Nebraska Extension Educator - Holt/Boyd Counties - LaDonna Werth
Nebraska Extension Educator - Holt/Boyd Counties - Amy Timmerman
Nebraska Extension Educator - Brown/Rock/Keya Paha Counties - Brittany Spieker
Nebraska Extension Educator - Holt/Boyd/Garfield/Loup/Wheeler Counties - Bethany Johnston
Nebraska 4-H Assistant - Holt/Boyd Counties - Debra Walnofer
March 3: Face-to-Face Private Pesticide Training, 1:30pm, Boyd County Courthouse, Butte, NE, pested.unl.edu
March 5: Commercial and Noncommercial Recertification Applicator Training, Holt County Courthouse Annex, O’Neill, NE, pested.unl.edu
March 6: Face-to-Face Private Pesticide Training, 9:30am, Holt County Courthouse Annex, O’Neill, NE, pested.unl.edu
March 6: Chemigation Training, 9:30am, Antelope County Courthouse Basement Meeting Room, Neligh, NE, pested.unl.edu
March 6: Boyd County Extension Board Meeting, 6:00pm, Boyd County Courthouse
March 6: Holt County Extension Board Meeting, 6:30pm, Holt County Annex, O’Neill, NE
March 7-8: Returning to the Farm Workshop Series, Central Community College, Hastings, NE, https://cap.unl.edu/rtf25/
March 13: Ready, Set, Spread: Manure Application Workshop, 9:00am-4:00pm, Chambers Community Center, Chambers, NE
March 18: Face-to-Face Private Pesticide Training, 9:30am, Holt County Courthouse Annex, O’Neill, NE, pested.unl.edu
March 18: Chemigation Training, 1:30am, Holt County Courthouse Annex, O’Neill, NE, pested.unl.edu
March 20: Land Application (Manure) Training, 10am-5pm, Mid-Plains Community College, Valentine, NE,https://water.unl.edu/lat/
March 27: Face-to-Face Private Pesticide Training, 1:30pm, Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, Spencer, NE, pested.unl.edu
March 27: Face-to-Face Private Pesticide Training, 1pm-4pm, Walter Larsen Senior Center, Creighton, NE, pested.unl.edu
March 27: Face-to-Face Private Pesticide Training, 6pm-9pm, Walter Larsen Senior Center, Creighton, NE, pested.unl.edu
April 1: DUE: Holt County 4-H and FFA Market Beef and 2nd Year Bucket Calf ID Sheets, Holt County Extension Office, O’Neill, NE
April 8: Face-to-Face Initial Commercial/Noncommercial Pesticide Training, 8:30am-5pm, Holt County Annex, O’Neill, NE, pested.unl.edu
April 9: Private Pesticide Training, 1:30pm, Holt County Annex, O’Neill, NE, pested.unl.edu
April 11: Chemigation Training, 9:30am, Holt County Annex, O’Neill, NE
Citizenship Grows in 4-H
Nebraska 4-H offers several project areas for youth ages 5-18. Every county fair boasts their 4-H livestock shows. Baked goods, woodworking, and creative project abound in the static exhibit hall. One often overlooked 4-H project is citizenship. Citizenship is precious and should never be taken for granted. The 4-H Citizenship project seeks to celebrate patriotism, to serve throughout the community, understand our unique cultures and appreciate history. Expressions of citizenship begin locally and build to national pride.
4-H members are four times more likely to make a positive contribution to their community and two times more likely to be civically active. This positive engagement can be attributed to the very foundation of 4-H. 4-H believes in the power of young people and sees them as our future leaders. 4-H brings positive youth development to all youths in partnership with caring adult leaders within communities, school, and families. 4-H youth live out the lessons they are learning through 4-H Citizenship.
The National 4-H Council states, “4-H civic engagement programs empower young people to be well-informed citizens who are actively engaged in their communities and the world. Youth learn about civic affairs, build decision-making skills and develop a sense of understanding and confidence in relating and connecting to other people.” Featured 4-H civic programs include the Citizenship Washington Focus Conference. CWF is the preeminent 4-H Civic engagement and leadership experience hosted in DC. 4H members from across Nebraska have attended and contributed to this summer conference for more than 50 years.
LaDonna Werth
Extension Educator
Phone: 402-336-2760
E-mail: LWerth2@unl.edu
As a 4-H member studies citizenship, they may decide to express themselves in several ways. Community service is a characteristic of 4-H members. Many times, youth will create a care package for those in need or volunteer across their local community. They may do this individually or with their 4-H club. Documenting this service and displaying it at the county fair may inspire others to contribute. A patriotic or fine art exhibit may be created to inspire where words fail. Learning where one fits into a larger community starts with understanding oneself. Expressions of self-awareness may be poetry, documenting a community’s local heritage, or sharing a special family recipe! All these items are important exhibits of a 4-H member’s citizenship appreciation journey. Citizenship is bigger than a political party and 4-H strives for youth to learn the skills of problem solving, teamwork, and serve their community with a sense of compassion and pride.
More information can be found in the Citizenship Public Adventure and i2i 4-H curriculum. Contact your local 4-H program for details. Nebraska Extension is a responsive, innovative, and trusted information source for all Nebraskans.
Source: Lori Swanson – Nebraska Extension Phelps and Gosper County Extension Assistant (UNL For Families – March 3, 2025)
Prepare Now in Case of Drought
Last fall and this winter have been dry, leaving most parts of the state in some level of drought. We are a few weeks away from another growing season and who knows how much moisture lies ahead. Today, I’ll suggest some ways you can limit the forage problems drought could cause.
Drought is likely to be a problem again this summer, at least somewhere. Because hay can be costly when pastures are short, we need to consider ways to minimize damages if we receive less than average rainfall. Fortunately, early spring is a time you can take action that can minimize some of drought’s problems.
For starters, prepare a strategy for using any remaining hay. One of the better options is to feed hay a bit longer into spring before turning cows out to permanent pasture. I know this action is exactly opposite of my usual recommendation to graze more and feed less hay. But allowing pastures to accumulate a bit more growth before grazing begins will provide more total grazable forage if drought prevents much regrowth later on. Leftover hay also can be used later during the grazing season to give pastures more time to recover between grazings.
Another strategy is planting annual forages for pasture or hay. Some excellent choices are oats planted as early as possible or summer annual grasses like sudangrass, sorghum-sudan hybrids and pearl millet planted once soils are good and warm. Late May or early June usually is best for these grasses. So, reserve some ground now for these drought-insurance grasses, before you plant
Amy Timmerman
Extension Educator
Phone: 402-336-2760
E-mail: atimmerman2@unl.edu
everything to corn, beans and other crops. And don’t forget about possibly planting these grasses or even some fall cover crop forages into wheat stubble as a double crop after harvest.
If the rains don’t come, planning and acting now to reduce potential forage losses from drought will pay big dividends.
Understanding a Hay Test: TDN
Often, the terms Total Digestible Nutrients (TDN) and energy are used interchangeably when discussing forages and feeds, but realistically TDN is one measurement of energy.
There are many different components that make up what we call TDN. TDN is a combination of digestible fiber, lipids and proteins. Acid detergent fiber or ADF, is used to help calculate TDN from the fiber component. The lower the ADF, the higher energy the forage contains in most situations. When supplementation is being considered, especially on a diet that is primarily forage, TDN is one of the most important vales to know from our forage test. When comparing forages, protein is often looked at first while TDN can overlooked. This can easily lead to diets lacking energy to meet animal needs.
TDN values will be affected by maturity of the forage, weather conditions in which the forage was grown and harvested, and fertilization or other agronomic practices. For example, Sandhills meadow hay TDN ranges between 50% and 65% on a dry matter basis.
Understanding energy is important for the health and nutrition of livestock. For cows, TDN is the value that typically needs to be used to calculate their needs which changes drastically with different stages of production. Buy understanding TDN values and how they fit into livestock diets, we can ensure our animals receive adequate energy year-round.
Source: Jerry Volesky – Extension Range and Forage Specialist, Ben Beckman – Extension Educator (CropWatch – February 28, 2025)
Feedlot Management Strategies to Combat Winter Weather
The winter months and routinely low air temperatures present unique challenges for feedlot cattle, particularly in terms of maintaining health and productivity. Cold temperatures, fluctuating weather conditions, and increased feed requirements can induce stress in cattle and result in health complications. Below are some strategies to combat winter weather in feedlot cattle.
Provide Ample and Clean Water
Water is the most essential nutrient for life. Access to fresh, unfrozen water is crucial for feedlot cattle, as dehydration can compromise cattle health and reduce feed intake. The minimum water requirement of feedlot cattle in winter months is 1 gallon per 100 pounds of body weight. Decreased water intake can lead to digestive upset, further stressing cattle and impacting growth performance. In the event of a sizeable snow fall, clearing a pathway to the waterer should be of top priority and water sites should be well drained to avoid ice and mud build-up which can be a tripping hazard.
How to stop cattle waterers from icing up?
- Automatic waterers with insulated pipes and/or troughs
- Electric or propane heaters Heat tape
- Solar power
- Maintaining a continuous flow of water (continuous flow tanks)
- Create windbreakers that shield the waterer from the wind to help reduce freezing
Bethany Johnston
Extension Educator
Phone: 402-336-2760
E-mail: bjohnston3@unl.edu
Adapting Nutrition for Winter Needs
As temperatures drop, cattle’s energy requirements increase as they attempt to maintain body temperature. Cattle typically require around 1% to 2% more feed for every degree-Celsius that the temperature falls below their comfort zone, which is around 15°F (-10°C) for cattle with a dry coat. Increasing energy-dense feeds, such as grains, help cattle maintain increased energy demand. Providing extra roughage, which is a good source of fiber, helps the animal generate more body heat through ruminal digestion. When a winter storm is predicted to last for 3 or more days, implementation of storm rations become critical. Storm ration recommendations vary across feedlot nutritionists, but the general recommendation is to increase roughage in the diet by 7 to 10% of diet dry matter. Storm rations are critical when large snowfall events are predicted which can make it difficult for feedlot personnel to deliver adequate feed to the bunk. The increased roughage in the diet helps to alleviate digestive upset and risk of acidosis.
Create a Sheltered Environment
Windbreaks
While cattle can tolerate cold weather reasonably well, cold stress is exacerbated during wet and cold weather. Windbreaks, such as trees, walls, man-made structures, or strategically placed hay bales, reduce wind exposure and prevent snow from drifting into the pen. Windbreaks must be tall enough to block the wind, aim for 7- to 8-feet in height while still allowing for some air flow between breaks. Common products used for construction of windbreaks include windboards and guardrail with 2-to-2.5-inch openings between the rails. Guardrails require little to no maintenance, making them an excellent option for windbreak structures.
Bedding
Offer bedding as a source of insulation for cattle when temperatures drop. Bedding made from straw, corn stalks, or other materials keep cattle off the cold ground, reduce heat loss, and provide comfort. Remove or top dress fresh bedding onto wet or soiled bedding regularly, as moisture increases the risk of cold stress and reduces the efficiency of feedlot cattle.
How much bedding is required during the winter months?
The bedding requirements of feedlot cattle vary based on geographical location, winter precipitation/snowfall, and size of the animal. Feedlots located in areas with colder temperatures and greater snowfall will need to bed more than feedlots located in milder, arid environments. In general, outside of a major snowfall event, feedlots located in heavy snowfall and cold environments are not bedding every pen, every day. On average, yards bed every 2 to 3 days during the winter months, offering anywhere from 2 to 4 pounds of bedding per animal per day, depending on the magnitude of the winter conditions. During extreme snowfall events, feedlots may increase the volume of bedding delivered by 10-15%. Heavier cattle require fresh bedding more often, as they cover a greater surface area and release more body heat compared to lighter cattle.
Monitoring and Managing Animal Health
Foot health and lameness become more challenging during freeze/thaw cycles, particularly if there is mud involved, and hairy heal wart can become more challenging to manage. In general, there are more physical injuries during the winter months due to ice/slick conditions, especially if yards are dealing with riding or buller problems in the pen. Hospital pens require extra attention during the winter months, as compromised cattle (railers/chronic) are greater impacted by the cold. Not only is the care of cattle critical during the winter months, but attention and maintenance of facilities is critical prior to the cold front moving in.
Tips on how to prepare your yard for the winter months:
- Check that water heaters are in working order
- Assure heated drug storage rooms aren’t at risk of freezing and destroying product – once frozen vaccines must be discarded (cannot be thawed and used)
- Check on the status of your vaccine refrigerator as household refrigerators can malfunction at low environmental temperatures and do not prevent products from freezing
- Mark parasite control on your processing calendar – if you see cattle rubbing, you are behind on lice management
- Vaccinate cattle against common winter pathogens prior to the cold front, as parasites can thrive in bedded packs and wet pens
- Signs like coughing, nasal discharge, and lethargy are indicators of respiratory challenges, which are more likely to spread in crowded or poorly ventilated pens
Planning ahead is critical during the winter months. By preparing in advance, you can protect your cattle's health, minimize performance dips, and ease management challenges in the yard.
Source: Jessica L. Sperber - Nebraska Extension Feedlot Specialist (BeefWatch – February 28, 2025)
News Release
‘Returning To the Farm’ Workshop to Help Farm and Ranch Families Planning Transitions
The Center for Agricultural Profitability at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln will present Returning to the Farm 2025, a workshop series for families who are in the transition process of bringing members back to the farm or ranch. It will begin with a two-day workshop in for multi-generational families on March 7 and 8, at Central Community College in Hastings, 550 S. Technical Blvd. The series also includes two follow-up workshops, to be held virtually after the in-person meetings.
The workshop will assist families and agricultural operations with developing financial plans and successful working arrangements to meet their unique needs. It will guide families in developing estate and transition plans, setting personal and professional goals and improving the communication process between family members.
“Returning to the Farm gives families the tools and resources to have a successful transition with more family joining the business,” said extension educator Jessica Groskopf. “We really want to have two or three generations come to this together and take that time, as a family, to sit down, learn together and start these important processes.”
Presenters will include extension experts as well as agribusiness and legal professionals. During the program, participants will:
- Learn communication strategies
- Set both personal and professional goals
- Develop a farm or ranch transition plan
- Identify estate planning issues and develop effective strategies for planning
- Review financial feasibility and financial tools
The workshop fee is $75 per person if registration is completed on or before Feb. 28. On March 1, the fee increases to $85 per person. Registration includes dinner on March 7 and lunch on March 8. It also includes two follow-up workshops, to be held virtually (dates/times TBD). Hotel accommodations are not included.
More information and registration are available on the Center for Agricultural Profitability’s website, cap.unl.edu/rtf25.