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
May 18: Face-to-Face YQCA Training, 7pm, Holt County Courthouse Annex, O’Neill, NE
May 27-29: Premier Animal Science Event (PASE), Animal Science Complex, Lincoln, NE
May 31: DUE: Nebraska Youth Range Camp Registration, Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture, Curtis, NE
June 1: DUE:Holt County Shooting Sports 4-H Invitational Shoot Registration
June 1: DUE: State 4-H Horse Expo Online Entries and Horse Identification Certificate in your County Extension Office
June 2: LAST Face-to-Face YQCA Training, 7pm, Holt County Courthouse Annex, O’Neill, NE
June 3: Animal Science Discovery Day, Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture, Curtis, NE
June 4-5: 2026 Tractor & Equipment Safety Training, AKRS Equipment Solutions, O’Neill, NE, Tractor and Equipment Safety Training Registration
June 6-7: Holt County Shooting Sports 4-H Invitational Shoot, Holt County Fairgrounds, Chambers, NE
June 8-11: Nebraska Youth Range Camp, Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture, Curtis, 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
Children Benefit from Unstructured Time in The Summer
Remember when you were a child and summer was the time to play? You may have had some responsibilities around the house, but for the most part your time was unstructured. Today, children have more structured time during the summer because of camps, swim lessons, and summer school. This could negatively impact a variety of developing skill areas including independence, creativity, and critical thinking.
University of Missouri Occupational Therapist Lea Ann Lowery believes that a lack of unstructured time is the reason many teens and young adults have trouble problem solving. She also sees trends of youth being overly reliant on certain objects or electronics to stay busy and involved. In turn, they want immediate gratification or they get bored easily.
Summer is also typically the time for a vacation, which could provide a chance for the family to enjoy unstructured time together, but not all family budgets allow for one. A staycation is a vacation that is spent at or nearby your home. Here are some activities the whole family can engage in during a staycation:
- Backyard exploration:
- Dig for worms
- Plant a garden
- Look at the clouds
- Watch a spider spin a web
- Make mud pies
- Build a fort
- Run through the sprinkler during the day and catch fireflies at night
- Community exploration:
- Visit the local park for a picnic
- Try out different walking trails and playgrounds or spraygrounds
- Check out books from the public library that the family can read together
- Go to a farmer’s market or produce stand to get fresh berries or other fruits for homemade ice cream
- Family exploration:
- Take time to share family traditions like foods, crafts, or hobbies
- Let your child teach you something new
- Give your children a disposable camera to capture their perspective of the world
Whether you take a vacation or a staycation, give yourself and your children some free time to play and explore this summer. The memories of free time can strengthen family bonds through shared experiences, as well as provide a mental vacation during times of stress.
Source: Leanne Spengler, former Human Development Specialist, University of Missouri Extension
Choosing the Right Sprinkler Package for Windy Conditions
Key Takeaways
- Larger Droplets Improve Accuracy: Sprinkler packages that produced larger droplets were more resistant to wind drift and delivered water more effectively to the target area.
- Bubble Plates Reduce Drift: Bubble-style plates performed well under windy conditions, though their smaller wetted diameter increased the potential for ponding and runoff.
- Fine Droplets Drift Easily: Fine-droplet sprinkler packages were highly susceptible to wind drift and produced less uniform water distribution during the test.
- System Maintenance Matters: Worn pressure regulators and inconsistent operating pressure can reduce irrigation efficiency and alter sprinkler performance.
- Sprinkler Selection Requires Balance: Choosing the right sprinkler package depends on wind exposure, soil infiltration rates, application intensity, and field management goals.
Efficient irrigation relies on minimizing water losses and maximizing the portion of applied water that reaches the crop root zone. Improving efficiency becomes even more critical in dry years like 2026, when irrigation demand is high, air temperatures are elevated, and relative humidity is low. Under these conditions, every inch of applied water matters, and minimizing losses becomes a priority for optimizing crop productivity and conserving groundwater resources.
Center pivot irrigation systems can experience several types of water losses, including runoff, deep percolation, droplet evaporation, and wind drift. Among these, evaporation and wind drift are especially influenced by weather conditions during irrigation events. Both represent portions of pumped water that do not reach the intended target area. Past University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) research has shown that evaporation losses are typically modest - often less than 4% of the applied water,
though potentially approaching 10% with sprinklers on top of the pipe under high pressures, creating small droplets.
In contrast, wind drift can lead to larger losses than evaporation by physically moving water droplets away from the intended target area. This not only reduces irrigation efficiency but can also create uneven water distribution across the field. As a result, understanding how sprinkler design influences droplet behavior and drift under windy conditions is essential for improving irrigation performance.
To explore these issues, a field evaluation was conducted recently at the UNL’s South Central Agricultural Laboratory (SCAL) near Clay Center, Nebraska. The objective was to compare three sprinkler configurations under real field conditions, with a focus on wetted diameter, droplet characteristics, and sensitivity to wind.
Field Conditions and Setup
The evaluation was conducted under moderate to strong wind conditions, with sustained winds of 10-15 mph and gusts reaching 20-25 mph, conditions that are not uncommon during the irrigation season in Nebraska. The sprinkler industry offers a wide range of sprinkler packages designed to meet different irrigation goals. In this test, three sprinkler configurations from Nelson Irrigation Corporation were tested:
- Orbitor with blue plate (large droplet design).
- Sprayhead with tan bubble-wide plate (bubbler-style).
- Sprayhead with purple plate (fine droplet design).
All these sprinklers were mounted on drops at 9 feet above ground. Each configuration was assessed based on observed wetted diameter, droplet size and behavior, and overall performance under windy conditions. In addition, a catch-can test was conducted to evaluate how closely the applied water matched the target depth programmed into the system.
Key Observations
1. Orbitor
The Orbitor sprinkler performed consistently under windy conditions and maintained a stable water distribution pattern. It also produced a relatively large wetted diameter: approximately 40 feet in the direction of the wind. This broader coverage can help reduce application intensity and thus, the risk of generating surface runoff.
2. Sprayhead with Tan Bubble-Wide Plate
The bubbler configuration produced larger droplets and demonstrated strong resistance to wind drift. The wetted diameter was less than half of Orbitor’s at approximately 18 feet in the direction of the wind. These characteristics make this type of sprinkler particularly effective at delivering water to the intended area when wind is a concern. However, some localized ponding was observed during the test, even at a relatively low application depth of 0.25-inch. This suggests that the higher application intensity associated with a smaller wetted diameter may increase the risk of runoff, particularly in soils with lower infiltration rates or in fields with slope.
3. Sprayhead with Purple Plate
This configuration produced the smallest droplet size and, under calm conditions, would be expected to create a relatively narrow wetted pattern. However, under the windy conditions during the test, performance was significantly compromised. The fine droplets were highly susceptible to wind drift, to the extent that the boundaries of the wetted area could not be clearly identified in the field. This indicates that a substantial portion of the applied water was displaced from the target area. In practical terms, this type of sprinkler configuration may result in reduced irrigation efficiency and non-uniform water distribution when used in windy environments.
Impact of Pressure
Each sprinkler and plate combination is designed to operate within a specific pressure range. When systems operate outside these recommended pressures (either too high or too low), the resulting water distribution can differ significantly from the intended design. For example, higher pressures generally increase wetted diameter and can produce finer droplets, which may improve coverage under calm conditions but also increase susceptibility to wind drift. Conversely, lower pressures tend to reduce wetted diameter and produce larger droplets, which are less prone to drift but result in higher application intensity over a smaller area.
As regulators age or wear, they may no longer maintain consistent outlet pressure, leading to variability in sprinkler performance across the field. This variability can translate into uneven water application, changes in droplet size, and shifts in wetted diameter - all of which affect irrigation efficiency. In windy conditions, inconsistent pressure can further amplify drift losses if some sprinklers begin producing finer droplets than intended. Regular inspection and timely replacement of regulators are critical for maintaining system performance. The industry recommends replacing pressure regulators after 10 years or 10,000 hours of operation.
It is recommended to take a close look at the water pattern from your pivot every two weeks or so during the irrigation season. The pattern should look uniform with more water toward the out end of the pivot. Look for leaks and sprinklers that may be plugged or missing. Also, look for sprinklers that are putting out more water, turning faster, or creating finer droplets which could indicate the pressure regulator has failed. If you find a problem write down the sprinkler location, tower number, and number of sprinklers from the tower, so it can be fixed as soon as possible.
What Does This Mean for Producers?
The results of this field test reinforce a key point: sprinkler selection plays a critical role in determining how effectively irrigation water is delivered under windy conditions. In windy conditions, droplet size matters. Sprinklers that produce larger droplets are less likely to be carried away by wind, improving the likelihood that water reaches the soil surface where it is needed.
There is a tradeoff between drift and application intensity. While larger droplets reduce drift, they are often associated with smaller wetted diameters and higher application rates, which may increase the risk of ponding or runoff.
System condition is just as important as sprinkler package selection. Even the best sprinkler package cannot perform as intended if pressure regulators are not functioning properly.
In dry years, when water supplies are limited and crop water demand is high, improving irrigation efficiency becomes even more important. Reducing drift losses and ensuring that applied water reaches the crop root zone can help maximize the value of every irrigation event.
Final Thoughts
There is no single “best” sprinkler configuration for all situations. The optimal choice depends on field conditions, soil characteristics, and management priorities. However, this field evaluation clearly demonstrates that under wind conditions, sprinkler packages that produce larger droplets (such as bubble-style plates) can offer a practical advantage in reducing drift and improving application accuracy.
After all these considerations, we chose to use the bubble-style plate for our research plot applications. The primary reasons were its resistance to wind drift and the smaller wetted diameter. The narrower application pattern is especially beneficial for the narrow-strip, replicated water rate studies conducted at this site. While the Orbitor sprinkler also demonstrated good resistance to wind drift, its wetted diameter was approximately twice as large as the bubble-style plate, making it less suitable for the plot configuration used in this research.
Producers are encouraged to evaluate their current systems, consider how they perform under windy conditions, and work with irrigation professionals to select and maintain sprinkler packages that align with your field conditions and water management goals.
Source: Saleh Taghvaeian - Biological Systems Engineering Associate Professor, Steve Melvin - Extension Educator Irrigated Cropping Systems, Abraham Salomon - Graduate Research Assistant (CropWatch – May 14, 2026)
Don't Let Your Pasture Kill Your Profits: Grazing and Feeding Hazards
For the cattle producer, managing a cattle operation requires more than just daily herd oversight. It demands a specialized knowledge of risk management and environmental toxicology. From a swallowed wire to the silent toxicity of a poisonous plant, the threats to herd health are often invisible until a loss occurs. These hazards can be devastating not only to the cow, but in certain instances can cause late-term abortions or permanent birth defects in the calf crop.
1. Hardware Disease: The Internal Puncture
Traumatic Reticuloperitonitis (TRP), or Hardware Disease, occurs in cattle because they use their tongues to wrap and pull forage into their mouths rather than using nimble lips to sort, making them prone to swallowing metal debris like wire, nails, and fencing staples. Once swallowed, these heavy objects settle in the reticulum. When the reticulum contracts, it can drive a sharp object through its wall. This can result in a few possible scenarios including local infection around the reticulum from leakage of fluid up to the most severe outcome, which is a puncture of the sac around the heart. Keeping your pastures free of debris is key to helping prevent hardware disease.
Mixing your own feed or chopping hay makes it easy for metal debris to become hidden in the forage or feed, leaving cows unable to sort through and reject the hardware as they eat. Another source of this hazard is roadside hay harvested from highway ditches. Mowers operating in these areas shred objects such as aluminum cans and discarded wire or metal into small, sharp shards. These invisible fragments are then baled into the hay, where they become inescapable for the animal when fed.
2. Water Quality: The Silent Killers
Water is the most critical nutrient for beef cattle, as it is essential for growth, lactation, and replacing moisture lost through excretion or evaporation. However, it can also carry hidden toxins that can quickly turn fatal.
Nitrates, sulfates, and blue-green algae can affect water quality. A safe level of nitrate nitrogen (NO3N) in the water for cattle is less than 100 parts per million (ppm). Tanks that are used to haul nitrogen-based fertilizer should not be used to transport drinking water for cattle as there is a risk of poisoning. It's very difficult to ensure all the nitrogen has been removed from the tank, even if you wash it thoroughly. The sulfate upper limit for calves is less than 500 ppm (167 ppm sulfur as sulfate). For adult cattle, the upper limit is less than 1,000 ppm (333 ppm sulfur as sulfate). Stagnant water, lakes, and ponds are ideal environments for the growth of blue-green algae, which can be toxic to cattle. When in abundance, blue-green algae gives the water the appearance that someone has dumped a bucket of light green or turquoise paint in the water. Signs of blue-green algae poisoning are diarrhea, vomiting, lack of coordination, labored breathing, seizures, convulsions and possibly death.
3. Botanical Hazards: Poisonous and Toxic Plants
Pastures are rarely pure stands of grass and may contain poisonous plants or plants that can accumulate nitrates when stressed. Likewise, annual forages such as sorghum, sorghum-sudan hybrids, and sudangrass may produce hydrocyanic acid (prussic acid) when plant tissues are damaged, such as by freezing, chopping, or chewing. If used for grazing, select varieties that are known to have low potential for the production of prussic acid and do not begin grazing until plants have reached a height of 18-24 inches and exercise caution after a frost. Summer annual grasses may also accumulate nitrates when stressed.
Know your pastures and plants for the area of the country you live in and be diligent with any potential poisonous plants. Also be diligent as to any poisonous plants or high nitrates with any hay you purchase. Nitrates when grazing drought-stressed corn residue can also be a concern.
4. Terrain Hazards: The Risk of "Cast" Cattle
Topography poses a significant physical hazard to cattle through the risk of becoming "cast." This occurs when an animal lies down or slips on a slope with its back oriented downhill, creating an "over-centered" position where gravity prevents it from rocking forward to stand. This is a critical medical emergency. The massive weight of the rumen compresses the diaphragm and lungs, while the animal’s inability to eructate (belch) leads to rapid, life-threatening bloat.
Without immediate intervention to roll the animal into a sternal position (upright on the brisket), death occurs from respiratory failure or circulatory collapse. Furthermore, the weight of the rumen can compress the blood supply to the hindquarters; even if rolled sternal, the animal may be slow to recover or suffer permanent damage, leaving it unable to rise.
Management Note: While steep slopes are primary risks, cattle can over-center on obstacles as small as the depression between corn rows during residue grazing or even frozen fecal pats. Diligence is required in any uneven terrain.
5. Pasture Lameness: Physical and Infectious Threats
Lameness is pain in one or more limbs that affects movement and can affect productivity. Generally, the causes fall into two categories: non-infectious (mechanical, genetic, or nutritional) and infectious. The trouble is that these often work together. Mechanical injuries from the environment frequently break the skin or scrape or puncture the hoof, creating an entry point for bacteria to take hold. Here are some causes of lameness in the pasture:
- Puncture Wounds: Sharp rocks, metal scraps, or hard woody stalks can puncture the hoof sole or interdigital cleft. This introduces anaerobic bacteria into tissue which can lead to lameness and eventually possible abscess or joint infection if not treated. Tissues of the foot are softened when cattle stand in water or wet areas and stomping caused by flies can exacerbate the problem.
- Animal Burrows: Animal burrows, such as those from badgers, prairie dogs, or groundhogs, pose a physical threat to grazing herds. Stepping into these hidden holes can lead to acute lameness, ranging from joint sprains to leg fractures that often prove fatal.
Managing a cattle operation requires navigating a complex landscape of invisible risks that extend far beyond basic daily care. From the physical hazards of hardware disease and animal burrows to the biological threats of poor water quality and botanical toxins, a producer's environment is full of potential "silent killers." These risks can lead to acute injury, permanent lameness, reproductive failure, or sudden death in the herd. While many common environmental and nutritional dangers were covered, this is not an exhaustive list of all hazards.
Source: Troy Walz - Nebraska Extension Educator (BeefWatch – May 1, 2026)