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
April 1: DUE: Holt County Market Beef & Second Year Bucket Calves ID Sheets, Holt County Extension Office
April 2: Private Pesticide Training, 10:00am, Community Building, Ainsworth, NE, Pesticide Safety Education Program
April 7: DUE: Registrations for the Holt and Boyd Communication Event, Opens March 30. All Entries submitted through fairwire at Holt Fairwire or Boyd Fairwire.
April 8: Private Pesticide Training, 10am, Mid Plains Community College, Valentine, NE, Pesticide Safety Education Program
April 9: Private Pesticide Training, 1:30pm, Holt County Annex, O’Neill, NE, Pesticide Safety Education Program
April 11-12: Nebraska 4-H Shooting Sports Instructor Certification Workshop, 8:00am, Custer County Fairgrounds, Broken Bow, NE,
April 13: 4-H Judges Training, Virtual Volunteer Training, 12:00pm, Registration Form for 2026 Judges Training
April 12: 4-H Holt Boyd County Communication Event, 5:00pm, Holt County Annex, O’Neill, NE
April 14: Chemigation Training, 9:00am, New Community Center, Bassett, NE, Pesticide Safety Education Program
April 15: Chemigation Training, 1:00pm, Holt County Annex, O’Neill, NE, Pesticide Safety Education Program
Families Should Set Guidelines to Ensure Quality Studying
Every family needs to set their own guidelines for studying at home, according to Renette Wardlow, human development specialist, University of Missouri Extension.
“Differences in guidelines occur because of the different ages of students,” said Wardlow.
For example, younger children have less homework, but it generally requires more parent supervision. As children grow older, developing the skill of independently tackling homework without parent help becomes important.
“Children of all ages need a good place to study and a specific time to study, with minimal distractions,” said Wardlow.
Developing the proper frame of mind for studying will help reduce distractions and bring about positive results.
It is also essential to plan ahead, organize studying around a regular schedule and get materials organized. This is important in order to find what is needed when you need it, to get assignments done on time and to avoid procrastination. There are several ways to get focused and organized ahead of time.
For example, Wardlow advises that children need to plan ahead and get a good night sleep the night before they’ll have to do a lot of studying.
Wardlow also recommends that children focus on their strong points. Instruct your child to “think about the things you do best in school and develop a positive self-image,” said Wardlow.
It is important for each child to study in a comfortable place that has good lighting in order to avoid eye strain and fatigue. Wardlow recommends avoiding distracting music during study times.
“It is true that some people study well with background music, and for different people different kinds of music will suit,” said Wardlow.
It is also a good idea to not watch the clock or count the pages left while trying to study, according to Wardlow. Getting together with friends to study can also be very distracting, especially when everyone is not studying the same topic.
Source: Renette Wardlow, human development specialist, Christian County, University of Missouri Extension, wardlowr@missouri.edu
How to Adjust Corn Nitrogen Rates with Higher Fertilizer Prices in 2026
Nitrogen (N) fertilizer prices have increased again this spring, tightening margins for Nebraska producers and putting more risk on every pound of N you apply. Instead of making across-the-board N cuts, this is a good year to tighten up efficiency and make sure every pound is working for you.
While prices are not at the record highs seen in 2022, they are noticeably higher than last year. Retail bids suggest N products like urea have jumped by nearly 20-30% in a week, from approximately $800/ton to $1,000/ton. At these prices, even small rate adjustments matter. Reducing N fertilizer applications by 20 lbs/acre can save $12–$18 per acre, depending on the N source.
Why are Nitrogen Fertilizer Prices Higher?
Most of N fertilizers are made from natural gas and traded globally. The production of N fertilizer is energy-intensive to produce and globally traded. When energy supply or shipping routes are disrupted, fertilizer prices can move quickly. Recent events like the closure of the Strait of Hormuz have tightened global supplies of natural gas and ammonia, which has shown up as higher N price quotes at local retailers.
Of course, we cannot control global markets, but we can control how effectively we use N fertilizers in our farms this year. Below are few strategies to consider.
Practical Ways to Respond to Higher N Prices in 2026
Recalculate Economic Optimum Nitrogen Rate (EONR)
As fertilizer prices increase relative to grain prices, the economically optimal nitrogen rate generally decreases. Revisit rate decisions using current fertilizer and grain prices, plug in your own N price and expected corn price in the UNL Corn Nitrogen Rate Calculator; recheck rates if your N quote changes by more than 10-15%. The UNL Corn Nitrogen Rate Calculator provides an updated, data-driven approach.
For example, at a 250 bu/acre yield goal, with $4.70/bu corn and urea increasing from $800 to $1,000 per ton, the UNL calculator suggests reducing rates from 246 to 224 lb N/acre on irrigated silt loam, saving about $22 per acre while maintaining maximum net return under current price conditions.
Shift More Nitrogen In-Season
Applying 60% or more of total N during the growing season improves synchronization with crop demand and reduces the risk of early-season loss. A base rate of 50–100 lb N/acre at planting, followed by sidedress or fertigation between V6 and R2, can reduce financial risk under volatile prices.
Find more at our recently updated Nebraska Extension NebGuide G2365, “In-Season Nitrogen Management for Irrigated Corn.”
Use Diagnostics for Fine-Tune Decisions
Active canopy sensors, satellite imagery, and yield-based management zones can refine in-season adjustments. Nebraska research shows that sensor-guided N management can reduce rates by 20-40 lb/acre without sacrificing yield.
Find more here: "Nitrogen for Corn: Using Precision Agriculture and Sensor Technologies for Smarter Nitrogen Management to Boost Profits".
Credit All Nitrogen Sources
Properly account for N credits from legumes, manure, irrigation water, and residual soil nitrate. Updated manure N availability factors should be used to avoid unnecessary application.
Consider Participating in the Nebraska NUE Program
In addition to improving efficiency on your own operation, Nebraska producers may consider participating in the 2026 Nebraska Nitrogen Use Efficiency (NUE) Program.
This program, funded by the Nebraska Corn Board and administered in partnership with Natural Resources Districts (NRDs) and the Nebraska Department of Water, Energy and Environment (DWEE), provides incentive payments of $15 per acre for qualifying corn fields that achieve a NUE of 1.0 lb total available N per bushel or lower.
Applications for the 2026 season are due to local NRDs by May 15, 2026, with final data submission due by Jan. 15, 2027. Participation in the program provides an opportunity to Improve profitability by reducing N input costs, protect groundwater quality, and be recognized for strong nitrogen management. More details about enrolling in the program are available through Nebraska DWEE.
Producers are encouraged to contact their local NRD for application information and guidance.
The Bottom Line
When N prices rise, efficiency becomes profitability, a 30% increase in cost per pound of N means that every pound must count. Strategic timing, accurate credits, economic recalculation, and in-season diagnostics allow Nebraska producers to protect both yield and margins under higher fertilizer costs.
Available N Support
Contact your local extension educator to discuss sensor-based N management or walk through the calculator for your fields. You can also use the online UNL Nitrogen Rate Calculator.
Source: Javed Iqbal - Extension Nutrient Management and Water Quality Specialist, Bijesh Maharjan - Extension Soil and Nutrient Management Specialist, Carolina Córdova - Department of Agronomy and Horticulture Assistant Professor and Statewide Soil Health Specialist, Nicolás Cafaro La Menza – Cropping Systems Specialist, Department of Agronomy and Horticulture
Summer Pasture Rental Rates on a Price per Ton Basis Consumed by the Cow-Calf Pair
Pasture rental rates in Nebraska continue to be at a premium compared to the rest of the country. This author is unaware of anywhere else that has a higher price per pair per month, when compared to Nebraska’s summer grazing rates.
This means that summer grass in some parts of Nebraska is actually more expensive on a per ton basis than current hay prices (Spring 2026). This article shows how to compare apples (summer grazing) to oranges (baled hay), by converting both into air-dried forage per ton.
Nebraska pasture rental rates continue to be higher in the eastern Sandhills area compared to other parts of Nebraska. The University of Nebraska-Lincoln conducts yearly surveys of cash rental rates across Nebraska. The report for 2025 pasture rental rates can be viewed at Nebraska Farm Real Estate Report.
Estimating Cow/Calf Consumption
When grass is readily available, of excellent quality, and the rate of passage is rapid, consumption of grass will be higher as a percentage of a cow’s body weight than later in the grazing season when quality declines. Grass consumption by calves generally increases throughout the grazing season as calf size and rumen capacity increase. This occurs simultaneously while cow milk production decreases.
Estimating the amount of forage consumed by the cow is just that, an estimate. Recent research from Oklahoma State University of cows eating medium quality grass hay has shown tremendous variation in forage consumption within a herd, even when cows are of similar size and weight.
Summer Grass Versus Price Of Hay
Estimating the value of the grazed forage on a per-ton basis allows a person to compare grazed grass directly to what it would cost to buy hay. In this calculation, no labor, waste, or machinery cost is accounted for when moving, storing, or feeding the hay.
Let’s use an example to value the grazed air-dried forage going into the cow on a per ton basis. For our example, the following assumptions are used.
- One Animal Unit Month is an estimate of how much a 1,000 pound bovine would eat in a month, and the estimated consumption is 780 lbs. of air-dried forage per month.
- A cow-calf pair is made up of a 1350 lb. cow and 400 lb. calf. These weights convert to 1.75 Animal Unit Month (AUM), averaged over the 5-month summer grazing period.
- To figure the pounds of air-dried forage consumed in one month of summer grazing, take 1.75 Animal Unit Month (AUM) multiplied by 780 lbs. of forage to get 1365 lbs. of air-dried forage per pair. (1.75 x 780 = 1365)
Table 1 below shows the price of summer grazing per pair and what the estimated hay price would be per ton. (Remember our pair is a 1350 lb. cow and 400 lb. calf).
Table 1 Converting Summer Grazing Rates to Equivalent Hay Price
| Summer Grazing Rate Per Pair (1.75 AUM) | Estimated Equivalent Price for Hay (per ton) |
| $50 per pair/month | $73 per ton |
| $60 per pair/month | $88 per ton |
| $70 per pair/month | $103 per ton |
| $80 per pair/month | $117 per ton |
| $90 per pair/month | $131 per ton |
| $100 per pair/month | $147 per ton |
Considerations
Currently hay can be bought in Nebraska for a cost per ton equivalent, that in many cases is equal to or less than the cost per ton for grazed forage rates paid for cow-calf pairs.
The quality of grazed grass early in the grazing season will likely be equal to or better than good quality hay that can be purchased. In the later summer and fall, the quality of the hay based on energy and protein basis may be better than grazed forage.
If hay is to be fed versus grazing pastures, most medium quality hays will not meet the nutrition requirements of a milking cow with a calf. Another feed resource that would enhance the quality of a roughage diet, and readily available in Nebraska, are ethanol coproducts. Currently, dried distillers grains can be purchased at approximately $160 ton at the plant. Distillers grains supplemented with medium quality hay could meet a milking cow’s nutritional requirements.
How To Supplement Hay With Distillers Grains
On a dry basis, a pound of distillers grains will have almost twice the energy and will be more than twice the protein of most hay sources. That means that a pound of distillers grains has about the same energy and protein as two pounds of an average quality hay. Using a combination of hay and distillers grains could be an economic and feasible option to develop a balanced ration for many operations.
When feeding hay and distillers grains, the additional costs of labor, equipment, and waste during storage and feeding need to be considered. However, when hay or distillers grains are purchased and fed, nutrients are brought in that have value as fertilizer (once the feed passes through the animal onto the ground), when they are captured and utilized effectively.
Conclusion
Summer pasture rental rates in Nebraska have seen significant increases over the last few years with wide ranges being paid per pair per month depending upon a variety of factors. Current market prices for harvested feed are competitive in many cases with pasture rental rates when compared on a price per ton basis. The quality and value of forage consumed, whether by grazing or as hay, need to be considered as producers evaluate grazing and feeding options for the cow herd this spring and summer.
Source: Aaron Berger, Nebraska Extension Educator, Bethany Johnston, Nebraska Extension Educator