Holt Boyd News Column for the Week of September 27, 2026

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

October 2: Fit and Healthy Kids One Hour Once a Month Webinar, go.unl.edu/fhkonehour

October 3: Nebraska Shooting Sports Instructor Update, Imperial, NE 

October 3-4: Nebraska Shooting Sports Instructor Certification Workshop, Imperial, NE

October 12: Rural Nebraska Makers Virtual Workshop, 7:00pm CT, go.unl.edu/rural

October 12-29: Knowing, Growing, and Grazing Grass Webinar Series, Monday and Thursday evenings, 7:30pm – 8:45pm CT, https://go.unl.edu/knowing_grass

October 18: Holt County 4-H Shooting Sports Kick-Off Meeting, 5:30pm, KC Hall, O’Neill, NE

November 1: DUE: Holt County 4-H Shooting Sports Registration

December 2: Understanding Financial Documents Workshop for Nebraska Farmers and Ranchers, 9:00am–12:00pm CT, O’Neill, NE (exact location TBD)

Even more troubling are attempts of cyber stalking or stalking. This is when other children, teens, adults follow young people online or seek them out at their homes,schools, and so forth.  

Are there real dangers on the Internet or is most of what we hear about just media hype?

Unfortunately, there are real dangers on the Internet. There have been several actual instances that received national attention about young people meeting someone they have communicated with online and then, being harmed or abducted. It's important to tell your children the plain truth about dangers online. This is no different than telling them that they can't play in the street or can't stay out all night.

What can parents do to minimize the threat or danger of harassment or sexual solicitation on the Internet?

First, they can locate computers in a common room such as the den, a playroom or the parent's bedroom rather than in a child's bedroom. Children will be less likely to seek out inappropriate information and parents can more easily monitor the website they are visiting. It is also very important to talk with your children about possible dangers on the web. Let them know what dangers are out there and to come to you if they are having a problem. Also, take an interest in what they do when they are online. Who are they chatting with or e-mailing? What are they doing when they are online? What websites are they looking at online?

How effective is filtering or monitoring software at preventing children from seeing offensive material on the Internet?

No filtering software is going to be completely reliable, but it has become quite sophisticated and most of the programs have many options so that parents can adjust the filtering to meet their own personal standards or adjust options for children at different ages. There are many different types of filtering software. They each work slightly different. Some software may be better for younger children and some software may be easier for people without much computer knowledge. Parents should review available software and decide what best fits their needs for their family's situation.

Here are three common filtering programs:

• Norton Internet Security: http://www.symantec.com/sabu/nis/nis_pe/
• Cyberpatrol: http://www.cyberpatrol.com/
• Net Nanny: http://www.netnanny.com/

How should I punish my child if he or she finds inappropriate or harmful material on the Internet?

In general, it may not help to take away computer privileges if it is something they came across accidentally. It will only encourage them to not tell you if another incident occurs. However, if this is an ongoing problem, it may become necessary to take away computer time or require constant monitoring by an adult. This is something each family must decide based on their family's needs or experiences.

What are some general guidelines parents can teach children about Internet safety?

1. Don't give out personal information (Name, Address, Age, School, Birthday, Phone Number, etc.)
2. Choose a screen name that doesn't identify any personal information. Examples of bad screen names: saragirl15, tommyboy, girl-in-denver, babygirl12.
3. Don't share your password with anyone except your parents. Not even your best friend.
4. Do not respond to unwanted, mean, offensive or threatening e-mail, chat room dialogue, or instant messages.
5. Don't send pictures of yourself to someone you don't know.
6. NEVER agree to meet someone you met on the Internet.
7. Remember people online may or may NOT be who they say they are.
8. Promise to tell an adult if you ever feel uncomfortable while online.

Where can I report problems with inappropriate content or unwanted contacts on the Internet?

First, any incident of solicitation or harassment on the Internet should be taken seriously and reported. The email message and any other information should be reported to your Internet Service Provider and the local police. This is not a matter that should be taken lightly.

Here is a list of places to contact regarding many different types of criminal activity on the Internet: http://www.usdoj.gov/criminal/cybercrime/reporting.htm

You can also submit a report online through the Cybertip line at: http://www.missingkids.com/cybertip/.

Where can I find out more about safety for children on the Internet?

Here are some good sources of additional information on Internet safety for children.

• National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC): http://www.missingkids.com/
• Safe Kids.com: http://www.safekids.com/
• GetNetWise: http://www.getnetwise.org/

What are some warning signs that my children may be involved in something they shouldn't be while on the Internet (i.e. chatting with a stranger, downloading explicit material, etc.)?

• Online late at night
• Excessive use of the Internet
• Closing computer applications when a parent/guardian/adult walks into the room 
• Downloaded files with the suffix .jpg, .gif; .bmp, .tif, .pcx (These indicate images or pictures) 
• Phone calls or mail from stranger

Source: Jodie Lawton, Children's Advocacy Services of Greater St. Louis, University of Missouri-St. Louis

Preparation is Key

• Start harvesting from the downwind side of fields to minimize fire spread risk.
• Keep a cell phone handy for emergencies.
• Carry a 10 lb ABC fire extinguisher in the combine cab, and remember the PASS technique: Pull the pin, Aim the nozzle, Squeeze the trigger, and Sweep across the base of the fire.
• Ensure all extinguishers are regularly checked and maintained.

What to Do if a Fire Occurs

1. Move the Machine: If safe, pull the combine into areas that have already been harvested.
2. Turn Off the Engine: This prevents the air intake from feeding the fire.
3. Call for Help: Dial 911 as soon as possible, providing clear directions for emergency services.
4. Contain the Fire: If the fire is beyond control, focus on preventing it from spreading to nearby vegetation.

Final Thoughts

While proper maintenance and awareness can significantly reduce fire risks, it’s crucial to remember that fires can still occur. Stay vigilant this harvest season:

• Clean combines regularly. 
• Monitor engine temperatures and bearing conditions.
• Ensure effective communication among crew members.
• Prioritize safety over equipment — no piece of machinery is worth risking a life.

By taking these precautions, we can help protect our farms, our communities, and ourselves during this critical time. Stay safe out there!

Each year, 60 growing steers were assigned to six paddocks. New forage was provided to the strip-grazed cattle approximately every nine to ten days. The cattle were also supplemented with dried distillers grains because of the relatively low quality of the mature, stockpiled forage. Average daily gain was similar among treatments, averaging 1.39 lb/d. However, strip grazing allowed the same number of cattle to graze for the same amount of time while using fewer acres. There was essentially no difference between polywire and virtual fence.  Carrying capacity averaged 3.46 AUM/ac for polywire and 3.44 AUM/ac for virtual fence, compared with 2.82 AUM/ac under continuous grazing. Depending on the year, strip grazing increased grazing capacity by 13% to 24%.

The benefit came from controlling cattle access to the forage. Virtual fencing allowed for controlled access to forage using a phone/mobile device rather than having to physically move a polywire. Cattle in the virtual-fence treatment were within their assigned grazing area an average of 99.2% of the time, based on GPS locations recorded by the collars.

In addition, the collar’s solar battery performed reliably during winter grazing, with no issues related to low battery levels or failure of charging under typical Nebraska winters.

Are Daily Moves Better Than Weekly Moves?

Once we knew virtual fencing could be used effectively for strip grazing, the next question was whether increasing the frequency of forage allocation would improve utilization.

In a study using stockpiled oats, 72 steers were assigned to one of three treatments: 

• Continuous grazing
• Weekly forage allocations using virtual fence
• Daily forage allocations using virtual fence

The oats had been planted after corn silage harvest, and grazing began in November. During the first 72 days, average daily gain did not differ among treatments (2.04 lb/d). However, the cattle continuously grazing the entire paddock used up their available forage, while the strip-grazed treatments still had ungrazed oats remaining. The weekly and daily groups were able to return to the field and graze for an additional 19 days.

Across the full grazing period, strip grazing increased carrying capacity 40% compared with continuous grazing (2.28 vs. 1.64 AUM/ac). The improvement was a result of reducing forage trampling losses. Importantly, moving the virtual boundary daily did not provide an additional benefit over moving it weekly. Animal performance, forage utilization, and carrying capacity were similar between the two strip-grazing frequencies.

Containment was very good while slightly greater with weekly allocations than daily allocations at 99.53% versus 98.50%. More frequent boundary changes also resulted in more interactions between the cattle and the virtual fence system. This is likely due to the narrowness of the strips provided, which in some cases was as little as 6 ft in the daily move groups. More management intensity was not better when grazing this stockpiled forage, and weekly allowance seemed to capture the grazing efficiency benefits of strip grazing.

Can Virtual Fence Keep Two Groups of Cattle Separate?

Most virtual-fence research has involved managing a single group of cattle. However, producers may also want to use virtual boundaries to separate different classes of cattle within the same pasture. This could, for instance, allow heifers to be grazed ahead of cows and select the best forage first.

To evaluate the ability of virtual fence to keep two groups of cattle separate, 39 trained steers were placed in either an isolated virtual paddock with no visual contact with other groups of cattle or in a virtual paddock adjacent to another group of cattle. In the co-fenced treatment, there was no physical cross-fence between the two groups. However, the groups were not placed directly against the same virtual line. An approximately 80-ft buffer separated their respective virtual boundaries.

Containment exceeded 99% in both situations, averaging 99.96% when another group was present in the adjoining paddock and 99.68% when cattle were isolated. The presence of neighboring cattle also did not increase the number of audio cues or pulses cattle received. Across the study, cattle responded to the audio cue approximately 96% of the time. In other words, they received only about one pulse for every 20 audio cues.

The overall results indicate that trained cattle can be managed as separate groups within a shared pasture using virtual boundaries. This could create opportunities for implementing leader-follower grazing without constructing multiple physical cross-fences.

The Bottom Line

Across these three studies, virtual fencing created effective interior boundaries and allowed cattle to be managed in ways that would normally require additional physical fencing and labor.

The research suggests that: 

• Virtual fencing can be as effective as polywire for strip grazing.
• Strip grazing can increase carrying capacity without reducing individual-animal performance.
• Weekly forage allocations may be sufficient, as daily movements did not provide additional benefits in the oats study.
• Separate groups of trained cattle can be managed in adjacent virtual paddocks, although crossings can still occur.

These studies did not determine whether virtual fencing will pay for itself on every operation. Its value will depend on the number of cattle, acres managed, existing fencing infrastructure, labor availability and the management changes producers are willing to make. The greatest return will likely occur when the technology allows producers to implement a grazing strategy they would not otherwise have the labor or fencing infrastructure to use.

What’s Next?

We are currently working with The Nature Conservancy using virtual fencing as a tool to create effective fire breaks. Additionally, several studies are being considered based on what we learned from the research mentioned above. These include using virtual fencing to manage a lead-and-follower system and separating cows that have calved from those that are still pregnant.

Source: Mary Drewnoski, Nebraska Extension Beef Systems Specialist, Yijie Xiong, Nebraska Extension Specialist, Precision Livestock Management

News Release - Range and Pasture Management Webinar Series - Registrations due October 1

Nebraska Extension will host a six-part webinar series entitled “Knowing, Growing and Grazing Grass,” beginning Thursday, Oct. 12 at 6:30 p.m. MT. The webinar series will assist landowners and livestock producers in growing and managing grasses in pastures and rangelands.

“This series will give producers a solid foundation in range and pasture management,” said Aaron Berger, Nebraska Extension educator and program coordinator. “Whether it’s plant identification, understanding stocking rates or using drought insurance tools, participants will leave with practical, usable information.” Throughout the course, the impacts of drought will be discussed.

Topics will include plant identification, management practices, calculating stocking rates, using tools like USDA Web Soil Survey and Rangeland Analysis Platform, and developing grazing plans and managing drought risk through Pasture, Rangeland and Forage (PRF) insurance.

Participants are invited to submit plant photos for identification. All webinars will be interactive and recorded for later viewing. 

The series will run Monday and Thursday evenings, Oct. 12 through Oct. 29 from 7:30 to 8:45 p.m. CT (6:30 to 7:45 p.m. MT). Two optional sessions will also be held on Oct. 20 and 27. The course is limited to 30 participants.

The registration fee is $100 per person and includes a copy of "Grassland Plants of South Dakota and the Northern Great Plains" and a printed resource notebook featuring Nebraska Extension NebGuides and Circulars. Register by Thursday, Oct. 1, as materials will be mailed ahead of the course.

To register, visit: https://go.unl.edu/knowing_grass.

For more information, contact Aaron Berger at 308-235-3122 or aberger2@unl.edu.

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