Feed aggregator

Historical crop production reports for Nebraska are available at USDA. While predictions have decreased slightly, grain sorghum is still on track for a remarkable production year in Nebraska, with bushels forecast at 191% above last year.

U.S. soybean acreage is down 4% from last year, and corn acreage is up 7%. View Nebraska's planted acreage in this report. According to NASS's Sept. 12 report, U.S. soybean production is down 3% in 2023, while corn production is up 10%.

Nebraska 4-H, in collaboration with the University of Nebraska–Lincoln Department of Animal Science, offered the sixth year of the Nebraska 4-H Fed Steer Challenge in 2023.

The Fed Steer Challenge cultivates the next generation of leaders in the Nebraska cattle industry by providing youth opportunities. 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 instruction from a commercial cattle buyer about sorting and evaluating steers.

The 2023 Nebraska participants included:

• Lilee Chevalier, 17, Bennet, Lancaster County 4-H
• Leah Christen, 17, Steinauer, Pawnee County 4-H
• Rachel Hale, 16, Fullerton, Nance County 4-H
• Joseph Fickenscher 18, Axtell, Kearney County 4-H
• Eldon Haack, 15, Upland, Franklin County 4-H
• Demi Lapaseotes, 16, Bridgeport, Morrill County 4-H
• Nickolas Rohr, 17, Eustis, Frontier County 4-H
• Logan Schmidt, 14, Deshler, Nuckolls/Thayer 4-H
• Karina Smydra, 14, Saint Paul, Howard County 4-H
• Karli Wagner, 17, Arthur, Arthur County 4-H

Top placings in the live animal portion:

1. Logan Schmidt

Top placings in the growth performance portion:

1. Karli Wagner
2. Logan Schmidt
3. Eldon Haack

Top placings in the carcass merit portion:

1. Joseph Fickenscher
2. Logan Schmidt
3. Karli Wagner

Top placings in the record book portion:

1. Nickolas Rohr
2. Karina Smydra
3. Leah Christen

Top placings in the industry interview portion:

1. Leah Christen
2. Karli Wagner
3. Nickolas Rohr

Overall award winners:

1. Karli Wagner
2. Leah Christen
3. Nickolas Rohr
4. Logan Schmidt
5. Karina Smydra

The winners of each award category receive cash prizes and the overall winners each will win a cash award sponsored by CoBank through the Nebraska 4-H Foundation, as well as a $500 scholarship to Nebraska’s College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources. To learn more about the fed steer challenge, visit 4h.unl.edu/fed-steer-challenge

Nathan Mueller, Nebraska Extension water and integrated cropping systems educator, speaks to participants during the 2023 4Rs Nutrient Stewardship Field Day. Throughout the field day, educators shared insights and conducted live demos on optimizing management of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, including via sensor-based fertigation.

A summary of the nitrogen (N) decisions made in each 2023 TAPS competition and some conclusions derived from the decisions.

In week seven of this series, let’s explore number six of the 7 C’s—“controversy with civility.”

This group value in the social change model recognizes that in any group effort, differences in opinion are likely, and those differences must be shared openly but calmly. Civility is respect for others, willingness to hear each other’s views, and holding back on criticism. This is easiest if you have already identified a common purpose to work towards.

A total of 164 counties have been documented as infested with soybean gall midge as of Aug. 9, with two new counties located in Kansas and six counties in Iowa. With soybean gall midge emergence dates and locations advancing in the state, Nebraska Extension educators stress the importance of scouting and building a profile to inform future treatments as research continues on management options.

Aaron Hird, USDA NRCS state soil health specialist, demonstrates the outcome of different soil health practices with a rainfall simulation to Nebraska Soil Health School attendees at UNL’s Haskell Ag Lab on Aug. 2. During its inaugural year, the Nebraska Soil Health School educated more than 200 producers and ag industry stakeholders on the latest research and practices for healthy soils to increase crop productivity.

Cattle grazing cereal rye cover crop near Tecumseh. (CropWatch file photo) Tips on selecting and planting cover crops, managing nitrate risks while grazing annuals, and preparing hay samples for testing.

In addition to associated costs, producers considering harvesting drought-stressed corn should also evaluate the impact of doing so on future crop production before making a final decision. Extension educators review the importance of understanding nitrate and nitrate nitrogen scores in forage test results, how to price corn silage to salvage drought-stressed crops, and selecting winter annual forages.

Historical crop progress data for Nebraska is available at USDA. As of Sept. 10, harvest was at 2% for corn and 3% for dry edible beans, and crop conditions declined slightly from the previous week.

To receive the weekly crop water use report via text message, subscribe on the PHREC AgLab site.

Nebraska Extension Educator Gary Stone shares an update on this week's crop water use and expectations for the end of the irrigation season.

Our Place After School Care in Hastings is unique among its peers. While many Nebraska communities have found solutions to the burgeoning need for quality child care through grant funds or contracts with licensed locals, Our Place serves a different and often overlooked demographic — teens with special needs.

Historical crop progress data for Nebraska is available at USDA. Winter wheat planting started on time in Nebraska, and development of corn, soybean, sorghum and dry bean crops continued at or above average pace as of Sept. 3.

To receive the weekly crop water use report via text message, subscribe on the PHREC AgLab site.

Updates on Panhandle crop progress and anticipated water use for the remainder of September by Nebraska Extension Educator Gary Stone.

Nebraska 4-H awarded sixty-one youth with the Members of Excellence distinction at the 2023 Nebraska State Fair. 4-H members earned the award for engaging in livestock-related learning experiences throughout the year in addition to caring for and exhibiting their 4-H livestock projects. Nebraska 4-H recognized Members of Excellence across all 4-H livestock project areas.

4-H members recognized as Members of Excellence in the beef project area included:

• Bo Prospichal, Holt County
• Trapper Wilcox, Antelope Couny
• Ella Miller, Cass County
• Grant Miller, Cass County
• Calley Stewart, Cedar County
• Brayden Griess, Clay County
• Katelyn Griess, Clay County
• Dayton Pohlmann, Gage County
• Jolie Kreifels, Saline County
• Titus Hemje, Saline County
• Tatus Wright, Sarpy County
• Violet Nuss, Sarpy County
• Trevor Lindquist Sarpy County
• Mattielyn Brown, Scotts Bluff County
• Emma Hackbart, Seward County
• Mckinley Stoller, Hayes County
• Troy Lindquist, Sarpy County
• Olivia Beel, Brown County
• Ava Stewart, Cedar County
• Nathan Griess, Clay County
• Kyle Rote, Garden County
• AJ Prospichal, Holt County
• Lilee Chevalier, Lancaster County
• Justus Kreifels, Otoe County
• Tristan Wright, Sarpy County
• Addison Rist, Sarpy County

4-H members recognized as Members of Excellence in the dairy goat project area included:

• Grace Chevalier, Lancaster County
• Hannah Chevalier, Lancaster County
• Lilee Chevalier, Lancaster County
• Madalyn Chevalier, Lancaster County

4-H members recognized as Members of Excellence in the meat goat project area included:

• Grant Meister, Sarpy County
• Jackson Luethje, Douglas County
• Kate Wagner, Sarpy County
• Drew Luethje, Douglas County
• Arabella Rolfsmeyer, Buffalo County
• Graham Mueller, Dodge County

4-H members recognized as Members of Excellence in the poultry project area included:

• Elsa Castillo, Douglas County
• Marcus Schultz, Madison County
• Franklin Polacek, Madison County
• Hadley Bakan, Otoe County
• Mallory Beethe, Sarpy County
• Janae Oberg, Frontier County
• Anne Nygren, Saunders County

4-H members recognized as Members of Excellence in the rabbit project area included:

• Jocelyn Schmoll, Lancaster County
• Tenley Bauman, Lancaster County
• Marcus, Madison County
• Violet Nuss, Sarpy County
• Andrew Frain, Lancaster County

4-H members recognized as Members of Excellence in the sheep project area included:

• Arabella Rolfsmeyer, Buffalo County
• Ella Crumbliss, Clay County
• Wyatt Cook, Kimball County
• Lena Gropp, Saline County
• Cora Maggie Roth, Boyd County
• Marshall Humphrey, Clay County
• Kaelyn Littrell, Clay County
• Eboney Tripe, Clay County

4-H members recognized as Members of Excellence in the swine project area included:

• Trey Cook, Kimball County
• Allie Cook, Kimball County
• Kirsten Knake, Otoe County
• Lilee Chevalier, Lancaster County
• Kaden Knake, Otoe County

Youth received the Member of Excellence distinction through the Livestock Achievement Program, which launched in 2021. Youth applied to participate in the program at the beginning of the year. Accepted participants set goals for their 4-H project experience and reported on their accomplishments. Participants were also required to complete quality assurance requirements and project record books. To learn more about the Livestock Achievement Program, visit 4h.unl.edu/livestock-achievement.

In week six of this series, let’s explore number 5 of the 7 C’s—“common purpose.”

This group value in the social change model involves working with shared aims and values for the greater good of society as a whole. It helps a group take a deep look at the issues at hand and the actions they should take to resolve those issues, creating a sense of direction for their work. Recognizing the common purpose and mission of the group helps create the level of trust needed for successful collaboration. In our music metaphor, the common purpose is the song.

The Nebraska 4-H Farrowed and Owned Swine Cohort is designed to enhance the traditional 4-H swine project and cultivate the next generation of leaders in the swine industry by providing opportunities focusing on swine production as a goal of the 4-H member's project, along with accurate and complete record-keeping, industry knowledge, and engagement by the 4-H member. In order to participate, youth must be 4-H age 9-18, complete YQCA, and farrowed their project animals.

Youth involved in the cohort, participated in learning opportunities hosted by Extension Swine Specialist Benny Mote about nutrition, feeding, genetics, and more. They also maintained records related to swine management and basic care, which resulted in turning in a record book this weekend. Finally, they exhibited their Farrowed and Owned project animals at the 2023 Nebraska State Fair with the opportunity for special recognition for participating in the cohort.

The 2023 Nebraska 4-H Farrowed and Owned division at the Nebraska State Fair was sponsored by Parks of Nebraska LLC.

The following youth met the requirements of participating in 75% of the educational meetings from February - June and participating in the interview portion of the cohort at the 2023 Nebraska State Fair.

• Olivia Beel, Brown County
• Kade Goedeken, Platte County
• Kambryn Vaughn, Phelps County
• Keely Vaughn, Phelps County
• Kyper Vaughn, Phelps County
• Cullan Schmidt, Fillmore County
• Alli Ritter, Cuming County
• Eli Ritter, Cuming County
• Trevin Steuk, Saline County

Results from the live show:

• Grand Champion Farrowed and Owned Breeding Gilt: Cullan Schmidt, Fillmore County
• Reserve Champion Farrowed and Owned Breeding Gilt: Trevin Steuk, Saline County
• Grand Champion Farrowed and Owned Market Hog: Kade Goedeken, Platte County
• Reserve Champion Farrowed and Owned Market Hog: Eli Ritter, Cuming County

Cohort members learned the importance of accurate record keeping through a detailed record book they compiled with information about their farrowed and owned projects. The record books are used during an interview each cohort member participates in at the state fair. The interview is an important part of the cohort experience, as members gain valuable life skills from this experience.

Results from the interview portion of the cohort:

• 1st Place: Olivia Beel, Brown County
• 2nd Place: Keely Vaughn, Phelps County
• 3rd Place: Kade Goedeken, Platte County

Congratulations to all 2023 Nebraska 4-H Farrowed and Owned Cohort members!

For more information about the Nebraska 4-H Farrowed and Owned Cohort learning opportunity, please visit 4h.unl.edu/farrowed-owned.