Feed aggregator

The net worth requirement for beginning farmer applicants is now up to $250,000. Deadline to apply for the 2022 income tax credit or personal property tax exemption is Nov. 1.

Nebraska 4-H, in collaboration with the University of Nebraska–Lincoln Department of Animal Science, offered the fifth year of the Nebraska 4-H Fed Steer Challenge in 2022.

The Fed Steer Challenge cultivates the next generation of leaders in the Nebraska cattle industry by providing youth with real-world opportunities in the beef sector. This challenge enhances the educational value of traditional 4-H beef projects and provides affordable options to reward production merit and market animal carcass value; accurate and complete record-keeping practices; industry and research knowledge; and producer engagement with the 4-H member.

The youth selected, purchased, exhibited, harvested, and analyzed carcass data on a steer while networking with industry professionals. Additionally, working as a learning cohort, they participated in monthly educational opportunities led by industry professionals and Animal Science faculty.

Alongside these youth, large crowds at the Nebraska State Fair receive expert instruction from a commercial cattle buyer about sorting and evaluating steers. This exemplifies real-world industry standards of carcass merit, grade ability, and finish. Unanimously, the youth participants agree the Fed Steer Challenge helped them gain valuable knowledge regarding the beef industry - namely, how to feed a market animal more efficiently. Because of their program involvement, participants plan to stay in the cattle industry to become future beef industry advocates.

The 2022 Nebraska participants and award winners included:

• Claire Ahrens, Sherman County – Third Place Overall, Third Place Growth Performance, Third Place Record Book
• Leah Christen, Pawnee County
• Abigail Gorecki, Buffalo County
• Nathan Gorecki, Buffalo County
• Eldon Haack, Franklin County – Second Place Carcass Merit
• Jaleigh Hallsted, Cuming County – Second Place Overall, First Place Record Book, Second Place Industry Interview
• Madison Hirschman, Howard County – Fourth Place Overall, Second Place Growth Performance, First Place Industry Interview
• Cassidy Maricle, Boone County
• Klaira Rasmussen, Howard County
• Nickolas Rohr, Frontier County
• Conner Snyder, Frontier County – First Place Overall, First Place Growth Performance, First Place Carcass Merit, Second Place Record Book, Third Place Industry Interview
• Treygan Srajhans, Fillmore County
• Noah Summers, Buffalo County – Third Place Carcass Merit
• Skyler Summers, Buffalo County – Fifth Place Overall, Second Place Industry Interview

The winners of each category receive cash prizes, and the overall winners will receive an additional $500 scholarship to the Nebraska College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources.

Fed Steer Challenge

Extension Educator Ben Beckman discusses the pros and cons of grazing and baling corn residue, and how to best capture nutrients from grazing standing corn.

As of Oct. 16, corn and soybean harvest was well ahead of average pace, and winter wheat planting was at 94% complete.

The workshop will offer tools and strategies to effectively complete estate plans, offer background on common mistakes during the process, and highlight essential considerations for creating and carrying out estate and succession plans.

In rural communities across Nebraska, a cooperative is not a new or novel idea. The ag cooperative is often a recognized punctuation mark in the town skyline or as the economic anchor in the region. Yet co-ops are much more than a grain elevator, the community’s lead employer, or even a grocery store.

If sorghum is at hard dough stage when temperatures dip to 28°F for a period of two hours, it may result in a yield reduction of around 20%. UNL experts weigh in on the potential impacts for replant crops that experienced freezing temperatures Oct. 8 or may be at risk for a freeze this weekend.

Though predictions of precipitation next week remain uncertain, producers are encouraged to remain vigilant, as it is now the time of year where significant early snowstorm activity normally begins to develop in the U.S.

University and industry speakers will address current weed science issues and recommendations for improving herbicide applications for management of herbicide-resistant weeds.

All crops except sorghum experienced a slight improvement in condition last week, and harvested corn and soybeans are 12% ahead of average.

While most crops continue to lag behind last year's production numbers, sunflower production is up 134% in Nebraska.

Tar spot has spread to several new counties in Nebraska so far this fall. Producers who scout potential tar spot in their fields are urged to contact Nebraska Extension and send samples free of charge to the UNL Plant and Pest Diagnostic Clinic for evaluation to track its progress.

Monte Murkle observes field data collected by NinjaAg software on his Nebraska farm. Murkle participated in a Nebraska On-Farm Research study to determine whether the sensor-based precision ag platform can assist him with nitrogen management decisions for winter wheat. Results of Nebraska farmer Monte Murkle's on-farm research study to determine whether the NinjaAg software platform can improve upon his nitrogen management decisions for winter wheat.

This year's conference will highlight education and discussion on cultural, agricultural and research-focused aspects of the river basin with featured speakers from Nebraska, Colorado and Wyoming, and includes virtual options for viewing.

Higher hay prices and forage shortfalls have many producers considering baling corn residue, but it's important to first analyze the cost effectiveness. Plus, winterizing alfalfa before dormancy using growing degree days and toxicity concerns from black nightshade in corn residue.

Photo by Craig Chandler, University Communication Nebraska students who opt to take the new, innovative TAPS high school program in its inaugural year will learn about hybrid seed selection and seeding rate, and nitrogen application, in the decision-making format customary for the TAPS farm management competition.

Jinliang Yang, assistant professor of agronomy and horticulture, is leading an effort to better understand sorghum’s genetic makeup to improve the crop’s nitrogen use efficiency. (Photo by Craig Chandler, University Communication) This new research will focus on increasing sorghum’s fertilizer use efficiency, as well as other aspects of sorghum’s fertilizer use, including nitrogen sensing, signaling and downstream regulatory pathways.

Photo by Hannah Borg, realagstock Net farm income in Nebraska is projected to remain nearly unchanged from 2021 to 2022, at around $8 billion, whereas the national outlook projects a 6% increase in total U.S. net farm income.

A visual representation of various manures' nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) contents compared to volume of organic matter and water. Animal Manure Management Extension Educator Leslie Johnson reviews the different kinds of manure and how the nutrient contents and characteristics of each product differs.