Holt Boyd News Column for the Week of June 28, 2026

Traveling With Children

All of us have heard the familiar phrase “Are we there yet?” from children who are bored from sitting for what they perceive as an endless amount of time in a vehicle, or are so excited about their destination they just can’t wait any longer.

Parents often overlook travel time as an opportunity to interact with their child(ren). What better opportunity to spend some quality time? For most, it is a question of ideas for what to do with their children during drive time. Here are some activities that can be fun for everyone when traveling with children. (Note: These activities should only be done with the adult not responsible for driving.)

• Bubbles: Keep some bubbles in a non-spill container in the car and blow some for baby when someone else is doing the driving. This calms a baby down (and older children will enjoy it too). Tiny bubble containers sold for weddings or party favors are ideal. 
• Read a good picture book: Even very young babies will respond to a good book. You don’t have to read the entire story (especially if you yourself are prone to car sickness), simply hearing your voice as you point to pictures in the book will occupy time and keep them entertained. 
• Play classical music: Studies have indicated that classical music may boost baby’s intelligence.
• Peek-a-boo: This classic game is perfect for the car.
• This Little Piggy: As long as you’re stuck in the car, might as well kick off your shoes!
• Where is your nose: An older baby can practice learning all the parts of the body. Ask them to show you where they are starting with their nose. Then help them find their head, mouth, cheek, ear, chin, hand, foot, tummy, etc.
• Surprise packages: Prepare ahead with paper bags of items to be given out every 25, 50 or 75 miles as marked on a map with the location. It takes a little bit of prep to do this, but it really helps young children. In each bag put a wrapped item, usually a small toy. Then add various other things to each surprise package, like a juice box or a snack, stickers and a piece of paper, or something pertaining to the trip that you can talk about.

Summer Annual Grasses in Alfalfa

By mid-summer, summer annual grasses like foxtail, sandbur and crabgrass are already up and growing - and they’re starting to cause issues in perennial hay or pasture fields.

At this point in the season, pre-emergent herbicides are no longer an effective control option for already growing summer annual weeds. Our best bet is to focus on post-emergent control and timely harvest management. In Roundup Ready® alfalfa, a labeled glyphosate product is a solid option - just be sure to treat while weeds are still small and before the alfalfa canopy blocks spray coverage.

In conventional alfalfa, grass-selective herbicides like Select®, Assure® or Poast® can still work on smaller grasses. Follow the label closely for height limits and grazing or harvest restrictions.

If weeds are already well established, burn-down products like Gramoxone® may be your best shot. Apply immediately after cutting - before much alfalfa regrowth occurs - to knock back annual grasses with limited damage to the stand.

In mixed alfalfa-grass fields, your herbicide options are even more limited. The only post emergent product we might consider is Pursuit®, which may stunt perennial grasses. This doesn’t disqualify it as an option but be aware it may open the door for more weed pressure.

This late in the season, cultural controls like adjusting harvest timing and maintaining a dense, vigorous stand may do more for long-term control than a spray pass. And remember - no herbicide will make up for poor timing.

Summer grasses are a challenge, but with a sharp eye and well-timed management, you can still limit their impact and protect your hay quality.

Source: Ben Beckman - Extension Educator (CropWatch – June 18, 2026)

Managing New World Screwworm Risk During Show Season

Summer show season means thousands of livestock will cross state lines as families head to junior nationals, breed shows, and state fairs. While the focus is on competition, animal health and travel requirements deserve equal attention. This year, producers should pay particular attention to interstate movement requirements and the evolving New World Screwworm (NWS) situation which is dynamic and changing daily.

Know Before You Go - Interstate Travel Requirements

Every state has regulations for importing livestock across their borders, which include a Certified Veterinary Inspection (CVI) also known as health papers. This will need to be performed by a USDA accredited veterinarian before heading out on the trip. Certain regulations may take multiple days to complete, so plan ahead to prevent unnecessary stress. It is important to stay up to date on interstate livestock movement because NWS may change the guidelines.

If Leaving Nebraska:

• Verify destination state requirements by contacting the appropriate state animal health department. A summary of state regulations can be found at https://www.interstatelivestock.com/ and by contacting your veterinarian.
• A PDF list of state animal health officials can be found at https://usaha.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/STATE_ANIMAL_HEALTH_OFFICIALS.pdf.
• Exhibitions and shows may have additional requirements. Contact the show director about health regulations and rules.
• Domestic pets (dogs and cats) also require CVI’s to cross state lines. Regulations can be found at https://www.interstatelivestock.com/ and by contacting your veterinarian.