By Kathleen Cue, Nebraska Extension Horticulture Educator
Local Interest
By Kathleen Cue, Nebraska Extension Horticulture Educator
The silvery checkerspot caterpillar, Chlosyne nycteis, can be found right now, happily eating away on sunflower, aster, Echinacea, goldenrod and Rudbeckia. The checkerspot caterpillar has branched spines on its back that are black in color. Sometimes the caterpillars will have an orange stripe or two. Depending on weather conditions, there will be one to two generations per year. Once first generation caterpillars are an inch long, they will stop feeding and form a pupal case on foliage. As the growing season winds down, the second generation caterpillars will hibernate as third instar larvae.
Preparations for the 2019 Fair season are well underway. 4-H youth, parents, staff and communities are working hard towards successful and rewarding fairs full of fun and memories.
Please go to the web sites linked below for detailed information for 4-H Youth and their families.
Fremont 4-H Expo - July 10 - 13, 2019
Dodge County Fair - July 31 - August 4, 2019
Nebraska State Fair - August 23 - September 2, 2019
Nebraska Extension is working with USDA and Crop Insurance Partners to discuss how cattle producers can utilize annual forages this season to supplement loss of hay and pasture in flood affected areas.
The Dodge County 4-H Program hosted their Public Speaking Contest on Thursday, March 28th at the Masonic Eastern Star Home for Children. This year 61 area youth partook in either the Speech or PSA portion of the Public Speaking Contest. The top 3 youth in the Junior, Intermediate and Senior age divisions for both the Speech and PSA contest will advance onto the Regional Public Speaking Contest come May. The Dodge County 4-H Public Speaking Contest was sponsored by the Dodge County 4-H Council, Dodge County 4-H Foundation and the Masonic Eastern Star Home for Children.
Here are the results for the 2019 Dodge County 4-H Public Speaking Contest:
By Kathleen Cue, Nebraska Extension Horticulture Educator
The flooding and subsequent ponding has a profound effect on trees and shrubs in the landscape. The contaminants these waters carry negatively impact vegetable garden sites and orchards. Here are some flood resources to address residents’ concerns.