Feed aggregator

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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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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A native of Mitchell, Nebraska and graduate of UNL, Guzman began her duties at PREEC on March 13.

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!

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.

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.

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.