Nebraska County-level Commodity Estimates
Crop Progress: Slight Decline of Winter Wheat in February
Nebraska 2022 Crop Values Down 10%
Nebraska Feb. 1 Potato Stocks
Nebraska Farm Numbers Lower
Identifying Your Competitive Advantage
Livestock producers can enhance success by identifying and exploiting their competitive advantage in relation to their competition. What is special or unique about the product you produce, your skills, background, reputation, business structure, location or service that sets you apart from others? What gives you a “leg up” on the competition?
Spanish:Risk Management Workshops for Cattle Producers Set for March
The University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s Center for Agricultural Profitability and Nebraska Extension will host a price risk management workshop for cattle producers in Falls City, Holdrege and Kearney. Attendees will learn strategies designed to reduce risk exposure to achieve a profitable outcome in uncertain times.
Current issues facing the cattle industry will be discussed to help producers to make more informed decisions facing the industry.
Spanish:Registration Opens for 2023 Nebraska Ranch Practicum
Ranchers interested in learning about the latest cutting-edge research in range livestock production from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln are encouraged to register for the 2023 Nebraska Ranch Practicum offered by Nebraska Extension.
Spanish:Early Herd Rebuilding Could Happen Through the Bred Cow Market
This article was first published by "In the Cattle Markets" on Feb. 13, 2023.
Spanish:Filling Spring and Early Summer Forage Gaps Webinar March 16
Many cow/calf producers are short on hay and hoping for an early spring. This webinar will discuss some options for getting lactating cows fed until pasture is ready.
Spanish:Scheduling Early Breeding Soundness Exams for Bulls due to Extreme Winter Conditions
Nebraska and much of the Great Plains have experienced above normal snowfall coupled with extremely cold temperatures and high winds resulting in -20 to -60° F wind chills this winter. Extreme cold can result in frostbite to extremities in cattle including the testicles, which in turn can have a negative impact on spermatogenesis.
Spanish:Nebraska BQA Nearly Sweeps National BQA Awards
This year, the Nebraska Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) program was the highlight of the Closing General Session “A BQA Celebration” at the 2023 Cattle Industry Convention.
Since 2009, the National BQA program has utilized the National BQA awards to recognized cattle producers across the nation for their BQA achievements. The program recognizes producers and operations from the following sectors: cow-calf, feedyard, marketer, and dairy. Additionally, the educator award recognizes an individual who has been dedicated to the BQA program throughout their career.
Spanish:How to Increase Your Happiness in 2023—Part 5
In week 5 of “The Science of Well-Being,” we learn that certain behaviors are scientifically linked to improved well-being, including performing acts of kindness for other people, spending money on other people, and connecting with other people. As mentioned before, social connection is important to happiness, so anytime we can share an experience with others, it will generally boost our mood.
To Pave or Not to Pave? A Slippery-Slope…
Cattle operations in many areas have had to manage their animals through significant snowfall that led to muddy conditions in holding areas, walk lanes, feedyard pens, and other high-traffic locations. Poor performance, health challenges, and generally undesirable conditions for man and beast often followed.
Spanish:What does the Drought of 2022 mean for Lactating Pairs in the Spring of 2023?
As of February, Nebraska remains in drought conditions despite much of the state receiving significant snowfall in December and January (https://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/). The soil moisture profile is in a deficit due to months of below normal precipitation the last couple of years, which will have an impact on grass growth this spring.
Spanish:Nebraska Extension Seeking Producer Input on Mineral Supplementation Practices and Research and Education Needs
Nebraska Extension is looking to gather more information on cow-calf producers’ mineral supplementation practices. To better establish research and educational resource needs for beef cattle producers, Nebraska Extension has released a producer needs assessment survey targeting cow-calf producers.
Spanish:Getting More Out of Fall Forage Cover Crops: Is Strip Grazing Worth It?
Nebraska Extension will be hosting a webinar on Thursday, March 23rd at 7 p.m. CT/6 p.m. MT to share the results of on-farm research at 5 locations across Nebraska over two years evaluating the value of strip grazing cover crops. The webinar will include producer perspectives on balancing labor needed and increasing harvest efficiency. Register for the webinar at go.unl.edu/stripgrazing.
This project was made possible by funding from Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE).
Spanish:Evaluation of Diverse Cover Crops Across Nebraska: Findings from Spring-planted Cover Crops in 2022
Old-Fashioned Bread Pudding
A serving of "Old Fashioned Bread Pudding" is a delicious way to add whole grain breads to your meals! Buttering each slice of bread and sprinkling it with cinnamon before cutting it into cubes makes every bite especially tasty!
Source:
Adapted from: Montana Extension Nutrition Education Program, Montana State University Extension Service
Nutrition Software Used: ESHA Food ProcessorIngredients:
- 5 slices whole wheat bread
- 2 Tablespoons butter or margarine
- ¼ teaspoon cinnamon
- ⅓ cup sugar, white or brown
- ½ cup raisins or dried cranberries
- 3 eggs
- 2 cups nonfat milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Directions:
- Wash hands with soap and water. Preheat oven to 350 °F. Spray a 8x8 baking dish with non-stick cooking spray. Set aside.
- Spread one side of bread with margarine or butter. Sprinkle with cinnamon. Cut bread into 1-inch cubes.
- In a medium-sized bowl, combine bread cubes, sugar, and raisins.
- Break eggs into a medium-sized bowl. Wash hands with soap and water after cracking raw eggs. Add milk and vanilla to eggs. Blend well.
- Pour liquid over bread mixture; lightly mix. Transfer mixture to prepared baking dish.
- Bake uncovered for 50 to 60 minutes or until the center of the mixture reaches 160 °F when measured with a food thermometer. At this temperature, a metal knife inserted near the center of the pudding comes out clean.
- Serve warm or cold. Top with vanilla yogurt if desired. Refrigerate leftovers within 2 hours.
- Store leftovers in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to four days.
How to Increase Your Happiness in 2023—Part 4
In week 4 of “The Science of Well-Being,” we learn about resetting our reference points. It takes effort, but there are intentional activities we can do to help overcome our biases and improve our mood.
One strategy to reset our reference points is to spend our money on experiences instead of “stuff.” Material purchases stay the same over time and we get used to them. They may provide a short uptick in happiness, but they soon become just part of our lives and we no longer derive pleasure from them.