Nebraska Extension Educator - Holt/Boyd Counties - LaDonna Werth
Nebraska Extension Educator - Holt/Boyd Counties - Amy Timmerman
Nebraska Extension Educator - Brown/Rock/Keya Paha Counties - Brittany Spieker
Nebraska Extension Educator - Holt/Boyd/Garfield/Loup/Wheeler Counties - Bethany Johnston
Nebraska 4-H Assistant - Holt/Boyd Counties - Debra Walnofer
January 15: Face-to-Face Private Pesticide Training/Beef Update, 10am, Midplains Community College, Valentine, NE, pested.unl.edu/
January 23: ServSafe - Food Managers Training, 8:30am, Holt County Courthouse Annex, O’Neill
January 23: Face-to-Face Private Pesticide Training/Beef Update, 10:30am, Stuart Auditorium, Stuart, NE, pested.unl.edu
January 23: Face-to-Face Private Pesticide Training/Beef Update, 1pm, Antelope County Fairgrounds, Neligh, NE, pested.unl.edu
January 23: Face-to-Face Private Pesticide Training/Beef Update, 6pm, Antelope County Fairgrounds, Neligh, NE, pested.unl.edu
January 29: Commercial and Noncommercial Recertification Applicator Training, Holt County Courthouse Annex, O’Neill, NE, pested.unl.edu
January 31: Face-to-Face Private Pesticide Training/Beef Update, 1pm, Bloomfield Community Center, Bloomfield, NE, pested.unl.edu
February 3: Face-to-Face Private Pesticide Training/Beef Update, 9:30am, Holt County Courthouse Annex, O’Neill, NE, pested.unl.edu
February 3: DUE by Noon: 2025 4-H Special Garden Project Seed Order, https://go.unl.edu/holtboydspecialgardenseeds
February 3: DUE by Noon: 2025 4-H Special Agronomy Project Seed Order, https://go.unl.edu/2025holtboydspecialagronomy
February 12: Commercial and Noncommercial Recertification Applicator Training, Holt County Courthouse Annex, O’Neill, NE, pested.unl.edu
Be Safe When Exercising Outdoors In Cold Weather
For many people, the cold winter weather is a reason not to exercise outside or not to exercise at all. However, it is possible to get a great workout outdoors as long as you use caution and dress properly.
Exercising in cold weather can put extra stress on the body. It is important to consult your physician if you have a medical condition that puts you at risk before implementing a new outdoor regimen.
The two conditions you have to worry about when exercising outdoors during winter months are frostbite and hypothermia. Frostbite is a condition that describes freezing body tissue. It occurs most often on fingers, toes, ears and face. Symptoms of frostbite include pain, numbness, tingling and burning of the affected site. Hypothermia occurs when the core body temperature drops to below 95 degrees. Symptoms include chills, fatigue, drowsiness, slurred speech, intense shivering and loss of coordination.
The right clothes are your first line of defense against these conditions. Dress in layers. The first layer of clothing should be a layer of thin synthetic fabric such as polypropylene, which helps draw sweat away from the body. The next layer should be fleece or wool to help insulate the body. The top layer should be waterproof to help keep heat from escaping and keep moisture and wind out.
LaDonna Werth
Extension Educator
Phone: 402-336-2760
E-mail: LWerth2@unl.edu
It’s also important to protect the areas of the body prone to frostbite. A thin pair of gloves under a heavier pair will protect hands. Thermal socks will help protect the feet. It may be necessary to purchase shoes a half size larger to allow for the thickness of the socks. Don’t forget a hat or headband to protect your ears.
Be sure to drink plenty of fluids. Dehydration is not just a risk in the summer. When sweating and increased breathing occur, in any type of weather, dehydration is a possibility.
It is particularly important to warm up properly for cold weather workouts. The body tends to stiffen more easily in cold weather. Do a short warm-up activity followed by stretching to help prevent injury.
Remember that shoveling snow can be a good workout, but can also take a toll on people who are not used to heavy lifting. Take the same precautions you would for any other hard outdoor workout because that is exactly what it is!
Source: Tammy Roberts, Nutrition and Health Education Specialist, Bates County, University of Missouri Extension
How to Create and Care for a Terrarium
Terrariums are closed transparent glass or plastic containers used to create a mini-environment or ecosystem for plants. The principle behind a terrarium is simple. The water from the soil is taken up into the plant as it grows. The water is then released through the leaves via transpiration. This water condenses on the glass and runs back to the soil, where it can be used again.
Because this mini water cycle occurs inside the sealed terrarium, the plants can go for months without watering. It also creates a jungle-like atmosphere of high humidity, warm temperatures, and no drafts, which are perfect conditions for many of the tropical-native houseplants common in homes.
Rooted in the Victorian Age
The history of terrariums is rooted in the Victorian age. As Europeans traveled the globe, they used Wardian cases (which are early types of terrariums) to protect plants during their journey by sea from faraway places back to Europe. Terrariums were equally useful in growing tropical plants in the home. They were used in parlors to house many of the delicate and exotic plants brought to Europe and North America from tropical areas around the world. Despite the fact terrariums have been around for many years, it has been difficult to match the popularity they saw in the 1850s.
Amy Timmerman
Extension Educator
Phone: 402-336-2760
E-mail: atimmerman2@unl.edu
Building a Terrarium
Constructing a terrarium is easy, inexpensive, and can be accomplished on a snowy afternoon. Suitable containers can be found in most homes. Their care is minimal since they can go for months without water under the proper conditions. In addition, a wide variety of plants can be grown that would typically fail miserably in the dry, drafty environment of the average home.
Getting Started
Start with a clean, dry container. Terrariums or glass cases can be purchased at many stores, but an old 10-gallon fish tank, a large glass jar, or a large glass bowl with a beveled glass lid can also work. Any closed or semi-closed transparent container has the potential to become a terrarium, so feel free to be creative.
Since terrariums don't have drainage holes, place a 2-inch layer of gravel, pebbles, or perlite on the bottom of the container to provide a space for excess water to collect. Next, add a one-fourth-inch layer of charcoal. The charcoal aids drainage and helps control soil odors. Finally, add one to four inches of light, well-drained potting soil. In larger terrariums, as you are adding the soil, create hills and valleys to add interest.
Choosing the Perfect Plants
The next step is selecting your plants. Plants with slow growth rates, tolerance to high humidity, and small leaves make good candidates for terrariums. Because the plants will be planted in the same space, the most important consideration is that all the plants tolerate the same soil moisture, light levels, and other growing conditions.
A general rule of thumb when designing a terrarium is to choose an upright-growing, trailing, and intermediate-sized plant. A list of potential species for your terrarium can be found below.
A terrarium is not the place for a common philodendron or spider plant. Instead, use this special environment to grow unique, exotic, or difficult-to-grow plants in average home conditions. This includes plants like net plant, creeping moss, and ferns. Flowering plants, such as miniature African violets, and carnivorous plants, such as pitcher plants and venus fly traps, make beautiful and fun additions to terrariums. The humid environment is good for any houseplant except cacti and succulents, which suffer in a humid environment.
When plants have very different soil and moisture requirements, like these ferns and orchid, leave them in their individual containers.
Planting and Finishing Touches
To plant a terrarium, remove the plant from the pot, gently shake off excess soil, and place it in the soil inside the terrarium. Often, a large portion of the root ball must be loosened or removed to allow the plant to fit in the small space.
Rocks and stones make good additions to your miniature landscape. Small shells, marbles, small figures, toy dinosaurs, or other similar items can also be added for a touch of fun. The options are limited only by your imagination; just remember not to incorporate wood. Driftwood or similar wood products will break down quickly inside a terrarium and could introduce unwanted insects and fungi, which will thrive in a terrarium's humid environment.
To finish your terrarium, moisten the soil by misting heavily or using a rubber bulb sprinkler. Soil stuck to the glass from planting can be rinsed off by lightly running water down the glass. After watering, cover with the lid, a piece of beveled glass, or saran wrap.
You Can Also Keep Them in Their Own Containers
In taller or larger glass cases, plants can remain in their own containers. This is particularly helpful for growing different species with very different soil or water requirements in the same terrarium, such as orchids with ferns. Cloches and bell jars can also be used to grow species in their own containers but create the same environment as a terrarium.
Care of Terrariums
If condensation builds up in the terrarium, crack the lid to reduce the excess moisture.
Light
Place the terrarium in medium to bright, indirect sunlight. An east or north window would be a good choice. Heat can build up quickly when light is too intense, so avoid locations that get direct sunlight.
Fertilizer
Fertilizer should be avoided because it will encourage growth and earlier crowding of the plants. Additionally, many potting soils already contain a small amount of fertilizer to help plants get established.
If plants exhibit symptoms of low fertility (yellowing leaves, interveinal chlorosis, weak growth), fertilize with a balanced all-purpose fertilizer with low numbers in the fertilizer analysis (like 10-10-10 or 4-4-4) mixed at quarter strength.
Watering
Check on the terrarium every few weeks and add water when the soil becomes dry. Water will only be needed for many closed terrariums every 3 to 6 months, although the frequency can vary greatly based on soil type, plant species, light levels, and other factors.
If excessive condensation builds up on the glass, uncover the terrarium until some of the condensation evaporates; then replace the cover.
Managing Excessive Growth
Over time, plants will begin to outgrow their space. Prune back plants as needed to keep the plants looking good. When plants become too unruly or large, pull them out and replace them with something else. No plant can be a permanent addition to a terrarium as they will eventually outgrow the space. Have fun and use it as an opportunity to change things up and try new plants.
Plants for Terrariums
Upright / Tall Plants
Sweet Flag (Acorus gramineus)
Holly Fern (Cyrtomium falcatum)
Dracaena (Dracaena sp.)
Bird's Nest Fern (Asplenium nidus)
Peacock Plant (Calathea sp.)
Mid-size Plants
Net Plant (Fittonia sp.)
Flame Violet (Episcia sp.)
Cloak Fern (Didymochlaena truncatula)
Table Fern (Pteris cretica)
Pitcher Plant (Sarracenia sp.)
Tropical Pitcher Plant (Nepenthes sp.)
Sundew (Drosera sp.)
Prayer Plant (Maranta sp.)
Radiator Plant (Peperomia sp.)
Begonia (Begonia sp.)
Aluminum Plant (Pilea sp.)
Maidenhair Fern (Adiantum raddianum)
Rabbit's Foot Fern (Davallia canariensis)
Mini African Violet (Saintpaulia sp.)
Venus Fly Trap (Dionaea sp.)
Air Plant (Tillandsia sp.)
Low / Trailing Plants
Earth Star (Cryptanthus sp.)
Creeping Moss (Selaginella sp.)
Baby's Tears (Helxine soleirolii)
Strawberry Vine (Saxifraga sarmentosa)
Creeping Fig (Ficus pumila)
Silver Sparkles Plant (Pilea glauca)
Source: Aaron Steil – Iowa State Consumer Horticulture Extension Specialist (Iowa State Yard and Garden – January 2024)
A Healthy Farm Needs a Healthy Farmer
Farm safety encompasses the health and safety of farmers, farm workers, and their families, and it is very important to farmers and ranchers across our state. Agriculture is one of the most-dangerous occupations in the United States, as we are working with live animals, chemicals, and equipment. While emergency injuries occur on farm operations, long-term consequences of loud machinery, heavy-lifting, and chemical fumes are also a concern. Ranchers vaccinate their cattle, because we recognize prevention is often easier than treatment, so apply this concept to your own health as well. Provided is information and tools on worker safety and cattle handling that, when integrated into your operation, can provide additional safety.
Important Safety Considerations
Think about human safety first when working with live animals. The safety of our livestock is often at the forefront of our mind, but never risk your own health for your livestock. When working with employees, always communicate the plan and any helpful information to reduce risk of injury. Many farmers and ranchers work alone much of the time and cell service can be unpredictable, so it is important to keep someone updated on your location and tasks planned in case of an emergency.
Bethany Johnston
Extension Educator
Phone: 402-336-2760
E-mail: bjohnston3@unl.edu
Develop an emergency action plan for your operation. This is so, in case of an emergency, someone can access the necessary information to find you and ensure that the proper help is provided. These typically include a map of the operation and important phone numbers.
When using equipment, do a quick assessment before getting started. Always shut off machinery before attempting to work on it. When hauling livestock, check the floor and tires of the trailer, as well as the weather, before loading animals.
Wear personal protective equipment (abbreviated as PPE). This may include steel-toed boots, a mask, goggles, gloves, or ear protection. This is especially important when working in a barn with poor ventilation. It is easy to get caught up in the work that needs to be done and forget about gloves when handling chemicals, or ear protection on loud machinery, but these are things that can be done to prevent long-term health issues. Always take the time to read the label and take necessary precautions. Also consider PPE when administering animal health products.
Family Safety
Many farms and ranches are family operations, meaning there are often children helping with tasks on the farm. This provides a great opportunity to teach kids from a young age the importance of farm safety. However, it also comes with a greater risk. Take the time, as you would with a new employee, to tell children about the safety precautions they need to take on your operation. Consider enrolling teens ages 14 to 17 in the American Farm Bureau Federation Think F.A.S.T program. This is a free program that focuses on general safety, leadership, and critical thinking skills in agriculture specific contexts.
Mental Health Resources
Let’s all be honest and admit that agriculture can be a stressful industry to work in. It is physically demanding and economically unpredictable, and it is frequently endured in an isolated environment. There are so many factors that affect our efforts that are completely out of our control: the weather, price of inputs, and livestock disease, just to name a few.
For generations there was the mindset of “just pull yourself up by your bootstraps” and a stigma around mental health awareness. Many studies have shown that farmer suicide rates are 2 to 5 times higher than the national average. It is so crucial that farmers and ranchers take care of their mental health. It is okay to admit when you’re going through hard times and to get the help you need. What is a farm without the farmer? The SDSU Extension article, It’s Okay to Not Be Okay: Farm Stress Assistance in South Dakota, offers mental health resources designed for farmers and ranchers.
Sources: Addie Womack - SDSU Extension Livestock Production and Stewardship Field Specialist (SDSU Beef - October 3, 2024)
Researchers Building Science Confidence, Capacity Among Rural Early Childhood Educators
[University of Nebraska-Lincoln, January 2025] - Research shows children starting kindergarten often know less about science compared to reading and math. Despite this, science activities typically make up the smallest proportion of the preschool day.
The science opportunity gap is even more pronounced in rural communities, where limited educational resources and lower emphasis on science education widen the divide.
Soo-Young Hong, associate professor of child, youth and family studies, is leading a three-year project focused on strengthening rural early childhood educators’ competence and confidence in teaching science and engineering concepts to young children.
Hong and her team aim to develop and test a practice-based professional development model for early childhood science education in center- and home-based early care and education settings serving children ages 3-5 in rural Nebraska.
The educators will gain skills in using reflective practice - the ability to reflect on one’s actions to continuously learn - and adapting lessons in ways that are authentic and relevant to children’s everyday life. This approach will support them in creating and experimenting with new ideas and approaches to broaden and enrich students’ learning experiences.
The project is designed to build educators’ science content knowledge, while boosting their confidence in guiding young children to think like scientists.
A key goal, Hong said, is to enable educators to closely observe children’s interactions with science-related materials and environments and to use those observations in reflection, planning and practice of science teaching.
“Early childhood educators know children love to ask questions and have all kinds of interests and curiosity about what they see and experience,” said Hong, a research affiliate at the Nebraska Center for Research on Children, Youth, Families and Schools. “Educators want to support that learning, but they sometimes don’t believe they have the capacity to do that.”
The project’s research team includes (back row, from left) Marianna Burks, Maddie Pieper, HyeonJin Yoon, Soo-Young Hong, LaDonna Werth and Doug Golick; (front row, from left) Lisa Poppe, Sarah Paulos, Deepika Menon and Christine Wittich.
Because rural early childhood educators often express a lack of adequate training in teaching science concepts and practices, she said, they sometimes do not feel prepared to teach science-related lessons.
“These educators need a sustainable early childhood science professional-development model that provides access to resources and a community of practitioners,” Hong said.
Researchers will create a professional development model tailored for rural Nebraska, then test it among 20 rural educators across the state.
A website will be created to allow communication among researchers and educators. For example, participants will be able to share journal entries and reflection notes with other each other, as well as the project team. Educators will also be able to share their reflections and observations with families directly from the website.
Educators will use electronic reflective practice notebooks and will be encouraged to collaboratively explore and learn science content, closely observe children’s interaction with materials and their own teaching practices, and reflect on their observations.
The project is funded by a grant from the National Science Foundation and housed at CYFS. Along with Hong, other research team members include Marianna Burks, Doug Golick, Deepika Menon, Sarah Paulos, Lisa Poppe, Sarah Roberts, LaDonna Werth, Christine Wittich and HyeonJin Yoon.
The study is based on results from the pilot PreSTAR project — Preschool Science Talk in Action and Reflection — which uses strategies that encourage teachers to reflect deeply on their own science teaching practices and what they notice about children’s interactions with science-related materials in the classroom.
Hong said it is critical to expose children to high-quality science learning experiences and opportunities in early care and education settings, and that early childhood educators have the knowledge, tools and self-efficacy to explore science with children in everyday activities and conversations.
Research suggests that science learning activities help children develop problem-solving skills and understand the world around them. Such activities also support language and literacy skills by providing opportunities to learn and apply new words and concepts, share observations, compare different organisms or phenomena to note similarities and differences, write about and draw science ideas in journals, and listen to and talk about science-themed books.
Additionally, Hong said, science-related conversations help children develop reasoning skills and gain insight into their own thought processes — important steps for lifelong learning.
One Day – Both Pesticide And BQA Certified
Beef producers in north-central Nebraska have an opportunity to get both their private pesticide certification and Beef Quality Assurance certification in January 2025.
These are the only private pesticide trainings in the state that focuses on the information beef producers need. Anyone can attend the training, which can be strictly informational, or used for pesticide certification or recertification, or Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) certification or continuing education hours.
“In one day, beef producers can complete the certification process to purchase restricted use pesticides, combined with a BQA training,” Bethany Johnston, livestock systems educator with Nebraska Extension, said. “Everything is up-to-date for both your pesticide training and BQA in one day.”
Beside the private pesticide training, beef topics covered will include: Feeding in a Drought and Alternatives when Grass is Short, Wildfire Readiness for the Ranch, and Fly Control Options for cattle.
Trainings are scheduled for: January 15 at Valentine Midplains Community College from 10 am- 2 pm CT; January 23 at the Stuart Auditorium from 10:30 am - 2:30 pm, and January 30 at Uncle Buck’s Lodge in Brewster from 11 am – 3 pm.
Registration is appreciated for lunch count and materials, but walk-ins are welcome. Cost is $60 for pesticide certification.
To register go to go.unl.edu/2025beefwpest or call the local Extension Office. Call 402-376-1850 for Valentine. Call 402-336-2760 for Stuart. Call 308-645-2267 for Brewster.
More information about pesticide applicator training is available at pested.unl.edu/certification-and-training.