Local Interest

By Chabella Guzman, PREEC Communications Specialist

Nebraska’s only Sewing Lab opened to the public on Jan. 22 at the UNL Panhandle Research Extension and Education Center, PREEC, in Scottsbluff. The lab is the 4-H Lego Club Panhandle Cookie Bytes, Innovation Project, which is a part of the Nebraska FIRST LEGO® League Competition.

“This year, First Lego League's goal was to promote the arts through STEM,” said Natalie Creech, Scottsbluff 4-H leader. So, the kids chose to do sewing. We evaluated their hobbies and made spidergraphs (like treegraphs) to weigh out the options, and sewing came out on top.” Then, the club realized they could best serve the community by creating a sewing lab. 

With the recent warm weather in Western Nebraska, army cutworms have been spotted in southern Sioux County and central Lincoln County. With spring approaching, this pest may be seen in Nebraska crop fields in the near future. It is an important time to scout for army cutworm, particularly in winter wheat and alfalfa.

The University of Nebraska – Lincoln Panhandle Research, Extension and Education Center will again offer the “Panhandle Research, Extension and Education Center Student Scholarship.” Two scholarships of $1000 each will be awarded. The application period will be open from March 1 to April 15, 2024. 

The Scotts Bluff County Council of Homemaker Club is offering two $500.00 scholarships to any Scotts Bluff County resident enrolled in agricultural, human resources, nursing, business and family sciences curriculum. Applicants can be graduating high school seniors or college students planning to attend college in 2024. The scholarship is paid to the school after completion of the 2024 fall semester. The student must maintain a C average or the scholarship will be forfeited.

By Karla Wilke, Nebraska Extension cow-calf and Stocker management specialist, and Kacie McCarthy, cow-calf specialist

Getting first-time mother cows bred for the second time is probably one of the strongest challenges for most beef producers. It can be extremely frustrating at the time of pregnancy diagnosis to find a high percentage of those young cows, the future of the cowherd, to be open. More importantly, it is expensive.

In addition to the loss of income from the potential calf crop, is the depreciation of the cow. If a bred heifer is developed or purchased for a value of $2800 and is sold as a slaughter cow after one calf for $1350 (current market value in Nebraska), then the depreciation cost of that cow is $1450. That is a substantial loss.

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.”

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FFA students gather information on the Ag industry and careers at field day

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FFA youth from around the Panhandle came together on Wednesday, Aug. 28, for the WESTCO-UNL FFA Field Day in Gering and at the Panhandle Research Extension and Education Center in Scottsbluff.

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Nebraska in the national news: August 2024

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A trio of University of Nebraska–Lincoln political scientists were interviewed by national media outlets in August. The stories were among 30-plus national news stories featuring Husker faculty, staff, centers and programs during the month.

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Nebraska Extension’s program receives NIFA Grant to support STEM Education for at-risk youth

August 29, 2024

Lincoln, Neb. — The University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension has been awarded a five-year grant from the USDA's National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) through the Children, Youth, and Families At-Risk (CYFAR) Program. 

CYFAR is a national initiative developed to meet locally identified needs, through quality research-based programs for vulnerable, at-risk, low-income, and low-resource children, youth, and families to promote positive life outcomes. 

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Nebraska Extension to Showcase Future-Focused Solutions at 2024 Husker Harvest Days

August 28, 2024

Lincoln, Neb. — Nebraska Extension is set to participate in the 2024 Husker Harvest Days from September 10-12, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Grand Island, Neb. This year’s event theme, “Forging Nebraska’s Tomorrow,” underscores the organization’s dedication to advancing Nebraska’s agricultural future through innovation, technology, and collaboration. 

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