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
June 8: DUE: Registration for Holt and Boyd County 4-H and Clover Kids Summer Workshops
June 8-11: Nebraska Youth Range Camp, Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture, Curtis, NE
June 11: Cedar Workshop, 1:00-3:30pm, Holt County Annex Building, O’Neill, NE
June 11: Management Options in Drought Webinar, 7:30pm CT
June 12: 4-H Rabbit Tattooing, 9:00am-4:30pm, Holt County Annex, O’Neill, NE - Rabbit tattooing by appointment in Boyd County.
June 15: DUE: All Clover Kid, 4-H and FFA Animal ID Sheets in your local Extension Office - Holt County Extension Office, O’Neill, NE OR Boyd County Extension Office, Butte, NE
June 16-17: Premier Communication Event, University of Nebraska-Lincoln East Campus, Lincoln, NE
June 21-22: 4-H Shooting Sports National Championships, 3:00-6:00pm, Heartland Public Shooting Park, Grand Island, NE
How To Talk with Your Young Child About “Good” And “Bad” Touches
One of the most important skills parents teach their children is that they have control over their own bodies. As parents, it is important to have conversations about good and bad touches and to teach our kids that they always have the right to say “no” to any type of touch that makes them feel uncomfortable. Teaching children from an early age helps them understand that their bodies are their own and gives them power to seek help if they need it.
How can I teach my child about good and bad touches?
- Help your child identify private parts by naming each part. There are many great children’s books to help parents talk with their kids about body parts.
- Talk with your child about good and bad touches. Let them tell you what touches feel good, such as hugs and kisses from loved ones, a high five, and a pat on the back. Then explain examples of bad touches, such as hitting, kicking and, sometimes, touching private parts. This is a good time to tell your child that touching their own bodies is fine, but touching other’s private parts or letting others touch theirs is not safe.
- Identify which touches are good and which ones are bad. Good touches are those that help the child stay clean, safe, and healthy.
- Cleaning: Tell your child that it is only okay for someone to look at or touch her private parts if that person is helping her stay clean. For example, parents and other caregivers help small children bathe, wipe themselves after going to the bathroom, and change babies’ diapers.
- Safe: Explain that it is only okay for someone else to touch him on his private parts if that person is helping him stay safe. For example, if your child were to injure his penis, it would be okay for an adult to look and touch him there to keep him safe.
- Healthy: Tell your child that it is only okay for someone else to look at or touch her on her private parts if that person is helping her stay healthy. For example, at the doctor’s office, the doctor may need to look at or touch her private parts, or a parent may need to insert a rectal thermometer or suppository when she is sick.
- Don’t force your child to hug or kiss anyone she doesn’t want to. While this often goes against social norms, you are teaching your child that her body is her own while showing her that you respect her feelings. Children are more likely to be molested by someone they know, such as a teacher, family member, or babysitter. Teach your child that respecting adults does not mean they have to do whatever an adult says.
- Make sure your child understands that she can always come talk to you if she feels she has had a bad touch, no matter who has touched her.
When talking about “good” and “bad” touches, remember that repetition is the key. As children grow, they remain curious and will need age-appropriate conversations about this topic. The more you talk with your children about their sexuality, the more comfortable they will be coming to you for information. Remind your children that they can always tell you if someone touches them in any way that makes them feel uncomfortable - even if that person is someone who is loved or trusted.
Suggested Script:
“Hi Honey, I noticed you were really enjoying how my tickling you made your body feel. What other kinds of touches feel good to you? (wait for answer) What kinds feel bad? (again, allow child to answer) I’d like to talk with you about good and bad touches to our private parts. There are certain parts of your body that are private, called your genitals. Those parts are called a penis on a boy and vulva on a girl. Our private parts are not for sharing with others; they are just for us. It can feel nice if we touch our private parts ourselves, but it is not OK for others to touch or look at your privates. Of course, sometimes grown-ups need to touch or look at you... When you were a baby, I cleaned your bottom and even now if your bottom hurts, I can wash it or put medicine on it. But if someone touches you, and it does not feel good, or if they tell you not to tell anyone, then that is not OK. If that happens, you can always come to me, and we can talk about what is happening. It is important to me that you are able to ask me questions. Do you have any questions?”
Source: Sarah Swofford, Intern, Center on Adolescent Sexuality, Pregnancy and Parenting (CASPP), & Kim Allen, PhD, MFT, Director, CASPP, State Extension Specialist, University of Missouri Extension (2018)
Irrigating Annual Forages in a Dry Year: Establishing Stands and Maximizing Yield with Limited Water
Key Takeaways
- Check soil moisture first - Fields may have more stored water than expected.
- Pre-irrigate only when needed - Use pre-irrigation only if the drill cannot place seed correctly.
- Irrigate after planting in dry soils - Post-planting irrigation can help ensure strong emergence.
- Expect rapid water use - Higher seeding rates and faster canopy closure will increase water demand quickly.
- Use full-canopy scheduling principles - After full canopy, most crops use similar amounts of water each day.
- Prioritize vegetative growth - Fully irrigate during vegetative stages to maximize forage yield.
This year, hay and grass in pastures are in short supply across much of Nebraska, and many farmers are turning to annual forage crops under their center pivot to fill the gap. The big question on everyone’s mind is straightforward: We know how to irrigate corn and soybean, but how do we irrigate annual forages in dry years using the least amount of water while still getting a good stand and strong yields?
The good news is that with the right strategy, annual forages can be established successfully and produce excellent tonnage - even when irrigation water is limited.
Fields May Have More Water Than You Think
One of the first steps is to evaluate how much water is already in the soil profile. Fields that were irrigated last year - especially those watered late into the season - often start the new year with more stored soil moisture than expected. This stored water can significantly reduce the amount needed from irrigation.
Soil type plays a big part in the amount of water that may be stored in the root zone. Silt loam soil may have over 6 inches, while sandy soil may have only about half that much. Sandy soil surfaces also dry out quicker, which can cause germination problems with the small seeded forages that are planted at an inch or less deep in the summer months. Corn is usually planted about 2 inches deep in the spring when the days are cooler and less drying than in June, when many summer annuals are planted.
A soil probe or shovel is the best tool for checking moisture before making any irrigation decisions. Crops use soil water from the surface layer first and then move deeper into the soil profile. When rain or center pivot irrigation rewets the soil, that water starts at the surface and moves downward. The goal is to identify where the soil profile is dry and where it is still moist.
In fields that were reasonably well watered the previous year, the crop may have only used water down to 18–24 inches, leaving moist soil below that depth. Off-season precipitation may also have rewetted 6-12 inches of the upper part of the profile, even in a dry year.
In those situations, a producer might find a few inches of dry soil at the surface, then 5 to 10 inches of moist soil, follow by few more inches of dry before getting to the deeper moist soil. Under those conditions, it may only take about 1 inch of water to refill a sandy soil or about 2 inches to refill a silt loam.
Irrigation for Stand Establishment
Getting a uniform stand is a critical step for annual forage success.
Pre‑Irrigation: Use Only When Necessary
Pre‑irrigation should only be used when the soil is too hard or too dry for the drill to place seed at the correct depth. If the drill can penetrate and place seed properly, pre‑irrigation is usually unnecessary.
Irrigating After Planting
If the drill can plant seed at the correct depth in dry soil, applying water with a center pivot right after seed is in the ground is often a better option than pre-irrigating before seeding from a water efficiency perspective and helps achieve good seed-to-soil contact.
If irrigation is applied to help establish good stands, it is important to:
- Apply enough water to move moisture down to the depth of moist soil or at least 12 inches.
- This prevents the new seedlings from germinating in 2 or 3 inches of good soil water and then dying from moisture stress. Plant roots cannot grow through dry soil to get to moist soil below.
- Avoid light, shallow applications that only wet the soil surface an inch or two, encouraging weed germination and poor crop rooting.
- Exception: Sandy soil may require more frequent, lighter irrigation during the seedling establishment stage because the surface dries rapidly. This helps ensure the roots of new seedlings do not dry out. Once the crop is established, return to larger irrigation applications to improve water-use efficiency and encourage good root development. Aim for 0.8- to 1 inch of water per application, or as much as possible while still avoiding runoff.
A single, well‑timed irrigation can dramatically improve emergence and stand uniformity.
Annual Forages Reach Full Canopy Fast
Annual forage crops are planted at much higher seeding rates than corn. Irrigated corn is usually planted at about 30,000-34,000 seeds per acre, whereas many forages are planted at 1-2 million seeds per acre, which means:
- Annual forages increase water use faster in the early growth stages than corn because there are so many more plants.
- Annual forages can reach full canopy in just a few weeks.
Full canopy is defined when the crop has enough leaves to capture essentially all the sunlight (about 90%) at noon. To determine when the crop has reached full canopy, scout the field at noon to see how much of the soil is receiving sunlight. If it is less than 10%, the crop has reached full canopy. Some densely planted annual forages can achieve full canopy when only a few inches tall compared to corn, which needs to be over 4 feet tall.
This rapid canopy development is one reason annual forages can produce so much biomass in a short time - but it also means crop water use increases much faster than for corn.
Full Canopy Water Use: What to Expect
Once annual forages reach full canopy, their daily water use is similar to other full-canopy crops.
On any given day:
- Corn, millet, soybean, sorghum–sudangrass, etc. will all have about the same crop water use.
- Oats and foxtail millet typically run about 10% lower than corn.
This means that once the crop has developed a full canopy, irrigation scheduling can follow the same principles used for corn or soybean. The water needed can range from 0.75-inch to 2.5 inches per week, making it important to choose an irrigation scheduling system.
Nebraska irrigation scheduling uses alfalfa reference crop ET. After annual forages reach full canopy, that reference crop ET can be used directly to estimate crop water use for each day or week.
Reference crop ET data can be obtained from an ET gage or the High Plains Regional Climate Center (HPRCC).
To find reference crop ET data on HPRCC, go to the Automated Weather Data Network page and then select:
- Products: Penman-Monteith Evapotranspiration
- Networks: NEMesonet (Nebraska)
- Stations: The location closest to your field
The alfalfa reference ET values will be displayed in the preview area as inch/day. If you want the data in an Excel spreadsheet, click the Clippy SVG Icon to the right of the “Full Web Service Call” box, then paste the link into a browser search box.
For resources to help understand how to schedule irrigation using soil water data, check out Nebraska Extension NebGuide EC3036, “Irrigation Scheduling Strategies When Using Soil Water Data.” If you prefer videos, watch the CropWatch series “How to Schedule Irrigations with Soil Water Data.”
Watering for High Forage Yield: Focus on the Vegetative Stage
To maximize forage yield, annual forages should be fully watered during the vegetative growth stages. This is when the plant is growing stems and leaves - the foundation of total tonnage. When growing corn for silage, producers should keep the crop adequately irrigated during the vegetative stages to maximize vegetative growth and biomass production. However, when growing corn for grain, producers can save some water during the vegetative stage, resulting in a slightly smaller plant while still maintaining maximum grain yield.
Stress from lack of soil water during vegetative growth reduces:
- Plant height
- Leaf area
- Tillering (in grasses)
- Total biomass
Once the crop enters reproductive stages (i.e., begins to put out seedheads), additional irrigation has less impact on total forage yield but will increase the grain yield.
With careful irrigation management, annual forages can be a reliable and productive option for filling forage shortages - especially in a dry year.
Source: Steve Melvin - Extension Educator Irrigated Cropping Systems (CropWatch - June 4, 2026)
Are Your Bulls Ready for Turnout?
As the breeding season approaches for many producers, bull readiness is critical to ensure reproductive success. With the majority of U.S. beef cows bred by natural service, bull fertility has a direct impact on pregnancy rates, calving distribution, and overall herd profitability. Preparing bulls ahead of turnout can help minimize reproductive risk and protect the genetic and economic investment producers make in herd sires.
Think 60 Days Ahead
Spermatogenesis, the production of sperm, is a 61-day process in bulls; therefore, it will take upwards of 60 days to have normal sperm again following an injury/insult. Factors that can decrease sperm production are disease, fever, injury, and extreme environmental conditions. Therefore, it is important to monitor and identify if a bull has experienced frost bite, or any other injury to the scrotum/testis. Identifying issues early provides time for recovery or alternative management before turnout.
Breeding Soundness Exams: Timing and Expectations
Conducting a Breeding Soundness Examination (BSE) approximately 4 to 6 weeks before turnout is strongly encouraged. This timing allows producers to retest or find a replacement bull.
During a BSE, a veterinarian evaluates:
- Physical examination which includes a scrotal circumference measurement, foot and claw condition, and mobility scores
- Semen quality for motility and morphology
- Rectal exam to evaluate accessory sex glands
- Examination of prepuce and penis for adhesions, warts, or scaring of tissues
- Testing for venereal diseases such as Trichomoniasis
To successfully complete a BSE, a bull must have at least 30% sperm motility, 70% normal sperm morphology, and a minimum scrotal circumference based on age. Bulls meeting these minimum requirements are classified as satisfactory potential breeders. If a bull does not pass one of these tests, he is either classified as deferred (meaning it is recommended that the bull be tested again) or as an unsatisfactory potential breeder.
Value of a BSE: Does It Pay?
The cost of a BSE is minor compared to the potential economic loss from reduced pregnancy rates, extended calving seasons, and open cows. A single subfertile or dominant bull could have a large impact on your breeding group if you are unaware of their breeding potential. Additional information on the economic value of a BSE can be found in a past BeefWatch article: How Valu-Bull are Breeding Soundness Exams.
Considerations Beyond a Breeding Soundness Exam
While a BSE is an essential tool, it does not evaluate all factors influencing reproductive success.
Bull to Cow Ratio
Bull to cow ratio refers to the number of cows a bull can successfully breed, with national averages of approximately 25 cows per mature bull and 15 cows per yearling bull. While some operations use higher bull‑to‑cow ratios, excessively high stocking rates can increase the risk of missed heats and later‑calving cows, particularly when estrus is concentrated or terrain limits bull movement.
Bull Libido and Effectiveness in Breeding
Bull libido, or willingness to breed, cannot be evaluated during a BSE and must be assessed once bulls are exposed to females in estrus. Bulls may pass all components of a BSE yet fail to actively breed cows, making early observation of breeding activity critical to identifying and correcting problems before they result in open cows. Physiologically, bulls may have high libido, but due to physical injury, structural, or behavioral issues, be unable to breed cows.
Social Behavior
Bull social behavior also influences reproductive performance under natural service conditions, due to the social ranking of bulls within the herd hierarchy. Dominance is expressed more strongly in older bulls (i.e., 3 to 4 years of age and older) and is more related to seniority than any other factor. We may see the effects of dominance having greater impacts when we have lower bull to female ratios and limited estrus activity within a herd. Keep in mind that dominant bulls may impregnate more cows and therefore, subordinate bulls may have limited reproductive performance and fewer calves. Conversely, if dominance is associated with low semen quality or low sex drive, then herd fertility may be compromised.
Putting it All Together
Semen quality of an individual bull will change, and periodically evaluating a bull’s mating ability and libido should be considered. Consult with your local veterinarian about performing breeding soundness exams in your herd bulls. Herd bulls have a large influence on many aspects of an operation including profitability, calf crop, and genetic improvement. With 90% of beef cows in the United States bred by natural service, managing bulls to optimize breeding performance is important.
Source: Kacie McCarthy, Nebraska Extension Cow-Calf Specialist (BeefWatch – June 1, 2026)
News Release
Workshop to Address the Spread of Cedar Trees and Control Options
O’Neill, NE- Cedar trees are rapidly spreading across Nebraska’s grasslands, threatening valuable forage for grazing animals and habitat for wildlife. In some areas, grass production has dropped by as much as 75% over the past three decades due to cedar tree encroachment. The best time to control your cedar trees is now!
To help landowners and producers tackle this issue, a hands-on workshop will be held on Thursday, June 11, from 1:00 to 3:30 p.m. CT at the Holt County Annex Building, located at 128 N 6th Street, O’Neill.
Gain insight from real-life examples of various cedar control projects, including before/after photos, cost of the projects, cost-share options, and how producers are maintaining cedar-free pastures to maximize grass. Understanding how cedar trees spread and grow will help producers decide the best control options to use. Learn how to keep your prescribed burn contained to the unit- as slope, tree height, piles, weather, crew/equipment can be mitigated to ensure a safe and controlled burn.
Walk-ins are welcome, but registrations are appreciated. Call the Holt County Extension Office at 402-336-2760, email Bethany at bjohnston3@unl.edu, or sign up online at https://go.unl.edu/cedar_signup.
Thanks to these partners: Nebraska Extension, Pheasant Forever, the Nature Conservancy, Sandhills Task Force, Nebraska Game & Parks, US Fish and Wildlife, and NRCS.
News Release
Nebraska Extension to Host June 11 Webinar on Drought management for Beef Producers
As drought conditions continue to affect much of Nebraska, beef producers are being forced to make difficult herd and forage management decisions. To support producers navigating these challenges, Nebraska Extension will host a free webinar on Thursday, June 11, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Mountain Time / 7:30 to 9 p.m. Central Time.
The webinar, “Management Options in Drought” will feature University of Nebraska–Lincoln specialists covering key management practices and decision-making strategies to help mitigate the effects of drought.
Topics include drought outlook, range/pasture conditions and production, confinement feeding cows and early weaning calves, planting summer annuals for forage, and new drought planning tools. Eric Hunt, agricultural meteorologist; Karla Wilke, cow-calf management specialist; Mitch Stephenson, range and forage specialist; Jerry Volesky, range and forage specialist; and Tonya Haigh, National Drought Mitigation Center will provide practical guidance for those in drought conditions.
“This webinar is designed to provide actionable information to help producers make sound, timely decisions during drought,” said Aaron Berger, Nebraska Extension beef educator.
Lower production on rangeland, due to lack of precipitation or wildfires, will result in ranchers and cattlemen looking for alternatives.
To attend remotely via Zoom, register online at https://go.unl.edu/drought2026. No cost to attend.
A recording of the webinar will be made available following the event for those unable to attend live.
For more information, contact Berger at 308-235-3122.
News Release
Pedaling the Whooper Highway: Ecologist and Photographer to Bike 2,500 miles to Raise Awareness for America’s Most Endangered Bird
Platte Basin Timelapse co-founder Michael Forsberg and the International Crane Foundation’s Director of Central Flyway Programs Dr. Andy Caven will embark on a 50-day, 2,500-mile bike ride through the Great Plains to raise awareness for Whooping Cranes, North America’s most endangered bird. Tentatively, they will be in Nebraska in early June.
Beginning on May 11 on the Texas Gulf Coast and ending in late June in the prairies of central Saskatchewan, Forsberg and Caven will travel the migration route of the Whooping Crane. The route follows the Central Flyway, winding north through central Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, the Dakotas, and into Canada. The Central Flyway is a migration pathway followed year after year by thousands of migratory species of birds, insects, and other animals.
“We’re hoping to not just see this landscape, but feel it,” said Dr. Andy Caven. “We want to feel the miles between these patches of vital habitat, just like the Monarch Butterfly or a Whooping Crane would while on their spectacular, long migration.”
Whooping Cranes are the rarest crane species in the world, standing five feet tall and covered in white feathers. These magnificent birds embark on a harrowing 2,500-mile journey, twice a year, between their nesting grounds in northern Canada to their wintering grounds on the Texas Gulf Coast.
“The muse is the whooping crane, this lovely bird that was nearly lost to extinction–but there’s a lot more to it than that,” said Forsberg. “Most folks don’t understand how migration is not just birds or butterflies flying from place to place, it's this process that takes place over this huge landscape.”
Mike has dedicated the last seven years to telling the story of Whooping Cranes. His efforts have been made into a book, a podcast, and soon, a feature-length film. Andy is a habitat
ecologist whose work focuses on conservation policy, delivery, and research regarding whooping cranes, sandhill cranes, and their habitats.
“I want everybody to feel a part of a community,” said Forsberg. “These birds have a great story to tell. But it’s not just their story, it’s our story. This trip helps us to tell other people's stories that we come in contact with along the way and lift them up.”
Mike and Andy invite you to be part of the journey -bike with them, meet them along the route, or support the effort through a donation or other meaningful ways. For more information, and to follow along, please visit: www.WhoopingCraneChronicles.com/bike