By Gary Stone, Extension Educator, Panhandle R&E Center, Scottsbluff
Two weedy vines are receiving a lot of attention this year. Both can be found in our shrubs, trees and fences. If left un-managed, they can smother out shrubs and trees by preventing the tree leaves from photosynthesizing and eventually killing them, especially evergreen trees.
The Nebraska Department of Agriculture (NDA) is hosting a Season Extension Seminar and hops production and harvesting demonstration Aug. 17, 2018 at the University of Nebraska Panhandle Research and Extension Center, 4502 Avenue I, in Scottsbluff.
The seminar, which will last from 9 a.m. until 5:30 p.m., is targeted to specialty crop growers, who will have the opportunity to connect with a retailer interested in sourcing local produce, learn about affordable financing options, and watch a cooking demonstration using locally grown produce.
4-H groups and community members were able to provide several carloads of supplies and a cash donation to a local non-profit group that provides essential items for children in the Foster Care system in Western Nebraska.
During the month of April, 4-H groups across the Panhandle gathered their resources and celebrated the 4-H National Day of Service by making donations to Finders Keepers. The supply drive focused on items like diapers, formula and other infant items, new socks and undergarments, new or gently used clothes, shoes, coats, toys, games, books, school, art supplies, backpacks, bags, tote boxes, and new toothbrushes and toiletry items.
By Kelley Rice, Extension Educator and 4-H Coordinator for Panhandle Extension District
A framework is a frame or structure composed of parts fitted and joined together, according to dictionary.com. It is also a good analogy for the way the multi-faceted parts of Nebraska 4-H work together to fulfill its mission to empower youth to reach their full potential working and learning in partnership with caring adults.
At the core of the 4-H framework is Positive Youth Development, which uses the experiential learning model (learning through experience) coupled with positive relationships with caring adults.
Many high-school students, when classes dismiss for the summer, don’t think about school until August. Three local youth, including a 2018 Scottsbluff High School graduate and two Bayard High School students, are returning to the classroom during break, but switching roles to become teachers of elementary students.
Three students are taking part in the Teens as Teachers program: Luis Cordova of Scottsbluff and Gordon Acosta and Alejandra Garza, both of Bayard. The program is sponsored by Nebraska Extension and now in its second year in Scotts Bluff, Morrill, and a handful of other counties in Nebraska.
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.
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.
