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The Agricultural Land Management Quarterly webinars address common management issues for Nebraska landowners, ag operators and related stakeholders. To review historical land management webinars, visit the Center for Ag Profitability. The May webinar examines the latest average cash rental rates in the state and offers insight on adjusting rental rates considering high commodity prices this year.

Thursday, June 1, 2023

What’s the problem?

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The videos discuss topics relevant to landlords and tenants and their accompanying leasing considerations, including crop residue, hunting rights, pasture leases and using manure on cropland.

The webinar features discussion about FSA drought assistance programs by Pat Lechner, Nebraska FSA price support, conservation and environmental programs chief, Ben Henrink, Nebraska FSA farm loan program specialist, Brad Lubben, Nebraska Extension policy specialist, and Shannon Sand, Nebraska Extension agricultural economist. This webinar reviews how to apply for key drought assistance programs, and discusses drought disaster designations, the FSA emergency loan program, and management principles and recordkeeping needs for producers under drought conditions.

One of the wheat field tour stops in 2022 at the UNL High Plains Ag Lab. (Photo by Chabella Guzman) Field day participants will get the chance to tour varieties of winter wheat, spring wheat and spring peas on dryland and irrigated plots in six locations spanning Perkins to Banner County.

A growing number of Nebraska school districts are sourcing ingredients for their school meals from local farmers.

In a state like Nebraska, that makes sense, said Jordan Rasmussen, an Extension educator with Rural Prosperity Nebraska. But as much as the farm-to-school movement is a logical extension of the state’s robust ag economy, it’s also a holistic approach to improving Nebraska’s communities.

“Not only does it address a community’s physical health, but also economic, educational and social health,” Rasmussen said.

Graduate students Grace Emperatriz Pacheco Jiron (left), Bridget McKinley, and Vesh R. Thapa, UNL postdoctoral research associate, gather forage samples at PREEC cover crop plots. (Photo by Chabella Guzman) The project is a four-year collaboration between UNL and NRCS to identify the most-suited cover crops species and varieties for unique eco-regions across the state of Nebraska.

Carter Canyon wildfire in 2022 as seen from Scottsbluff. (Photo by Chabella Guzman) The free field tour will visit two locations that experienced wildfires during the summer of 2021 and 2022 for discussion with rangeland management experts on recovery strategies, reseeding fire lines and more.

Jennifer Lester Moffitt, under secretary of agriculture for marketing and regulatory programs at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, visited the University of Nebraska–Lincoln’s East Campus on May 23 to participate in a roundtable discussion on the $25 million grant awarded to Rural Prosperity Nebraska to create the Heartland Regional Food Business Center.

Beth Ford, CEO and president of Land O’ Lakes, engages in a “fireside chat” with CASNR Dean Tiffany Heng-Moss. (Photo by Craig Chandler, University Communication and Marketing) In a recent Heuermann Lecture, Land O'Lakes President and CEO Beth Ford highlighted current initiatives farmers are implementing to preserve our water supply and the need for a comprehensive, long-term water sustainability strategy.

Nebraska Extension Biological Systems Engineering Educator F. John Hay shares an in-depth analysis on the economics of on-farm solar following USDA's announcement that an additional $1 billion in grants are available to help ag producers and rural small businesses finance renewable energy systems or to make energy-efficiency improvements. This webinar covers the general design elements of behind-the-meter on-farm solar and walks through production, value of electricity, interconnection policies and how these impact economic return.

Nebraska Extension Educator Amy Timmerman share insights on plant survival and reseeding after ponding has occurred in planted corn fields.

The best time to cut grass hay is when the grass nutrient content matches the nutritional needs of your livestock — before heads begin to emerge for young animals, and before seeds develop for mature animals. This week — Nebraska Extension educators share target protein levels of small grains and grass hay for the upcoming harvest, and analyze the cost of various fencing options.

Spring-emerging army cutworm moths are beginning their migration journey west to spend the summer months in mountainous areas of Colorado, Wyoming and Montana.

Rural Prosperity Nebraska will kick off the 10th season of its Rural Fellows internship program next month. Beginning June 5, 21 students will live in 10 rural communities across the state, working on community development projects that range from public health to downtown creative arts districts.

Historical crop progress data for Nebraska is available at USDA. (Photo by Gary Stone) Dry edible bean planting was at 4% complete as of May 21, and corn planting was nearing 90% complete.

Valentine will show off its newly renovated Main Street when community leaders and business professionals come to the city to attend the fifth annual Connecting Entrepreneurial Communities (CEC) Conference June 8-9. Hosted by Rural Prosperity Nebraska in a different community each year, the two-day event features workshops, seminars, and keynote lectures focused on all things community development, from entrepreneurial environments to tourism enhancement. 

Thursday, June 1, 2023

Join us on June 15-16, 2023, for a free two-day training event on Emerging Technology in the Livestock and Meat industries and CME Live Cattle and Carcass Specifications and Deliveries. We encourage stakeholders (cattle producers, feeders, processors, and allied industries) to join who are interested in the official quality grading of feeder cattle, fed cattle, and beef carcasses in the United States.  This training event is collaborative with USDA – AMS and the Animal Science Department at the University of Nebraska.

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To help producers prepare for program delivery, USDA has announced the forms that will be required to participate in ERP and ELRP for 2022 losses — AD-2047, CCC-902, CCC-901, AD-1026. For more information, see the section 'How Producers Can Prepare' below. . Through a streamlined application process, USDA intends to send pre-filled applications directly to eligible crop producers in early summer.

The goal of the symposium is to bring agriculture sector entities and law enforcement together to understand the range of threats targeting agriculture and to form enduring relationships to detect and counter cyber and security threats. Participating agencies will share insights on threats to agriculture posed by criminals, terrorists, cyber actors and foreign governments, and discuss ways to strengthen the ag sector and resist cyber attacks.