Local Interest

By Chabella Guzman, UNL PREEC communications

The Nebraska Extension will host an in-person Part 107 Remote Pilot Knowledge Test for drones on Wednesday, March 6, 2024, at the Panhandle Research Extension and Education Center in Scottsbluff. 

“Many farmers don’t know they need a license to use drones to evaluate or take pictures of something to be sold, such as cattle or crops,” said Dirk Charlson, Nebraska Extension, educator of digital agriculture. “With heightened interest in spraying drones, which are practical for spraying chemicals, it's bringing new people to the world of drones.”

Nebraska Extension will teach a Food Safety Training and Certification Program, ServSafe, by the National Restaurant Association on Tuesday, May 7, 2024 in Scottsbluff.

 ServSafe is the food service industry’s premier food safety training and certification course. It is recognized by more federal, state, and local health jurisdictions than any other food safety training program in the United States. The class will discuss providing safe food, forms of contamination, the flow of food, preparation, service, food safety management, and more. Participants will also receive the 7th Edition revised ServSafe Manager reference book.

By Chabella Guzman, PREEC communications

Water can be a life-giving source and a destructive one. With aging water infrastructure in the Panhandle of Nebraska, communities are becoming more aware of the latter.

 Agriculture is an economic driver in the Panhandle, but the land receives comparatively little rainfall. So, early settlers of the area created a system of dams and irrigation canals. A century later, this infrastructure is aging and, in some circumstances, in need of repair. 

By Chabella Guzman, PREEC communications

The Lambing and Kidding School, on February 10, 2024, will look at ways to give lambs and their kids the best chance of survival. The school is hosted by the Nebraska Sheep and Goat Producers Association and Nebraska Extension, offering tips and networking opportunities for lamb and goat producers.  

“Often times, kids are considered extremely delicate creatures. However, given the proper environment and a good mother, they can thrive on their own without human intervention,” said Jesse Fulton, Nebraska Extension educator and Director of Nebraska Beef Quality Assurance. He will be a presenter at the school.  

By Chabella Guzman, PREEC communications

Growers getting their ground ready for planting this year may have some questions regarding soil health and keeping their lands productive. They can now find assistance with those questions from the Soil Health Exchange. A new online discussion forum hosted by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln CropWatch. 

“This forum is specifically designed to connect and communicate with producers and stakeholders in the fields of soil health and management,” said Saurav Das, research assistant professor at Panhandle Research, Extension, and Education Center in Scottsbluff. The goal is to bridge the gap between research and its real-world application in agriculture and improve soil health management adoption. 

Join us to become beef quality assurance (BQA) or BQA Transportation (BQAT) certified for the first time or renew your certification.
Certification fee is $20 per person or a flat fee of $100 when operations bring 5+ individuals.

In order for Nebraska BQA to best utilize time and resources attendees must RSVP for events 72 hours prior to an event. Events with poor attendance will be canceled.
Regardless if you are unsure if you are able to attend, by registering, we will be able to contact you if the event is canceled.

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Latest from ianrnews.unl.edu

Annual forage options following irrigated winter wheat

July 25, 2024
The “Engaging Agriculture” articles are written weekly by and for Engagement Zone 1 Nebraska Extension Educators, who cover the 11 counties in the Panhandle.‘

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New Format for Nebraska Soybean Management Field Days

July 24, 2024
The 2024 Soybean Management Field Days will take place August 13 to August 16. Hosted by the Nebraska Soybean Board (NSB) and Nebraska Extension, the field days offer a unique opportunity for farmers to learn about soybean production, the new Soybean Testing Ag Performance Solutions (TAPS) contest, and to network with fellow growers.

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SCAL field day set for Thursday, Aug. 8.

July 24, 2024
The University of Nebraska–Lincoln’s South Central Agricultural Laboratory (SCAL) field day is Thursday, Aug. 8.

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Heat keeps rains away during wheat harvest

July 23, 2024
Amid the high temperatures in western Nebraska, wheat harvest has been going on. “We’re right in the middle of wheat harvest,” said Cody Creech, Nebraska Extension dryland cropping specialist at the UNL High Plains Ag Lab in Sidney. “The rest of the state has wrapped up, and we’ll be completing harvest this week.” Typical for most growers, weather has been a big factor in wheat yields. The yield reports in the Panhandle vary depending on whether the fields were hit by hail or not.

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