Weekly News and Columns

Week of February 16, 2026

Cuming County Extension Board to Meet

The Cuming County Extension Board will hold their February meeting on Monday, February 23. The meeting will be held in the Courthouse Meeting Room beginning at 7:00 p.m. 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: February 9, 2026

2026 4-H Special Garden Project 

The 2026 Special Garden Project is “Alumia Vanilla Cream Marigold”. This marigold features creamy yellow flowers on compact plants. Not only does this variety boast a distinctive color, but it also enjoys an exceptionally long blooming period. 

This project is open to all youth of 4-H age, and it will give them the opportunity to learn about growing and exhibiting this unique flower. The Special Gardening Project lets 4-H members try their hand at growing unusual vegetables, flowers, and herbs. The project allows experienced 4-H gardeners to grow something fun, new, and different while letting those new to gardening get their feet wet in this project area. 

Interested youth are asked to contact the Extension Office at 402-372-6006 with their order by March 4^th. Seeds are $.50 per packet. Youth must enroll in “Special Garden Project” (Horticulture) in 4-H Online to bring the exhibit to the county fair. 

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SOURCE: Melissa Hagemeister, Extension Associate

RELEASE DATE: February 16, 2026

2026 4-H Special Agronomy Project

The Nebraska Extension Special Agronomy Project gives 4-H members an opportunity to experience a crop that is grown, was grown, or has the potential to be grown in Nebraska. Youth participate by requesting seeds and resources to grow the crop, research traits of the crop and determine the viability of that crop in the part of the state they live in. The project allows 4-H members interested in agronomy to grow something fun, new, and different. 

In the sixth year of special agronomy project, you will explore POPCORN.

Interested youth are asked to contact the Extension Office at 402-372-6006 with their order by March 1. Seeds are $1.00 per packet and one per youth. Youth must enroll in Agronomy in 4-H Online to bring the exhibit to the county fair. 

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SOURCE: Melissa Hagemeister, Extension Associate

RELEASE DATE: February 16, 2026

NDA OPENS APPLICATION PROCESS FOR 2026 NEBRASKA AG YOUTH INSTITUTE 

LINCOLN – The Nebraska Department of Agriculture (NDA) is currently accepting applications from high school juniors and seniors for the Nebraska Agricultural Youth Institute (NAYI). NAYI is one of Nebraska’s largest agriculture youth outreach events. This five-day program brings students together, offering networking opportunities with ag leaders and a chance to learn more about the industry, discover careers and make new friends. NDA helps sponsor and coordinate NAYI every year. This year’s theme is “Passion Meets Purpose.” 

NAYI will be held at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s East Campus July 6–10, 2026. Current high school juniors and seniors interested in attending must apply online at www.nda.nebraska.gov/nayi. All applications must be submitted by April 15, 2026. 

“NAYI is a long-standing tradition in Nebraska agriculture and a one-of-a-kind opportunity for high school students to connect with peers from around the state,” said NDA Director Sherry Vinton. “It is one of the best ways for students to learn more about Nebraska’s diverse agricultural industry and the hard-working people who help make our ag industry great.” 

NAYI features motivational speakers, discussions on agricultural issues, career development, networking opportunities, leadership activities, a farm management game, a formal banquet and awards presentation, and a dance. In its 55th year, NAYI is the longest running agricultural youth program of its kind in the nation. More than 225 students attended NAYI last year. 

NDA selects students to attend NAYI based on their leadership skills, interests and involvement in agriculture. Students attend NAYI free of charge due to generous donations from agricultural businesses, commodity groups and industry organizations. Space is limited. Those interested in helping sponsoring NAYI can visit https://nda.nebraska.gov/NAYIsponsors for more information. 

NAYI is coordinated by the Nebraska Agricultural Youth Council, which is comprised of 21 college-aged students selected by NDA for their passion and interest in the ag industry. The Council’s purpose is to provide young Nebraskans with a better understanding of agriculture, including agricultural opportunities available to today’s youth. 

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CONTACT: Christin Kamm, Nebraska Dept of Ag

Elevate Your Expertise with the Midwest FEEDS Practicum

Join us for the Midwest FEEDS (Forage, Education and Efficiency in Diversified Systems) Practicum, a hands-on, multi-session educational program designed to equip participants with essential skills for success in beef cattle production. This unique program leverages the competitive advantages of the Midwest, including access to perennial pastures, annual forages, cover crops, crop residues, and harvested feeds.

Program Highlights:

• Hands-On Learning Across the Production Season: Engage in practical, in-field training combined with in-depth discussions that foster knowledge exchange among participants and instructors.
• Networking and Idea Exchange: Build connections and share insights with industry peers and experts in a collaborative environment.
• High-Quality Resources: Receive software, notebooks, and curated University of Nebraska–Lincoln publications to support your learning journey.

Skills You’ll Develop:

• Decision-Making with Advanced Tools: Use decision support tools and NRC software to analyze diets, match forage availability with animal requirements, and optimize beef production.
• Forage and Grazing Strategy: Create effective grazing and pasture management plans, including weed control and fertility strategies tailored to your operation.
• Breeding, Calving, and Weaning Management: Learn best practices for breeding, calving, weaning, cattle handling, and facility design.
• Evaluating Cattle Performance: Master techniques to assess cow and calf performance, estimate condition scores, and determine nutritional needs throughout the reproductive cycle.

Cutting-Edge Research at UNL:

Experience innovative research at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln’s Eastern Nebraska Research and Extension Center, where you will learn firsthand about integrating cropland for forage and cow-calf systems.

Ready to elevate your expertise and drive success in your cattle operation?
https://enreec.unl.edu/extension-education-engagement/midwest-feeds-practicum/

Held across five sessions at the Eastern Nebraska Research & Extension Center, 1071 County Road G, Ithaca (near Mead), NE: 

• February 28, 2026 – Health, Nutrition & Systems Thinking
• March 28, 2026 – Forage Systems & Breeding
• June 20, 2026 – Facilities & Pasture Management
• August 29, 2026 – Weaning, Culling & Winter Feeding
• December 5, 2026 – Stalk Grazing & Preparing for Calving 

Cost & Registration

• $750 per individual
• $1,300 for two participants
• $500 for each additional participant

Questions? 

Contact:
Connor Biehler
Email: cbiehler2@unl.edu
Phone: 402‑624‑8030

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Private Applicators Need Certification

All farmers who use or purchase any restricted use pesticides on property you own, or rent will need to be certified as a private applicator according to the Nebraska Department of Agriculture.

Nebraska Extension is conducting the following training session which is approved for renewal or initial certification. Producers are reminded to bring their NDA (bar-coded) letter with the form at the bottom that they received from the Nebraska Department of Agriculture if they are recertifying.

Each session lasts approximately three hours: 

February 17 – Oakland City Auditorium, Oakland @ 1:00 p.m.

February 19 – Wayne Fire Hall, Wayne @ 6:00 p.m.

February 24 – Columbus Fieldhouse, Columbus 12:00 p.m.

February 26 – Dodge County Extension, Fremont @ 9:00 a.m.

February 26 – Dodge County Extension, Fremont @ 1:00 p.m.

February 26 – Madison County Extension, Norfolk @ 1:30 p.m.

March 3 – Pender Fire Hall, Pender @ 1:00 p.m.

March 5 – Dodge County Extension, Fremont @ 6:00 p.m.

March 10 – Nielsen Community Center, West Point@ 9:00 a.m.

March 10 – Nielsen Community Center, West Point @ 1:00 p.m.

March 26 – Madison County Extension, Norfolk @ 1:30 p.m.

April 9 – UNL Extension Madison County, Norfolk, 1:30 p.m.

For other local training dates, check the website at https://pested.unl.edu/.

Pre-registration is requested by contacting the Nebraska Extension office in Cuming County at 402/372-6006 or UNL Extension in the county you plan to attend.

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RELEASE DATE:  January 26, 2026

Workshops Aim to Boost Crop Yields by Improving Manure Management

LINCOLN, Neb. — Turning manure nutrients into improved crop yields while protecting water and soil quality will be the focus of seven Nebraska Extension workshops scheduled across the state in February and March.

“Our workshops focus on choosing the best possible field for manure application and therefore are useful for any crop farmer utilizing manure, even though they have traditionally been attended by livestock producers,” said Leslie Johnson, Nebraska Extension’s Animal Manure Management Extension Educator. “The workshops will still meet the educational requirements for permitted livestock operations laid out by the Nebraska Department of Water, Energy and Environment’s Title 130.”

The day-long sessions, held from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. local time, provide DWEE Land Application Training certification. Participants must attend the full program, which includes lunch, to earn certification. Sessions will cover regulatory updates and strategies for using manure effectively on cropland. While certification is available, anyone may attend, including crop farmers and smaller livestock operators seeking practical guidance for their operations.

Hands-on activities will help participants evaluate which fields are best suited for manure application. Each session will present a scenario in which attendees assess potential fields and determine whether manure use would be beneficial or if certain limitations make the site less desirable. Participants will then rank fields by priority based on factors such as nutrient value, transportation cost, soil health, water quality, neighbor proximity, and odor concerns. Regulations and record-keeping requirements for manure storage and application will also be covered.

Workshop dates and locations:

· Ainsworth – Feb. 24

· Broken Bow – Feb. 25

· Bridgeport – Feb. 27

· Norfolk – March 4

· West Point – March 5

· Aurora – March 17

Because seating is limited and meals are provided, advance registration is required at least one week before each event. Additional sessions may be added if demand is high. Registration is available at water.unl.edu/lat.

The cost is $100 per operation requiring certification—typically larger livestock facilities—or $25 per person for attendees not seeking certification, including smaller livestock producers, crop farmers, NRCS staff, and landlords.

The workshops are sponsored by Nebraska Extension’s Animal Manure Management Team, which works to help livestock and crop producers maximize the agronomic and environmental benefits of manure. For more information, visit manure.unl.edu or contact Leslie Johnson at 402-584-3818 or ljohnson13@nebraska.edu. 

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Common Sense Farming and Ranching

Alfredo DiCostanzo, Beef Systems Extension Educator

University of Nebraska

Week of February 9, 2026

USDA Cattle inventory analysis

The last few weeks, I have made some projections for the US cattle inventory as we awaited the release of the official USDA cattle inventory. Also, I contributed my projections on beef production using USDA reports through October of 2025.

It is time to review how well these projections aligned with actual reports and either accept defeat and go back to my role as a nutritionist or continue playing with statistics released by the USDA. Incidentally, this country is blessed to have a reliable and consistent statistical service such as the USDA and other government agencies. This information helps producers make informed decisions.

The USDA inventory reported a total of 37.175 million beef and dairy cows in 2026. In 2025, the inventory was at 37.272 million cows. (I carried figures out to three decimal places as these reports are quite close). My projection, listed in this column in the second week of the year, was 37.6 million cows. The difference is a 1% over-projection from my estimate. This value is close to the error range of USDA reliability estimates.

At the end of 2025, the US produced 25.6 billion pounds of beef under federal inspection compared to 26.6 billion pounds of beef under federal inspection in 2024: a difference of 1 billion pounds. My projection, listed in this column in the last week of 2025, was 25.6 billion pounds.

The analysis of departures from actual estimates obtained officially is helpful to determine if the projection methods are correctly applied and whether they should be deployed in the future. It also helps to have some expectations of what inventories and beef supply levels are to provide anticipated action.

Given the current inventory and knowledge of beef supply in 2025, I might suggest that beef production in 2026 might not differ much from that in 2025. Recently, I also provided information that suggests that Mexican feeder cattle will not be crossing the border any time soon or in 2026. 

This leads one to think that the US cow herd is in a short-term balanced state between the cow inventory and beef production. This is important as rapid oversupply of feeder cattle will quickly lead to declining prices. Maintaining the current situation or permitting the herd to expand to moderate levels (about 28 million beef cows), but no more, will prevent prices from dropping dramatically leading again to overcorrection in the opposite direction.

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Week of January 26, 2026

Figures don’t lie!

Slowly but surely beef is overcoming the negative image wrongly ascribed by health professionals and others in years past. The implications of this trend for beef supply are noteworthy, particularly when the US cattle inventory is at an all-time low. 

Demand for beef is also increasing in other countries, namely Mexico. Focusing on beef demand and supply in Mexico is important as Mexico exported, on average, 1.1 million head of feeder cattle to the US yearly between 2022 and 2024. This process has been interrupted by suspension of imports of feeder cattle (and other species) from Mexico due to the ongoing New World screwworm (NWSW) situation in that country.

In 2024, Mexico also exported 597 million lb of beef to the US (as of October 2025, Mexico had exported 567 million lb of beef to the US: 82% of all beef exported by Mexico). These figures are expressed as pounds of carcass weight equivalent. Using 701 lb carcass weight (average for cattle harvested in Mexico in 2025), beef exports to the US represent carcasses from 850,000 head of cattle imported to the US as beef trimmings and no-roll cuts. 

Why such detailed focus on Mexican cattle inventory and harvest?

For 2025, USDA projected an inventory of nearly 12 million beef and dairy cows which delivered 8.7 million calves. Total harvest was projected at 7.1 million cattle of which 5.3 million head were steers and heifers. 

Combined one-time feedlot capacity in the largest four feedlots in Mexico is at least 1 million head. Incidentally, the level of technology and sophistication at these feedlots is par with most corporate feedlots in the US. Furthermore, most of the larger feedlot firms own their own packing and fabrication plants or have arrangements to access plants. Most of the beef exported to the US is sourced from these plants.

Grain-fed cattle in Mexico are generally finished at a given weight not degree of finish endpoint; generally, 1,250 lb. Cattle are mostly received as yearlings weighing 600 or more lb. Feeding periods last 140 days.

At a turnover rate of 3x yearly these feedlots require 3.3 million incoming cattle yearly: 62% of the projected calf crop destined for slaughter.

Obviously, these four feedlots do not feed all the grain-fed cattle in Mexico, and a significant proportion of beef is derived from grass-finished cattle. Therefore, this analysis strongly suggests that domestic Mexican calf production simply cannot meet demand for growing cattle in feedlots or on pastures. 

This analysis leads to three questions:

Firstly, if feeder cattle imports from Mexico would resume, would US cattle feeders have access to 1 million head coming from Mexico?

Secondly, considering the strong demand for feeder cattle by the Mexican feedlot sector, what incentives does Mexico have to effectively stop the flow of cattle originating from Central America, legally or illegally? 

Lastly, extending the implications of the second question, how effective do you suspect are NWSW barriers in Mexico?

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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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Rural Health

Hannah Guenther, Extension Educator

Week of February 16, 2026

The Great American Melting Pot 

Did you watch the Super Bowl? We sure did. Charlotte is an avid Seahawks fan, so our house was tuned in (me especially for commercials and snacks). As the confetti settled, I couldn’t help but notice some of the conversation afterward, including criticism that the halftime show “wasn’t American enough.” I promise this isn’t a politically charged article, and I’m not here to point fingers or take sides. But it did get me thinking about what we mean when we say American especially when it comes to food. 

So many of the foods we proudly label as “American” were brought here by immigrants, adapted over time, and eventually woven into our everyday lives. My own family history reflects that. My family comes from Swedish immigrants, which has shaped our gatherings with foods like potato sausage, rice pudding, and rye bread. Adam’s family has German roots, and I still remember trying dumplings simmered in sauerkraut for the first time at Grandma Irene’s table.

So today, I wanted to shed a little light on the origins of some of our country’s favorite foods, in hopes that we can better appreciate the many hands and cultures that shaped our food system.

Hamburgers & Fries - When I think of classic American meals, a hamburger and fries is usually the first thing that comes to mind. But the hamburger has German roots. The “Hamburg steak” (a seasoned ground beef patty) was popular in the 19th century and brought to the United States by German immigrants. Over time, it was adapted into the sandwich we know and love today.

And French fries? They aren’t French at all. (There’s your fun fact for the day.) Fried potatoes are believed to have originated in Belgium, where fried foods were a staple. European immigrants brought this tradition to the U.S., and fries eventually have become the perfect companion to burgers across diners and drive-ins.

Apple Pie - Apple pie is often called “as American as apple pie,” but the apples we use today like Granny Smith aren’t native to North America. They were brought by European settlers, along with pie-making traditions. Early colonists embraced pie because it was a practical way to preserve fruit, and it quickly became a staple in American kitchens.

Hot Dog - What feels more American than eating a hot dog at a baseball game? Once again, we can thank German immigrants. Their sausage-making traditions were introduced to the U.S. and quickly adopted because they were affordable and easy to preserve.

Corn - If there is one food that truly is American, it’s corn. Corn was cultivated, prepared, and stewarded by American Indian tribes long before Europeans made contact. It formed the foundation of Indigenous food systems across North America. Cornbread, grits, tortillas, and many other staples all trace their roots back to this land. It’s hard to imagine what the world’s food system would look like today without corn!

Our food, our country, and our culture have always been shaped by many backgrounds coming together. That’s what makes the American food system so great! Each culture brought something: ingredients, techniques, traditions and over time, those contributions have blended into something we can proudly call American. 

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Week of February 2, 2026

Sleepless in Nebraska

Eat fruits and vegetables, drink water, move your body, increase your protein – we all know that these are important aspects of taking care of our health, but what about sleep? Sleep plays a huge role in our health, safety and overall wellbeing and unfortunately many of us aren’t getting enough of it. 1 in 4 Nebraskans is not getting the recommended about of sleep each night. So today let’s talk about sleep including how much we need to be getting, the stages of sleep we go through each night, and finally 3 tips to help you sleep better. 

Are you getting enough sleep? 

• Infants (4-12 months) need to be getting 12-16 hours per 24 hours
• School Age (6-12) need to be getting 9-12 hours per 24 hours 
• Teens (13-18) need to be getting 8-10 hours per 24 hours 
• Adult (18-60) need to be better 7 or more hours per night! 

What happens when you sleep? During our nightly rest, we travel through a series of stages of sleep that each play a vital role in restoration and restfulness. 

1. First, we drift into light sleep which is the beginning of sleep. Our heart rate decreases, our body temperature decreases as our body prepares to enter deep sleep. During this stage we can be easily woken up and this makes up for about 50% of our sleep each evening. This means it is very important to reduce any outside stimuli from phones to pets for a goodnight of sleep 
2. Next, we enter deep sleep which is only about 15-20% of our sleep but it’s extremely important because this is where learning and memory storage take place along with energy restoration, cell regeneration, growth and repair of tissues and bones, and the strengthening of our immune system. While in deep sleep, we can sleep through most disturbances but if we are woken up you will feel groggy and disoriented. 
3. Lastly, we have REM (rapid eye movement). In this stage our body actually becomes paralyzed because we are actively practicing and rehearsing skills along with problem solving and neuro stimulation which is associated with behavior. 

We travel through each of these stages 5-6 times each night! 

So what can you do to sleep better? Here are three tips …

• Set your nighttime room temperature to 60-68 degrees. Your body has to cool down in order to sleep which means it is important that your sleeping room remains cool. Keep the doors closed, the curtains drawn, and think about using a fan. Traveling soon? Most hotel rooms are set between 72-75, drop the temp so you can enjoy a quality night’s sleep. 
• Set a caffeine curfew. Try to limit caffeine consumption 8hours before bed time. It is possible to sleep with caffeine in your system, but it is going to reduce your quality of sleep keeping you in the light sleep stage most of the evening. Try to reduce or limit caffeine consumption after 3pm. 
• Limit blue light before bed. Scrolling has become apart of the nighttime routine for many, but bluelight actually has the ability to stop melatonin production making it challenging to fall asleep after looking at a phone, tablet or TV. Instead of scrolling try to read, journal or incorporate some light stretching into your nighttime routine. 

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Week of January 19, 2026

A New Pilot, A Shared Mission: Extension and Cancer Prevention

It’s time for another little update from your local — then statewide — now pilot lead Extension Educator. My journey with Extension has gone through another transformation, and because this article feels like I’m writing to friends, I wanted to fill you in. As many of you may remember, in June 2024 I stepped into a new role as a Statewide Rural Health Extension Educator. That move meant leaving the county office and expanding my catchment area to include the entire state of Nebraska. My charge was to help improve health outcomes for people living in our rural Nebraska.

Rural Nebraskans, unfortunately, face persistent health disparities. These include higher rates of chronic disease, increased cancer risk, and reduced access to preventive care and healthcare services. Addressing these challenges requires more than individual programs requiring system-level thinking, strong partnerships, and trusted community connections.

Over the past year, my work has continued to evolve from delivering education to helping build and coordinate statewide strategies that strengthen how Extension supports rural health. This work has led to a new opportunity and a slight adjustment to my job description to include a new project that is near and dear to my heart. I am serving as the pilot lead for a new partnership between Nebraska Extension and the Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center. So today, I want to share with you an inside look into my new position and share with you helpful information in terms of cancer screening. 

But wait — do I still work for Extension? Yes, absolutely. The cancer center brings cutting-edge research and cancer-related resources to serve the entire state, but what they often lack is the local connection. That’s where Extension comes in. My role is to help connect the cancer center’s work to our Extension system embedding cancer prevention and screening education into programs people already know and trust. This includes identifying existing Extension programs where cancer screening information fits naturally, partnering with local hospital systems, and helping bridge connections between communities and the cancer center.

But wait - why focus so heavily on screening versus prevention? Currently, Nebraska experiences significantly higher rates of eight types of cancer compared to the national average, with a disproportionate burden affecting rural communities. Early detection leads to better treatment and improved survivorship. Research shows that:

• Routine mammography has reduced breast cancer deaths by 30–40%
• Pap smear screening has reduced cervical cancer deaths by more than 70% since its introduction
• Colorectal cancer death rates have dropped over 50% since the 1980s, largely due to screening
• Low-dose CT scans reduce lung cancer deaths by 20–40% among high-risk adults

My job today looks a little different than when I started with Extension in 2018, but the heart of the work remains the same. I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to continue serving Nebraskans — helping individuals, families, and communities live healthier, fuller lives through education, prevention, and connection.

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