Serving proudly since 1873 as the beautiful Nebraska Panhandle's first newspaper
Serving proudly since 1873 as the beautiful Nebraska Panhandle's first newspaper
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by Chabella Guzman | PREEC Communications The Nebraska Extension held a Crop Production Clinic on Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025 at the UNL Panhandle Research Extension and Education Center in Scottsbluff. The clinic featured presentations and research updates on crop issues and grower interests. Among the topics for the day was ongoing research in battling the wheat stem sawfly. A native to Nebraska, the insect has become a big problem for wheat growers in the Panhandle. The High Plains Ag Lab (HPAL)...
Join Nebraska Feedlot Extension at three locations across the state Feb. 18, 19 and 20 to dive into a series of timely topics relevant to feedlot management. The program will include: • Managing hairy heel wart in the feedyard with Becky Funk, veterinarian with UNL's Great Plains Veterinary Education Center • Leveraging cattle implant strategies for greater gains with Jessica Sperber, Nebraska Extension feedlot specialist • UNL Beef Innovation and research update with Galen Erickson, Nebraska Extension feedlot specialist • Feedyard personn...
Nebraska Extension is offering a valuable opportunity for farmers and ranchers to learn about transition planning at a free workshop on January 28,2025 from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. at the Panhandle Research, Extension, and Education Center, located at 4502 Ave I in Scottsbluff. Jessica Groskopf, Nebraska Extension Educator, will lead the session, providing essential tools and strategies for farmers and ranchers to plan and execute estate and succession plans effectively. Participants will also gain...
Nebraska Extension is hosting a Crop Insurance Workshop on Thursday, Jan. 30, from 1 to 2 p.m. at the Box Butte County Extension Office in Alliance, 415 Black Hills Ave. The workshop aims to help farmers better understand crop insurance and how it can protect their operations from unexpected risks. The workshop will discuss insurance terms, primary components in a crop insurance contract (such as coverage level, insurance type, and unit type), the importance of endorsements, and the philosophy of selecting a crop insurance contract....
By Chabella Guzman, PREEC Communications In January and February, Nebraska Extension will present a webinar series titled Fundamentals of Feeding the Cow. The series begins on Jan. 27, and each session will focus on understanding how the cow's nutrient requirements change throughout the year and how to cost-effectively meet a cow's needs with grazed or harvested feed. "We're bringing it back by popular demand," said Aaron Berger, Nebraska Extension Beef Educator. "We had over 100 participants ta...
By Jessica Groskopf, Nebraska Extension ag economist At a recent farmland leasing workshop, the question was raised, "I am a landlord with a handshake lease agreement. What happens if I die?" At the time, I gave the simple answer, "The new owners of the land will be subject to the lease." Although this is technically correct, the situation is more nuanced than it appears. Depending on how the land is owned and passed on, there may be a period of uncertainty regarding who is responsible for the...
WASHINGTON, Jan. 10, 2025 – Corn production declined, while soybean production increased from last year, according to the 2024 Crop Production Annual Summary released today by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. U.S. corn growers produced 14.9 billion bushels in 2024, down 3% from 2023. Corn yield in the United States is estimated at 179.3 bushels per acre, 2.0 bushels above 2023 and a record high. Area harvested for grain, at 82.9 million acres in 2024, is down 4% from 2023. Soybean production for...
By Mark Moran - Producer-Editor Nebraska News Connection Some farm advocates in rural America, including Nebraska, are calling on the Trump administration to continue investing in small communities. They propose that new federal investments in agriculture wind up in the hands of farmers in rural communities. Nebraska Farmers Union President John Hansen said he is cautiously optimistic about how rural policy will look in the new administration, but said it will start with fair competition in the agriculture markets. "The markets are not...
STERLING, CO - The Lower South Platte Water Symposium hosted by the Ag Water Network, Morgan Conservation District, and Centennial Conservation District, will be held on Thursday, January 23rd at the Knights of Columbus Building, 421 S. 11th Ave. in Sterling and is scheduled to begin at 8:30 a.m. The half-day program will include a list of outstanding speakers. Professor Timothy Gates of the CSU Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering will begin the day with a presentation about...
UNL - The Nebraska Extension will host an "Agriculture Land Lease Workshop" on Friday, Jan. 10, from 9 to 10:30 a.m. at the Panhandle Research, Extension, and Education Center in Scottsbluff. Those interested in understanding the latest trends in cash rental rates, lease provisions, and crop-share lease considerations are invited to attend. The session aims to equip landlords and tenants with up-to-date management strategies for agricultural land leases. Participants will gain insights from...
The Nebraska Extension will host a webinar entitled Drylot Feeding Cow-calf Pairs in the Spring and Summer of 2025 on Monday, Jan. 13, at 6:30 p.m. MT. Drought continues in Nebraska in the western and north-central areas. As of Jan. 1, the U.S. Drought Monitor found those areas in severe to extreme drought conditions. While there is still time between now and May to get precipitation, in a best-case scenario, the lingering effects of drought will likely delay when pasture turnout should occur....
By Mary Drewnoski, Nebraska Extension Beef Systems Specialist, Connor Biehler, Nebraska Extension Educator Learn practical, research-based strategies to improve your operation's efficiency and profitability while leveraging the Midwest's unique advantages in forage and grazing resources. Photo by Troy Walz | Nebraska Extension Join the Midwest FEEDS (Forage, Education, and Efficiency in Diversified Systems) Practicum-a hands-on, multi-session educational program tailored for cattle producers....
South Platte NRD audit and groundwater quality reports presented at the December board meeting The South Platte Natural Resources District Board met on Tuesday, December 10, 2024. Julia Peetz, CPA, Rauner and Associates, PC, presented an analysis of the district's financial performance during the fiscal year that ended June 30, 2024. "The District's total net position, as compared to the prior fiscal year, increased by $69,280.00. Most of this increase is attributable to the decrease in...
By Jessica Groskopf, UNL ag economist The first week of November, the Center for Ag Profitability at the University of Nebraska – Lincoln and Nebraska Extension celebrated “Ag Smart Money Week.” Throughout the week, we held several webinars and workshops. In preparation for the week, I was reminded how often Americans don’t have a rainy-day fund. According to the Federal Reserve, one-third of Americans cannot cover a $400 emergency with cash, savings, or a credit card paid off in full the following month. Could you? Rainy-day funds, commonl...
WASHINGTON, – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency’s (FSA) $2 billion Marketing Assistance for Specialty Crops (MASC) program, aimed at helping specialty crop producers expand markets and manage higher costs, is now accepting applications from Dec. 10, 2024 through Jan. 8, 2025. Funded by the Commodity Credit Corporation, MASC was announced in November alongside the $140 million Commodity Storage Assistance Program for facilities impacted by 2024 natural disasters. “Specialty crop growers have typically faced highe...
By Chabella Guzman, PREEC Communications The University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) Panhandle Research Extension and Education Center (PREEC) in Scottsbluff researches various western Nebraska crops throughout the year. However, the center does more than just research crops and livestock. It also educates students and scholars from Nebraska and around the world. Shida Nestory, a short-term scholar from Tanzania, came to Scottsbluff to study dry beans with Dr. Carlos Urrea, Nebraska Extension dry...
By Aaron Berger, Nebraska Extension Beef Systems Educator The use of genetic selection tools by cattle breeders has resulted in significant changes within many major breeds over the last 30 years. With a few exceptions, the genetic trend has been for more milk, higher weaning weight, and bigger mature weight. Without question, the use of Expected Progeny Differences (EPDs) has enabled this change. While we have achieved our goals of more, have we achieved our goals of better? The late Dr. Bob...
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Congressman Mike Flood issued a statement following the release of the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee’s Scientific Report. This report confirms previous reporting about new anti-meat dietary guidelines earlier this year. “The Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee tries to claim they are promoting flexibility and individual choice, while they push plant-based proteins at the expense of red meat. This attempt to re-write your grocery list and push meat off the menu has nothing to do with a healthy diet and e...
LINCOLN, Neb. – During their Annual Business Meeting, the Nebraska Cattlemen membership elected Dick Pierce of Sumner, Nebraska, to serve as president. Dick was born and raised in central Nebraska and currently resides north of Miller, Nebraska where he farms and ranches with his family. He’s been married to Janna (Bentley) Pierce for 52 years. They have four children and 12 grandchildren. The Pierce family owns a corporation, P/4 Cattle Co., that has a row crop enterprise and a cow/calf enterprise and yearling operation. Dick Pierce sta...
Aaron Berger, Nebraska Extension Beef Educator Drought conditions, high cattle prices-what are a cattle producer's options for profitably feeding their cows in the upcoming year? Nebraska Extension, in conjunction with local Nebraska Cattlemen's affiliates, will be hosting programs on Monday, Dec.16 in Rushville and Tuesday, Dec. 17 in Scottsbluff that will provide area producers with information they can use to plan for feeding the cowherd in 2025. Topics to be covered include: • Rangeland A...
By Karla Wilke ,Cow-calf & Stocker MGT Specialist UNL Most veterinarians recommend vaccinating nursing calves against clostridial, respiratory, and digestive pathogens at two months of age to bolster immunity against those pathogens until the calf can be given another round of vaccinations just prior to weaning, often referred to as preconditioning. Veterinarians, industry consultants, and university personnel often emphasize the importance of proper vaccine handling and administration as being...
UNL BEEF - Nebraska Extension will offer a comprehensive three-part webinar series, Fundamental Knowledge for Successful Calving Season. The live webinar will be offered January 8, 13, 15, from 7:30 – 8:45 pm CST and will conclude with interactive in-person workshops offered in four different locations Jan. 21-23, 2025. This engaging event will provide invaluable information for farmers, ranchers and veterinary professionals involved in the calving process. Webinar Series Topics: • Wednesday, Ja...
LINCOLN, Neb. - The Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy (NDEE) announces the opening of the 2024-2025 ONE RED Irrigation Engine Program. Applications are now being accepted for rebates to assist farmers with the replacement of agricultural irrigation pump diesel engines with all-electric equipment. Applications must be submitted to NDEE by Jan. 16, 2025, to be considered. To be eligible, applicants must have owned the diesel engine for two years and operated it for at least 250 hours each of those years. The diesel engine may be...
Lincoln - Many farmers and ranchers inquire about prevailing rates for various custom farm services. In addition to the regular biennial custom rates survey, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln's Center for Agricultural Profitability has launched a new survey designed to provide market rate information for the Nebraska livestock industry. Producers and operators that perform and provide custom services for others, or that utilize custom services and pay others, are invited to participate in the...
Planning how to transfer a farm or ranch to the next generation can be difficult. Between the emotional issues involved and tough decisions, it can be easy to procrastinate on this important process. Learn more about how to move forward with your operation & succession planning through this workshop! Join Jeffrey Tranel, Agricultural & Business Management Specialist with Colorado State University Extension Office as we discuss how to move forward with transferring your business to the next generation, making plans for retirement, and...
