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.”

By Chabella Guzman, UNL PREEC communications

 The Panhandle Research Extension and Education Center in Scottsbluff played host to the Lego White Region - Mini-Play on February  24, 2024. The event offered a trial run for Panhandle area Lego teams to learn more about the rules of competition and work out some kinks in their robots. 

 “Mini-plays are an opportunity to learn from one another and get out a lot of those pre-competition jitters before the big event,” said Nathan Rice, Nebraska Extension 4-H educator. The mini-play had ten teams in trials on Saturday, but not every team was able to make it, and some also had missing members. The team from Bridgeport had only one member make it for the event.

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

Fifth graders flooded the halls of the Panhandle Research Extension and Education Center in Scottsbluff on February 7, 2024, when Panhandle Nebraska Extension held its second annual Incredible STEM Day. The day featured hands-on activities incorporating science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. 

“We put (activities) together through the Panhandle 4-H team,” said Nathan Rice, Nebraska Extension 4-H educator. “We had a couple last year we didn’t like and replaced them with two new ones, microbits and coding drones.”

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.  

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Adam Leise appointed as new director of Nebraska On-Farm Research Network

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Lincoln, Neb. — Adam Leise has been selected as the new director of the On-Farm Research Network. Leise, a recent graduate from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, brings both academic expertise and personal experience to the role, having grown up on a farm and ranch in Hartington.

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Nebraska’s Natural Resource Districts honor Paul C. Hay and Randy Pryor with Water Conservation Award

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Lincoln, Neb. —Nebraska’s Natural Resource Districts have awarded the Outstanding Water Conservation of the Year Award to Paul C. Hay (posthumous), Emeritus Extension Educator, alongside Randy Pryor, also an Emeritus Extension Educator. The two long-time educators were nominated by the Lower Big Blue Natural Resources District (NRD) for their nearly 40 years of service to agricultural sustainability in Southeast Nebraska.

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4-H service project will update courthouse garden in 2025

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The Scotts Bluff County Court House garden in Gering will be undergoing an update in the spring of 2025. Spearheading the update will be the Nebraska Master Gardeners of Scotts Bluff County with funds from A Watchable Wildlife Grant, Nebraska Statewide Arboretum, or Keno Funds.

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Nebraska Soil Health School: An Accomplishment of Goals Through Collaboration

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Lincoln, Neb. —The University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) team led by Dr. Bijesh Maharjan, associate professor and extension specialist at UNL’s Panhandle Research, Extension and Education Center (PREEC), accomplished another successful series of Nebraska Soil Health Schools hosted by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and UNL.

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