Feed aggregator

Understanding Scours

Latest Updates from beef.unl.edu - Tue, 03/28/2023 - 11:46
Saturday, April 1, 2023

Neonatal calf diarrhea, or scours, is a common concern among cow-calf producers.  Understanding why scours occurs is the first step in preventing the problem.  Calf scours outbreaks are the result of a contaminated calving and nursing environment.  This environmental contamination develops following a period of pathogen (germ) buildup, or amplification.

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Preventing Grass Tetany in the Lactating Beef Cow this Spring

Latest Updates from beef.unl.edu - Tue, 03/28/2023 - 11:34
Saturday, April 1, 2023

As spring nears and grass begins to turn green, producers are anxious to get cows out to grass. However, cool season predominate areas tend to have lush spring growth which can lead to grass tetany in cows. While there are treatments for cows caught quick enough, prevention is always the best policy.

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Getting the Most 0ut of Grazing Cereal Rye and Other Winter-hardy Small Cereals

Latest Updates from beef.unl.edu - Tue, 03/28/2023 - 11:17
Saturday, April 1, 2023

When grazed from early April to early May, forage quality of cereal rye, winter triticale, and winter wheat is similar. All three species can be very high quality. When managed correctly, growing calves can gain 3 to 4 lbs/day. Cereal rye can have greater growth during cooler conditions compared to wheat or triticale. This is the reason it can often provide earlier spring grazing. On the other hand, triticale retains its feed value better into late spring since it does not mature as quickly. This makes it well-suited for hay and silage, or for grazing well into June.

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Thin Cows and Limited Hay Resources: What are my options?

Latest Updates from beef.unl.edu - Tue, 03/28/2023 - 10:53
Saturday, April 1, 2023

Drought conditions this last growing season, limited hay supply, and a wet winter have been very challenging to beef producers. This created a situation where many cows at this point were thinner than normal years.  In addition, we couple that with limited hay and lower-quality hay with the potential of having a late green up or delayed turn out to grass. With that in mind, we have to think about how to increase energy in the diet to meet the lactational requirements while gaining BCS and doing that past our traditional turn out to grass. 

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PREEC Welcomes New Communications Specialist

Latest Updates from cropwatch.unl.edu - Fri, 03/24/2023 - 14:42
A native of Mitchell, Nebraska and graduate of UNL, Guzman began her duties at PREEC on March 13.

How to Increase Your Happiness in 2023—Part 9

In week nine of “The Science of Well-Being,” we learn about the difference between a fixed mindset and a growth mindset.

A fixed mindset is where we believe that we were born with a certain intelligence level and set abilities that we cannot change. Having a growth mindset means we believe our abilities and intelligence can be developed and improved over time. If we think we have the ability to improve, we will!

Community Conversations with Jason Tuller

You may have seen recent press about Nebraska Extension and The Big 3. This is our new strategic direction which can be boiled down to three ambitions, which we are calling, “The Big 3”. The Big 3 are: Strengthen Nebraska Agriculture and Food Systems, Inspire Nebraskans and Their Communities, and Enhance the Health and Wellbeing of All Nebraskans. You can watch videos explaining our strategic direction here.

Program Gives Nebraska Communities a Look at Their Online Presence

There’s an old saying that you don’t know your own backyard. Referring to tourist attractions, the adage conveys a common belief that New Yorkers never go to Times Square, and Arizonans never visit the Grand Canyon. Whether that’s true or not, hometowns often feel so familiar that residents don’t consider what impressions they give to outsiders. First Impressions Online, Rural Prosperity Nebraska’s newest community development program, gives people a view of their own backyard.

Virtual Landlord/Tenant Cash Rent Workshops March 23 and 24

Latest Updates from cropwatch.unl.edu - Fri, 03/17/2023 - 10:28
Led by Allan Vyhnalek and Jim Jansen, the March 23 workshop will be geared toward eastern Nebraska producers, and the March 24 workshop will feature examples more relevant to central and western Nebraska producers. The free workshops will offer updated leasing information, new 2023 Nebraska land values and cash rental rates, and address numerous concerns related to land management.

Manure Improves Soil Health and Provides Yield Stability and Reliability

Latest Updates from cropwatch.unl.edu - Fri, 03/17/2023 - 10:16
This graph demonstrates the increase in crop yield over time at the Knorr-Holden plot, which has been continuously planted with corn since 1912, and treated with beef cattle manure since 1942. (Graph courtesy UNL Water) UNL researchers share their results after 77 years of applying manure to soil at the Knorr-Holden plot, the oldest experimental irrigated corn plot in North America.

FarmBits Podcast: Instant Insights with Intelia

Latest Updates from cropwatch.unl.edu - Fri, 03/17/2023 - 09:49
In the latest episode, FarmBits investigates livestock sensors for poultry, which track bird health, barn temperature, food consumption and more to deliver producers real-time insights on their flock.

FarmBits Podcast: Smart Fencing

Latest Updates from cropwatch.unl.edu - Fri, 03/17/2023 - 09:34
The FarmBits team interviews UNL master's student Kaitlyn Dozler to learn more about how virtual fencing can minimize the labor and time commitments required for rotational grazing.

Pasture and Forage Minute: Winter Survival in Alfalfa, Fertilizing Cool-Season Grass

Latest Updates from cropwatch.unl.edu - Thu, 03/16/2023 - 23:04
Fertilization of smooth bromegrass pastures should begin soon, by late March through April Tips on choosing winter survival traits in alfalfa without compromising yield, and timing and application rates for fertilizing cool-season grass pastures.

Calculating the Value of Nutrients in Manure

Latest Updates from cropwatch.unl.edu - Thu, 03/16/2023 - 18:01
The value of manure depends upon several factors that must be assessed, including its type, how and where it's applied, the amount of nutrients needed in the field for the next crop and the cost of fertilizer. Nebraska Extension Animal Manure Management Educator Leslie Johnson walks through the steps of calculating manure value.

Recognizing Power and Control in Estate Planning

Latest Updates from cropwatch.unl.edu - Thu, 03/16/2023 - 17:01
Currently, only a third of farm families successfully transition management to the next generation. In this article, Nebraska Extension Educator Allan Vynhalek shares advice on how to incorporate the next generation of leaders into an operation before succession to ensure their prosperity in the years to come. (Photo courtesy Center for Agricultural Profitability) Nebraska Extension Educator Allan Vyhnalek shares strategies that can help farm families improve their collaborate skills and prepare the next generation for leadership.

Agricultural Land Management Quarterly Webinar for February 2023

Latest Updates from cropwatch.unl.edu - Thu, 03/16/2023 - 16:48
The Center for Agricultural Profitability's agriculture land management quarterly webinars address common management issues for Nebraska landowners, agricultural operators and related stakeholders interested in the latest insight on trends in real estate, managing agricultural land and solutions for addressing challenges in the upcoming growing season. (Photo courtesy CAP) The first Agricultural Land Management Quarterly webinar of 2023 covers setting cash rents, flex lease alternatives and considerations for updating agricultural rental arrangements for the year.

USDA Farm Service Agency Disaster Programs Webinar

Latest Updates from cropwatch.unl.edu - Thu, 03/16/2023 - 13:53
UNL Associate Professor and Extension Policy Specialist Brad Lubben discusses two new USDA assistance programs, the Emergency Relief Program (ERP) Phase 2 and the 2020 Pandemic Assistance Revenue Program (PARP), with USDA representatives Patrick Lechner and Cathy Anderson. Learn more about two new USDA programs created to assist farmers and ranchers with natural disaster and pandemic-related losses in this Center for Agricultural Profitability webinar.

2023 Farm Real Estate Report Published: Nebraska Land Values Up 14%

Latest Updates from cropwatch.unl.edu - Thu, 03/16/2023 - 13:22
According to the Nebraska Farm Real Estate Market Survey preliminary report, the market value of agricultural land in Nebraska increased by over 14% over the prior year. (Photo courtesy Center for Agricultural Profitability) The 2023 report findings mark the second-largest increase in market value of ag land in Nebraska since 2014, and the highest non-inflation-adjusted statewide land value in 45 years.

How to Increase Your Happiness in 2023—Part 8

In week 8 of this series based on the class “The Science of Well-Being,” we will discuss two strategies for creating better habits—setting goals and situation support. Most of the examples from the class were around healthy eating, but these strategies can be applied to other happiness-supporting habits as well (exercise, meditation, doing acts of kindness).

February 2023 Brings Wet and Warm Conditions East, Cold and Drier Conditions West

Latest Updates from cropwatch.unl.edu - Wed, 03/15/2023 - 12:46
Several areas of Nebraska had a one- to two-category improvement in drought conditions throughout the winter season, which has been the fifth wettest winter on record for the state.