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For many Nebraskans, post-pandemic inflation has strained their wallets in every aspect of daily life, from groceries to gas. Paying for child care is no different. Nebraska is the ninth most expensive state for child care for married couples and fourth for single parents. But cost aside, since the pandemic many rural communities have struggled just to keep child care centers open.

Rural Nebraskans are more pessimistic about their current and future well-being, as well as changes in their communities, according to the 2022 Nebraska Rural Poll.

Since its beginning 27 years ago, the poll has asked respondents about their current situation, as well as their outlook on the future. This year, the proportion believing they are worse off than they were five years ago was 21%, up from 11% last year. This is the highest level since 2013, when 26% believed they were worse off.

In week 3 of “The Science of Well-Being,” several topics are covered, but I'm going to focus on the discussion on social comparison and how it affects our happiness.

Our minds don’t think in terms of absolutes—they have to have something to compare a new experience with in order to process it. Because we don’t often have a next-door example to compare with, so we sometimes judge ourselves relative to irrelevant reference points.

Sponsored by Nebraska Extension, Ag Update 2023 begins at 9 a.m. in Central City, with a full day of crop production research and findings to inform the 2023 growing season. This free program will update Nebraska producers on corn production for 2023, USDA initiatives, climate and drought outlooks, with an emphasis in the afternoon session on water issues and irrigation management.

Discounted registration fees are available until Wednesday, Feb. 8 for the 2023 Nebraska Women in Agriculture Conference, located in Kearney. (Photo courtesy Center for Agricultural Profitability) The 38th annual conference will include a new pre-conference workshop on QuickBooks Online, and keynote speakers from across the nation who will touch on topics of mental health, farm economics and firsthand experiences as farmers and ranchers in America.

Farmers and ranchers in the Logan County area are encouraged to attend this free workshop from 1-3 p.m. Monday, Feb. 6, to learn how to effectively create succession plans for their operations. (Photo courtesy Center for Agricultural Profitability) Nebraska Extension Educator Allan Vyhnalek will offer insights on how to effectively create estate plans, avoid common mistakes and more in this free workshop.

For the 2023 crop year, producers can elect coverage and enroll in ARC-County or PLC on a crop-by-crop basis, or ARC-Individual for the entire farm. To learn more about these options, producers can attend the Feb. 7 webinar, where experts from Nebraska Farm Service Agency and UNL will discuss ARC and PLC in greater detail. (Photo courtesy Center for Agricultural Profitability) This webinar will review important information for producers, ag professionals and ag stakeholders ahead of the ARC and PLC election deadline on March 15.

Nebraska Extension Educator Laura Thompson and Lexington farmer Don Batie discuss research studies conducted by the Nebraska On-Farm Network and their impact on farming in Nebraska.

Producers and other ag industry stakeholders are invited to attend the annual UNL Department of Agronomy and Horticulture spring seminar series, which takes place on Fridays from February to April. The 2023 spring series will feature seminars on industrial hemp research, interseeding cover crops, remote sensing, dicamba tolerance in soybeans, precision agriculture tools and other research insights from experts across the nation.

Attendees will learn about UNL research on tillage, soil health, sawfly management, wheat fertility, crop rotations and more concerning crop and livestock production challenges in the High Plains.

This episode of FarmBits features Fernando Iost Filho of the University of Sao Paulo, who discusses his research and insights on remote sensing in integrated pest management.

The 2023 CPIA Conference will help producers maximize investments in their irrigation systems with presentations on pivot performance, sensors, drones, cover crop and residue management, chemigation and more. The 2023 CPIA Conference will help producers maximize investments in their irrigation systems with presentations on pivot performance, sensors, drones, cover crop and residue management, chemigation and more.

TAPS is expanding its competition offerings for Nebraska in 2023 with a new irrigated popcorn competition, a cover crops option for sprinkler corn, and a new location for the sorghum competition. The expansion also includes a new TAPS competition at Colorado State University.

In addition to below-normal temperatures closing out 2022 in Nebraska, last year also ranks as the fourth-driest on record for the state.

Two delegates and two alternates have been selected to represent Nebraska at the 2023 National 4-H Conference. The delegates, who are receiving partial scholarships to attend National 4-H Congress, include:

• Lexi Johnson, Dawson County
• Autumn Lindsley, Butler County

The alternates, who may attend National 4-H Conference at their own expense, include:

• Sarah Treffer, Dawson County
• Miya Carey, Holt County

National 4-H Conference is the premier national civic engagement opportunity for 4-H members across the country. Delegates not only learn while at the conference but also have the opportunity to practice and apply in a real-world setting their newly developed and refined skills. The National 4-H Conference is held annually in the Washington D.C. area. For more information about National 4-H Conference, please visit 4h.unl.edu/conference.