Nebraska Extension in the Central Sandhills

Local Interest

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:

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:

If you would like to view the presentations from this year’s (and recent years) Gudmundsen Sandhills Laboratory Open House, you can view them at https://mediahub.unl.edu/channels/39298?orderby=datecreated&order=DESC&f=video

Hay quality varies depending on when it was cut, growing conditions and how it is harvested and stored. While we had more rain this year, hay quality tests on some meadows appear to be lower in crude protein than expected. Accurately sampling and testing hay is the only way to get an accurate nutritive value to make sure cows are meeting requirements and to minimize hay waste. Central Sandhills Area Extension loans out hay probes for ranchers to collect hay samples. Call 645-2267 if you would like to borrow one or just have questions on sampling hay.

Beef Quality Assurance is a voluntary, producer-driven program based on recommended national guidelines and research. Currently the program influences the management of more than 80% of U.S. cattle today. To attend an in-person training or get certified online, please visit https://bqa.unl.edu/ or call TL Meyer, beef educator, at the Central Sandhills Area Extension office. Upcoming trainings include December 14 in Ogallala.

Planning for winter feed, marketing the calf crop, or other management decisions? Looking for information to help with those decisions? You can find a wide range of resources at https://beef.unl.edu/ or contact T.L. Meyer, your local Nebraska Extension beef systems educator at 308-645-2267, tl.meyer@unl.edu, or in-person. You can also follow her daily posts on social media by searching Central Sandhills Beef Educator.

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