Nebraska Extension and Central States Center for Agricultural Safety and Health at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, College of Public Health, have announced plans for the annual “tractor safety” training courses scheduled at 5 sites across Nebraska in early June. Students will complete the first day of the course online through the eXtension Foundation Campus website. After successfully completing the online course and testing, the required driving test will be offered at five locations across Nebraska June 7-11, 2021. The local driving test will take place at the Legacy of the Plains Museum on June 8.
Local Interest
Carlos Urrea, Dry Edible Bean Breeding Specialist
University of Nebraska-Lincoln Panhandle Research and Extension Center, Scottsbluff
The University of Nebraska Dry Bean Breeding Program has announced the development of two new dry edible bean varieties, one a great northern bean suitable for direct harvest and the other a slow-darkening pinto bean variety with longer shelf life. Both new varieties could be available for planting in growers’ fields as early as 2022 or 2023.
Gary Stone, Nebraska Extension Educator Water and Integrated Cropping Systems
Part 4 of a six-part series about basic water law in the United States, predominately in the western part of the country, and how it affects this finite resource. Water law can be traced back to Roman times and also has roots in English common law. Across the United States, it varies from state to state, and from East to West. When conflicts arise, courts usually determine the outcome, unless there are state or federal laws or previous case studies to resolve the issue. Exceptions to the law can arise from differences in each state’s water laws.
Gary Stone, Nebraska Extension Educator Water and Integrated Cropping Systems
This is the third in a six-part series of articles covering basic water law in the United States, predominately in the western part of the country, and how it affects this finite resource. Water law can be traced back to Roman times and also has roots in English common law. Across the United States, it varies from state to state, and from East to West. When conflicts arise, courts usually determine the outcome, unless there are state or federal laws or previous case studies to resolve the issue. Exceptions to the law can arise from differences in each state’s water laws.
A group of Scotts Bluff County 4-H members ranging in age from 9 to 14 has been meeting weekly since summer ended last year to share their interest in writing computer code and robotics. In the process they have learned the joy of discovery, problem-solving, and teamwork.
They call themselves the Rise of the Gummies. At the recent Nebraska state First Lego League competition at Grand Island, they finished third in the robot team challenge and brought home a second-place trophy for innovative robot design.
Tammie Ostdiek, UNL Extension Educator, Morrill County
In the early months of the pandemic, non-perishable foods like dry beans were flying off grocery store shelves. If you still have some packaged dry beans in your pantry, winter is the perfect time to prepare them.
While canned beans are cooked and ready to be heated, served, or used in recipes, packaged dry beans need to be cooked to a palatable texture. For best results, it helps to understand the variables involved with cooking dry beans.
Cooking time depends on the type of beans and the seed variety the farmer plants. Generally, smaller beans will cook faster.