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Corn is progressing well with 81% rated good or excellent, down slightly from last week. Soybeans are 94% emerged and rated 78% good or excellent, also down slightly from last week. Winter Wheat heading is 85%, which is slightly behind the five-year average. Sorghum is 97% planted and starting to head.

Source citation: Jackie Steffen

One of the most effective ways to improve children’s reading achievement is by reading often and early to them.  When summer rolls around we may be tempted to ease up on academic expectations and the amount of quality time we spend reading with children or children spend reading on their own.  It is natural to get distracted by the nice weather, summer to-do lists, and the freedom from structured schedules.

There are many benefits to keeping the reading momentum going throughout the summer including improved fluency, increased vocabulary, expanded background knowledge, and greater confidence are just a few.  

How can you enjoy the beauty of summertime and still foster a love of reading?  Here are a few quick tips. 

• Make reading a part of your daily routine.  If nighttime read alouds do not fit into your summer schedule because you are staying outside later and time slips away from you, consider changing the time of day that you and your child read.  Stories outside with the birds chirping and the cool morning air will start your day off with a close connection and rich, warm discussions.  A shared reading experience after mealtimes is effective as well.  Classroom teachers tend to do classroom read alouds after lunch; maybe that is tradition that would work well for your setting.  No matter what you decide is the perfect reading routine, remember to be intentional but flexible.

• Encourage children to select books they are genuinely interested in and excited about.  Although reading books at grade level is desirable, reading choice should be the primary focus.  Books should engage children through text, pictures, and the story line.  Book selection is crucial to developing an intrinsic joy and it also promotes independence.  It is much easier for children to get in the “reading zone” when they are hearing or reading books by authors and in genres that are engaging to them. 

• Connect reading to family outings.  If you are heading out on a bike ride, pack a couple books and decide on a special place to take a break and relax with a good story.  If you are visiting an aquarium, consider reading books about fish or hatcheries to prepare for the trip or to extend learning after the visit.  Listening to a family audiobook as you are traveling from destination to destination sparks conversations about a shared reading experience and will leave children anticipating the next time they get to travel and hear the rest of the story.  Sharing stories as a family can leave a lasting impression. 

Remember that reading books for meaning and pleasure should be emphasized above all this summer.  There is a contagious energy about books that are read for enjoyment.  Strong connections and relationships are developed.  Above all, summertime reading creates wonder, curiosity, and the eagerness to want to discover more.  

For more information and ideas for reading at home, visit https://www.readingrockets.org/audience/parents

Visit https://www.startwithabook.org/summer-reading-learning to get additional suggestions for summer reading activities.

To download fairy tale storybook guides to support literacy development, visit https://child.unl.edu/nebraska-4-h-stem-reading-connections-program

JACKIE STEFFEN EXTENSION EDUCATOR | THE LEARNING CHILD

Peer Reviewed by Amy Napoli, University of Nebraska Extension Specialist and Linda Reddish, Extension Educator, The Learning Child

Make sure to follow The Learning Child on social media for more research-based early childhood education resources!

Are you using ET information to determine crop water use? If yes, what are the sources from which you obtain ET information? CropWatch would like to know.

With crop damage occurring in the forms of hail, wind and flooding early in this growing season, the following are resources that can help you in making decisions.

As of June 10, diseases in Nebraska wheat fields remained at trace to low levels.

Recently, Market Journal spoke with Nebraska FSA Outreach Coordinator Bobbie Kriz-Wickham to discuss the USDA’s new Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP) which provides payments to producers impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The COVID-19 pandemic is putting limits on public face-to-face programs, but Nebraska Extension will sponsor a variety of events in mid-June to share updates on the wheat variety trials and crop and livestock research conducted by University of Nebraska-Lincoln in western Nebraska.

On June 10th, 2020 three soybean gall midge adults were collected south of Louisville, Nebraska. This was the only site in the network with soybean gall midge adult activity.

As of Sunday, June 7, most of Nebraska’s corn and soybeans have emerged and are rated 83% and 82% good to excellent respectively. Winter wheat was 67% headed which is behind the five year average. Sorghum planting is well ahead of average and rated 90% good to excellent.

Early Detection and Rapid Response (EDRR) is a concept to identify potentially invasive species prior to or just as the establishment of the invasive is taking place. An Integrated Pest Management plan (IPM) can be developed to manage, contain and eradicate the invasive species before it can spread further. This will avoid costly, long-term control efforts.

The safety of youth and their families is our highest priority. We were hopeful and preparing to offer an in-person Fonner Park State 4-H Horse Expo. With continued uncertainty about COVID-19 in Grand Island and whether or not we would get approval from the Health Department coupled with concerns from volunteers and staff and the ability to offer a high-quality experience for youth, we have decided to cancel the in-person show for 2020. Instead, a modified virtual show will be hosted allowing youth to compete from home. This will allow all 4-H'ers the opportunity to demonstrate their skills and effort they have put into their horse project. This virtual opportunity will also include 4-H Horse Stampede contests. More information can be found on the Fonner Park State 4-H Fun Horse Show. 

We understand the disappointment this decision will cause, but we hope this will be a new way to introduce youth to a trend that is increasing in popularity across the country. We appreciate the work of the Horse Advisory Committee, representatives from Fonner Park, and the City of Grand Island for all their support in this difficult decision. 

Fonner Park State 4-H Fun Horse Show

The United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit issued a ruling on June 3, 2020 that immediately cancelled the registration of XtendiMax®, FeXapan®, and Engenia® primarily used in dicamba-resistant soybean, also known as Roundup Ready 2 Xtend® soybean.

The United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit issued a ruling on June 3, 2020 that immediately cancelled the registration of XtendiMax®, FeXapan®, and Engenia® primarily used in dicamba-resistant soybean, also known as Roundup Ready 2 Xtend® soybean.

Extension educators report on what they are seeing in the fields this week in Custer, Greeley, Howard, Cheyenne, Adams and Webster counties.

This week's map indicates that enough degree days have accumulated for common stalk borer eggs to have hatched across the state.

Wednesday, June 3, 2020

As cattle feeders hold on to fat cattle until the opportunity to be harvested arises, it is important to prepare for periods of extreme heat by developing a heat stress management plan. The combination of hot temperatures, high humidity, and lack of air movement can result in severe cases of heat stress for cattle. When temperatures remain above 70°F during the night, cattle are unable to recover before the next episode of heat exposure. This can result in reduced intakes and gains, and in extreme cases, death.

Spanish: 

Soybean planting was early this year in Nebraska, but dry soil conditions in most of May resulted in poor activation of pre-emergence herbicides applied in rain-fed fields and subsequently less than expected weed control.

As of May 31, 2020, Nebraska corn planting was complete and soybeans planted was 95% according to the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. Planting and emergence of both crops continues to be ahead of five year averages.