Weekly News and Columns

Week of October 26, 2026

Cuming County 4-H Council

The Cuming County 4-H Council will meet on Thursday, November 12, at 6:00 p.m. in the Cuming County Courthouse Meeting Room. The full agenda for the meeting is available for review at the Extension Office.

-30-

SOURCE: Melissa Hagemeister, Extension Associate 

RELEASE DATE:  October 19, 2026

Seeking Extension Master Gardeners

Seeking volunteers for the 2027 Extension Master Gardener training class! If you or someone you know loves gardening and wants an opportunity to not just learn more but also help your community learn about gardening, please consider joining the Extension Master Gardener Volunteer Program. Projects range from managing food donation gardens to native landscape management to answering questions for community clientele and more! Classes are based out of Dodge County Extension in Fremont, but flexible remote learning is possible! Be a part of reinvigorating your community landscape!

There will be an informational meeting for the 2027 class on Thursday, November 19^th at 6:00 p.m. at the Dodge County Extension office in Fremont. Can’t make it in person? Zoom option is available. For more information reach out to Ian Peterson at 402.727.2775 or email at ipeterson4@unl.edu.

-30-

SOURCE: Ian Peterson, Extension Educator

RELEASE DATE:  October 26, 2026

Fungal Diseases and Corn Residue 

Fungal diseases have made noticeable impacts on corn fields in Nebraska this year. As these fields open for grazing following harvest, many are wondering — does disease pressure affect how we manage livestock on those acres?

Diseases like tar spot, southern rust, and other fungal leaf diseases create lesions on corn leaves, weakening the plant in the process. Severe infections can cause leaves to senesce earlier, limiting photosynthesis and reducing the amount of leaf material left after harvest. Stalk rots can also weaken plants, increasing the potential for lodging.

So, what does this mean for grazing residue? Overall residue quality may be somewhat lower, but the bigger concern is that there may simply be less leaf material left. Along with husks, leaves are the primary component of residue-based diets. Their loss, therefore, can indirectly lower overall residue feed value. In addition, earlier senescence and existing tissue damage may allow corn leaves to weather and decompose faster than normal — shortening the window of quality grazing even further.

Stalk rots can also increase harvest losses from lodged corn, potentially leaving more ears or grain in the field. This is something to watch for when turning cattle out to graze, especially if excess grain is enough to cause acidosis.

Fungal diseases may not cause large direct changes to corn residue quality, but they can reduce the amount of desirable material available. Monitoring residue condition and adjusting stocking rates or grazing duration accordingly can help make the most of affected fields while maintaining livestock performance.

-30-

SOURCE: Ben Beckman, Extension Educator Livestock Systems

RELEASE DATE: October 26, 2026

Soybean Residue for Forage 

Bean fields are opening up after harvest and cows may be moving in to get them off pasture when other forage options are unavailable. Soybean residue or stubble can occasionally be baled and used in rations. Before we use it, however, we need to set expectations. Is soybean residue a quality forage?

Soybeans themselves are very high in protein and fat. They are about 40% Crude Protein and about 20% fat which is why soybean residue can be perceived as great feed. With such a high fat content, too may beans can cause issues with the rumen, so any spilled piles should be cleaned up before animals are sent out to graze.

Soybean residue itself however has a much different feed composition. The empty pods and stems contain only 4 to 6% CP and the TDN is only 35 to 45%. The leaves are slightly higher in protein at 12% but break down quickly after plants reach maturity and harvest has taken place.

These feed values will not begin to support the nutritional requirements of a dry cow even if there is some grain left in the field. So, while soybean residue can be grazed and can be used to move animals from overused pasture, supplemental feed is required.

When baled, soybean residue can be worked into a ration as a roughage source if other sources are less available. Just like grazing, baled soybean residue does not even come close to providing the feed value of corn stalk bales. Producers should also consider if removing litter from already lightly covered bean fields is worth the effort and potential erosion risks.

Soybean residue may not be the quality we often think. Residue alone will not even meet a dry cow’s nutrient requirements, so supplementation will be needed.

-30-

SOURCE: Ben Beckman, Extension Educator Livestock Systems

RELEASE DATE: October 26, 2026

Medicare Part D Enrollment Time is Here

It is time to compare—compare your Medicare Part D plan for 2027 to determine which plan will be most economical. The enrollment dates for 2027 Medicare Part D policies are October 15 through December 7; coverage begins January 1, 2027.

By now most individuals have received information from their Medicare Prescription Drug Plans or Medicare Advantage Plans advising them of changes in premiums, deductibles, and drug coverages. However, if you just look at that information you won’t know how your current plan compares with other plans for the prescriptions that you take. 

Plan premiums for 2027 range from $5.30/month to $222.90/month with deductibles ranging from $300 to $700. The least expensive plan for 2027 is Well Care Value Script. You will need to compare and enroll in the plan that is the most economical for you considering all the variables. As you can see there is more changing this season than just the color of the leaves. 

While the premium costs are important, it’s the coverage of the prescriptions you take that really matters as well as the anticipated cost of them throughout the year at the pharmacy you want to use.

Everyone who is currently enrolled in a drug plan, and those who will be new to Medicare beginning in January, should seek a drug plan comparison. Debra Schroeder, Sandy Boots, Carol Kampschnieder, Diane White, and Eileen Gentrup trained SHIP Volunteers will be conducting Medicare Part D Drug Plan comparison events in Cuming County. Events will be held at the St Francis Memorial Hospital, Francis Room, at 430 North Monitor West Point. Contact St Francis Memorial Hospital at 402-372-2404 and ask to make an appointment. When scheduling your appointment please indicate if it is for one or two people. Enter through the main entrance of the hospital and clinic. You may come for a face-to-face comparison appointment or work with the SHIP Volunteer via the phone. Appointments will be in the Francis Room on the second floor near the cafeteria. Please bring your current Medicare card, name and premiums of your current Medicare Part D plan and a list of prescription drugs or the actual bottles you take. 

Once you are enrolled in a Part D plan, you can continue coverage with your plan from one year to the next provided the drug plan continues to be offered in Nebraska. However, nearly all drug insurance plans have changes each year which may be in the form of premiums charges, deductibles, co-pay or co-insurance amounts, drugs covered or stipulations you will be subject to before your drug plan will cover a medication you may need. The only way to know if your current drug plan is your best option for 2027 is by having a drug comparison done. There is no cost for this service provided by the volunteers in cooperation with Franciscan Health Care. It is all confidential and once you leave the office, the records are in strictest confidence.

You may also want to contact the SHIP office directly at 1-800-234-7119 for assistance selecting the most economical plan for you for 2027. 

-30-

SOURCE:  Debra E Schroeder, Extension Educator Emeritus

RELEASE DATE:  October 26 – November 17, 2023

##

Common Sense Farming and Ranching

Alfredo DiCostanzo, Beef Systems Extension Educator

University of Nebraska

Week of October 19, 2026

Yardage revisited

Recently, I was calculating potential returns to retain calves on a backgrounding diet. Hypothetically, calves would be weaned in November and sold sometime in January. Calves would be appraised at $436/cwt as 5-wt and $379/cwt at 7-wt. The gross margin would be $253 per head. 

Whenever we think of these options, the first thing that comes to mind is feed cost. Considering recent corn grain price trends and the effects of drought on forage prices, thinking of feed costs first is important. A diet containing (dry basis) 50% corn grain, 15% distillers grains, 32% hay and 3% supplement would cost $255/ton dry matter. At a rate of gain of 2.38 lb., a steer consuming 17.85 lb. dry matter would require $143 return to pay for the feed. That leaves $110 for the rest of expenses to get this steer to 700 lb.

What all goes into yardage then?  Facilities depreciation, labor, and equipment costs (one could use rental rates to get a direct figure) and interest. 

Using custom rates published by University of Nebraska or other universities, one can get a good idea of the rental rates for equipment needed to feed cattle and manage their pen environment. When the operation has the option to use manure derived from the cattle feeding operation, one can credit the value of manure as fertilizer. Yet, before this is done, the cost of bedding, scraping, and hauling manure must be included.

As the reader may have already determined, determining yardage cost is not easy. This is why I recommend using custom rates and a decent idea of hours involved in various operations around the feedlot to estimate yardage. 

A crude example of the potential misconception in determining yardage cost is derived by simply estimating that it takes about one individual to feed and manage 1,000 head in a feeding operation. If we use custom rates to guide our idea of labor rates, then we simply divide the labor cost for an 8-hour day by 1,000 head for a per head daily yardage cost. Assuming that the payrate for general labor at the feedlot is $20, then the daily labor rate per head is $0.16 ($160 a day divided by 1,000 head). 

Most tractor-driven equipment including mixers, scrapers, payloaders, etc. with 150 or greater HP costs $150/hour to rent. The implement, whether it is a mixer or even a manure spreader, costs about $3,000 a month to rent or close to $20/hour if operated 40 hours a week. So, nearly every hour operating equipment to feed cattle or manage pens costs $170. 

Basing time calculations for feeding or managing pens is not easy for operations feeding fewer than 1,000 head because of the economies of scale. Yet, assuming a 0.25-hour daily feeding schedule and a 0.25-hour cleaning schedule (derived from dedicating 1.75 h a week for cleaning) for every 1,000 head adds $85 daily to yardage or $0.085/head. 

Mileage rates for tractors are between 15 to 20 liters per hour. Using the 0.5 hours estimated above to manage 1,000 head daily results in an additional $54 of cost or $0.05/head.

Lastly, but not least, interest rates are affecting yardage calculations significantly. A $2,500 investment in a calf or yearling will cost $0.30 daily in interest at 8% rate. 

Additionally, producers should consider adding a depreciation figure to yardage calculations to cover repair or replacement costs. The value of this depreciation cost is dependent on replacement cost not on initial cost of the facility. In most cases, depreciating a facility for 20 years with little to no salvage value results in yardage costs of $0.05 to $0.25 depending on the type of facility. 

Adding the components of yardage cost using $0.16 for labor, $0.085 for equipment, $0.05 for fuel, $0.30 for interest, and $0.10 for depreciation results in $0.695 per head. If this value is applied to the example above, then another $44 is subtracted from the remaining margin permitting a net return of $66.

Calculating yardage costs is not easy. Keeping track of hours spent feeding cattle, managing bunks, and using custom rates to determine yardage is a simple alternative to guide this calculation. The alternative to not determining yardage costs is to permit the facility (and ourselves) to be worn out and to lose our capital over the long run.

#   #   #

Week of October 5, 2026

An update on high-oleic soybeans for cattle

Alfredo DiCostanzo* and Michael Knobbe† 

*University of Nebraska

†Grain States Soya

University of Nebraska Extension held a meeting on agronomic considerations for growing high-oleic(HO)soybeans along with discussions on their use as cattle feed. High-oleic soybeans were developed independently by University of Missouri and USDA ARS (SOYLEIC®) or by DuPont/Corteva (Plenish®) by different approaches. 

The result in either approach is a soybean with similar fat and other nutritional characteristics, which contains a greater concentration of oleic acid. Oleic acid is a fatty acid (a component of fats and oils) believed to have positive health benefits in humans. As a reference, an oil commonly used in Mediterranean cuisine, olive oil, naturally contains high concentrations of oleic acid. Therefore, most of the oil extracted from HO soybeans is destined for human consumption. 

Alternatively, because of increasing demand for spent fats and oils or tallow for biodiesel or renewable fuel production led to price increases for these feed sources, there is increasing interest in growing HO soybeans for animal feed use. Currently, because of contractual growing arrangements, the main uses for HO soybeans are for human consumption or animal feed.

In dairy nutrition, the use of roasted or extruded whole HO soybeans, as replacements for corn and soybean meal, led to increases in milk fat content and milk yield. It is believed that the oleic acid in HO soybeans is less antagonistic to ruminal digestive processes than fatty acids from conventional soybeans. 

Some dairies are opting to install on-farm bean roasters. Alternatively, dairies may purchase roasted HO soybeans from a soybean crush plant such as Grain States Soya. 

Extrusion is a process by which the beans are forced through a drum, a process that generates high temperature for a short period of time. The resulting bean contains the same nutritive value as raw soybeans, but this process destroys compounds in the raw bean that affect digestion. Additionally, roasted or extruded soybean protein is partially protected from microbial activity in the rumen rendering “bypass” or undegradable protein which delivers amino acid profiles resembling those of the original raw soybean to the small intestine for digestion.

Research on HO soybeans in beef cattle is currently underway. The expectation is that the ruminal environment in feedlot cattle will benefit from the oleic acid content of HO soybeans. This would have the potential to improve fiber utilization and efficiency. Also, in some cases where greater protein quality (balanced supply of amino acids) is required, such as in finishing cattle at the end of their feeding period, conventional soybean amino acids protected by roasting or extrusion led to improved performance. 

Key considerations when shifting production of conventional to HO soybeans such as desired plant populations, herbicide type and timing of application, and yield expectations do not change when growing HO soybeans available from DuPont/Corteva (Plenish®). However, there is a specific agreement with Pioneer to grow and market HO soybeans through a local processor (Grain States Soya for example) unless the beans are fed raw or processed on the farm they were produced. 

For additional information on growing and/or feeding Plenish® HO soybeans contact your local Pioneer representative. For information on growing and/or feeding SOYLEIC® HO soybeans, please visit (https://soyleic.com/grow/). Contact Michael at Grain States Soya to learn more about their HO grower program and the HO products they offer.        

#     #     #

Week of September 21, 2026

Should I background spring calves in 2026?

In recent weeks, feeder cattle prices softened while corn grain prices are trending higher. There is an expectation that corn grain prices will remain at up to $1.00 higher per bushel than in 2025-2026. So, should a cow-calf operator background their spring-born calves?

At the time this column was written, Corn Grain Futures are at over $5.00/bu, while Spring 2027 Corn Grain Futures trade at over $5.50/bu.  Feeder Cattle Futures are at $319/cwt for November while January 2027 Feeder Cattle Futures are at $310/cwt.  If we were selling a 750-lb steer in November, we would expect to receive $2,392; a 750-lb steer selling in January would be expected to bring $2,325. In short, the market for 750-lb feeder calves is currently trending laterally. 

If you are a cow-calf operator or someone purchasing lightweight cattle to background and sell after the first of the year, the price per hundredweight will likely be higher. An online tool I often use to determine the value of cattle gain is available for free at Beef Basis (https://beefbasis.com/). 

The value of gain tool on this website permits price predictions for calves between two dates for a given weight and market.  This website tracks the Feeder Cattle and Corn Grain Futures markets using basis to adjust to local sale barn conditions. 

Value of the gain resulting from using this tool does not ensure a profit margin but is helpful in making decisions.  Using this tool to predict the price of a 500-lb steer to wean and sell at Bassett the first week of November projects a $434/cwt price or a gross return of $2,170 per head.  Assuming this scenario represents a cow-calf operation that weaned 500-lb steers, then each steer is projected to bring $2,170.  Alternatively, holding this steer on a backgrounding diet gaining 2.36 lb daily (165 lb) to sell the second week of January results in a projected price of $369/cwt or $2,454 per head.  The differential in gross return is the value of the gain between the two market dates and weights.  This value is $283 per head.

Back home, what this means is that this producer can only spend $283 per head to put on 165 lb of gain.  In other words, the cost of gain can only be as high as $170/cwt if they are to break even. 

Under these cattle and feed prices, the cost of a backgrounding diet (dry matter basis) containing 50% corn grain ($5/bu), 32% hay ($200/ton), 15% dried distillers grains ($200/ton), and 3% of a supplement ($450/ton) would be $200/ton (as is).  If cattle consume 17 lb dry matter feed per day (about 19.50 lb fresh feed per day) to gain 2.40 lb (feed conversion of 7.1 lb feed dry matter per lb gain), then feed cost of gain would be $0.71 per lb (total feed cost of gain would be $117/head).  Other costs such as labor, fuel, oil, equipment, etc. should be expected to be about $0.75 daily or $52/head. 

Adding these costs to the value of the calf at weaning, $2,170, results in an investment of $2,339 per head (rounded).  This still leaves over $100 net return to the operation. 

Although these are projections based on anticipated prices and value change, and a positive outcome is projected, a producer considering this option should pencil in their own local feed price and projections of non-feed cost including veterinary and medicine and potential death loss.  However, these calculations indicate the potential to return a profit during current cattle markets.

#     #    #

Rural Health

Hannah Guenther, Extension Educator

Week of October 26, 2026

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month!

Early Detection Matters, but So Does What You Do Today. 

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and chances are, you know someone whose life has been touched by breast cancer. Maybe it's a family member, a friend, a coworker, or even yourself. In fact, approximately 1 in 3 people in the United States will develop cancer at some point in their lifetime. With statistics like that, it's easy to feel overwhelmed. While that statistic can feel overwhelming, there is also hope in the progress we've made in cancer detection and treatment. But first I want to address the elephant in the article: 

Why Does It Feel Like Cancer Is Everywhere? While rates of certain cancers are increasing, we're also getting better at detecting cancer, treating it, and helping people live longer after a diagnosis. In 1975, there were approximately 3.7 million cancer survivors in the United States. By 2022, that number had grown to 18.1 million, with projections reaching 26 million by 2040! More people are living longer after a cancer diagnosis, and that's progress worth recognizing.

Early Detection Can Make All the Difference: One of our most powerful tools against breast cancer is screening. Mammograms can detect cancer before symptoms appear, often when treatment is more effective and more options are available. In fact, routine mammography has been shown to reduce breast cancer deaths by approximately 20–30%. And when breast cancer is detected before it spreads beyond the breast, the five-year relative survival rate is greater than 99%! Screening guidelines can vary depending on age, personal risk factors, and family history. For women at average risk, the recommendation is a mammogram every two years beginning at age 40. Talk with your healthcare provider about what's right for you.

But What If I’m Not Eligible for Screening? Maybe you're in your 20s or 30s and are not eligible for routine mammograms. Does that mean there's nothing you can do? Absolutely not!

1. Get to know your breasts. Become familiar with how they normally look and feel. Pay attention to changes such as lumps, nipple discharge, skin dimpling, or unusual redness. You don't have to be old enough for a mammogram to have a concern evaluated!
2. Learn your family history. Breast, ovarian, pancreatic, and certain prostate cancers can be linked to inherited genetic changes. Talk with relatives on both sides of your family and share that information with your healthcare provider. Your family history may indicate a need for earlier screening.

Breast Cancer Awareness Month is about more than wearing pink. It's about understanding your risk, recognizing changes, and taking action. And don't forget about those whose lives have already been affected by cancer. Reach out to a survivor or someone currently undergoing treatment. A simple message, thoughtful gesture, or offer of support can make a meaningful difference. After all, awareness is important, but action is what truly matters! 

#     #    #

Week of October 12, 2026

Flipping the Pyramid:  A Breakdown of the New Dietary Guidelines. Part III

Can I just say that I am really proud of myself for sticking to our article series?! I am all for starting a task, but finishing one is not my strong suit, so this is already a win for me. But I digress. 

In the last article, we began looking at how we can take the dietary guidelines and put them into action. As mentioned, these guidelines aren’t simply for health professionals. They’re intended to help all Americans make informed choices about what they eat. Recommendations on paper are one thing figuring out how to use them in your own kitchen is another! 

I ended the article with the recommendation to “Read Your Ingredient List.” This small step is to help you begin to acquaint yourself with what is in the food you are eating. Can you identify what each ingredient is? If the list is long or filled with ingredients you don’t recognize, can’t pronounce, or wouldn’t typically have in your kitchen, look for a simpler alternative. 

Today, we’re going to continue with some simple ways to Turn the Guidelines into Action. 

• Include Fruits or Vegetables at Every Meal. Did you know that about 90% of Americans aren’t eating the daily recommended amount of fruits and vegetables? America, we can do better than this but consuming 3 cups of vegetables can feel like a daunting task. Focus on including fruits or vegetables at every meal. This is a simple actionable item that will help improve your overall consumption. Remember that fresh, frozen, canned, dried, or 100% juice all count as a serving. 
• Eat 2-3 Meals at Home Each Week. I realize that this is easier said than done. With busy schedules, lacking time, lack of resources, and at times lack of culinary knowledge, preparing a meal at home is the last thing we want to do at the end of the day. But the research shows that preparing meals at home improves diet quality, lowers body fat percentage, and reduces the risk of certain chronic diseases. Start by preparing 2-3 meals at home each week and keep it simple! Tacos, hot ham and cheese, chicken and rice, scrambled eggs, or even quesadillas all require minimal time and ingredients.
• “Come to the Table.” This last tip isn’t necessarily referenced in the dietary guidelines but more so comes from personal experience. It is so easy to view dinner as another box to check, but it is so much more than just the physical act of eating. Sitting down at the table with no phones, TV’s or additional distractions has been shown to improve mental health and even improve family relationships. I used to hate that my mom made us sit down at the table each night, but looking back I realized that it set my positive relationship with food in motion. Make it a priority to sit down and eat dinner at the table 1 time this week.

So, there you have it, we have officially flipped the period! From talking through what the guidelines are and how they come to be, to discussing this newest rendition, to finally walking through how to put these guidelines into action, I hope that this series has shed some light on the Dietary Guidelines and made them feel a little more doable in your everyday life.

#     #     #

Week of September 28, 2026

Digestion 101 

Maybe it’s just me, but I love talking about digestion. No, it doesn’t spur the thought of the most beautiful of images and to be honest the vocabulary needed to discuss the topic is … unique. I mean one doesn’t usually throw around terms like bolus, sphincter, and chyme on a daily basis. Nonetheless digestion is a process our body is going through multiple times a day and many times the process is misconstrued. Haven’t we all heard something like sugar is like glass shards in the blood stream? I actually did hear someone say that. So today, I’m going to explain the biological process of digestion. It may not be the most glamourous of reads, but I will try to keep things appealing …

We eat with our eyes…

This is true and this is where digestion begins. When we see something appetizing the process of digestion is set in motion. Immediately our mouth starts watering which means it is releasing saliva into the mouth; saliva is the key component to the chemical digestion of food. Try it for yourself by putting a cracker into your mouth – do not chew it but let the saliva break it down. You may be surprised how quickly it goes to work. Your teeth are the key players of mechanical digestions. Teeth grind and chew food to increase the surface area for more chemical reactions to take place. Food should be chewed to the consistency of applesauce for maximum nutrient absorption. 

Down the Hatch

Once you swallow the food, it passes into the esophagus which in my opinion is the unsung hero of the digestive system. Our esophagus is a thin muscular tube that attaches our mouth to our stomach. Peristalses are the involuntary, wave like, muscle contractions that occur that push our food, called a bolus at this point, into our stomach. They are strong enough that we can even eat food while upside down! The base of the esophagus has an esophageal sphincter that closes keeping food from entering back into the stomach. 

The Stomach 

The stomach is a muscular pouch that can hold up to 6 cups of food but both chemical and mechanical digestion takes place. So, if you have ever felt your stomach moving and grooving after a meal, it probably is by moving, crushing, and churning your partially digested food. At this point our food is called chyme and is a thick liquid that will travel into the small intestine. Different foods take different amounts of time to digest in the stomach. Carbohydrates digest the fastest (why some sugar high happens) in 1-2 hours, protein is next at 3-5 hours, and finally fat can take up to 12 hours to digest!

The Small Intestine

From the stomach, the chyme enters the small intestine where digestive juices such as bile, pancreatic juice, and intestinal juice help break down nutrients. The surface area of the small intestine is as large as a tennis court. (There is your fun fact for the day!) This is the case because the inner walls are covered in billions of finger like projections called villi. The increase in the surface area of the small intestine so maximum nutrient absorption can take place. After absorption in the small intestine, dietary fiber and waste are left. 

Waste Management 

Our body’s waste management is regulated by the large Intestine, and it is very resourceful. In the large intestine, all the water is removed from the digestion process and what is left is flushed down the toilet. 

Pretty fascinating right? Now, I promise I won’t say pancreatic juices in any future articles. 

#     #    #

Week of September 14, 2026