Feed aggregator

Tuesday, August 1, 2023

This fall as pastures continue to recover from drought in previous years, some producers who traditionally pasture their cattle are considering feeding cow-calf pairs in confinement. Drylotting can be a feasible way to allow pasture recovery, while feeding grain, forage, and crop stover to pairs. A few of the many advantages of a drylot system include closer observation of the herd, low weaning stress, and providing opportunity to bunk break calves prior to weaning.

Spanish: 

Hail damage can wound plants, but will this damage increase the amount of disease you will see in the field? Nebraska Extension specialists share insights on whether a fungicide could benefit your damaged crop.

Tuesday, August 1, 2023

In partnership with the University of Wyoming, the Beef Reproduction Task Force will host the Applied Reproductive Strategies in Beef Cattle (ARSBC) symposium at the Little America Hotel and Resort (2800 W. Lincolnway) in Cheyenne, Wyoming on Sep. 6-7th, 2023.

The event will run from 8 a.m.-6 p.m. on Wednesday, Sep. 6, and 8 a.m.-12:30 p.m. on Sep. 7. Producers, veterinarians, artificial insemination technicians, students and others interested in beef cattle production are encouraged to attend.

Spanish: 

Nebraska Extension and Cargill RegenConnect® are sponsoring the Aug. 22 field day at the Eastern Nebraska Research, Extension and Education Center near Mead, Nebraska. Nebraska Extension educators and specialists will share the latest research on soil health methods, including cover crops, interseeding and biochar, and answer questions from attendees on their production concerns related to soil management.

Aphids cause the greatest amount of injury while they are feeding within the whorl prior to tassel emergence. Treatment may be needed if pollination is no more than half complete and more than half of the corn tassels are covered with aphids.

Tuesday, August 1, 2023

Using small grains as a dependable fall or spring forage source will depend on several factors, including production potential based on planting date, availability of moisture and adequate fertility, season of production, and winterhardiness. All small grains can produce forage, so the options are:

Spanish: 

The 2023 International Millets Conference theme is “Promoting Millets through Interdisciplinary Research: New Varieties and New Markets for a Better Tomorrow.” This year's conference will feature presentations from High Plains millets producers, representatives from state government and the U.S. millets industries, millets breeders and agronomists, grain handlers and processors, marketers and millets product developers.

As replanting severely hailed corn or soybeans fields are likely not good options at this point in the growing season, producers may want to consider planting forage by first contacting their insurance company to discuss options. Extension educators review warm- and cool-season grass production during periods of extreme heat, preparing for corn silage harvest and forage options for corn and soybean fields with severe hail damage.

Tuesday, August 1, 2023 Introduction  

Wet distillers grains (WDGS) are a good source of energy (108% TDN) and crude protein (30%) (dry matter basis). Therefore, they are a popular commodity for beef cattle supplementation. 

Spanish: 

Tuesday, August 1, 2023

As a result of this year’s wet weather in areas of Nebraska, ranchers and land managers can expect some changes in weed species abundance in range and pastures. Larkspur is one weed that’s showing up and causing some problems. At the Panhandle Research, Extension and Education Center in Scottsbluff we have had more phone calls and in-person visits from ranchers regarding larkspur management in the last month than we have in the previous five years combined.

Spanish: 

Nebraska Extension Plant Pathologist Dylan Mangel (second from right) discusses soybean diseases during the 2022 Soybean Management Field Days. (Photo courtesy Department of Agronomy and Horticulture) Hosted at four sites across central and eastern Nebraska, the field days will provide research-based information to enhance soybean profitability, addressing both local and global issues significant to farmers.

Tuesday, August 1, 2023 Top 5 Takeaways

• Wet bales are at risk for combustion; store appropriately and check temperatures. Anything above 170°F is high risk.
• Mold may produce mycotoxins, so roll out and let animals select good portions of moldy bales. Make sure other clean feed is available.
• Protect yourself from respiratory issues while working with moldy bales by using a dust mask.
• Hay testing is especially important when hay quality and safety are concerns.

Spanish: 

Historical crop progress data for Nebraska is available at USDA. Harvest for winter wheat and oats continue well behind average pace in Nebraska at 43% and 39% complete, respectively.

The crop water use report is updated weekly. Visit PHREC AgLab for more information.

Nebraska Extension Educator Gary Stone weighs in on managing plant stress and water use during the higher temperatures expected this week.

One hundred teens across Nebraska recently embarked on a once-in-a-lifetime civic engagement experience through the Citizenship Washington Focus (CWF) program. Youth spent five days in Washington, D.C., learning our nation’s history and developing the civic engagement skills they need to be leaders in their communities.

CWF is the premier leadership and civic engagement event for Nebraska 4-H members and teen leaders. During their time in Washington, D.C., the high school students toured the White House and Arlington National Cemetery. They explored national monuments and memorials, including Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Martin Luther King, Jr., World War I, and US Marine Corps Memorials. During a day on Capitol Hill, the Nebraska delegation attended the Nebraska Breakfast and connected with state senators and representatives. Youth engaged in workshops on media literacy, local government, advocacy, active listening, and civil discourse.

Using the nation’s capital as their classroom, the young leaders gained the skills and experiences to become effective change agents. Teens used what they learned to refine action plans to improve their local communities back home.

The Nebraska delegation left home on June 5, participated in the CWF program in Washington, D.C., from June 11-16, and returned to Nebraska on June 18. A group of 14 teens and four chaperones from Cherry County joined 14 youth and two chaperones from Johnson, Nemaha, Otoe, and Richardson Counties. A group from West Nebraska consisted of 72 youth and eight chaperones from the following counties:

• Arthur
• Buffalo
• Custer
• Dundy
• Franklin
• Gosper
• Hayes
• Hitchcock
• Kearney
• Keith
• Lincoln
• Phelps
• Red Willow

"Being a part of this conference helped me realize that being a good citizen isn't necessarily just sitting around, waiting for change,” said one participant. “You have to go out and let it be known that change is necessary; otherwise, it won't happen."

“Youth spent time during the conference working on their own local action plans that they will hopefully implement in their communities,” said Molly Brandt, Nebraska Extension Educator who accompanied this year's group. “Youth started brainstorming on these ideas before the conference and were able to get more ideas and suggestions from others during the conference.”

Brandt believes one of the most valuable benefits of CWF is the opportunity for youth to interact with peers from their community and other young adults from across the country. “Youth learn the importance of being a good citizen and having respectful conversations with those who might think differently than they do,” said Brandt.

"It engaged me firsthand with people different from me or who had different views,” said one participant. “Learning how to effectively communicate with everyone is an invaluable skill needed in various parts of my life.”

“The conference gave the youth a newfound sense of energy, confidence, and purpose to be able to make local change,” said Brandt.

Coordinated by National 4-H Council, CWF is a national program designed as the premier leadership and civic engagement event for 4-H members and teen leaders ages 14-19. Weeklong sessions are offered through June and July each summer. Trips are coordinated regionally by local Extension Offices. For more information about CWF, please visit 4h.unl.edu/cwf.

Founder of Sentinel Fertigation, Jackson Stansell is the keynote speaker at the South Central Agricultural Laboratory (SCAL) field day set for Tuesday, Aug. 1. The 2023 SCAL Field Day is free to attend and will feature presentations on fertigation, nutrient and irrigation technology, and new research and strategies on controlling disease, insects and weeds in corn and soybean.

Tuesday, August 1, 2023

Summer is officially here, and temperatures are beginning to heat up across the nation. With increasing temperatures, special attention is needed when it comes to mitigating heat, especially those animals being housed in a dry lot. While some only consider temperature when assessing the effects of heat, other environmental factors such as humidity, air movement, and solar radiation contribute to the heat load cattle experience.

Spanish: 

Tuesday, August 1, 2023

Ongoing dry and drought conditions in many parts of the state are supporting hay and forage prices as we look towards this fall. Perennial dryland hay production in many parts of Nebraska has been less than average. Forage production on rangeland and pasture in central and eastern Nebraska is, in many situations, significantly less than average. This diminished production is going to result in less fall and winter grazing.   

Spanish: 

Tuesday, August 1, 2023

Cow-calf producers are looking at the potential for significant profits for 2023 due to high calf prices. This income may give cow-calf producers the rare opportunity to invest capital back into the ranch.

The following are options, in no particular order, to consider when thinking about and planning for investments into the ranch or cow-calf enterprise.

Spanish: