Nebraska Extension Educator - Holt & Boyd Counties - LaDonna Werth
Nebraska Extension Educator - Holt & Boyd Counties - Amy Timmerman
Nebraska Extension Educator - Holt, Boyd, Garfield, Loup, & Wheeler Counties - Bethany Johnston
Nebraska Extension Educator - Brown, Rock, & Keya Paha Counties - Brittany Spieker
Nebraska 4-H Assistant - Holt & Boyd Counties - Debra Walnofer
April 7: DUE: Registrations for the Holt and Boyd Communication Event, Opens March 30. All Entries submitted through fairwire at Holt Fairwire or Boyd Fairwire.
April 8: Private Pesticide Training, 10am, Mid Plains Community College, Valentine, NE, Pesticide Safety Education Program
April 9: Private Pesticide Training, 1:30pm, Holt County Annex, O’Neill, NE, Pesticide Safety Education Program
April 11-12: Nebraska 4-H Shooting Sports Instructor Certification Workshop, 8:00am, Custer County Fairgrounds, Broken Bow, NE,
April 12: 4-H Holt Boyd County Communication Event, 5:00pm, Holt County Annex, O’Neill, NE
April 13: 4-H Judges Training, Virtual Volunteer Training, 12:00pm, Registration Form for 2026 Judges Training
April 14: Chemigation Training, 9:00am, New Community Center, Bassett, NE, Pesticide Safety Education Program
April 15: Chemigation Training, 1:00pm, Holt County Annex, O’Neill, NE, Pesticide Safety Education Program
May 18: Face-to-Face YQCA Training, 7pm, Holt County Courthouse Annex, O’Neill, NE
4-H and Sparking Youth Interest in STEM
Every young person carries a spark, a passion that gives their life energy and direction. For thousands of Nebraska youth that spart is Science, Technology, Math, and Engineering or are known as STEM. 4-H helps foster sparks by providing different program area topics locally for youth to get a chance to explore STEM as a pathway to their future while creating experiences around positive youth development research.
Nebraska 4-H aligns programs to positively impact young people to build skills through hands-on problem solving and instilling confidence by mastering new experiences. Positive youth development is rooted in giving youth a safe learning environment where they can grow, connect and make mistakes to try again. Youth can lead their learning by experiencing hands-on education to develop and master decision-making processes. For example, youth are given random materials found in the office and tasked with creating something to protect and egg when dropped. While building youth in real time get to physically experience an engineering design process cycle: define the problem, research, imagine solutions, plan, create, test, and then improve. Through STEM programs and projects, youth practice critical life skills including decision making, problem solving, use of resources, teamwork, and communications.
STEM continues to be one of the fastest growing program areas in Nebraska 4H, engaging in 16,353 youth across the state in opportunities for youth to learn STEM within the 4-H program, but there are also several ways for youth to showcase what they have learned through different 4-H projects. Nebraska 4-H offers an array of projects the include: robotics, environmental education, plant science, welding, electricity, computers, and GPS just to name a few.
Whether a young person dreams of becoming an engineer, scientist, or simply enjoys hands-on discovery, Nebraska 4H offers a place to explore, grow, and thrive.
Families interested in enrolling or learning more about STEM opportunities in their county are encouraged to contact their local Nebraska Extension Office.
Source: Mickayla Blender - 4-H Educator in Furnas and Harlan Counties (UNL For Families – March 30, 2026)
Fire Damage and Crop Residue Impacts
Key Points
- Most nitrogen and sulfur in the residue are lost to the atmosphere. Phosphorus and potassium are retained in the ash and may blow away.
- Research has shown no need to replace the nitrogen in the burnt residue.
- Soils become hydrophobic after a wildfire. Planting a cover crop helps disturb the hydrophobic layer, increases water infiltration, reduces soil erosion, and aids in improving subsequent crop yields compared to leaving the soil bare.
- This March 19, 2026, Market Journal Segment shares additional insights into the 2026 Wildfires and impacts.
Intensifying drought conditions coupled with recent fires throughout the State in the Spring of 2026 have led to questions about the nutrient value remaining in crop fields and/or soil impacts. The resources listed at the conclusion of this document can be of benefit to those impacted, particularly the South Dakota State University document in working through a potential value loss.
When residue is burned, most nitrogen and sulfur in the residue are lost to the atmosphere; however, the phosphorus and potassium are retained in the ash (as long as it doesn't blow away). For the immediately following crop, burned residue usually does not justify automatic replacement of residue N, but producers should recognize that surface residue cover, sulfur in residue, and some ash-borne P and K can still be lost if ash moves off-site.
Researchers from the University of Wisconsin looked at the need to replace nitrogen for the succeeding corn crop when soybean residue was either removed or not removed. They found no difference in nitrogen impacts to the corn crop regardless of whether the residue was removed; this suggests there is no need to replace the nitrogen in burnt soybean residue.
When looking at corn residue removal prior to corn planting, research from USDA-ARS in Nebraska also suggested no need to replace the nitrogen lost from the residue. They found increased nitrogen mineralization due to the change in C:N ratio when residue was removed. Previous research compiled in this resource from South Dakota State shared the same sentiments.
Regarding longer-term nutrient loss, a UNL NebGuide shares that for every 40 bu/ac of corn or sorghum, approximately one ton of residue is produced. Each ton of corn and sorghum residue contains approximately 17 lb N, 4 lb P2O5, 34 lb K2O, and 3 lb S. For every 30 bu/ac of soybean residue, approximately one ton of residue is produced with 17 lb N, 3 lb P2O5, 13 lb K2O, and 2 lb S for each ton of residue produced.
Perhaps the greatest losses to consider are organic matter, soil loss, and soil moisture. Regarding organic matter, the soil holds the greatest portion of this. One year of residue is minimal, attributed to the potential of increasing organic matter 0.03-0.06%, depending on tillage type, crop, etc. Soil erosion due to wind/water can result in organic matter loss and loss of more productive soil. This is hard to quantify.
Fire Induces Water Repellency
Wildfire impacted fields generally have reduced water infiltration. This is due to the plant oils in the residue leaving a hydrophobic condition on the soil surface. We’ve found that disturbing this hydrophobic layer is important to begin the healing process of allowing water to infiltrate and building biology in the soil surface layers again.
To do this, we’ve recommended planting oats, spring barley, or spring triticale in burned crop fields. Plant establishment helps to reduce soil erosion and helps with increased water infiltration. These cover crops can be used as a forage resource if needed. They can also be terminated to plant a cash crop. We have seen yields of the successive cash crop increase where cover crops were established after a wildfire damage compared to no cover crop prior to the cash crop.
Yield Examples
While irrigated corn yields may return to near normal averages in burned versus unburned zones immediately following wildfires, dryland (rainfed) fields may have longer-term yield impacts. For example, UNL research following a 2022 Wildfire near Arapahoe, Nebraska pegged 2023 grain sorghum yields as 144 bushels per acre for unburned versus 84 bushels per acre for burned zones the year following. Since the fire removed surface soil protection, less rainfall infiltrated into the 'crusted' soil conditions; thus, potentially impacting the subsequent sorghum yield.
Soil moisture losses in no-till, non-irrigated fields - particularly in a dry year such as this - can be impactful. Former UNL Extension Irrigation Specialist Norman Klocke reported on Kansas research showing that leaving the residue in place resulted in a savings of 3.5 inches of soil water. Based on that, the late Bob Klein, Emeritus Crop Specialist shared, in a dryland situation, each additional inch of available water could translate into approximately 12 bushels of corn per acre for around 42 additional bushels of corn per acre (based on 3.5 inches).
The following are some examples of soil moisture impacts on yields provided by the late Paul Hay, Extension Educator Emeritus, and a Jefferson County farmer who shared their experiences.
Situation One
Fire across 30 acres of long-term no-till which was soybean stubble going to dryland corn. Fire occurred in fall after soybean harvest. Loss estimates of subsequent corn crop from crop insurance adjuster and Extension Educator Paul Hay were 26 and 28 bushels per acre.
Situation Two and Three
Fires in spring from escaped grass fire and burning barrel. Fires burned 13 and 38 acres of soybeans in corn stubble on long-term no-till. Insurance companies could not understand how new crop soybeans could be killed by fire. Replanted areas in both situations yielded 4-6 bushels per acre less, the soybeans were taller, and some lodging occurred.
Situation Four
Three fires along highway from truck bearing. Fires occurred in early winter. Soybeans into long-term no-till corn stubble under a pivot - no measurable effect.
Dryland corn into long-term no-till soybean stubble - 15-20 bushel per acre loss.
Dryland soybeans in long-term no-till corn stubble - two to three bushel per acre reduction, beans were taller, but lodging was not severe.
Example from a Jefferson County long-term no-till farmer: A wildfire burned across the corner of my Thayer County dryland farm six miles west of Daykin several years ago. This was dryland corn residue that burned in early spring and then was planted to dryland beans. It was an average to slightly dry year for moisture. At harvest, the beans were noticeably shorter with less branching and less pods. The yield monitor showed five to 10 bushels less yield in the burned area. My explanation for the lower yield at the time was moisture loss due to no ground cover and greater evaporation.
Considerations
Use of soil moisture sensors can give an indication of soil moisture differences between burned and non-burned areas of fields or between fields. Direct yield comparisons between fields are difficult to make due to planting dates, hybrids/varieties, agronomic practices, etc., but important to still collect and assess.
Resources
- Gelderman, Ron. 2009. Estimating Nutrient Loss from Crop Residue Fires.
- No-till Farmer. 2009. Nutrient Losses from Field Fires.
- Sawyer, John. Dry Fall Conditions can Lead to Field Fires.
- Sawyer, John. Estimating Losses When Fields are Accidentally Burnt.
- Schmer, Marty, Virginia Jin, Richard Ferguson, and Brian Wienhold. 2020. Irrigation, Carbon Amelioration, Nitrogen, and Stover Removal Effects on Continuous Corn. Agronomy Journal. 2020;112:2506–2518.
- Wortmann, Charles, Robert Klein, and Charles Shapiro. 2012. Harvesting Crop Residues, Nebraska Extension NebGuide G1846
- Wortmann, Charles and Robert Klein. 2017. Estimating the Full Value of Crop Residue.
Source: Jenny Brhel - Extension Educator, Todd Whitney - Extension Educator, Matheus Ribeiro - Assistant Extension Educator, John Nelson - Extension Educator (April 22, 2022; April 2, 2026)
Understanding and Preventing Calf Scours
Neonatal calf diarrhea, or scours, is a common concern among cow-calf producers. Understanding why scours occurs is the first step in preventing the problem.
What causes calf scours?
Calf scours outbreaks are the result of a contaminated calving and nursing environment. This environmental contamination develops following a period of pathogen (germ) buildup, or amplification. Cows shed relatively small amounts of these bacteria and viruses into the environment often without showing any clinical symptoms. Other scours-causing pathogens, such as coccidia, can persist in the environment year after year. As calves are born, they are exposed to these pathogens and begin the cycle of replication and shedding of disease potentials.
They shed many times more germs than they were originally exposed to, which is why we call this “amplification.” The first calves born may not show clinical symptoms of scours because the pathogen load may not be high enough to overwhelm the immune system. However, as more calves are born and stocking density increases, the pathogen load can become too much. This is when a scours outbreak occurs.
How to reduce the risk of scours
Reducing the risk of scours can be accomplished by addressing different areas of management. One way to do this is by following the Sandhills Calving Method, or a modified version of it. The concept is to place calves into similar age groups, calving on clean environments with each group. Ideally, calves should be within 10-14 days of age in each calving area. Late gestation cows will
then be moved away from new babies to calve in a fresh environment and begin another age group, and so on. This will allow reduction of pathogen shedding and exposure dose. The original concept can be modified to fit most operations by having an idea of calving dates and a little creativity.
Limiting stress during calving is another preventative measure. One example of stress includes weather concerns. Having a place for calves to get out of storms and mud may help. This can be accomplished by utilizing shelters or creating a calf escape area by adding a hot wire in the corner of the lot where calves can freely enter but cows remain outside the space. Shelters can become sources of contamination if left unclean and wet. Because ventilation and sunshine are vital factors in keeping calves healthy, moving shelters, or utilizing open air concepts have been shown to be beneficial.
Testing is necessary to get a final diagnosis on what pathogens are causing problems and often the condition contains two or more species of bacteria, viruses, or protozoa. Age of calf is helpful in knowing what may be causing the problem as each pathogen affects calves at different time frames. Understanding crucial management areas and establishing prevention protocols with your veterinarian are essential for your operation’s calf health plan.
Source: Halden Clark, DVM MS, Health Stewardship; Great Plains Veterinary Educational Center, Lindsay Waechter-Mead, DVM, Nebraska Extension Beef Educator (UNL Beef – February 14, 2024 – Updated March 1, 2026)