Feed aggregator

Two bills in the 2023 legislative session have the potential to impact Nebraska ag in significant ways — LB 591 would change the deadline for oral cropland lease termination notice from Sept. 1 to Jan. 1, and LB 662 would enhance protection for livestock owners from nuisance lawsuits. (Photo credit: Nebraska Unicameral Information Office) UNL Agricultural Law and Water Specialist Dave Aiken reviews the details of two bills in the 2023 legislative session dealing with farmland leases and livestock nuisance lawsuits.

Research has shown that small businesses who highly engage in strategic planning activities realize 60% higher gross returns than those who do not highly engage. (Photo courtesy Center for Ag Profitability) UNL Farm and Ranch Management Specialist Jay Parsons discusses the impacts of sound strategic planning and decision-making in today’s ag industry.

Daran Rudnick, UNL associate professor and irrigation management specialist, provides a brief background on the TAPS program, how the competition works and why it’s had such a positive impact on Nebraska producers.

Individuals who complete the survey will help Nebraska Extension understand what training courses and materials will best benefit agricultural producers in the future.

With intense drought conditions last year, it may be prudent to reduce stocking rates and delay turnout this spring, to help grasses in their recovery process. With spring on the horizon, it's time to put 2023 grazing plans in place and be on the lookout for signs of grass tetany.

For successful double cropping, small grains like triticale should be planted now through early April, grazed from the third week of May to early June, and then followed by a summer annual grass. Strategies and tips for successfully double cropping annual forages this year, and a breakdown on what fall dormancy means for alfalfa growth during the next growing season.

Interseeded cover crops was just one of many topics discussed at the Eastern Nebraska Soil Health Conference in February. (Photo by Jenny Rees) Topics of this year's soil health conference ranged from diversified crop rotations to interseeding cover crops to livestock integration and featured emerging soil health methods like new cover crop species, biochar as a soil health amendment and the perennial grain Kernza.

As it aggressively scavenges nitrogen in the soil, alfalfa can greatly reduce nitrate contamination of groundwater with no negative implications for future crops if planted in rotations.. This UNL research study provides insights on the rotation of annual crops with alfalfa as a highly effective means of reducing nitrate-nitrogen contamination in groundwater.

Farmers market season is fast approaching. Across Nebraska, farmers markets have become integral to the economies and social fabric of dozens of rural communities. To help create more successful markets, Buy Fresh Buy Local Nebraska has published the Nebraska Rural Farmers Market Handbook.

The handbook grew out of conversations about common farmers market issues, said Ben Jewell, a Rural Prosperity Nebraska extension educator and co-leader for the Nebraska Regional Food Systems Initiative.

For safety training, Nebraska teens will have two locations to choose from — North Platte and Grand Island — and eight locations where they can take the final tractor driving test to receive certification. See testing sites and registration information below. Two training locations and eight testing locations will be available to Nebraska teens seeking tractor and equipment safety certification.

Nielsen will wrap up 45 years of contributing to University of Nebraska research initiatives with his departure from the university on March 31.

A review of the impacts cercospora leaf spot has had on sugarbeet production in Nebraska since the early 1900s.

Saturday, April 1, 2023

Calving is just underway across the country, which means calf processing and branding (if applicable in your area) is just around the corner.

For those who may not be calving already or those looking for good calving reading material, it is good to revisit some calving best management practices. Previous articles listed in BeefWatch do a great job highlighting specifics related to calving.

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Saturday, April 1, 2023

In December, Carol Krutsinger made a $1 million gift to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and the Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture (NCTA) to develop the next generation of beef industry leaders.

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Saturday, April 1, 2023

A recent BeefWatch article highlighted the importance of timing for a Breeding Soundness Exam (BSE) in our bull battery especially with the winter weather many of our producers have been experiencing. With that in mind, let us dive in a little deeper to how this harsh winter weather can impact bull fertility and how to address management for this next breeding season.

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Saturday, April 1, 2023

A recent BeefWatch article highlighted the importance of timing for a Breeding Soundness Exam (BSE) in our bull battery especially with the winter weather many of our producers have been experiencing. With that in mind, let us dive in a little deeper to how this harsh winter weather can impact bull fertility and how to address management for this next breeding season.

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Saturday, April 1, 2023

A successful breeding season requires planning. Estrus synchronization is one tool that can benefit cattle producers if used correctly. Estrus synchronization can allow more females to be bred earlier in the breeding season and can shorten the postpartum interval in late-calving females, allowing them to become pregnant earlier in the calving season.

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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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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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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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