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
February 16: Agricultural Land Management Quarterly, 12:00pm-1:00pm, Zoom: https://unl.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_gPeh4XJlTYyrdAIAsRZM7A, jjansen4@unl.edu
February 17: Private Pesticide Training, 10:00am, Holt County Annex Building, O’Neill, NE
February 17: Private Pesticide Training, 3:00pm, American Legion, Neligh, NE
February 18: Private Pesticide Training, 10:00am, American Legion, Neligh, NE
February 18: Private Pesticide Training, 3:00pm, Holt County Annex Building, O’Neill, NE
February 19: Private Pesticide Training, 1:00pm, Pierce County Courthouse Extension Meeting Room, Pierce, NE
February 19: Private Pesticide Training, 6:00pm, Pierce County Courthouse Extension Meeting Room, Pierce, NE
February 20: Private Pesticide Training, 9:30am, Holt County Annex Meeting Room, O’Neill, NE
February 21: Buffalo County Shooting Sports 4-H Club Air Gun Invite, 7:00am, Buffalo County Extension, Kearney, NE, Contact: Contact: Jason Oman, (308) 870-0911, jasonoman@hotmail.com
February 23: Face-To-Face YQCA Training, 7:00-8:30pm, Holt County Courthouse Annex Meeting Room, O’Neill, NE
February 24: UNL Land Application Manure Training, 9:00am-4:00pm, Brown County Courthouse Meeting Room, Ainsworth, NE
February 25: Private Pesticide Training, 1:30pm, New Community Building, Bassett, NE
February 28: Holt County Market Beef and Second Year Bucket Calf Weigh-In, 9:00-11:00am, Atkinson Sale Barn, Atkinson, NE
February 28-March 16: Holt County Market Beef and Second Year Bucket Calf Weigh-On-Your-Own Days
February 28: 2026 Nebraska State Three-Position CMP Championships, 7:00am MST, Burkholder Building, Alliance, NE, Contact: Bryant Quick, (308) 760-8713, bryantquick1@gmail.com
February 28: Pierce County Shooting Sports 4-H Club 36th Annual BB Gun; Air Rifle and Air Pistol Shoot, 8:15am CST, Pierce County Fairgrounds Pavillion, Pierce, NE, Contact: Jen or David Thomsen, (402) 329-4504, djgunsnroses@hotmail.com
March 4: UNL Land Application Manure Training, 9:00am-4:0-pm, Madison County Extension Office, Norfolk, NE
March 5: UNL Land Application Manure Training, 9:00am-4:00pm, Nielsen Community Center, West Point, NE
Ready Today, Safe Tomorrow
Ouch! That simple one-word expression grabs the attention of everyone within earshot. What does that person need? A band-aide? Ointment? A splint? An Ambulance? Being prepared before the word ouch is even uttered saves worry and time. A few simple steps includes making a plan, organizing a first aid kit, and preparing for severe weather. These can help families respond calmly and confidently when the unexpected happens.
Emergencies are never scheduled; they happen when one least expects it! Every family should talk through possible scenarios ahead of time. Consider the ages of people in the family and any special needs. A plan should cover how to contact one another if cell service is interrupted. Many handsets are operated on internet service and may not be as reliable as a traditional land line. Identify one safe place where everyone in the family will meet if there is no way to contact each other. Think of a place that is very familiar to everyone in the family. Share this plan with family living outside of the area. They may need to alert emergency services of this location.
A well-stocked first aid kit keeps essential supplies in one easy-to-find spot. Even though the first aid kit is portable, keep it in one designated location. Consider building more than one first aid kit. Special first aid kits should be in each car, tractor, or work area. It’s even a good idea to have pet first aid kit. Think about the most common accidents that are likely to occur in your home. Every first aid kit should have items for bleeding control, burn treatment, infectious disease, personal protection, and fracture care. Keep the items labeled and neatly arranged. First aid kits can be made or purchased.
LaDonna Werth
Extension Educator
Phone: 402-336-2760
E-mail: lwerth2@unl.edu
Weather can interrupt travel and daily routines just as quickly as an injury. When severe weather strikes be prepared with a disaster kit. Plan for food and water interruption of up to three days. The kit should contain enough supplies for each family member. Don’t forget to stock necessary prescription medication. Closed toed shoes, flashlights, whistles (for alerting emergency responders), and duct tape are items that should be included. To help pass the time, pack cards, books, and games. Consider packing these in individual backpacks or a big tote. Remember to check supplies to keep them fresh and updated.
Preparation does more than protect your family, it builds confidence. Acting shifts your mindset from stress to security. The process of preparing should be a family activity. Learning to create a first aid kit or disaster preparedness kit are part of the 4-H Safety Project and can be used as exhibits at the county fair. To request additional information or to learn more about the 4-H Safety Program, reach out to your local Nebraska Extension Office. More information and resources to help a family and community prepare and recover from disasters can be found though Nebraska Extension, https://disaster.unl.edu/.
Source: Lori Swanson - UNL Extension Phelps and Gosper County 4-H Assistant (UNL For Families – February 2, 2026)
Pasture and Forage Minute: Alfalfa Weevil Resistance to Pyrethroids
Alfalfa weevil is a serious pest of alfalfa and can cause significant damage, usually in April and May before the first cutting. Reports of reduced efficacy of pyrethroids in Nebraska as well as confirmed resistance to pyrethroids in several western states led to a project in 2025 to determine if Nebraska weevil populations are developing resistance.
During the 2025 season, alfalfa weevil larvae were collected from 12 counties across the state, including the Panhandle, southwest, south-central, and eastern Nebraska. The larvae were shipped live to the PREEC Entomology Lab in Scottsbluff, where they were exposed to the label rate of two types of pyrethroid insecticides: lambda-cyhalothrin and permethrin.
The study found that five of the 12 weevil populations had 90% or less mortality when exposed to lambda-cyhalothrin. This indicates that some Nebraska weevil populations may be losing susceptibility to lambda-cyhalothrin. In contrast, all 12 weevil populations had a 100% mortality rate when exposed to permethrin.
What does this mean for alfalfa weevil management?
Currently, there are only two insecticide modes of action available for chemical control of this insect: pyrethroids and indoxacarb (Steward). Because of this, resistance management and the use of alternative control methods is critical. Make sure to scout and only spray when thresholds are reached, use the highest labeled rates, rotate control measures to delay resistance development.
Amy Timmerman
Extension Educator
Phone: 402-336-2760
E-mail: atimmerman2@unl.edu
If you believe you have reached the treatment threshold for alfalfa weevil, contact your local extension office for confirmation and guidance for selecting the best management option.
Source: Samantha Daniel - Extension Educator (CropWatch – February 10, 2026)
Part 2 of 6: What Research has the University of Nebraska Conducted on Methane Production in Cattle?
Methane is produced by dairy and beef cattle when feeds are digested (rumen fermentation) in the stomach (rumen). Through the digestive process methane is belched from the mouth of the animal into the environment. There are also small amounts of methane produced from storage of livestock manure. An example would be feedlot lagoons that catch and store runoff from pens.
Agriculture’s contribution to greenhouse gas emissions is about 10%. About 4% of the 10% is in the form of direct methane production, mostly from cattle. Methane from cattle accounts for 25% of the 11% of the methane in the atmosphere.
The University of Nebraska began its journey in measuring methane and researching mitigation strategies in beef cattle in 2014 (2014 NE Beef). The research included an ionophore in the ration to alter volatile fatty acid (VFA) production. Ionophores increase the VFA propionate at the expense of butyrate and acetate. The response of methane production due to treatment was variable. In addition, it was concluded that getting exact measurements of methane production is not easy and it is important to get the measuring techniques developed. Calculations used to determine amounts need to be refined. After 2014, research on methane production in beef cattle continued. Buildings were retrofitted, and state-of-the-art instrumentation was purchased to measure methane production. Methane production from ruminants has been measured in different settings including cattle in an open pasture,
Bethany Johnston
Extension Educator
Phone: 402-336-2760
E-mail: bjohnston3@unl.edu
which is really difficult as methane detecting instrumentation needs to be placed to account for environment conditions like wind direction.
In 2012, the University began to study the use of energy in dairy cattle rations by using a technique known as indirect calorimetry. In a headbox system, a pump gently pulls air from inside the “box” capturing the gases the cattle breathe out. Scientists then measure carbon dioxide and methane produced by the animal and also measure how much oxygen is consumed. Together these measures can then be used to calculate how much heat the animal produces. Using this system, researchers can feed cows different diets and track where the energy from their food goes. About 30% of the energy a dairy cow consumes is used to produce milk. The largest amount of energy that doesn’t go toward production is lost in feces (30–35%). Other major energy losses include heat (around 30%), methane (about 5%), urine (around 3%), and tissue growth (about 1%). Because this system allows investigators to precisely measure methane, it has been used to test new feed additives that reduce enteric methane production in dairy cattle.
In 2024, a team of research and extension faculty from the University of Nebraska and U.S. Meat Animal Research Center received a $5 million grant to research more sustainable dairy and beef production systems. The team is studying the interrelationships among animal genetics, the gut microbiome and nutrition and methane production. The goal of the research is to develop tools and management practices that lower methane emissions from dairy and beef cattle. The ultimate goal of this research is to investigate ways to establish a rumen environment early in the life of dairy and beef cattle that produces less methane without having a negative impact on normal growth and production.
In 2025, researchers at UNL received a $2.3 million grant to study cattle with lower methane production. The grant was from Bezos Earth and the Global Methane Hub. The project aims to create genetic tools to help identify and breed cattle that emit less methane without sacrificing performance. Studies have shown that some cattle emit less methane than others and that these traits are heritable. The goal is to produce genetic selection tools to enable breeders to select animals that produce less methane.
The following are key points of understanding related to methane:
- Greenhouse gases (GHGs) trap heat from the sun from getting back into the atmosphere.
- Methane is one of three primary greenhouse gases.
- The greenhouse gas methane is 11% of all greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.
- Beef and dairy cattle account for 25% of the methane in the atmosphere.
- Methane traps heat better than any other greenhouse gas.
- Methane has a half-life of 9 to 12 years.
- Because of the half-life of methane, it is not sustained in the atmosphere for a long period of time as compared to other greenhouse gases.
- Small reductions in methane production result in big reductions in heat trapping ability of greenhouse gases.
- Reducing methane as a greenhouse gas will help reduce the earth’s warming.
- 10% of GHGs come from Agriculture.
- Of the 10% of the GHGs, livestock (mainly ruminants) account for 4%, mostly from livestock methane production.
- Cattle (ruminants) produce methane by belching it from their mouth, titled enteric fermentation.
- Methane is important to the well-being of cattle.
- Some cattle produce less methane than others.
Why research methane production in dairy and beef cattle?
- To reduce the methane contribution of cattle as a greenhouse gas.
- To determine mitigation of methane that is economical and sustainable.
- Help producers make informed decisions when considering methane mitigation strategies.
Source: Galen Erickson - Nebraska Extension Beef Feedlot Specialist, Paul Kononoff – UNL Dairy Specialist, Rick Rasby - Nebraska Extension Specialist - Kortney Harpestad – UNL Animal Science Extension Program Associate
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.
News Release
Workshops Aim to Boost Crop Yields by Improving Manure Management
LINCOLN, NE - Turning manure nutrients into improved crop yields while protecting water and soil quality will be the focus of seven Nebraska Extension workshops scheduled across the state in February and March.
“Our workshops focus on choosing the best possible field for manure application and therefore are useful for any crop farmer utilizing manure, even though they have traditionally been attended by livestock producers,” said Leslie Johnson, Nebraska Extension’s Animal Manure Management Extension Educator. “The workshops will still meet the educational requirements for permitted livestock operations laid out by the Nebraska Department of Water, Energy and Environment’s Title 130.”
The day-long sessions, held from 9:00am to 4:00pm local time, provide DWEE Land Application Training certification. Participants must attend the full program, which includes lunch, to earn certification. Sessions will cover regulatory updates and strategies for using manure effectively on cropland. While certification is available, anyone may attend, including crop farmers and smaller livestock operators seeking practical guidance for their operations.
Hands-on activities will help participants evaluate which fields are best suited for manure application. Each session will present a scenario in which attendees assess potential fields and determine whether manure use would be beneficial or if certain limitations make the site less desirable. Participants will then rank fields by priority based on factors such as nutrient value, transportation cost, soil health, water quality, neighbor proximity, and odor concerns. Regulations and record-keeping requirements for manure storage and application will also be covered.
Workshop dates and locations:
- Gothenburg – Feb. 9
- Ainsworth – Feb. 24
- Broken Bow – Feb. 25
- Bridgeport – Feb. 27
- Norfolk – March 4
- West Point – March 5
- Aurora – March 17
Because seating is limited and meals are provided, advance registration is required at least one week before each event. Additional sessions may be added if demand is high. Registration is available at water.unl.edu/lat.
The cost is $100 per operation requiring certification - typically larger livestock facilities - or $25 per person for attendees not seeking certification, including smaller livestock producers, crop farmers, NRCS staff, and landlords.
The workshops are sponsored by Nebraska Extension’s Animal Manure Management Team, which works to help livestock and crop producers maximize the agronomic and environmental benefits of manure. For more information, visit manure.unl.edu or contact Leslie Johnson at 402-584-3818 or ljohnson13@nebraska.edu.