University of Nebraska Extension - Holt/Boyd News Column for the Week of April 7, 2024

LaDonna Werth, Extension Educator Phone: 402-336-2760 E-mail: LWerth2@unl.edu

Exploring Our Heritage with Food

The one common thing across the world is food. Every person on the planet requires food to survive. Enjoying food brings delight and satisfaction. A region’s culture is often identified by the food. Nebraska brags on our tasty beef and sweet corn. As families grow and move away from home, the memory of food connects them back to where they are from. Recreating a loved recipe from the past takes the person back to fond memories. A family often shares a recipe going back generations. The recipe may even be from their country of origin.

Holidays are a time when the historic family recipes are served. A family of Irish descent may enjoy potatoes and cabbage more often than just St. Patrick’s Day. A Swedish family may celebrate Christmas by sharing potato bologna and ostakaka, a Swedish custard. The sweets commonly served in South Africa, koeksisters and ystervarkies may be served at a modern wedding. Each of these recipes takes the people of today back to where the family is originally from. Food reflects the values and beliefs of different communities. This sharing of food preserves cultural heritage.

Recording and sharing recipes should be an active part of family history. It is just as important as sharing family photos. A great place to start is finding the original family recipe and taking a photo or making a copy to share. The next time the recipe is cooked for family and friends, share this copy with everyone who is there to enjoy the meal. Invite younger members of the family into the kitchen to create the family recipe alongside you.

A creative display of the recipe can be done by framing the recipe along with photos of a family meal. A shadow box with the original recipe card, stains, and all, with grandma’s cookie cutters would be a conversation piece. Using a permanent fabric marker and writing the recipe on a tea towel would make an excellent gift.

Tasting new foods gives a small insight into a region’s customs. If traveling to an exotic location isn’t in the budget, explore the culture by making the regional food at home. A culture’s food includes local ingredients and cooking techniques. Larger grocery chains carry a variety of international food choices. Look for new recipes at the local library in a variety of cultural cookbooks. You may find a new connection with flavor and foods.

Recipes may change to reflect today’s cooking techniques or to incorporate the local food sources. These changes encompass the most current history of a family. Incorporating new and old recipes with family and friends creates a chance to share and explore cultures from around our community and the world. Food is common to everyone. Good food and heritage should be shared and enjoyed.

To request additional information or programs contact your local Extension Office. Nebraska Extension is a responsive, innovative, and trusted information source for all Nebraskans.

Source: Lori Swanson - UNL Extension Phelps-Gosper County Extension Assistant (UNL For Families – April 8, 2024)

Starter Fertilizer - When is it Needed?

As planting season begins, farmers often question if starter fertilizer is providing yield and economic benefits. Starter fertilizer is defined as fertilizer applied with the specific purpose of helping the plants acquire more nutrients early in the season. This is in addition to the fertilizer used in the nutrient management program that is based on deficiency correction/sufficiency approaches.

There are two main reasons to use a starter:

1. The best reason is when soil tests indicate the field is deficient in one or more nutrients, and these nutrients are relatively easy to apply with the planter.
2. The field to be planted is covered with more than 70% residue and you expect the soil to be cool and wet.

Additionally, back when most growers cultivated, starter made the young corn plants taller and greener quicker, which allowed cultivation to occur earlier in the season, and resulted in better weed control. Also, phosphorus applied with the planter helps the plants mature earlier which can also result in drier corn.

If starter is going to be placed near the seed, be sure the dose will not hurt germination and stand establishment.

If the soil test levels for the starter nutrients are greater than the critical value for these nutrients, starter will probably not help yields, especially on fine-textured soils (Wortmann et al., 2005). Spending time loading the starter material and making sure all the equipment is working may take valuable time during planting.

Grower Research with Starter Fertilizer in Corn

From 1995 to 2019, farmers working with the Nebraska On-Farm Research Network conducted 35 studies looking at starter fertilizer on corn. The results of these studies can be found in the Results Finder database. Some were in the same field for a number of years, others moved around. Various starter materials were evaluated, and not all studies reported soil test P levels.

Eighteen of the studies compared a 10-34-0 starter fertilizer in the range of 4-6 gal/ac to a no starter check. Soil P levels were between 4 and 35 ppm; not all studies reported the specific P extractants used. Here we report crop yield response across range of soil P levels:

• For soils with P soil tests at or below 10 ppm there was an average yield increase of 14.3 bu/ac due to the starter (four sites).
• For soils with P soil tests of 10-20 ppm there was an average increase of 2.6 bu/ac (five sites).
• For soils with P soil tests of 20-35 ppm, there was an average increase of 0.3 bu/ac (nine sites).
• When all the data were combined, regardless of soil test values, there was an average increase of 4 bu/ac.

This analysis disregards statistical analysis. Of the 18 studies, only five had statistically significant differences. Of these five, the average yield increase was 12 bu/acre and the average soil test P level was 9 ppm.

Grower Research with Starter Fertilizer in Soybean

A similar analysis of the soybean on-farm research found six starter studies between 1992 and 2015, with only three sites reporting soil test P, all of which were greater than 17 ppm. Average yields for the no-starter studies were 61.2 bu/ac and for soybeans with starter, 61.3 bu/ac.

Review and Conclusions

Using corn as an example: Results are mostly consistent with our recommendations. The University recommends phosphorus based on the following formula for corn following corn or crops other than soybean:

Pounds of P₂O₅/ac = (25 - Bray-1 P) x 4

For soils in the 15 to 20 ppm Bray 1P range, the recommendation would be for 20 to 40 pounds of P₂O₅. Applying five gallons of 10-34-0 would provide about 20 pounds of P₂O₅ and would be economic most of the time. For other recommendation options, see NebGuide: Nutrient Management Suggestions for Corn.

To summarize, when fertilizer is used as a starter (as defined above with soil test levels above the critical value), the data shows that it is largely not effective in terms of yield or economical response; however, if the fertilizer is added to a soil that tests low for soil test P (less than the critical value), a response to that fertilizer is expected.

Test it Yourself

Curious if starter fertilizer is paying for itself on your farm? Consider conducting an on-farm research trial. The Nebraska On-Farm Research Network provides a simple protocol to allow you to evaluate the yield and economics of adding starter fertilizer to corn or soybeans. To get started, contact a member of the Nebraska On-Farm Research Network team or your local cropping systems extension educator.

Cited Publications

Wortmann, C.S., S. Xerinda, M. Mamo, C.A. Shapiro. 2005. No-till row crop response to starter fertilizer in eastern Nebraska: i. Irrigated and rainfed corn. Agron. J. 98:156-162.

Source: Javed Iqbal - Extension Nutrient Management and Water Quality Specialist and Laura Thompson - Former Extension Educator (CropWatch – April 3, 2024)

Planting Broccoli, Cabbage, and Cauliflower in the Home Garden

Broccoli, cabbage, and cauliflower are members of the cabbage family.  They are also referred to as cole crops.  Cole crops are cool season vegetables which grow best at temperatures between 60^o and 70^oF.  When planted in spring, these crops produce high quality heads before the arrival of hot summer weather.

Although cole crops are cool season vegetables, they should not be planted when temperatures are consistently below 50^oF.  Broccoli and cauliflower plants may form heads prematurely when exposed to temperatures below 50^oF for several days.  This premature head development is called buttoning.  Buttoning occurs when plants are exposed to stressful conditions, such as prolonged periods of cold temperatures, drought, or infertile soils.  Also, large, rootbound plants are more likely to button than smaller, younger plants.  Plants that button do not form usable heads.

Plant broccoli, cabbage, and cauliflower in the garden in mid-April in central Iowa.  (Gardeners in southern Iowa can plant in early April, while those in northern counties should wait until late April.)  Sow seeds indoors 4 to 5 weeks before planting outdoors or purchase young, stocky transplants at a greenhouse or garden center.  Harden or acclimate the transplants outdoors for several days prior to planting.  Initially place plants in a shady, protected location and then gradually expose them to longer periods of sunlight.

Cole crops perform best in fertile, moist, well-drained soils.  The planting site should also receive at least 6 hours of direct sun each day.  To avoid disease problems, rotate the placement of cole crops in the garden.  If possible, plant cole crops in a given area only once every 3 or 4 years.

When planting cole crops in the garden, space plants 18 to 24 inches apart within the row.  Rows should be approximately 24 to 30 inches apart.  After planting, apply 1 to 2 pints of a starter fertilizer solution to each plant.  A starter fertilizer solution can be prepared by dissolving 2 tablespoons of a complete analysis fertilizer, such as 10-10-10, in one gallon of water.

Broccoli, cabbage, and cauliflower can also be planted in summer for a fall crop.  Start seeds indoors in mid-June.  Transplant the seedlings into the garden 4 to 5 weeks later.

Suggested Cultivars for Iowa

• Broccoli
  • 'Arcadia'
  • 'Goliath'
  • 'Green Magic'
  • 'Gypsy'
  • 'Imperial'
  • 'Packman'
• Cabbage, Green
  • 'Blue Vantage'
  • 'Early Thunder'
  • 'Quick Start'
  • 'Stonehead'
  • 'Thunderhead'
• Cabbage, Red
  • 'Red Jewel'
  • 'Ruby Ball Improved'
  • 'Ruby Perfection'
• Cabbage, Savoy
  • 'Savoy Ace Improved'
  • 'Savoy Blue'
  • 'Savoy King'
• Cauliflower
  • 'Aquarius'
  • 'Fremont'
  • 'Graffiti' (purple heads)
  • 'Snow Crown'
  • 'White Sails'

Source: Richard Jauron – Iowa State University (Yard and Garden – Feb 18, 2018)

Best Practices for Needle Selection, Use and Care in Cattle Health

Disposable hypodermic needles are a necessary tool in maintaining cattle health. They provide a convenient and economical route to deliver products to animals in a safe and effective manner. Understanding when and how to use them are key components in a herd health protocol.

Choosing the right needle

Source: BQA Field Guide, www.bqa.org

Needle selection is based on weight of cattle, route of administration, and viscosity (thickness) of product. Gauge is determined by the size of the hole inside the needle, with the higher the gauge, the smaller the diameter of the needle. Length is labeled in inches and will determine where the injection is placed in the animal. Longer needles are needed for deeper route injections, such as intravenous (IV) and intramuscular (IM).

The best practice is to use the smallest needle available without fear of bending. This will ensure accurate delivery of product while minimizing pain and tissue damage. Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) guidelines require all injections to be given in front of the shoulder, regardless of animal age1. Always follow the label on products for recommended dose and route of injection.

Proper use of needles

It is important to have preventative measures in place when using disposable needles. Needles should be changed before becoming dull. A good rule to follow is to change needles every 10 animals. Only new, sterile needles should be introduced into bottles of product to prevent polluting the contents inside. Needles also need to be changed when contaminated with visible feces or dirt, or when the needle point is damaged or bent. Bent needles pose a risk of breaking and should not be straightened.

Broken Needles

Broken needles must be treated as an emergency because they may migrate within the tissue and become difficult or impossible to find. BQA guidelines recommend developing a standard operating procedure (SOP) for handling broken needles in animals.

Suggested SOP should include1:

Marking the location where the needle was injected.

Immediately contacting a veterinarian to have the needle surgically removed.

If unable to recover the needle, the animal’s ID must be recorded to ensure it does not enter the food chain. The animal should be euthanized and disposed of properly at the end of its productive life.

Biosecurity Blood-borne disease transmission

Bacteria and viruses that cause disease and can be carried in blood are defined as blood-borne pathogens. Several different bovine diseases fall into this category, with bovine leukosis virus and anaplasmosis as two of the most recognized. Both conditions are spread through herds by transferring infected blood to non-infected animals. Examples of this include vector transmission from biting flies and ticks and mechanical transmission from infected needles and surgical instruments.

A study compared the transmission of anaplasmosis between needle and needle-free injections in Holstein steers2. The results showed a 60% transmission rate of anaplasmosis in the needle injection group. Changing needles after every animal is one way producers can help stop the transmission of pathogens in a disease-positive herd. Controlling external parasites and disinfecting surgical instruments such as tattoo pliers, dehorning tools, and castration knives are other ways to help stop the spread. Having these standard guidelines in place should help operations maximize time and health efficiency.

Needle Disposal

Sharps containers can be purchased from medical supply companies or producers can use thick plastic containers with lids, such as laundry detergent jugs. I recommend talking with your veterinarian or local medical clinic/hospital to see where they dispose of the full containers and to get recommendations for companies that pick them up. Sharps containers can be used for needles, scalpel blades, broken glass, etc.

References:

Beef Quality Assurance Field Guide. www.bqa.org.

Reinbold et al. 2010. Comparison of iatrogenic transmission of Anaplasma marginale in Holstein steers via needle and needle-free injection techniques. Am J Vet Res, Vol 71, No 10, October 2010.

Source: Lindsay Waechter-Mead, DVM - Nebraska Extension Beef Educator (BeefWatch – April 5, 2024)