Nebraska Extension in Morrill County

Livestock Systems

BeefWatch Podcast

The BeefWatch Podcast is an audio companion to the UNL BeefWatch newsletter.

Subscribe to the podcast
Rural Prosperity Nebraska

Rural Prosperity Nebraska receives $25M USDA Award

A $25 million cooperative agreement award from the U.S.D.A. for the creation of the Heartland Regional Foods Business Center.

Learn more
Nebraska Extension Debuts New Strategic Direction

Our new direction leverages Extension’s expertise and strengths to align with what Nebraskans tell us they want and need.

Learn More
TAPS program coming soon to high school classrooms

Husker researchers and the teachers worked to develop curriculum modules for their students.

Read More
New Program Reaches Indigenous Teens

Program is helping Native American teens gain hands-on lessons regarding traditional Indigenous peoples’ farming beliefs and practices.

Read More

Local Interest

PANHANDLE PERSPECTIVES: Dry beans – perfect staple for any pantry

By Tammie Ostdiek Extension Educator – Food, Nutrition and Health

Check out food.unl.edu for more everyday food and fitness tips.

Dry beans are always a good companion to beef, pork, chicken, or fish, but they are also a great protein source on their own. And now more than ever dry beans are the perfect staple for any pantry.

Dry beans, the mature form of legumes, include great northern beans, pinto beans, black beans, kidney beans, garbanzo beans, black-eyed peas, split peas, and lentils.

Here are some of the reasons to serve beans every week.

PANHANDLE PERSPECTIVES: Landowner attitudes about water quality in North Platte Valley

A large majority of people who responded to a recent survey rated water quality in the North Platte Valley of western Nebraska as good or excellent.

Still, most of the survey respondents also said they are somewhat or very concerned about water quality, although usually by a smaller majority.

There was usually a gap between agricultural and residential residents on rating water quality; the level of concern water quality; water quality’s effects on quality of life; and potential sources of water contaminants.

Musk thistle – invasive plant of western Nebraska

Musk thistle is a non-native biennial forb but can behave occasionally as an annual. It reproduces/spreads from seed. Musk thistle is a prolific seed producer. Each thistle plant can produce 10,000 up to 120,000 seeds. Germination of seed and emergence of seedlings can occur anytime and are correlated with light and moisture. Optimum germination will take place in moist soil with 59° to 68°F soil temperature in the light and 68° to 86°F in the dark. Approximately one third of the seeds produced are viable. Viability of the seed varies. Water, wind, livestock, wildlife, vehicles and humans disperse seed.

Seven tips for successfully baking as a family

Looking for a family activity that provides opportunities to share traditions, recipes and fun? Try baking together using these helpful tips from the Home Baking Association:

The Biggest Grower competition offers high school students summer learning, scholarship

Nebraska Extension and the Department of Agronomy and Horticulture have launched a new student gardening competition to take place this summer in 2020. The Biggest Grower competition offers Nebraska high school students the opportunity to learn how to start their own garden and small growing operation. Students will plant, grow, cultivate, harvest and distribute their own fresh specialty crops in a garden space or in containers. Participants will be placed in virtual teams with one team chosen as The Biggest Grower and each team member will be awarded a $50 Amazon gift card. Additionally, one high school junior or senior will be awarded a College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources Department of Agronomy and Horticulture scholarship of $1,000.

PANHANDLE PERSPECTIVES: Will feeding silage to lactating cows give my calves scours?

Many cow-calf producers in Nebraska have become accustomed to using distillers grains as a source of both protein and energy to help meet the nutritional needs of lactating cows from calving until green grass is available. Due to the ongoing distillers shortage, many producers are considering including corn silage in the ration to help alleviate some of the energy shortfall in their hay resources. However, concerns have been expressed that silage in the diet will result in diarrhea or scours in their calves.

Local Resources

Local Events

Follow Us on Facebook

Local Events

Search Local & National Extension Resources

Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources News

Latest from ianrnews.unl.edu

Nebraska Equine Extension to host a second “Race Nebraska” Seminar

September 22, 2023

The passing of the Racetrack Gaming Act through a Nebraska 2020 ballot referendum has caused an expansion in horse racing. A series of educational seminars by Nebraska Extension’s equine program have been developed to help those interested in becoming more involved in the industry.

Poll: Rural Nebraskans are increasingly pessimistic about present, future

September 18, 2023

Twenty-seven percent of respondents to the 2023 Nebraska Rural Poll indicated they are worse off than they were five years ago, up from 21% last year and 11% in 2021.

Jansen discusses farmland valuations with RFD-TV

September 18, 2023

In Nebraska, ag land values are up about 14 percent over last year, mirroring a nationwide rise in ag real estate prices. Click through to watch Jim Jansen, an agricultural systems economist with Nebraska Extension, talk with RFD-TV about the impact of valuations.