Holt Boyd News Column for the Week of December 14, 2025

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

December 15: Landlord/Tenant Cash Rent Workshop, 1:00pm-4:00pm, Holt County Courthouse Annex Meeting Room, O’Neill, NE, Register: 402-336-2760 by December 12

December 16: Northeast Ag Conference, 8:00am-5:00pm, Northeast Community College, Norfolk, NE, Register at: bit.ly/NNAC-2025

December 22: Face-to-Face YQCA Training, 9:00am-10:15am, Holt County Annex, O’Neill, NE, Registration is required - https://yqcaprogram.org/

January 14: Beef Production & Private Pesticide Applicator Update, 10:00am-2:00pm, Mid-Plains Community College, Valentine, NE

January 19: Beef Production & Private Pesticide Applicator Update, 10:00am-2:00pm, Southeast Meeting Room Auditorium, Stuart, NE

January 19: Online Calving College, 7:30pm-8:45pm, Register by Jan. 12: https://cvent.me/GOYAra, More info: go.unl.edu/calving_college

January 26: Online Calving College, 7:30pm-8:45pm, Register by Jan. 12: https://cvent.me/GOYAra, More info: go.unl.edu/calving_college

January 27-28: What Did It Cost to Produce: Farm and Ranch Unit Cost of Production, 9;00am-4:00pm, Burwell Legion Hall, Burwell, NE, Pre-register one week in advance by calling Holt County Extension at 402-336-2760 or email Bethany Johnston at bjohnston3@unl.edu

February 2: Online Calving College, 7:30pm-8:45pm, Register by Jan. 12: https://cvent.me/GOYAra, More info: go.unl.edu/calving_college

February 9: In-Person Calving College, 7:30pm-8:45pm, Valentine, NE. Register by Jan. 12: https://cvent.me/GOYAra, More info: go.unl.edu/calving_college

February 11: In-Person Calving College, 7:30pm-8:45pm, Valentine, NE. Register by Jan. 12: https://cvent.me/GOYAra, More info: go.unl.edu/calving_college

• Include all MyPlate food groups - fruits, vegetables, grains, dairy, and protein - for balanced meals.
• Make a weekly menu plan to use what you already have at home, shop sales, and save time during the week.
• Use a variety of spices to add flavor and visual appeal.
• Turn off the TV during meals to focus on conversation and connection.
• Play soft dinner music to create a calm, warm atmosphere.
• Focus on being together. Festive meals are less about the specific foods on the table and more about the time you share as a family.

According to the University of Nebraska–Lincoln’s Eat Family Style at Home: Creating Memorable Mealtimes, family meals offer many benefits, including the development of positive eating habits, stronger parent–child relationships, and better school performance. For more ideas on making mealtimes healthy, enjoyable, and less stressful, visit eatathome.unl.edu.

Source: Kayly Hinrichs – Health and Wellbeing Educator (UNL For Families – December 8, 2025)

Whether you take samples in the fall or spring, be consistent and account for winter mineralization. Warmer average winter temperatures may result in more soil microbe mineralization and thus more nutrients available for spring root update. So, it may pay dividends to recheck soil nutrient levels in the spring and compare to fall tested levels.

In Nebraska, well nodulated, established alfalfa fields usually fix their own nitrogen needs from the air or soil, so the main alfalfa fertility focuses are usually pH, phosphorus and potassium. Sulfur content levels may also be analyzed with sandy, low organic matter soils.

For native grass hay and pastures, soil water content is the most limiting factor rather than fertility. Livestock producers may still benefit from pH, phosphorus, potassium and sulfur fertility testing, especially for differing pastures and soil texture zones comparison. Again, it is recommended to soil test pasture every three to four years and at establishment.

More information regarding pasture and hay fields soil sampling is available on CropWatch and UNL Beef.

Source: Todd Whitney – Extension Educator (CropWatch – December 4, 2025)

Heifers and cows should be on an increasing plane of nutrition during the breeding season, as established through years of research.

Breeding in Late Summer or Fall
In our previous example, a March calving herd in the Sandhills would breed while grazing grass in June, which is increasing in protein and energy. However, if I changed that herd’s calving date to May, that herd is now breeding in August on grass that has matured and dropping in the available protein and energy. In the Sandhills, this herd would be breeding on rangeland that is decreasing in forage value.

To solve this nutrient deficiency, the heifer calves and first calf heifers in the May calving herd at the university research ranch (Gudmundsen Sandhills Lab) receive 0.3 pounds of protein per head per day (or 1 lb. of a 30% distillers based cake supplement/day) two weeks prior to breeding and for 30 days into the breeding season. A bull is turned out with these young females for 30 days. Another rancher who has a May calving herd starts supplementing 2 weeks prior to breeding and feeds 3 weeks into his breeding season. By supplementing, the plane of nutrition is increasing, even though the grass forage value is dropping, which should boost the pregnancy rate.

Rick Funston, UNL Beef Reproductive Specialist, believes the kind of protein you are feeding matters. Distillers grains products are higher in by-pass protein, which the animal can use, and the young animals in the May herd receive 0.3 lbs of protein per head per day. However, if feeding alfalfa hay, which is lower in by-pass protein, Funston suggests feeding 0.5 lbs of protein per head per day.

Wet Years with Lots of Mature Grass
In wet years with higher than normal precipitation, producers are often surprised when they have more open cows than usual. Remember that mature grass is lower in protein and energy, because the rigid stem and seedhead are less digestible. “But those cows were belly deep in grass!?” is a common response. That “washy” grass was providing a declining plane of nutrition during the breeding season, which could lower pregnancy rates.

On the flip side, producers are often surprised at good pregnancy rates during lower precipitation years. While grass production is lower, the grass may lack the rainfall to produce a seedhead, resulting in a higher forage value.

Thin Cows
Research shows that cows that are thin, or body condition score 4 or less, are less likely to breed back. Thin cows are also milking during the breeding season and will need more protein and energy to gain weight. The environment is telling the cow she can’t support herself, so why could she support the extra nutritional needs of a fetus? After calving and heading into the breeding season, cows should be in a good body condition score, or thinner cows (BCS 4) should be gaining body condition.

Young Animals are Still Growing
Young heifers and cows are growing and may need a higher diet of protein and energy. Often producers will sort off these young animals and manage them differently than the older cows. The young herd is often fed more protein or energy to compensate for growth.

If second or third calf heifers have lower pregnancy rates, consider the genetics you have been selecting for and the environment the herd is in. If you are selecting for higher weaning or yearling weights, cow size and milk production may also be increasing. More open young animals could indicate your environment and genetics no longer match. Energy and protein may not be meeting the needs of these young, growing, and milking females.

Other Nutrients
Vitamin A and dietary phosphorus are important to reproduction success. Vitamin A does not store well in the animal, and levels differ drastically in feeds, so vitamin A should be a consideration. Dietary phosphorus drops in grasses as plants mature, so it may need supplemented in mineral if cattle are grazing dormant winter range. However, distillers grains are high in phosphorus, so if supplemented, phosphorus may not be needed in the mineral.

2) Bulls
Bull Power
Females are just one part of the equation- don’t forget about bull management. If running multiple bulls in a herd, ensure there are enough bulls. Recommendations for the cow to bull ratio depends on the age of the bulls, terrain and size of the pasture, and other variables. For older bulls, 25 cows per 1 bull is suggested. For a yearling bull, the number of females is equal to the bull's age in months (for example, a 15 month old bull could run with 15 females).

Breeding Soundness Exam or Semen Testing Bulls
Bulls should be tested 4-6 weeks prior to turn out. Bulls may be subfertile or infertile. Dr. Lindsay Waechter-Mead, veterinarian and Beef Quality Assurance Coordinator, states that sperm production is a 61-day process, so injuries that occur earlier in the spring may not show up during a Breeding Soundness Exam, if the exam is done too early.

Check Bulls Often During the Breeding Season
The exam is just a “snapshot” in time, so check bulls often during the breeding season to ensure bulls are “sound” all season. Bulls can injure feet, legs, or hips. Check for swelling around the sheath and scrotal areas. Remove injured bulls and replace with a healthy “spare” bull.

3) Early Embryonic Death Loss
When heifers or cows are first pregnant, the embryo is small, as well as fragile. If you are synchronizing and utilizing Artificial Insemination (AI), either move animals immediately after breeding (within 5 days of breeding) or wait until 45 days to transport. By waiting to transport, this will reduce the embryonic loss, which will increase pregnancy rates.

“Preg checking should also wait until after 50 days of breeding to reduce the amount of embryonic loss in pregnant animals,” suggests Rick Funston, who worked with large sets of ranch data that studied the relationship of the timing of pregnancy checking herds.

4) Infections
Keeping infections or diseases out of herds may be the first thing you think of when you have a lot of non-pregnant cows, but in Dr. Waechter-Mead’s experience, “diseases are rarely found and it’s usually a management issue.” If management or nutrition deficiencies have been ruled out, work with your local veterinarian for diseases that could affect reproduction.

Based on risks and benefits, each herd will have their own vaccinations or health protocols, again working with your veterinarian. However, the American Association of Bovine Practitioners recommends core vaccines of IBR, BRSV, BVD, PI3, and Clostridial species. The rest should be based on risk/benefits specific to each vaccine.

During the semen testing of bulls, samples for trichomoniasis tests can be taken during the bulls’ breeding soundness exams. Virgin bulls should not need a trichomoniasis, or trich, test.

Conclusion
According to established herds that Nebraska Extension Beef Reproductive Specialist, Rick Funston, has worked with, these herds achieve 90% or greater pregnancy rates on cows and 80% or greater pregnancy rates on heifers. If your pregnancy rates are significantly lower, reach out to your local veterinarian, as each is evaluated on a case-by-case basis. By asking the right questions, a solution can be found faster and at less expense.

These may be a few questions asked:

• Did anything drastically change during the breeding season?
• Was there drought or overgrazing of pastures?
• How long is the breeding season?
• When do the cows calve? If the cows are breeding on a declining plane of nutrition, that would suppress pregnancy rate.
• Did you test your feed/hay? Or change who you bought your feed from?
• How much and when did you supplement extra protein or energy to the heifers/cows?

Resources

• Impact of Pre- and Post-breeding Supplementation on Performance of May-born Heifers (2025 UNL Beef Report)
• Should I Trich Test My Mature Bulls?
• Many Beef Cows and Their Calves May Not Be Getting Enough Vitamin A in Their Diets
• Core Vaccines Recommendations by American Association of Bovine Practitioners
• Troubleshooting Cattle Reproductive Problems
• Factors Affecting Early Pregnancy Loss in Cattle

Interviews with the authors of BeefWatch newsletter articles become available throughout the month of publication and are accessible at https://beef.unl.edu/beefwatch-podcast/.

Source: Bethany Johnston - Nebraska Extension Educator; Rick Funston - Nebraska Extension Beef Cattle Reproductive Physiologist (BeefWatch – December 1, 2025)

• Opt for evaporated skim milk. This still gives the filling a creamy texture while lowering the overall fat content.

• Add extra spices. Boosting cinnamon or ginger can deepen the flavor without adding calories.

And if homemade pie isn’t part of your holiday routine, there are plenty of ways to enjoy pumpkin in everyday meals. Pumpkin blends wonderfully into oatmeal, yogurt bowls, pancakes, and smoothies. A scoop of pumpkin puree with a sprinkle of cinnamon can transform simple dishes into something warm and seasonal.

While National Pumpkin Pie Day falls on Christmas, not everyone pauses to notice the coincidence. Yet there’s something fitting about celebrating a dessert that has earned a place at so many family gatherings, church suppers, and community potlucks. Pumpkin pie carries nostalgia, warmth, and a sense of home - qualities we all tend to lean into during the holiday season.

Whether you recognize the holiday on December 25th or simply enjoy pumpkin pie whenever the craving hits, it’s worth appreciating both the flavor and the nutrition this classic dessert offers. As we move through the winter months, foods that bring comfort and connection can make the season feel just a little brighter.

NEWS RELEASE

Unit Cost of Production Workshops 

The Nebraska Extension will host Unit Cost of Production workshops in central Nebraska in December and January to provide hands-on learning experiences for producers in calculating the unit cost of production for a cow-calf operation.

Workshops will be held at two locations. Both days will run from 9am-4:00pm CT.

• The first workshop will be held on Dec. 8 and 9 at Community Center (small room) in Atkinson. 
• The second workshop will be on Jan. 27 and 28 at the Legion Hall in Burwell. 

Pre-register one week in advance. Call the Nebraska Extension office in Holt County at 402-336-2760 or email Bethany Johnston at bjohnston3@unl.edu.

Each location is limited to 25 people. The cost is $50 per participant and includes meals and materials for both days. Contact Aaron Berger at 308-235-3122 with questions about the workshops.

“Having information to make effective business decisions is important for ranch success. Enterprise analysis and unit cost of production (UCOP) are tools that can help ranchers identify where value is being created on the ranch, where costs are occurring, and what changes could be made to improve profit,” Berger said.

While it takes time to set up and calculate a UCOP, the benefits are:

• Knowing what present costs are.
• Projecting what unit cost of production will be in 2026.
• Identifying opportunities to improve profitability. 
• Using information to make management and marketing decisions.

Participants in this workshop will work through a sample ranch to determine the economic profitability of four common ranch enterprises: cow-calf, stockers/breeding heifers, hay, and land. They will go through the steps of analyzing costs and calculating what it costs to produce a unit of product for each enterprise. Participants will also learn how to identify how changes could improve ranch profitability.

Again, pre-register one week in advance for both locations. Call the Nebraska Extension office in Holt County at 402-336-2760 or email Bethany Johnston at bjohnston3@unl.edu.

NEWS RELEASE

Calving College 2026

Following an overwhelmingly positive response last year, Nebraska Extension is pleased to bring back the Calving College series for 2026. The three-part webinar, Fundamental Knowledge for Successful Calving Season, will take place January 19, January 26, and February 2, 2026, from 7:30-8:45pm CT, and will be complemented by hands-on, in-person workshops held across four locations February 9-12, 2026. This program offers practical, research-based guidance for farmers, ranchers, and veterinary professionals working to ensure a successful calving season.

Webinar Series Topics:

• January 19, 2026 - Understanding Normal. Discussion includes stages of labor, what happens to the cow and calf during delivery, recognizing and knowing how to manage abnormal, when and how to assist delivery,
• January 26, 2026 - First 24 hours: post-calving care for cows and calves. Reviewing normal vitals for the cow and neonatal calf and recognizing and managing complications in the first hours of life, including the importance of colostrum management, and calf resuscitation techniques.
• February 2, 2026 - 48 Hours and Beyond: Keeping cow and calf healthy and thriving. Topics include nutritional requirements, common health concerns in calves, managing environmental stress in the first 2 months of life, and how to manage orphan calves.
• February 9, 2026 - Cherry County Extension, Valentine, NE. 6:00pm CST

Each webinar will be co-led by Dr. Becky Funk, DVM, Animal Health Teaching and NE Extension Specialist and Dr. Lindsay Waechter-Mead, DVM, NE Extension Livestock Educator, allowing participants to engage and ask questions in real-time.

New This Year! Participants will be eligible for BQA continuing education credits.

In-Person Workshop: The series will culminate in a hands-on workshop offered February 9-12, 2026, where participants can practice their skills using a life-sized cow and calf model. This unique opportunity will provide practical experience in a supportive environment, ensuring participants leave with confidence and competence. 

Details of the Series:

• Webinar Dates: January 19, 26, February 2, 2026
• Time: 7:30-8:45pm CST
• Location: Online (link provided upon registration)
• In-Person Workshop opportunities:
• February 10, 2026 - Tripp County 4-H Center, 815 W 12^th St Winner, SD 6:00pm CST
• February 11, 2026 - West Holt FFA Shop, 1000 N. Main St. Atkinson, NE 6:00pm CST
• February 12, 2026 - Northeast Community College, 801 E. Benjamin Ave. Norfolk, NE 6:00pm CST
• Registration Fee: $80 for 3-part webinar series plus one in-person workshop
• Register at: https://cvent.me/GOYAra
• Webinar participants will receive a notebook of Nebraska Extension resources and access to the recorded webinars to view at your convenience. Participants are asked to register by January 12, 2026, to ensure resources are received before the series begins. A computer and internet connection will be needed to participate in the webinar series.

For more information about the Calving College webinar series and workshop, please contact Dr. Lindsay Waechter-Mead at 402-746-3417 or lindsay.waechter-mead@unl.edu

NEWS RELEASE

Free Farm & Ranch Succession Workshops Offered in Mullen, Valentine, Ainsworth, and O’Neill

Nebraska farm and ranch families are invited to attend a free educational workshop focused on succession and estate planning. Hosted by the Nebraska Rural Response Hotline in collaboration with the Nebraska Department of Agriculture’s Beginning Farmer Tax Credit and Negotiations Programs, Nebraska Extension, and the Nebraska Farmers Union Foundation, these workshops are designed to help producers prepare for the future of their operations.

The Farm & Ranch Succession Workshops will take place:

• Mullen: Jan. 5 from 11 am to 3 pm MT at the Methodist Church (304 N Veteran Ave). Meal sponsored by Dayspring Bank.
• Valentine: Jan. 6 from 10 am to 2 pm CT at Mid-Plains Community College (715 US-20 E). Meal sponsored by Security First Bank.
• Ainsworth: Jan. 6 from 5 pm to 9 pm CT at the Ainsworth Church of the Nazarene. Meal sponsored by Tri-County Bank.
• O’Neill: Jan. 7 from 9 am to 1 pm CT at Holt County Courthouse Annex (204 N 4th St). Meal sponsored by Farm Credit Services of America.

Speakers include Weston Svoboda, and Jessica Groskopf. These workshops will cover:

• Estate and succession planning: key considerations, decisions, and available tools
• Transfer, death, and tax implications including portability
• The use of LLCs in succession planning: buy-sell agreements and asset protection
• Options, lease rights, and preemptive rights
• Finance and management issues in succession strategies

“These workshops are intended to help farm and ranch families start, continue, or refine their succession and estate plans,” said Jessica Groskopf. “Planning for the future ensures a smooth transition to the next generation and protects the legacy of Nebraska’s agricultural producers.”

While the workshop is free, we kindly ask that you register ahead of time to help us prepare meals and materials. To register or for more information, please contact the Nebraska Rural Response Hotline at 1-800-464-0258.

This event is based upon work supported by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, under agreement number FSA22CPT0012189.

NEWS RELEASE

Nebraska Extension Launches Six-Part Webinar Series on Controlling Invasive Weeds and Pests in Pastures

Nebraska Extension will offer a six-part webinar series in February 2026 designed to equip ranchers, landowners, and natural resource professionals with the latest research and management strategies for tackling invasive weeds, woody encroachment, and pasture pests.

“Controlling Invasive Weeds & Pests in Pastures” will be held over three weeks, with webinars taking place on Mondays and Thursdays - Feb. 9, 12, 16, 19, 23 and 26 - from 6:30 to 7:45 p.m. MT (7:30 to 8:45 p.m. CT).

The series brings together Nebraska Extension specialists and the Nebraska Department of Agriculture to address several of the most pressing challenges in pasture and rangeland management.

Topics & Speakers include:

• Understanding regulations regarding pesticide application in pastures and noxious weed laws in Nebraska - Nebraska Department of Agriculture.
• Learn common invasive broadleaf weeds, herbicide options and the critical aspect of timing for control. Dr. Nevin Lawrence will discuss research results and how these apply to land managers.
• Woody encroachment on pastures is clear to see. Presenters Ben Beckman and Bethany Johnston will cover when control methods work best on cedars and troublesome shrubs.
• Invasive winter annuals like cheatgrass can wreck native range. Dr. Mitch Stephenson will discuss recent research in the Panhandle that is providing data on the effectiveness of herbicide options.
• What is that? New weeds to watch for will be the topic Gary Stone discusses early detection, and rapid response is key to control problem plants.
• Grasshopper populations can cause significant forage losses on pastures. Dave Boxler will discuss when treatment is warranted and restrictions for insecticide applications.

Registration is $75 per person and includes a mailed packet of key reference materials: the 2025 UNL Guide to Weed Management, Weeds of the Great Plains, and a booklet of NebGuides and Extension Circulars focused on invasive species. Webinars will be recorded.

Registration closes Jan. 26 to ensure participants receive their materials before the first webinar.

Those interested may register at https://go.unl.edu/PasturePests .

For more information, contact your local Nebraska Extension office or visit extension.unl.edu.

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