Nebraska Extension in the Central Sandhills

Livestock Systems

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Rural Prosperity Nebraska

Rural Prosperity Nebraska receives $25M USDA Award

A $25 million cooperative agreement award from the U.S.D.A. for the creation of the Heartland Regional Foods Business Center.

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Nebraska Extension Debuts New Strategic Direction

Our new direction leverages Extension’s expertise and strengths to align with what Nebraskans tell us they want and need.

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TAPS program coming soon to high school classrooms

Husker researchers and the teachers worked to develop curriculum modules for their students.

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New Program Reaches Indigenous Teens

Program is helping Native American teens gain hands-on lessons regarding traditional Indigenous peoples’ farming beliefs and practices.

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Local Interest

Returning to the Farm Program

The Center for Agricultural Profitability at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln will present Returning to the Farm, a workshop series for families who are in the transition process of bringing members back to the farm or ranch. It will begin with a two-day workshop in Grand Island for multi-generational families on Dec. 8 and 9 in Grand Island at the Bosselman Convention Center located at Fonner Park, 700 E. Stolley Park Road.

The workshop fee is $75 per person, which includes dinner on Dec. 8 and lunch on Dec. 9. It also includes two follow-up workshops, to be held virtually, in the evenings on Jan. 11 and Feb. 8. Hotel accommodations are not included. Register online at https://cap.unl.edu/rtf23

4-H Enrollment 2023-2024

The opening date for statewide 4-H enrollment was October 16th.

Starting in the 2023-2024 program year, project selection is now optional. By successfully completing the 4-H member enrollment by the June 15th deadline, youth will be eligible to participate and exhibit in any project area, contest, county and state fairs. While project selection is optional, it is encouraged for youth to select projects they are interested in exploring.

Please note:

2024 Private Pesticide Training

A private pesticide applicator is anyone who uses restricted use pesticide (RUP) for the purpose of producing agricultural commodities on their own property, or on property they rent. Private applicators are generally ranchers who do their own spraying. Those needing to recertify or get certified for the first time can attend in-person trainings or study on-line. Dates are still getting scheduled for our area in January and early February. To learn more about pesticide safety and training, please visit pested.unl.edu or you can contact T.L. Meyer at 308-645-2267 or tl.meyer@unl.edu.

Cow-Calf Unit Cost of Production Workshop in Kimball (Dec 5-6)

At this workshop, ranchers will learn how to perform an economic analysis that will enable them to calculate and understand their own unit cost of production. Using an example ranch, participants work through the different costs associated with the most common enterprises found on a ranch. Cost is $85/person and covers meals for both days. Please pre-register one week prior for a meal count. Payment is due the day of the workshop. Workshops are limited to 25 people per location. Contact Aaron Berger at 308-235-3122 with questions about the workshops or to register.

Livestock Achievement Program

The Nebraska 4-H Livestock Achievement Program is designed to promote all educational aspects of 4-H livestock projects, including selection, production, leadership, and exhibition, by recognizing youth striving to improve their livestock project knowledge and leadership.

Members of Excellence are recognized within each 4-H livestock project area, including:

Fed Steer Challenge

The Nebraska 4-H Fed Steer Challenge is an opportunity for youth interested in learning more about the cattle industry and is designed to cultivate the next generation of leaders in the Nebraska cattle industry.

The goal of the Fed Steer Challenge is to enhance the educational value of the traditional 4-H beef projects by providing an affordable option that rewards production merit and carcass value of the market animal, along with accurate and complete record-keeping, industry knowledge, and producer engagement by the 4-H member.

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