Week of January 12, 2026
Extension Board to Elect New Officers
The Cuming County Extension Board will hold their reorganizational meeting on Monday, January 26. The meeting will be held in the Courthouse Meeting Room beginning at 7:00 p.m. Items of business are election of officers and NACEB Annual Meeting. The full agenda for the Extension Board meeting is available for review at the Extension Office.
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SOURCE: Alfredo DiCostanzo, Extension Educator
RELEASE DATE: January 12, 2026
Lease Agreements Verbal vs. Written
If you’re renting farmland in Nebraska, there are a few lease options to think about. A lot of folks still use a verbal or handshake agreement and that’s fine however it’s good to know what happens when it’s time to end one. For cropland, the Nebraska Supreme Court says the lease year starts on March first. If a landowner wants to end a year-to-year verbal cropland lease, they need to give notice six months ahead that means by September first. Most people recommend that people send notice by Registered Mail, so you’ve got proof it was received.
Pasture leases are a little simpler. They usually line up with the grazing season for about five or six months and most end automatically when the grazing’s done, unless there’s something different written in an agreement.
Even though handshake deals are common, putting it in writing is always the best route. A written lease keeps things clear, protects everyone involved, and helps avoid misunderstandings.
Want to learn more or see an example of a sample lease? Check out the Ag Lease 101 Document Library online.
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SOURCE: Shannon Sand, Extension Educator Ag Economics
RELEASE DATE: January 12, 2026
Planning for Spring Annual Forages
While we are still early in the new year, it is time to start thinking about any spring annual forages that we might plant. Part of the process may be anticipating a need for extra feed or booking seed early for possible discounts.
For spring or cool-season annual forages, the planting period is typically mid to late March to early April, or when soil temperatures are in the 42-to-45-degree range. Oats are probably the most common cool-season annual forage planted in Nebraska. However, spring triticale or spring barley are two other small grain options that have been found to perform similarly to oats in terms of forage yield and quality.
Also similar is the number of days until ready to begin grazing on hay; so, the different species could be mixed if desired. One could look at seed cost of the different species before making a decision. With the early spring planting date of the cool-season annuals, grazing can typically begin around the 3rd or 4th week of May and last into early July. Haying usually takes place around the 3rd week of June.
If grazing is a primary goal, Italian ryegrass could be included in a mix with the cereal grains, and this will result in a longer grazing period. Field peas are another species that could be included to enhance forage quality and provide some nitrogen fixation.
Remember to consider the herbicides that may have been used on a field the previous year. Some herbicides may have long residuals that could hinder establishment even into this spring.
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SOURCE: Jerry Volesky, Extension Specialist Grassland Studies, Range & Forage
Nebraska Extension Launches Six-Part Webinar Series on Controlling Invasive Weeds and Pests in Pastures
Nebraska Extension will offer a six-part webinar series in February 2026 designed to equip ranchers, landowners, and natural resource professionals with the latest research and management strategies for tackling invasive weeds, woody encroachment, and pasture pests.
“Controlling Invasive Weeds & Pests in Pastures” will be held over three weeks, with webinars taking place on Mondays and Thursdays — Feb. 9, 12, 16, 19, 23 and 26 — from 6:30 to 7:45 p.m. MT (7:30 to 8:45 p.m. CT).
The series brings together Nebraska Extension specialists and the Nebraska Department of Agriculture to address several of the most pressing challenges in pasture and rangeland management.
Topics & Speakers include:
- Understanding regulations regarding pesticide application in pastures and noxious weed laws in Nebraska - Nebraska Department of Agriculture.
- Learn common invasive broadleaf weeds, herbicide options and the critical aspect of timing for control. Dr. Nevin Lawrence will discuss research results and how these apply to land managers.
- Woody encroachment on pastures is clear to see. Presenters Ben Beckman and Bethany Johnston will cover when control methods work best on cedars and troublesome shrubs.
- Invasive winter annuals like cheatgrass can wreck native range. Dr. Mitch Stephenson will discuss recent research in the Panhandle that is providing data on the effectiveness of herbicide options.
- What is that? New weeds to watch for will be the topic Gary Stone discusses early detection and rapid response is key to control problem plants.
- Grasshopper populations can cause significant forage losses on pastures. Dave Boxler will discuss when treatment is warranted and restrictions for insecticide applications.
Registration is $75 per person and includes a mailed packet of key reference materials: the 2025 UNL Guide to Weed Management, Weeds of the Great Plains, and a booklet of NebGuides and Extension Circulars focused on invasive species. Webinars will be recorded.
Registration closes Jan. 26 to ensure participants receive their materials before the first webinar.
Those interested may register at https://go.unl.edu/PasturePests .
For more information, contact Aaron Berger, at 308-235-3122 or aberger2@unl.edu .
Natalie Jones | IANR Communications
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Northeast Nebraska Crops Update
Farmers, crop consultants, agribusiness professionals, and others interested in row crop production are invited to attend the Northeast Nebraska Crops Update, a free, one-day educational program focused on current crop issues and management decisions along with industry representatives.
The program will run from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., with registration beginning at 8:30 a.m. Lunch will be provided at no cost to participants.
This update will feature Extension specialists covering a wide range of timely topics relevant to the growing season, including:
- Corn and soybean diseases
- Soybean defoliation and insect management
- Entomology updates affecting Northeast Nebraska crops
- In-season nitrogen reduction and nutrient management strategies
- Grain storage management and post-harvest considerations
- Agricultural policy and economic implications, including discussion of the “One Big Beautiful Bill”
Certified Crop Adviser CEU’s are pending for program participants.
The Northeast Nebraska Crops Update is designed to provide practical, research-based information that producers can apply immediately to improve decision-making, profitability, and risk management.
There is no cost to attend, and lunch is provided, but pre-registration is requested at go.unl.edu/26register-crops-update for meal planning purposes or by contacting Agnes at 402-584-2261.
Date: February 4th, 2026
Location: Haskell Ag Lab, 57905 866 Road, Concord, NE
For more information, go to the website go.unl.edu/26crop_update.
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Common Sense Farming and Ranching
Alfredo DiCostanzo, Beef Systems Extension Educator
University of Nebraska
Week of January 12, 2026
Projecting cow numbers for 2026
For the last few weeks, I have been compiling USDA reports to generate projections on beef production and cattle inventory. The official release of the USDA cattle inventory is not until the end of this month. That leaves anyone attempting to put numbers together to rely on weekly slaughter reports for the end of 2025 and perusing the USDA cattle inventory reports for 2025 and previous years.
Using this information, and assuming that there will be errors in any approach, reconstruction of the inventory reports each January is possible. Error in predicting cow (beef and dairy inventory) for the years 2023 to 2024 ranged from 0.1% to 0.8%. Not bad for extremely rough projections.
Regardless, the important figures to concentrate on relate to heifer and cow slaughter and intentions represented in the cattle inventory to retain heifers. The latter is easily assumed to be on target if the figure “Heifers expected to calve” is used.
During each year between 2022 and 2025, 10.3, 10.0, 10.0, and 9.3 million heifers were harvested each year, respectively. During these years, 7, 6.6, 5.6, and 5.0 million cows were harvested each year, respectively. Clearly, harvest counts for 2022 to 2024 led to the lowest cow inventory in 2025.
So, the answer to the question whether we have stopped reducing the cow herd and begun building the herd may be constructed from these calculations.
Starting 2025 with a cow inventory totaling 37.2 million cows, from which 5 million cows were harvested, leads to a carryover of 32.2 million cows. Intentions in early 2025 were for the beef and dairy industry to calve 5.42 million heifers. This projects 37.6 million beef and dairy cows for January of 2026; a modest increase of 350,000 females over 2025.
Predicting the calf crop for 2025 is more difficult. Forage production conditions were generally favorable. Using the weighted average for percentage calf crop obtained between 2022 and 2024 (88.3%) returns a projection of 32.8 million calves expected to have been born in 2025. Relative to 2024, this projection represents a decline in calf crop of 670,000 calves or 2%. Keep in mind that reproductive efficiency of the US cow herd in 2024 was at an all time high (89.8%).
In conclusion, in January of 2026, the US is expected to have at least as many cows as were inventoried in 2025 or up to 350,000 more. This is positive as it represents the potential for beef production in 2026 to remain at levels like that in 2025.
The wild card? Reproductive efficiency!
At average pregnancy rates, we expect to have 670,000 fewer calves born in 2025. The US cow herd would have to have a 90% pregnancy rate (like that in 2024) to produce as many calves as were born in 2024.
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Week of December 29, 2025
Wrapping up beef production for 2025
As we wrap up calendar year 2025; and what a year it has been! A peek at beef production totals forecasted for 2025 might be in order.
Looking at beef production statistics using USDA data during the last short week of the year should not be that difficult. It is like predicting whether a cow, due to calve any day, is pregnant. At that point, everybody should be an expert.
From January to August of 2025, US beef production expressed as carcass weight in Federally Inspected plants was 17.2 billion pounds. The corresponding figure for 2024 was 17.9 billion pounds. At that time, there was a 0.7 billion shortfall with 1/3 of the year left. Adding to the 2025 figure using weekly slaughter data from September to the week ending December 26, 2025, results in 25.6 billion pounds projected for 2025. The corresponding figure for 2024 was 26.6 billion pounds or a 0.9 billion pounds production decline year over year.
This is not bad when one considers that cattle on feed inventories are well below 2024 and cull cattle slaughter is down.
Yet, Americans are hungry for beef, so where is the beef (coming from)?
With all the talk about imports, one might suspect we imported record amounts of beef in 2025. From January to December of 2025, the US imported 3.8 billion pounds equivalent to the total imported by the US in 2023 but 0.8 billion pounds below 2024 imports.
Beef and veal import figures for the months of September through December 2025 are not available yet. If we project imports of beef and veal for this period in 2025 at the same levels for the September to December 2024 period, the expectation is that the US will import 1.6 billion pounds leading to total beef imports of 5.4 billion pounds for 2025. This would be an increase of 17% over 2024.
A few observations:
- Domestic US beef production is expected to fall 3.8% from 2024 to 2025 as cattle on feed inventories declined.
- Projected at 25.6 billion pounds, US beef production in 2025 resulted from relatively stable beef and dairy cow herds: 27.9 and 9.3 million beef and dairy cows, respectively.
- Adding beef imports from January to August and projected beef imports from September to December 2025 to domestic beef production results in 31 billion pounds of beef to supply the US. In 2024, this figure was 31.2 billion pounds.
Conclusive thoughts
- Appetite for beef by the American consumer continues and it drives domestic production and the need to import beef.
- If beef and dairy herds remain stable in 2026, domestic beef production should also remain stable at 25 to 26 billion pounds. This would mean that imports of beef in 2026 should remain at 2025 levels.
- It is unclear yet whether heifer retention intensified in late 2025. When it does, domestic beef production will drop unless beef-on-dairy feedlot cattle production increases, which is unlikely.
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Rural Health
Hannah Guenther, Extension Educator
Week of January 5, 2026
Potato, Potahto
Potato, Potahto. No matter what you call them, potatoes are a great nutritious vegetable that is many times overlooked or removed from the diet. Whenever I say that potatoes are a part of a healthy eating pattern, I am almost always get a “really?!” in response. French fries and chips aren’t the only way to enjoy this humble ingredient. Potatoes are not only affordable but are incredibly versatile in rounding out your main dish or becoming center stage of your next meal. And if you have gotten on social media here in the last week, you’ll see that potatoes are trending! So today, we are going to talk all about how to buy and store potatoes, nutritional value of potatoes, and finally some fun, nutritious ways to enjoy potatoes.
When purchasing potatoes, you have options! Between russet, Yukon Gold, Red Skinned, or sweet, it’s hard to know where to begin! Russet potatoes have a neutral flavor and are great for baking or mashed potatoes. Yukon Gold and Red Skinned are usually smaller in size and sweeter in flavor. They are great boiled, mashed, or my favorite, roasted. Finally, we have the sweet potato which is the most unique in flavor and color. Just like their name, sweet potatoes are sweet and more fibrous in texture. They are great roasted, baked, or mashed. Once you have decided what kind of purchase, look for firm, clean potatoes while trying to avoid discoloration, bruising or greening. Once you bring your potatoes home, you want to store them in a cool, dark place with adequate ventilation. When you are ready to eat, scrub potatoes under water and remove all dirt. Cut off any sprouts or greening you see.
But why are my potatoes turning green? This is a natural process by the potato when exposed to too much natural or fluorescent light. If it is only a little green, you can cut it off to remove. If the potato is completely green, it needs to be discarded. The greening potatoes contain a toxin that can make you sick.
So, let’s start cooking, but before that let’s discuss the nutritional value of potatoes. In one medium potato, you will find 110 calories, 0 grams of fat, 26 grams of carbohydrates, 3 grams of fiber and 3 grams of protein along with 30% of your daily vitamin C and 15% of your daily potassium needs. They are a starchy root vegetable that can provide your body with carbohydrates needed to fuel daily life and physical activity. Now, what about sweet potatoes? Sweet potatoes have nearly the same calories, carbohydrates, and protein as a regular potato, but they are higher in fiber, vitamin A, and Vitamin C. As you can see, potatoes by themselves are pretty healthy! But loading them up with butter, sour cream, and brown sugar is going to contest the nutritional value. Let’s discuss some healthy and delicious ways to enjoy potatoes.
- If you are a potato purist, keep it simple with 1 tsp of butter and instead of sour cream, try low fat Greek yogurt instead. Top with fresh or dried chives for a delicious baked potato.
- If you are a French fry fanatic, try roasted potatoes instead! Wash and dice potatoes into small even sized pieces. Toss with olive oil, salt, pepper, smoked paprika, and dried oregano. Roast at 400 degrees for 15-20 minutes or until they are crisp on the outside and tender on the inside.
- If you want to elevate the humble potato to center stage, set up a baked potato bar for dinner. Choose a variety of toppings from ground beef, broccoli, low fat cheese, salsa, and barbeque sauce. Bake your potatoes in the oven at 350 for 45-1 hour and once they are cooked, send your family members through the line to build their own baked potato.
Whether they are potatoes or potahtoes, they are a part of a healthy eating pattern and can be enjoyed in a variety of ways!
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Week of December 22, 2025
“Have a happy and healthy holiday!” It’s a phrase that we hear and pass around generously during the holiday season. With copious amounts of family time, great food, and Christmas movies it is hard not to be happy during the holiday season but staying healthy is a challenge all its own. Have a happy and try to have a healthy holiday would probably be a more realistic salutation to give, but staying the course on your health goals is possible during the season of sugar plums and sugar cookies. Now before I dive into this, I just say relax. I am not going to tell you avoid the sweets table and to not indulge in all that Christmas has to offer. What I am going to do is provide suggestions of healthy activities, nutritious snacks, and some helpful tricks.
Work Then Play
Schedule workouts during the holiday with family and friends. And no, you don’t always have to brave the cold and get to the gym to enjoy a good workout. Instead, get creative and workout at home. Have everyone in your workout group pick an exercise like lunges, pushups, jumping jacks, or high knees, do 25 reps of each exercise, and repeat for 5 sets. One thing we have done during the holidays is find fun online workouts. One year we all did an online dance class. We laughed and sweat together.
Stay Hydrated
Between constant grazing and hot cocoa, it is easy to forget to drink water. Assign everyone a plastic water bottle by writing their initials on top of the lid with a sharpie and use them throughout the stay or holiday to help everyone stay hydrated, reduce plastic use, and reduce the dishes that need to be washed. Remember that the minimum amount of water, in ounces, you need to be drinking each day is your bodyweight/2.
Stay Rested
The holidays make you the best kind of tired. I say that because although many of us are running around between towns, cities, and houses we are doing all that running around in order to spend more time with family and friends. That being said it is so important to stay well rested. Don’t be shy and unwilling to schedule naps in throughout the holiday. Charlotte is forced to nap during the craziness of Christmas, and I am napping right there beside her.
Half (1/2) your plate
One of the things I like to preach and practice during the holidays is when I am filling my plate, I like to fill half of it with fruits and vegetables. Sometimes that means ditching my salad bowl and filling my plate with greens instead. I like doing this because it leads me to start with my healthy choices and leaves less room in my stomach for the not so healthy offerings. If I am still hungry after my plate, I will go back for more but this is a great way to make sure I am still fueling my body properly during the large holiday meals.
Bring The Greens
I have 100% gained the reputation of “Salad Lady”, “Vegetable – bringer”, “she’s in charge of the veggie tray” individual. It all started with the fact that I started bringing lighter and more vegetable based options to holiday get to-gethers. My thought was that if I wanted to eat healthy I would bring a healthy option. Although I at times am the only one eating my vegetable offerings, I continually tell my husband that there are worse things to be known for.
Have a happy holiday and practice some of these tricks and activities to have a healthy holiday!
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Week of December 8, 2025
I want to preface this article by saying that I am a sleeper. Naps are without a doubt one of my love languages and I have been taking them my entire life. We were required to take naps on Sunday afternoons and the ritual stuck. If you are looking for me between the hours of 1–3 p.m. on a Sunday, I’m asleep. I also require a minimum, and I mean bare minimum, of 8 hours of sleep each night and let this be a warning to those who see me with less than 8 hours … beware. Now I realize that many of us do not require as much sleep as I do, but I am shocked to find how little sleep Americans are actually getting! Sleep is natural body process and for good reason. Today, we are going to discuss the importance of getting enough sleep, how much sleep you need, and finally some tips and tricks for a good night of rest.
Benefits of Going to Bed
I get my love of sleep from my mom. She instilled in us from a young age that sleep was the cure all for any and all ailments. If you had a cold, you were stuck in bed until noon. If you were stressed out, she told us to go take a nap. But here’s the deal, she was on to something! Studies have shown that sleep plays a key role in our body’s ability to fight sickness, our memory, our learning ability, and even our appetite! The effects of not getting enough sleep are more extensive than dark circles under your eyes and a short fuse. When we don’t get enough sleep, we increase our risk of chronic diseases like type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and obesity. Arianna Huffington, the author of Sleep Revolution, found that in 80-90% of anxiety and depression cases there is also sleep deprivation.
How Much Sleep Do You Need?
Many of us think long naps and early bedtimes end with childhood, but as we grow and develop, we still need more sleep than you might think. As adults, age 18-60, we need 7 or more hours of sleep each night. Adults age 61-64 need 7-9 hours and 65+ need 7-8 hours of sleep. Not only do we need to be getting the recommended amount of sleep but we also need to make sure that it is quality sleep. If you are getting the recommended hours of sleep but waking up tired and feeling groggy, your sleep quality may be poor. Here are some ways to help you sleep better and improve sleep quality…
Tips and Tricks to Sleeping Better
There are some key ways that can help improve your sleep quality. First off develop a nighttime routine which can include taking a bath, reading a book, drinking a cup of decaf tea, or relaxing on the couch. Consistency can help your body begin to relax, which will help you fall asleep faster. The second tip is to put down your phone or tablet at least 1 hour before bedtime. The blue light emitted from phones can disrupt the sleep cycle – if you are struggling to fall asleep put away your phone. The third tip is to exercise. Regular physical activity has been shown to increase sleep quality. Finally, count 10 things you’re thankful for. (This is another tip from my mom.) We never counted sheep growing up but we always counted things we are thankful for starting from 10 and I will say this, to this day I haven’t made it to 1 yet.
Just as important as eating enough vegetables, drinking enough water, and exercising, sleep plays a vital role in health and wellness. Assess your sleep routine and make some changes so that you can get enough sleep each night.
Sweet Dreams!
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