Nebraska Extension in the Central Sandhills

Local, In-Person Private Pesticide Applicator Trainings Available in January

Nebraska Extension in the Central Sandhills Area is offering local private pesticide applicator training for new and re-certifying applicators in January. A private pesticide applicator license is required for the purchase and use of restricted use pesticides (RUP) used in the production of agricultural commodities. In-person training courses are scheduled for three hours unless otherwise noted.

• January 3 (Friday), Hooker County Courthouse, Mullen, 1 PM MT
• January 10 (Friday) Thomas County Courthouse, Thedford, 1 PM CT
• January 30 (Thursday), Uncle Buck’s, Brewster, 11 AM CT, this will include an option to recertify for Beef Quality Assurance (BQA), includes lunch, and will run 3.5 to 4 hours.
• January 31 (Friday), Grant County Courthouse, Hyannis, 2 PM MT

Please RSVP to ensure materials and to be notified of any postponements and/or cancellations. Cost is $60 and checks can be made to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Call the Central Sandhills Area Extension Office, 308-645-2267, or email tl.meyer@unl.edu to register.

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• Private pesticide applicators whose license expires in 2025, will receive a bar-coded letter from the Nebraska Department of Agriculture (NDA). Bring this bar-coded letter to the training. Once training is completed, participants will receive a postcard invoice for $25 from the NDA. Once that payment is received, the license is mailed. Private pesticide applicator licenses are good for three years.
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• In addition to attending in-person training courses, participants can get licensed through online self-study at UNL’s Pesticide Safety Education Program or pass a private applicator exam administered by the NDA. To pursue these options or find additional training dates and locations, please go to UNL's Pesticide Safety Education Program at https://pested.unl.edu/.

Nebraska Extension succession planning series for women in agriculture kicks off in January

Lincoln, Nebraska, December 17, 2024 — A multi-state extension workshop series for women in agriculture will offer strategies to evaluate and improve farm and ranch estate and transition plans. Locally, Nebraska Extension in the Central Sandhills Area will be hosting a site at the Upper Loup NRD Learning Center in Thedford.

“Leaving a Lasting Legacy for Midwestern Farm Women: A Succession Planning Series,” will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. Central time on Jan. 21, Jan. 28, Feb. 4 and Feb. 11 at sites across Kansas, Nebraska and Indiana. The series is being produced through a collaborative effort by extension programs at Kansas State University, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Purdue University.

Topics covered will include motivation for succession planning, communicating with family, the financial aspects of estate and transition plans, and the legal aspects of putting a plan in place. A keynote speaker will be simulcast to every workshop location during each meeting, with time for questions and a hands-on activity for participants. A meal will be provided on each date.

“Planning for what happens to your things when you’re gone can be daunting, but it’s so important, especially in agriculture, so that the transition to the next generation goes smoothly,” said Jessica Groskopf, director of the Nebraska Women in Agriculture program. “This series will help women learn best practices and new strategies to help the transition and estate planning processes so they can take that back to their farm or ranch and help lead the way in creating or reevaluating their plans.”

Groskopf said the program’s structure is intended to strengthen networks of women in rural areas, which can provide opportunities for building trust and sharing information. “Connections are so important to rural women,” she said. “We have seen the benefits that come from knowing your peers, having a place to share difficulties, and mitigate the isolation that so many of us in agriculture often feel.”

The registration fee for in-person attendance is $60 before Jan. 13 and increases to $75 on or after Jan. 13. A virtual option is available for $75. Participants are encouraged to attend all four sessions. More information and registration is available on the Nebraska Women in Agriculture website, https://wia.unl.edu/succession25.

This material is based upon work supported by USDA/NIFA under Award Number2023-70027-40444.

CONTACT: Jessica Groskopf, Director, Nebraska Women in Agriculture Program, 308-632-1247, wia@unl.edu

Nebraska Extension will be offering one-day (eight hour) courses across the state to prepare individuals to pass the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Aeronautical Knowledge Exam required to receive a Part 107 remote pilot certification or license to fly drones for commercial applications.
Registration is available online (Link) for each location. Pre-registration is required with a $275 registration fee. On-line registration closes the Monday prior to the event. Study materials, and light breakfast and lunch will be provided. An educational discount is available to students and educators through an application process available on the registration link.

January 9 (Thursday)UNL Panhandle Research, Extension, and Education Center, 4502 Ave. I, Scottsbluff, NE 69361

January 10 (Friday)UNL West Central Research, Extension, and Education Center, 402 W. State Farm Rd., North Platte, NE 69101

April 25 (Friday)UNL Panhandle Research, Extension, and Education Center, 4502 Ave. I, Scottsbluff, NE 69361

Please contact Dr. Dirk Charlson for more information on this course at
Email: dirk.charlson@unl.edu or Cell: 402-460-0742 (Text or Call)

November 19, 2024

Lincoln, Neb. —Nebraska Extension Beef Educator, T.L. Meyer is celebrating 25 years at the University of Nebraska—Lincoln.

Through her 25 years at the university, Meyer has served in a variety of roles that each played a unique part in her career.

Beginning at the West Central Research, Extension and Education Center, Meyer started her career at UNL as a communications associate.

“I was originally drawn to the role at West Central because I wanted to return to the Sandhills of Nebraska that I was familiar with growing up,” Meyer said.

She served in the communications role for four years before becoming a research technologist at the center.

Transitioning to the research role brought Meyer many opportunities. She was able to return to the hands-on work with cattle that she enjoyed and finish working on her master’s degree in animal science from the University of Nebraska—Lincoln.

“Pursuing a master’s degree was one of the greatest perks that I could work on while being an employee at the university,” Meyer said.

Continuously learning new things is one aspect of her career that Meyer enjoys the most. Yet, Meyer has still found unique ways to utilize her academic degrees in different ways.

At the start of her career, Meyer took advantage of her animal science and ag journalism degrees from Kansas State University while serving in the communications and research technician roles.  

In her role as a beef educator for Nebraska Extension in the Central Sandhills area, Meyer continues to utilize her knowledge of animal science and ag journalism to serve and act as a resource to ranchers in the Nebraska Sandhills.  

While her two degrees in animal science help serve ranchers in Nebraska, her degree in ag journalism helps reach them through her unique approach to social media.

Meyer uses Facebook, Instagram, and X to reach her audience and continuously update them on changes in the industry and opportunities that could help them strengthen their operations.

While only serving in her most recent role for five years, Meyer hopes to continue impacting ranchers in the Nebraska Sandhills and beyond by providing them with valuable sources of information.

Accepting a communications role to return to the Nebraska Sandhills has now led Meyer to serve an industry she is passionate about in a place that feels like home.

“The Beef State is the best place you can be a beef educator,” Meyer said.

To find T.L. Meyer on social media, search Central Sandhills Beef Educator on Facebook, Instagram, or X.

POLL SHOWS MOST RURAL NEBRASKANS HAVE ECONOMIC CONCERNS

 Lincoln, Nebraska, Nov. 1, 2024 — Most rural Nebraskans are at least somewhat concerned about their household’s cost of living, income and financial situation, according to the most recent report from the 2024 Nebraska Rural Poll, which focuses on the economy and trade policy.

Eight in 10 rural Nebraskans surveyed are either somewhat or very concerned about their household’s cost of living, nearly seven in 10 are concerned about their household income, and just over six in 10 are concerned about their household’s personal finances.  

 This is especially true for lower income households, the poll shows.

 Persons with the lowest household incomes are more likely to be concerned about their personal finances. Almost eight in 10 respondents with household incomes under $75,000 are at least somewhat concerned about their finances, compared to 44% of those with household incomes of $100,000 or more.  

 “In earlier released results from the 2024 Rural Poll, we found rural Nebraskans have been increasingly pessimistic about their current situation,” said Brad Lubben, Nebraska Extension policy specialist. “These economic concerns may be a primary factor behind the declining general sentiment of rural Nebraskans. Higher consumer prices due to higher inflation rates of the past few years have spiked the cost of living and left many rural Nebraskans with concerns for their economic well-being.” 

 The 2024 Rural Poll also asked a series of questions about trade policy and its importance to Nebraska.

 Fifty-five percent of rural Nebraskans surveyed think international trade is good for the state’s economy, while just 8% think it is bad. However, residents of the Panhandle are less likely than residents of other regions to agree. Just over a third of Panhandle residents surveyed (36%) say trade is good for Nebraska’s economy, compared to 66% of residents of the north-central region. While most respondents statewide think trade is good for the state’s economy, a smaller percentage (43%) think it is good for creating jobs in the state, compared to 16% who think it is bad. 

 Rural Nebraskans are less positive about international trade’s impacts on them personally, said Becky Vogt, the manager of the Rural Poll. At least four in 10 respondents think trade is good for their standard of living, while 35% think it is good for their job or business. Many rural Nebraskans think international trade is neutral for these items, according to the poll, but most respondents in agricultural occupations (67%) see international trade as good for their job or business. 

 When asked which factors should be used in determining U.S. trade policy, six in 10 respondents think protecting American jobs should be very important. Just over half think creating new export opportunities for the state’s agricultural producers and other businesses (55%) and lower prices for consumers (51%) should be very important considerations. Less important considerations include strengthening economic relationships with other countries (41%), strengthening and safeguarding political relationships with other countries (39%), creating choices for consumers (39%) and using trade policies to pressure countries that challenge U.S. economic and political priorities (27%). 

 “The Rural Poll findings help illustrate the complexities of trade and the economic impacts on Nebraskans,” Lubben said. “Trade provides consumers access to a global supply of goods and services that can increase choice and decrease costs. But trade can have differing implications for producers, where exports are good for the bottom line, but imports compete with domestic production.”  To learn more about rural Nebraskans’ perceptions of the economy and trade policy

Listen to previous and future webinar recordings at https://ruralpoll.unl.edu/webinars/.

The Center for Ag Profitability's webinar series focuses on topics related to farm and ranch management, profitability, economics and farm survival for producers and ag industry professionals in Nebraska and beyond. The live webcasts are typically presented at noon Central time on Thursdays. Registration is always free. View upcoming webinars and watch past recordings at CAP Webinars