Feed aggregator

Throughout the fall 2022 season, FarmBits podcast guests highlighted advancements in precision irrigation technologies and imagery services in the agricultural industry.

Photo courtesy Center for Agricultural Profitability | Nathan Lykins/realagstock UNL experts discuss recent developments in natural gas prices and their implications in fertilizer prices, fertilizer affordability relative to crop prices and more in this update on world fertilizer markets from the Center of Agricultural Profitability.

Just as in 2021, white potatoes continued to lead production in Nebraska in 2022, reflecting 69% of the total stocks as of Dec. 1. Russets accounted for 29%.

As of Jan. 1, 64% of winter wheat was in fair to excellent condition in Nebraska.

Nebraska Extension Educator Ben Beckman explains how to accurately read and use a hay test, and options for using low-quality hay and silage.

Studies have shown that providing windbreaks for cattle leads to increased calving success and improved body condition. Extension educators review ways to maximize the benefits of snow cover on alfalfa and maintain animal health during periods of extreme cold and wind.

On Jan. 26, Fremont Corn Expo attendees will hear the latest information and research on corn production in Nebraska. After a two-year hiatus, the Fremont Corn Expo will return on Jan. 26, bringing Nebraska farmers the opportunity to hone their corn production and marketing strategies for 2023.

Photo courtesy Center for Agricultural Profitability | Erin Ehnle Brown/realagstock In these workshops, UNL experts will decode marketing lingo and guide participants in learning how to use historic grain market information to inform their 2023 grain marketing decisions and management of production costs.

There are three dates scheduled for free, in-person farm and ag law clinics in January. 

Photo by Laura Thompson During six meetings across the state, Nebraska farmers and agronomists will present results of their 2022 on-farm research studies on cover crops, variable rate seeding, starter fertilizer, biological products, seed treatments, variable rate nitrogen management and more.

Sunday, January 1, 2023

Agriculture is a rewarding business, but it does come with stressors – weather, cattle and grain prices, debt, etc. -- that can stack on top of each other. It’s important to recognize the value a person brings to an operation compared to the markets, number of acres you own, or the number in your bank account. Farmers and ranchers tend to struggle with a lack of routine, or lack of structure that comes with the business and having to always be flexible when dealing with the unknown. Producers tend to push through these adversities without giving themselves grace.

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Sunday, January 1, 2023

Knowing annual cow costs is the foundation for evaluating and making management decisions that can improve profitability for a cow-calf enterprise. Significant increases in input costs are challenging producers to examine cost of production and identify where there may be opportunities to adjust the production system. Calculating costs and breaking them into categories gives understanding into where there may be opportunity to make changes.

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Sunday, January 1, 2023

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Sunday, January 1, 2023

The 2023 Beef Feedlot Roundtable Series is an event that you won’t want to miss! We encourage feedlot owners, managers, employees, and allied industry to join Nebraska Extension February 7-9th as we dive into a series of timely topics covering feedlot management. Highlights from the program include the use of roller compacted concrete, implications of increasing hot carcass weight, and new requirements on implanting with speakers from UNL Extension and producers.

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Sunday, January 1, 2023

Expected progeny differences (EPDs) are a widely utilized tool in making genetic decisions centered around breeding objectives. With the progression of DNA technology, the industry has been able to incorporate genomics into the numbers that calculate EPDs. Prior to inclusion of genomic information, we relied on pedigree-based relationships that operate on the averages. This assumes a 50% contribution from the dam and 50% contribution from the sire. However, we know that offspring can relate more heavily to one parent or the other and that relationship varies from trait to trait.

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Sunday, January 1, 2023

This is a summary of the sixth annual beef cow replacement value forecast for Nebraska. The entire forecast can be found at this link, and past summaries are also available on the Farm¢ents site. The information presented in the forecast is intended as a guide to modify, depending on each producer’s circumstances, expectations of future production costs, and cow and calf values.

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Sunday, January 1, 2023

Total digestible nutrients (TDN) are the common energy reference for both feed content and animal requirement, so how are the two connected and what can we know to better examine TDN of feedstuffs and use energy economically?

The initial measure of energy begins with gross energy (GE), which is the term for all energy contained within a feed and consumed by the animal. By subtracting all the energy that passes through to manure from GE, you get digestible energy (DE). Digestible energy is the measure of energy converted into TDN within feedstuffs.

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Sunday, January 1, 2023

Two-day workshops will be held in January and February that will provide a hands-on learning experience for producers to learn how to calculate a unit cost of production for a cow-calf operation.

Having information to make effective business decisions is important for ranch success.  Enterprise analysis and unit cost of production (UCOP) are tools that can help ranchers identify where value is being created on the ranch, where costs are occurring, and what changes could be made to improve profit.

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Sunday, January 1, 2023

The 2023 Cow-Calf College Beef Seminar is set for January 19th at the Clay County Fairgrounds in the Activities Building. Registration starts at 9:00 am with programs scheduled from 9:30 am – 3:30 pm. This year’s program is focused on strategies to manage forage resources during drought, including eastern redcedar control and adjusting pasture stocking and rental rates. The hands-on format will allow participants to engage with specialists and peers throughout the day.

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