Local Interest

By Tammie Ostdiek, Extension Educator – Food, Nutrition and Health

Delicious vegetables and fruits are abundant in August. And gardeners know that a lot of this produce is ready for harvest at the same time, making it difficult to use before it goes to waste.

To avoid throwing out produce, start with a plan to use what the family can eat fresh, possibly preserve some for the winter, and then consider sharing with others. Donating to a food pantry is a great way to share the abundance with people who need food and often appreciate the fresh, locally grown produce.

The Kendrick Project – Seminoe & Alcova

By Gary Stone, Nebraska Extension Water & Integrated Cropping Systems Educator

The first dam and reservoir on the North Platte River after it enters from Colorado is Seminoe. Seminoe dam is part of the Kendrick Project intended to generate hydropower and expand irrigation in central Wyoming. The project, called the Casper-Alcova Project, was authorized in 1933 under the National Recovery Act during the Great Depression. The project was renamed the Kendrick Project in 1937. The Kendrick Project also includes the Alcova dam, reservoir, and the Casper-Alcova Canal. 

By Leann Sato, Nebraska Extension Master Gardener

Lawn Down and Brown?

That’s okay, let it rest. Grass protects itself from scorching heat by going dormant. Let it rest during summer’s heat and revive when Fall’s cooler temperatures arrive. A half inch of water about every two to three weeks will keep the crowns and roots healthy. Native, drought-resistant grass varieties, like buffalo and blue grama, will require less water during dormancy than cool season grasses. Save water and let the lawn rest until Fall.

Set Trees for Success

By Elaine Pile, Nebraska Extension Master Gardener

Drifting Pesticides

Drifting may be okay for a tumbleweed, but it’s not okay when spraying pesticides of any kind. When spraying pesticides, the size of the droplets can affect how much drift may occur. Using a hand pump sprayer and pumping it up to full pressure creates smaller droplets. If you refrain from pumping it up to full pressure, the droplets will be larger. Larger droplets are less likely to drift. Remember, when spraying pesticides, avoiding drift is critical to protect surrounding vegetation. 

Reading and Understanding the Label

By Laurie Zitterkopf, Nebraska Extension Master Gardener

How to Prepare to Show Your Flowers and Vegetables at the Fair!

Ready, Set, Go to Fair. Share your flowers with our community, Flower Arrangements must include fresh flowers. Decorative inserts can be used. Containers will be considered in judging. Judging will be based on originality and artistic ability. Many options/themes to choose from, but why not try your hand a “All Those Sunflowers” for this years’ Scotts Bluff County Fair.  Entries are Tuesday, August 2nd 8:30am to 11:30am. See you at the Fair! 

Ready to show your flowers at the fair, General Guidelines for Round-Form Flowers; 

By Erin Kampbell, Extension Educator—Early Childhood, Nebraska Extension in Madison County

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4-H Speech Contest announces Grand and Reserve results

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Fifteen 4-H youth gathered for the Scotts Bluff County Speech Contest on June 1, at the UNL Panhandle Research Extension and Education Center in Scottsbluff.

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Nebraska Extension and Central States Center for Agricultural Safety and Health at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, College of Public Health, held an annual “tractor safety” training course on June 1 at the Legacy of the Plains Museum in Gering.

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