Nebraska Extension in Morrill County

4-H Youth Development

Building tomorrow's innovators: Nebraska 4-H Robotic Expansion and FLL Championship ignite STEM passion

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Master Gardener Volunteers offer stories of growth and giving back

The Nebraska Extension Master Gardeners Volunteer (NE-EMGV) program has dedicated volunteers, some of whom have devoted more than half of their lives to Extension...

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Welcome Dr. Nav Ghimire

Dr. Nav Ghimire appointed Associate Dean for Nebraska Extension
Nurturing Nebraskan Futures: The Good Life in Early Life Podcast

The “Good Life in Early Life” podcast, a product of Nebraska Extension’s Early Childhood program, disseminates the latest insights in Early Care and Education (ECE) tailored for a Nebraska audience.

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NACEB 2023 OUTSTANDING ADVOCACY AWARDS

Nebraska Association of County Extension Board (NACEB) 2023 Outstanding Advocacy Award is for unwavering commitment to supporting and promoting Nebraska Extension's impact.

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Local Interest

PANHANDLE PERSPECTIVES: Five ways to reduce unit cost of production in a cow-calf enterprise

By Aaron Berger Nebraska Extension Beef Educator

Unit cost of production is a ratio where costs in the numerator are divided by the units produced in the denominator.

There are five ways to reduce unit costs of production in a cow-calf enterprise.

Decrease costs while keeping production the same. An example of this would be to sell unneeded equipment or reduce equipment expense while keeping calf production the same. Costs decrease while production is maintained, decreasing unit cost of production.

PANHANDLE PERSPECTIVES: Strengthening family bonds with children during homebound times

By Jackie Guzman Extension Educator – Learning Child

As COVID-19 is changing our lives on a daily basis and with school closings, families are home together in often-times tight quarters. This can be very trying, even for the most patient individual. This can also be an opportunity to strengthen our family bonds with children.

It is important to remember that families are the first teachers of their children. Families help teach children how to socialize with the world outside and engage with others. Families form the foundation for children to learn from in order to become great family members and citizens.

PANHANDLE PERSPECTIVES: Alternative crops program at Panhandle Center investigates possibility for growing mint in western Nebraska

Dipak Santra, Alternative Crops Breeding Specialist

Mint is not grown commercially in Nebraska on a large scale yet – there are less than 500 acres – but a project at the University of Nebraska Panhandle Research and Extension Center at Scottsbluff is aimed at providing answers about whether farmers could grow it here and which varieties might grow best.

A three-year project to identify the best mint varieties for western Nebraska began in 2018 and is scheduled to continue through the 2020 growing season. The project is funded by a Nebraska Department of Agriculture Specialty Crop Block Grant, and is carried out in collaboration with Dr. Mahesh Pattabiraman, associate professor of organic chemistry at the University of Nebraska Kearney.

PANHANDLE PERSPECTIVES: Healthy holiday food traditions

By Tammie Ostdiek
Extension Educator – Food, Nutrition and Health

Holidays can be filled with overindulgence. But it’s possible to avoid added calories and the pang of guilt – as well as adverse health effects – with some thoughtful planning and preparation.

Consider making little changes to create healthier meals, increase physical activity and feel your best during the busy holiday season. Here are some simple steps:

PANHANDLE PERSPECTIVES: UNL partners with Panhandle farm to research hemp

Dave Ostdiek Communication/Technology Associate

The Panhandle Research and Extension Center has embarked on a partnership with a family farm corporation in Scotts Bluff County, Western Farms LLC, to conduct scientific research on growing industrial hemp for seed production in the Panhandle.

The public-private joint venture will take place in Scottsbluff and is titled “Evaluation of Hemp Seed Production in Greenhouse Environment in Western Nebraska.”

PANHANDLE PERSPECTIVES: In more than 50 years, two Extension plant pathologists have been stationed in Scottsbluff

Robert M. Harveson, Extension Plant Pathologist
Panhandle R&E Center, Scottsbluff

The Panhandle Research and Extension Center (REC) was begun in 1910 with the establishment of the Scotts Bluff Experimental Substation.

Although the Department of Plant Pathology at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) was not formally established until 1920, a decade later, plant pathology had a significant presence in western Nebraska even before the Substation in Scottsbluff was created.

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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.

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.

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.