Feed aggregator

Tuesday, February 27, 2024 Resources Available for Those Impacted  Spanish: 

Tuesday, February 27, 2024

Spring wildfires that occur on range and pasturelands will happen when there is the right combination of high winds and low humidity.  That has been the case here in 2024 and that threat will continue until we have new, green grass growth later this spring.  Although the immediate aftermath of a fast-moving fire can look quite devastating, our perennial pasture grasses are resilient and will recover, especially since they are still dormant.  Spring is also a time when many prescribed burns are conducted for the purpose of Eastern red cedar control.  Of course, adequate m

Spanish: 

Quicken is an easy program for people unfamiliar with accounting terms to use, making it a good place to start when changing from a hand-kept cash accounting system to computerized records. Nebraska Extension’s new virtual Quicken course will teach participants how to use the features of the program in a self-paced setting. The course will lead users through hands-on sessions to develop a simple set of financial records and reports using Quicken, with exercises based on a case farm to walk through practical applications.

Though the farm finance and ag law clinics are offered monthly at sites across Nebraska, remote sessions are another option — call the number below to arrange a one-on-one meeting via phone or virtual platform. Nebraskans can attend a free, in-person farm and ag law clinic in Fairbury or Norfolk in March, or call to arrange a virtual/phone appointment.

Historical farmland data for Nebraska is available at USDA. Nebraska lost 100 farms and ranches throughout 2023.

Historical potato stocks data for Nebraska is available at USDA. Nebraska had 4.40 million cwt of potatoes in storage on Feb. 1, which represents 40% of 2023 production.

Historical crop values for Nebraska are available at USDA. While the overall value of Nebraska's 2023 crops is down 11% from 2022, the state's winter wheat production value is up 16%.

Historical crop progress data for Nebraska is available at USDA. As of Feb. 25, winter wheat condition and soil moisture supplies rated slightly below January totals.

See Nebraska's county level estimates for 2023 row crops here. County-level estimates for 2023 row crops in Nebraska are now available on USDA NASS's Quickstats database.

Free to attend, the Annual Results Update meetings will provide Nebraskans the opportunity to hear on-farm research insights from the producers who conducted projects throughout 2023, as well as connect with Nebraska Extension educators. The Nebraska On-Farm Research Network's final 2024 Results Update meetings will take place on Feb. 27 in York, and Feb. 28 in Kearney.

Drought adds another layer of complication to the process of establishing fair pasture rental rates. Landowners renting pasture in severe drought-impacted regions might consider pricing leases based on grazing animal unit months or rent per head per month of grazing, rather than flat rates per acre or cow-calf pair. Extension educators share considerations for establishing pasture rental rates and selecting alfalfa seed for winter survival traits.

Wednesday, February 21, 2024

Webinar: Maximizing Herd Value with the Bull Value Cow-Q-Lator Tool

Thursday, Feb. 22, 2024 at Noon (CT)

Spanish: 

A cow's energy requirements increase about 30% and protein needs nearly double after calving. Because of this, it's important to use your best quality forages with any needed supplements to provide adequate nutrition. Tips on meeting nutrient requirements of cows after calving season and improving pasture production by frost seeding or interseeding legumes.

Monday, February 19, 2024

An upcoming four-part extension workshop for women in agriculture will focus on emergency preparedness for rural families.

The program will be held at numerous locations across Nebraska and Indiana. The series will focus on farm and ranch emergency management, first aid, fire protection, and hazardous materials. Workshops will be held from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. CT on March 5, 7, 12 and 14.

The program is a collaboration between extension women in agriculture programs at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Purdue University.

Spanish: 

Nebraska 4-H members from across the state will showcase their designs during Omaha Fashion Week runway showcase. Omaha Fashion Week is highlighting themes of reckless self-expression during their Spring 2024 AUDACIOUS Season. As they focus on fashion-for-good they are honoring the audacity it takes to use our voices to create meaningful change in our communities.

Amongst the seven groups that will be presenting their designs on the runway during student night, Nebraska 4-H youth will be modeling their designs on Wednesday, February 21, 2024, during the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Student Night at 8:00 pm.

Youth across the state were invited to apply with the design they have sewn for 4-H in 2023. Thirty-two 4-Her’s were chosen from 17 counties in Nebraska. They have been practicing their walk for the runway, will be getting their hair and makeup ready by the SOHO hair academy, and will have family and friends in attendance!

Participating youth are:

• Emily Barfknecht – Adams County

• Ayvrie Waldron – Box Butte County

• Danica Romshek – Butler County

• Macie Koch – Cedar County

• Kate Cox – Cherry County

• Morgan Schommer – Dawes County

• Karla Herrarte – Dawson County

• Maya Soria – Dawson County

• Melissa Montano – Dawson County

• Sydni Ringenberg – Dawson County

• Ava Caldwell – Douglas-Sarpy County

• Coralee Schurr – Frontier County

• Amelia Dieckman – Gage County

• Audrey Diekman – Gage County

• Cora Novacek – Gage County

• Alison Schimmer – Hall County

• Carmin Gramke – Kearney County

• Alexa Smith – Lancaster County 

• Clara Johnson – Lancaster County

• Dayton Jons – Lancaster County

• Josie Johnson – Lancaster County

• Lauren Johnson – Lancaster County

• Piper Pillard – Lancaster County

• Tenley Bauman – Lancaster County

• Vanessa Peterson – Lancaster County

• Josie Williams – Nance County

• Delaney Cheloha – Platte County

• Karis Kersting – Platte County

• Maura Tichota – Saunders County

• Abigail Nelson – Sheridan County

• Emily Nelson – Sheridan County

• Zayling Ott – Washington County

Doors open at 6:00 pm. To purchase tickets, visit https://omahafashionweek.ticketleap.com/ofw-spring-2024-student-night/.

Friday, February 16, 2024

Spring sale season in the Great Plains is in full swing. This is when seedstock producers get to showcase their program's progeny, and buyers can acquire bull power for the upcoming breeding season. The primary purpose of buying bulls is to improve herd genetics through an outside seedstock producers’ breeding program. Since nearly all herd improvements over time are a deliberate effort through purchased bulls or modern technologies such as artificial insemination, genetics are instilled in a herd through new bulls.

Spanish: 

Prospective Planting survey results will be published in the Prospective Plantings and quarterly Grain Stocks reports to be released on March 28, 2024. NASS will mail the survey questionnaire in late February, asking producers to provide information about the types of crops and amount of acreage they intend to plant in 2024.

To use the new Pay My Loan feature for direct loans, producers must establish a USDA customer account and a USDA Level 2 eAuthentication account or a Login.gov account. See more details below. To better assist producers during seasons of limited free time, such as planting and harvest, farm loan payments can now be made at the borrower’s convenience, on their schedule.

Jill O’Donnell, director of the Clayton Yeutter Institute on International Trade and Finance, recently offered insight on how to boost ag innovation with gene editing technologies.

Nebraska Extension Educator Amy Timmerman shares insights to help Nebraska producers decide whether drones would be a beneficial precision ag investment for their operations.