, Our Place serves a different and often overlooked demographic — teens with special needs.

Historical crop progress data for Nebraska is available at USDA. Winter wheat planting started on time in Nebraska, and development of corn, soybean, sorghum and dry bean crops continued at or above average pace as of Sept. 3.

To receive the weekly crop water use report via text message, subscribe on the PHREC AgLab site.

Updates on Panhandle crop progress and anticipated water use for the remainder of September by Nebraska Extension Educator Gary Stone.

Nebraska 4-H awarded sixty-one youth with the Members of Excellence distinction at the 2023 Nebraska State Fair. 4-H members earned the award for engaging in livestock-related learning experiences throughout the year in addition to caring for and exhibiting their 4-H livestock projects. Nebraska 4-H recognized Members of Excellence across all 4-H livestock project areas.

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

• Bo Prospichal, Holt County
• Trapper Wilcox, Antelope Couny
• Ella Miller, Cass County
• Grant Miller, Cass County
• Calley Stewart, Cedar County
• Brayden Griess, Clay County
• Katelyn Griess, Clay County
• Dayton Pohlmann, Gage County
• Jolie Kreifels, Saline County
• Titus Hemje, Saline County
• Tatus Wright, Sarpy County
• Violet Nuss, Sarpy County
• Trevor Lindquist Sarpy County
• Mattielyn Brown, Scotts Bluff County
• Emma Hackbart, Seward County
• Mckinley Stoller, Hayes County
• Troy Lindquist, Sarpy County
• Olivia Beel, Brown County
• Ava Stewart, Cedar County
• Nathan Griess, Clay County
• Kyle Rote, Garden County
• AJ Prospichal, Holt County
• Lilee Chevalier, Lancaster County
• Justus Kreifels, Otoe County
• Tristan Wright, Sarpy County
• Addison Rist, Sarpy County

4-H members recognized as Members of Excellence in the dairy goat project area included:

• Grace Chevalier, Lancaster County
• Hannah Chevalier, Lancaster County
• Lilee Chevalier, Lancaster County
• Madalyn Chevalier, Lancaster County

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

• Grant Meister, Sarpy County
• Jackson Luethje, Douglas County
• Kate Wagner, Sarpy County
• Drew Luethje, Douglas County
• Arabella Rolfsmeyer, Buffalo County
• Graham Mueller, Dodge County

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

• Elsa Castillo, Douglas County
• Marcus Schultz, Madison County
• Franklin Polacek, Madison County
• Hadley Bakan, Otoe County
• Mallory Beethe, Sarpy County
• Janae Oberg, Frontier County
• Anne Nygren, Saunders County

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

• Jocelyn Schmoll, Lancaster County
• Tenley Bauman, Lancaster County
• Marcus, Madison County
• Violet Nuss, Sarpy County
• Andrew Frain, Lancaster County

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

• Arabella Rolfsmeyer, Buffalo County
• Ella Crumbliss, Clay County
• Wyatt Cook, Kimball County
• Lena Gropp, Saline County
• Cora Maggie Roth, Boyd County
• Marshall Humphrey, Clay County
• Kaelyn Littrell, Clay County
• Eboney Tripe, Clay County

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

• Trey Cook, Kimball County
• Allie Cook, Kimball County
• Kirsten Knake, Otoe County
• Lilee Chevalier, Lancaster County
• Kaden Knake, Otoe County

Youth received the Member of Excellence distinction through the Livestock Achievement Program, which launched in 2021. Youth applied to participate in the program at the beginning of the year. Accepted participants set goals for their 4-H project experience and reported on their accomplishments. Participants were also required to complete quality assurance requirements and project record books. To learn more about the Livestock Achievement Program, visit 4h.unl.edu/livestock-achievement.

In week six of this series, let’s explore number 5 of the 7 C’s—“common purpose.”

This group value in the social change model involves working with shared aims and values for the greater good of society as a whole. It helps a group take a deep look at the issues at hand and the actions they should take to resolve those issues, creating a sense of direction for their work. Recognizing the common purpose and mission of the group helps create the level of trust needed for successful collaboration. In our music metaphor, the common purpose is the song.

The Nebraska 4-H Farrowed and Owned Swine Cohort is designed to enhance the traditional 4-H swine project and cultivate the next generation of leaders in the swine industry by providing opportunities focusing on swine production as a goal of the 4-H member's project, along with accurate and complete record-keeping, industry knowledge, and engagement by the 4-H member. In order to participate, youth must be 4-H age 9-18, complete YQCA, and farrowed their project animals.

Youth involved in the cohort, participated in learning opportunities hosted by Extension Swine Specialist Benny Mote about nutrition, feeding, genetics, and more. They also maintained records related to swine management and basic care, which resulted in turning in a record book this weekend. Finally, they exhibited their Farrowed and Owned project animals at the 2023 Nebraska State Fair with the opportunity for special recognition for participating in the cohort.

The 2023 Nebraska 4-H Farrowed and Owned division at the Nebraska State Fair was sponsored by Parks of Nebraska LLC.

The following youth met the requirements of participating in 75% of the educational meetings from February - June and participating in the interview portion of the cohort at the 2023 Nebraska State Fair.

• Olivia Beel, Brown County
• Kade Goedeken, Platte County
• Kambryn Vaughn, Phelps County
• Keely Vaughn, Phelps County
• Kyper Vaughn, Phelps County
• Cullan Schmidt, Fillmore County
• Alli Ritter, Cuming County
• Eli Ritter, Cuming County
• Trevin Steuk, Saline County

Results from the live show:

• Grand Champion Farrowed and Owned Breeding Gilt: Cullan Schmidt, Fillmore County
• Reserve Champion Farrowed and Owned Breeding Gilt: Trevin Steuk, Saline County
• Grand Champion Farrowed and Owned Market Hog: Kade Goedeken, Platte County
• Reserve Champion Farrowed and Owned Market Hog: Eli Ritter, Cuming County

Cohort members learned the importance of accurate record keeping through a detailed record book they compiled with information about their farrowed and owned projects. The record books are used during an interview each cohort member participates in at the state fair. The interview is an important part of the cohort experience, as members gain valuable life skills from this experience.

Results from the interview portion of the cohort:

• 1st Place: Olivia Beel, Brown County
• 2nd Place: Keely Vaughn, Phelps County
• 3rd Place: Kade Goedeken, Platte County

Congratulations to all 2023 Nebraska 4-H Farrowed and Owned Cohort members!

For more information about the Nebraska 4-H Farrowed and Owned Cohort learning opportunity, please visit 4h.unl.edu/farrowed-owned.

In week five of this series, let’s explore number 4 of the 7 C’s—Collaboration.

Cover crop plots at the UNL West Central Research Extension and Education Center in North Platte. (Photo by Chabella Guzman) Producers at the field day swapped ideas and observations about cover crop production, and heard from extension educators and agronomists about best practices for their agricultural regions.

Brandon Dirkschneider, managing principal/president with Insurance Design Management (Omaha), certified financial planner and farm succession coordinator, is the featured speaker of a new transition planning webinar, free to the public on CAP. (Photo courtesy Erin Ehnle Brown/realagstock) Learn how to get the right transition plan in place for your farm or ranch operation with this free webinar featuring Brandon Dirkschneider of Insurance Design Management.

Nebraska Extension recently received four national awards from the National Association of County Agricultural Agents. (IANR News image) Extension educators were awarded for their work on a range of services provided to Nebraska's agricultural industry, including the farm management program "Know Your Numbers, Know Your Options."

Dry edible bean field in western Nebraska. (Photo by Gary Stone) Some of the projects to be funded by the grant feature research on mitigating adverse effects of diseases in dry beans, evaluating the effectiveness of different varieties of tomatoes, and the development of new irrigation technology.

The Nebraska Dry Bean Commission donated $6,500 to the Nebraska Farm Bureau “Ag in the Classroom.” Presenting the check was Chris Kelley, NDBC vice chair (second from left), and Dan Hinman, president of the Nebraska Dry Bean Growers Association (left), to Mark McHargue, president of the NEFB. (Photo by Chabella Guzman) Stakeholders in the dry bean industry discussed the state of production and markets during a recent tour at the UNL Panhandle Research Extension and Education Center in Scottsbluff.

Dr. Justin McMechan, UNL assistant professor of entomology and Nebraska Extension specialist, discusses his research and insights on the impact of hail on crops and what farmers should do after a storm on RFD-TV.

If you don’t grow something, Mother Nature will. The hairy vetch cover crop is suppressing weeds on the left compared to the no cover crop treatment on the right. The 2023 field day will feature research updates on the Rogers Memorial Farm 43-year tillage study, cover crop selection and performance, and more.

Nebraska is entering another stretch of hot weather, beginning September with well above average temperatures and low chances for rainfall.

Four leaders in Nebraska resource conservation and the Nebraska Chapter of the Soil and Water Conservation Society (SWCS) were honored by the International SWCS this year.

Historical cash rent data for Nebraska is available at USDA. County-level estimates for 2023 cash rents are now available on USDA NASS.

Though the farm finance and ag law clinics are offered monthly at sites across Nebraska, remote sessions are another option — call the number below to arrange a one-on-one meeting via phone or virtual platform. Nebraskans can attend one of the four dates scheduled for free, in-person farm and ag law clinics in September and October, or call to arrange a virtual/phone appointment.