Feed aggregator

Ag finance experts explore Gambler’s Fallacy and the Dunning-Kruger effect in this webinar to give producers a better understanding of how these cognitive biases can impact their decision-making. This new webinar focuses on current market forces and common tendencies of decision-makers as they consider selling this year’s corn crop to improve their skills and strategies in grain marketing.

I have been busy during the last couple of months doing advocacy for Extension. What does that mean? Well, it means I have traveled to Lincoln and Washington D.C. to speak with legislators about Nebraska Extension and our county commissioners. It really isn’t a hard job to ask for support for Nebraska Extension. With offices in almost every county and a long history of important research and programs delivered to the public, nearly everyone has heard of Extension and has had good experiences with them.

Ethanol plant in Madrid, Nebraska. (Photo courtesy Nebraska Ethanol Board) Researchers found from studying historical data that while marketing to ethanol plants can net producers better returns, the type (pre-harvest or spring) and size of benefit depend upon the size of the ethanol plant.

Last month, Nebraska experienced precipitation that led to atypical extremes for both sides of the state, with the western region breaking records for rainfall and eastern areas setting new records for driest weather in May.

In an effort to estimate the cost of weeds to agriculture and the overall economics of weed management, researchers recently analyzed numerous scientific studies on the water use of 34 weed species found across the world.

First-year results of a cooperative, multi-state research project aimed at helping growers achieve soybean yields with higher protein and oil content.

Approximately 729 youth from 42 states will convene in Grand Island from June 25-30 for the 2023 4-H Shooting Sports National Championships. The event will feature competitions across nine shooting sports disciplines, including compound archery, recurve archery, air rifle, air pistol, .22 rifle, .22 pistol, shotgun, muzzleloading, and hunting skills. 

Fourteen Nebraska 4-H members are set to compete at this year's event. The shotgun team is coached by Larry Kotrous and includes:

• Hunter Isabell, Lancaster County
• Blake Byerly, Knox County
• Caden Ost, York County
• Jacob Smith, Knox County

The .22 rifle team, coached by Jennifer Thomsen, includes:

• Aubrie Birkel, Custer County
• Sara Thomsen, Pierce County
• Matthew Koehlmoos, Holt County
• Riata Remund, Custer County

The compound archery team is coached by Matt Carmin and includes:

• Ashton Koch, Pierce County
• Dylan Naslund, Cherry County
• Riley Peterson, Lancaster County

The hunting skills team, coached by Ross Rote, includes:

• Korryn Beberniss, Garden County
• Kyle Rote, Garden County
• Parker Walahoski, Dawson County

The 4-H shooting sports program focuses on the total development of its members. The activities are utilized as a vehicle for human growth and development. With support from caring adult leaders, youth develop life skills, self-worth, and conservation ethics in addition to shooting sports skills and knowledge, such as marksmanship, the safe and responsible use of firearms, and the principles of hunting and archery.

The 2023 4-H Shooting Sports National Championships is coordinated and hosted by Nebraska 4-H and the National 4-H Shooting Sports Committee. For more information, visit 4h.unl.edu/shooting-sports/national.

A view of the North Platte River valley at Scottsbluff, Nebraska. (Photo by Gary Stone) Part 5 of the Nebraska Rivers series focuses on the Platte Rivers, which played a crucial role in America's westward expansion as settlers traversed westward along its waters, creating the Oregon, Mormon, Overland and California trails and the Pony Express.

Extremely toxic to both animals and humans, poison hemlock can be found statewide in Nebraska and is most toxic right before the fruits mature. (Photo courtesy Oregon Department of Agriculture) Nebraska is experiencing the lowest level of hay stocks since 1974. With this deficit in mind, extension educators stress the importance of taking inventory of feed and hay resources, and to begin planning for next year's needs right now.

Palmer amaranth invades a corn field in south-central Nebraska. (CropWatch file photo by Amit Jhala) Researchers examined more than 1,000 studies to compile a comprehensive report on weed germination, growth and seed production during periods of water stress.

Historical crop progress data for Nebraska is available at USDA. (Photo by Gary Stone) Sorghum and dry edible beans have returned to near-average planting pace thanks to a surge in fieldwork last week, and more than 90% of planted corn and soybeans have emerged in Nebraska.

Historical crop production reports for Nebraska are available at USDA. Nebraska's 2023 winter wheat crop is currently forecast at 33.0 million bushels, up 26% from last year's crop.

The crop water use report is updated weekly. Visit PHREC AgLab for more information.

Nebraska Extension Educator Gary Stone shares an update on crop growth and potential water needs in the Nebraska Panhandle for mid-June.

The Nebraska 4-H Foundation is excited to announce the recipients of its annual scholarships. Nineteen recent high school graduates were selected to receive higher education scholarships based on their outstanding accomplishments in 4-H, dedication to community service, and high scholastic achievement.

Scholarship winners include:

• Ashley Abrahams, Dodge County
• Paige Bunn, Dodge County
• Sierra Cain, Lincoln County
• Alexa Carter, Butler County
• Addison Cotton, York County
• Aleyna Cuttlers, Lancaster County
• Evan Hartman, Dodge County
• Jaci Larsen, Garfield County
• Creyton Line, Buffalo County
• Caleb Most, Keith County
• Abigail Owens, Dawson County
• Thomas Perrin, Keith County
• Kaylee Powell, Hall County
• Kyle Rote, Garden County
• Carson Sullivan, Hall County
• Gregory Treffer, Dawson County
• Olivia Vanderford, Lancaster County
• Spencer Walahoski, Dawson County
• Paige Wood, Nance County

The Nebraska 4-H Foundation provides up to $22,000 worth of scholarships each year to graduating seniors who have been actively involved in 4-H. To learn more about Nebraska 4-H Foundation Scholarships, please visit Ne4HFoundation.org/Scholarships.

The Nebraska 4-H Foundation is excited to announce the 2023 Governor's Agricultural Excellence Awards winners. Seventeen 4-H Clubs were selected to receive $500 grants to complete projects that will have lasting and meaningful impacts on their communities.

The following clubs have been awarded the 2023 Governor’s Agricultural Excellence Award:

• Country Kids 4-H Club, Boone County
• Minute Milker 4-H Club, Clay County
• Dog Gone Fun 4-H Club, Custer County
• Pathfinders 4-H Club, Gage County
• Grant County 4-H Council, Grant County
• Cloverdale 4-H Club, Holt County
• Shining Stars 4-H Club, Holt County
• 5-Star 4-H Club, Lancaster County
• Fusion 4-Hers, Lancaster County
• Hunter’s Pride, Lancaster County
• Lancaster County Teen Council, Lancaster County
• Blossomfield 4-H Club, Polk County
• Clover Rovers 4-H Club, Polk County
• Sheridan County Jr. Leaders, Sheridan County
• Badger Buddies 4-H Club, Washington County
• Tomorrow’s Leaders 4-H Club, Washington County
• Webster County Wranglers, Webster County.

The Nebraska 4-H Foundation’s Governor’s Agricultural Excellence Awards, sponsored by the Nebraska Investment Finance Authority, NIFA, is a prestigious award designed to recognize 4-H clubs for their efforts to serve their communities. For more information about the Governor's Agricultural Excellence Awards, visit Ne4HFoundation.org.

Ruben Behnke, a climatologist specializing in the practical application of meteorological data, is the new manager of the Nebraska Mesonet. (IANR News image) Behnke, who worked more than five years with the South Dakota Mesonet, began his duties as Nebraska Mesonet manager earlier this spring.

Whitish spots (stippling) are an indication of black grass bugs feeding, which can be managed by intense spring and fall grazing, hay removal, and foliar insecticides for severe infestations. (Photo courtesy Whitney Cranshaw, Colorado State University) This week — irrigation strategies for moisture-stressed alfalfa prior to first cutting, controlling black grass bugs in wheatgrass, and techniques for stretching pasture.

Nebraska Extension Weed Management Specialist Amit Jhala discusses the effect of dry soil conditions on activation of residual herbicides in corn and what can be done to control weeds.

With the arrival of severe weather season, N Field Observations highlights the importance of reviewing and updating insurance policies for your ag operation.

Figure 1. Early installation of sensors helps minimize root and leaf damage and makes it easy to get around the field with the pickup or ATV to install the equipment. Many producers in Nebraska will need to irrigate in June to refill the soil profile before high water demand begins in July, but there are numerous factors to consider when calculating the appropriate irrigation amounts.