Local Interest

Support your club and 4-H Council by participating in the 2022 Fall Fundraiser. From chocolates and snacks to meat and cheese, offer your friends and family an opportunity to support their local 4-H while at the same time getting a jump start on their holiday shopping! Come into the office to pick up an order form!

The fundraiser is set from October 28th to November 14th. Make sure to have your order forms back into the office by 5:00p.m. on November 11th! Contact the office at (308) 262-1022 or krosas2@unl.edu for any questions.

By Gary Stone, Nebraska Extension Water & Integrated Cropping Systems Educator, Panhandle Research, Extension & Education Center

Dry bean harvest in the Nebraska Panhandle and eastern Wyoming is taking longer than usual this season due to extended planting this spring by growers. Warm temperatures combined with more windy days this summer contributed to less pods setting on the plants resulting in lower-than-average yields. Hail was a factor for growers but was not widespread. 

Children need family. Family time is important. Human beings have the right and responsibility to feel safe, comfortable, happy, and loved. Families, in all their remarkable diversity, are the basic foundation of all human cultures. Strong families are critical to the development of strong communities, and strong communities promote and nurture strong families.

So be intentional….. Spend time together making family memories, doing something together with a common goal. A positive emotional connection and sense of belonging with each other creates an emotional bond. When this emotional bond is present, the family can endure almost any hardship. Strong active families are where this all happens. Why not have some family time and be an ACTIVE Family!!!

By Anita Gall, Nebraska Extension Master Gardener 

Pine Tree Needles

Have you noticed the needles changing color on your pine trees? Is it the inner needles only? Evergreens don’t keep their needles indefinitely but will typically drop the inner needles in September or October depending upon the year. Needle drop is a natural occurrence and is not harmful to the tree, in fact it is the way the tree feeds itself in the forest. As the needles decompose it creates a rich organic matter in the ground beneath the tree supplying it with nutrients. 

Root Growth

By Debbie Kuenning, University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension Educator 

Reducing food waste can help individuals save approximately $370 per year. The average American family of four may be able to save close to $1,500 annually by preventing food waste. The USDA and the Environmental Protection Agency have a goal to cut our nation’s food waste by 50% by the year 2030. Food waste can occur along any part of the food chain. Consumers contribute to food waste through preparing more food than needed and throwing away the extra.

Here are 14 tips to help keep food safe, edible, and out of the trash can:

Life is busy, especially for families. From late-night work meetings to school events and extracurriculars, families are on the go. This can often lead to rushed meals or meals on the go. With hectic schedules, it is important to plan relaxed family mealtimes into your schedule as often as possible. There are several benefits to relaxed family meals that include: the development of positive eating habits, creation of stronger parent-child bonds, and better school performance. The University of Nebraska’s EAT Family Style at Home website supports families with quick, easy, and fun ways to make mealtimes healthy, enjoyable, and less stressful for everyone.

Local Resources

Local Events

Follow Us on Facebook



Nebraska Extension in Morrill County

Local Events

Search Local & National Extension Resources

Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources News

Latest from ianrnews.unl.edu

Sugar beets to be grown across Nebraska in agronomy project

April 19, 2024
The Nebraska Extension 4-H and Open Class entries have seen many special projects over the years, from dry edible beans to sorghum and broom corn.

Read more

Nebraska Beef Quality Assurance offers certification in the Panhandle

April 18, 2024
Nebraska Extension and Nebraska Beef Quality Assurance will offer Beef Quality Assurance and Beef Quality Assurance Transportation Certification throughout the Panhandle.

Read more

Building Bridges in Conservation: Nebraska hosts inaugural natural resources workshop

April 15, 2024
Overlooking the iconic Platte River, over 100 natural resource professionals and students met to build and foster new collaborations at the first Natural Resources Conservation Connecting Points Workshop.

Read more

Engaging Agriculture: Embryology a classroom springtime favorite

April 1, 2024
Spring is here, and Nebraska elementary students are busy learning about embryology.

Read more