Local Interest

Nebraska Extension will host a webinar on Monday and Thursday evenings in late January and February 2024 on the fundamentals of knowing and calculating annual cow costs.

Knowing annual cow costs is the foundation for evaluating and making management decisions that can improve profitability for a cow-calf enterprise. Significant increases in input costs challenge producers to examine the cost of production and identify where there may be opportunities to adjust the production system. Calculating costs and breaking them into categories gives an understanding of where there may be an opportunity to make changes.

Topics to be covered will include:

By Chabella Guzman, communications specialist

Livestock producers know winter can be a challenge for their cowherds, and Karla Wilke, Nebraska Extension cow-calf/stocker specialist, reminds them not to forget about their bulls in their winter management plans. 

“Bulls are one of our bigger investments in the cow herd, and 90 percent of the cows are still impregnated through natural service with a bull rather than artificial insemination,” Wilke said. “So, they also require year-round maintenance.” 

The 2024 Beef Feedlot Roundtable Series is an event that you won’t want to miss! We encourage feedlot owners, managers, employees, and allied industry to join Nebraska Extension February 13-15 in a series of meetings across the state as we dive into a series of timely topics covering feedlot management.

Highlights from the program include new technologies in cattle feeding, a 2024 market outlook, severe weather responses, the 2022 National Beef Quality Audit results, feedlot workforce development and exploring options for hiring feedlot employees on visas, with speakers from University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, and Nebraska Cattlemen affiliates.

The 2024 Nebraska Extension Crop Production Clinics will kick off on Wednesday, January 3, in Gering and head east across the state. Session topics will include crop production, insect management, pesticide safety, disease management, soil fertility, water management, weed management, and pesticide applicator recertification training will be available.

The day-long event will present research updates and information tailored to regional crop issues and grower interests. In the Panhandle and other areas, weed management of Palmer Amaranth is a major issue. 

An opportunity for community organizations and individuals to learn more about aiding their neighbors during a disaster event will be held on Tuesday, December 12, 2023 at ESU 13 in Scottsbluff. 

The Community Organizations Active in Disaster, or COAD, is a collaborative network of community organizations, agencies, individuals, businesses, and non-profits working together to minimize the impact of disasters.   

“It’s plugging these groups into getting communications and aid when a disaster happens, and mass care is needed,” said Ashley Hopkins, administrative assistant, Region 22 Emergency Management, Scotts Bluff County. “We’ll help volunteers with CERT disaster training and tie into FEMA training and networking with others.” 

The first of several private pesticide applicator training dates will be held on January 3, at the Nebraska Extension Crop Production Clinic, at 8:30 a.m. at the Gering Civic Center. In Gering, private pesticide license holders and those seeking a first-time private pesticide license may recertify. The cost of the clinic is $95. Pre-register at http://agronomy.unl.edu/cpc

The 2024 private pesticide and chemigation applicator training dates and times are set to be held from January to March in several locations. Notification letters will be sent out by the Nebraska Department of Agriculture (NDA) to applicators whose licenses will expire in 2024.  

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