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 30: DUE: Holt County 4-H Shooting Sports Registration, Holt County Extension Office, O’Neill, NE, http://v2.4honline.com
January 1: CLOSED: Holt and Boyd County Extension Offices
January 7: Free Farm and Ranch Succession Workshop, 9:00am-1:00pm, Holt County Courthouse Annex, Register: 1-800-464-0258
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
Slow Cookers and Food Safety
At any time of year, a slow cooker can make life a little more convenient because by planning ahead, you save time later. Opening the front door on a cold winter evening and being greeted by the inviting smells wafting from a slow cooker can be a diner's dream come true.
The slow cooker, a countertop electrical appliance, cooks foods slowly at a low temperature, generally between 170°F and 280°F. The low heat helps less expensive, leaner cuts of meat become tender and shrink less. The direct heat from the pot, lengthy cooking time, and steam created within the tightly covered container combine to destroy bacteria and make the slow cooker a safe process for cooking foods.
Always thaw meat or poultry before putting it into a slow cooker. Choose to make foods with a high moisture content such as chili, soup, stew, or spaghetti sauce. Vegetables cook slower than meat and poultry in a slow cooker so if using them, put the vegetables in first.
Large cuts of meat and poultry may be cooked safely in a slow cooker, however, since slow cookers are available in several sizes, consult the instruction booklet for suggested sizes of meat and poultry to cook in your slow cooker. Then add the meat and desired amount of liquid suggested in the recipe, such as broth, water, or barbecue sauce.
LaDonna Werth
Extension Educator
Phone: 402-336-2760
E-mail: lwerth2@unl.edu
Most cookers have two or more settings. Foods take different times to cook depending upon the setting used. Certainly, foods will cook faster on high than on low. However, for all-day cooking or for less-tender cuts, you may want to use the low setting. It's safe to cook foods on low the entire time. While food is cooking and once it's done, food will stay safe as long as the cooker is operating.
If you are not at home during the entire slow-cooking process and the power goes out, throw away the food even if it looks done. If you are at home, finish cooking the ingredients immediately by some other means: on a gas stove, on the outdoor grill or at a house where the power is on. When you are at home, and if the food was completely cooked before the power went out, the food should remain safe for up to two hours in the cooker with the power off.
Store leftovers in shallow covered containers and refrigerate within two hours after cooking is finished. Reheating leftovers in a slow cooker is not recommended. Cooked food should be reheated on the stove, in a microwave, or in a conventional oven until it reaches 165°F. Then the hot food can be placed in a preheated slow cooker to keep it hot for serving – at least 140°F as measured with a food thermometer.
Source: Andrea Nisley - UNL Extension Educator, Dawson County (January 1, 2024)
Recycling a Cut Christmas Tree
After the holidays, there are several ways to dispose of or recycle your tree. Of course, before recycling your Christmas tree, remove all lights, tinsel, and ornaments. If you place a large plastic bag under the stand before decorating (and hide it with the tree skirt) you can simply pull the bag up and carry the tree outside stand and all without dropping needles all over the house. Once outside, remove the stand.
Use it to Feed and Support Wildlife
Place the tree in the yard or garden for use by birds and other wildlife. The branches provide shelter from strong winds and cold. Food can be supplied by hanging fruit slices, seed cakes, suet bags, or strings of cranberries or raisins on the tree’s branches. You can also smear peanut butter and seeds on pine cones and hang them in the tree.
Use it as Mulch
Prune off the tree’s branches and place the boughs over perennials as a winter mulch. Chip the tree and use the chipped material as a mulch around trees, shrubs, or in perennial flower beds.
Utilize a Pick-up and Recycling Program
If you can't use the tree yourself, contact local government offices, such as the Public Works Department, or your sanitation service. Most communities have some type of Christmas tree disposal program. Some have central collection points, others collect the trees at curbside.
Amy Timmerman
Extension Educator
Phone: 402-336-2760
E-mail: atimmerman2@unl.edu
Conservation groups may be another option. Some hunting and fishing groups collect trees and use them to provide habitat for wildlife.
Do Not Burn It
Don’t burn your Christmas tree in a fireplace or wood stove. Dry, evergreen branches literally explode when burned and could cause a house fire. Also, burning the tree may contribute to the buildup of creosote and lead to a flue fire.
Source: Aaron Steil – Iowa State Consumer Horticulture Extension Specialist (Iowa State University Extension - December 2023)
Remove Net Wrap and Twine
Is twine or net wrap good feed? Obviously not, but it can cause health problems if animals eat too much of it.
To lighten the workload when feeding hay, we often take shortcuts and leave some twine or net wrap on the bales. And whether we want them to or not, animals eat some of that twine.
There is the potential for twine to accumulate in the rumen of cattle and cause obstruction. Research at North Dakota State University has confirmed this risk and provided further information on what happens to twine when cattle eat it.
In a series of experiments, the North Dakota research first showed that neither plastic net wrap nor biodegradable twine get digested by rumen microbes. The old-fashioned sisal twine, however, does get digested, although quite a bit more slowly than hay.
In another study, net wrap was included in the ration fed to steers for an extended period. Then, 14 days before the steers were harvested, the net wrap was removed from the feed to learn if the net wrap eaten earlier might get cleared out of the rumen and digestive system. Turns out it was still in the rumen even after 14 days.
So, what should you do? First, remember that it doesn’t appear to be a health concern very often. And cows obviously are more at risk than feedlot animals. So, it might be wise to remove as much twine - especially plastic twine - as can be removed easily from bales before feeding. Twine in ground hay may be less of a problem since more of it is likely to pass completely through the animal.
Bethany Johnston
Extension Educator
Phone: 402-336-2760
E-mail: bjohnston3@unl.edu
Think about how shortcuts and work-reducing actions you take this winter might affect your animals. Then act accordingly.
Source: Jerry Volesky – UNL Range and Forage Extension Specialist (December 12, 2023)
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 12th 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 (128 N 6th 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.