Serving proudly since 1873 as the beautiful Nebraska Panhandle's first newspaper
Serving proudly since 1873 as the beautiful Nebraska Panhandle's first newspaper
Sorted by date Results 1 - 25 of 578
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...
The South Platte Natural Resources District Board met on Tuesday, November 12, 2024. Following the monthly meeting, the SPNRD and the NRCS hosted the 2024 Conservation Awards Program at the Elks Lodge in Sidney. Ryan Reisdorff, SPNRD Assistant Manager, summarized the Fall 2024 report on the Active Flowing Segments of the Lodgepole Creek in the SPNRD. The creek is measured yearly on approximately April 1st and October 1st. "The average flow for the fall is approximately 85 miles," said Reisdorff....
LINCOLN, NEB. – Time is running out for thousands of farmers and ranchers who may face steep fines and possible jail time for failing to file their businesses with the federal government. Jan. 1, 2025, is the deadline to file Beneficial Ownership Information (BOI) with the U.S. Department of Treasury’s new Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) created under the Corporate Transparency Act of 2021. “The use of Limited Liability Companies (LLCs) and other formal organizational structures serve as important tools for numerous farms and r...
The University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s Center for Agricultural Profitability and Nebraska Extension will hold an informative workshop for farm and ranch landowners, landlords, and tenants. The workshop, titled "Big Questions and Innovative Solutions in Land Management," will be held on December 5, 2024 in Sidney from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the South Platte NRD office, 551 Parkland Drive. To register, call the Nebraska Extension in Cheyenne County at 308-254-4455. The workshop will cover topics related to Nebraska's land industry for farms a...
WASHINGTON, Nov. 14, 2024 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is extending the application deadline for the Organic Dairy Marketing Assistance Program (ODMAP) 2024 to Dec.13, 2024. This extension gives organic dairy producers two additional weeks to apply for the program. Eligible producers include certified organic dairy operations that produce milk from cows, goats and sheep. ODMAP 2024 helps mitigate market volatility, higher input and transportation costs, and unstable feed sup...
By Chabella Guzman, PREEC Communications Agriculture is not just growing a crop or raising livestock, as around 190 high schoolers interested in agriculture found out at the annual Careers in Ag Day at the Panhandle Research Extension and Education Center in Scottsbluff. The event, held on Nov. 13, was hosted by the Scottsbluff/Gering Chamber of Commerce Ag Committee had 26 community business representatives discussing their place in agriculture. "When people start thinking about agriculture,...
By U.S. Congressman Mike Flood As COP29 kicks off, world leaders are gathering in Baku, Azerbaijan, to talk about the state of climate and some of their latest ideas for what they want world governments to do to ratify some of the most extreme elements of the environmentalist agenda. While the annual Conference of Parties (COP) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change has been happening for almost three decades now, their vision for reshaping our world has expanded as climate activism evolves. One area that's received...
LINCOLN, Nebraska – Nebraska's Natural Resources Districts (NRDs) are now accepting orders for conservation tree seedlings for spring planting. By ordering early, you can secure your preferred species and make a lasting contribution to the environment. Since 1972, Nebraska's NRDs have partnered with landowners to plant over 101 million trees statewide. At just $1.20 per seedling, and with cost-share programs available in many districts, these conservation trees provide immense benefits to p...
Don’t wait to begin buying Nebraska Game and Parks Commission permits for the upcoming year. The 2025 annual hunt (small game), fishing, fur harvest and state park entry permits are available online, at district offices and state park areas beginning Nov. 15. These permits are valid Jan. 1-Dec. 31, 2025. A Nebraska vehicle park entry permit is an affordable way to have fun outdoors. Access more than 75 state park, recreation areas and state historical parks for an entire year or explore miles of trails, watch wildlife and get in touch with n...
Whether you are pursuing a trade school, vocational certificate or a two-year or four-year degree, don’t miss your chance to apply for a National FFA Scholarship to help with next steps in education. If you are a senior FFA member in high school or FFA Alumni in college, just one application is required for multiple scholarship opportunities totaling nearly $2.5 million. The 2024-25 scholarship application opened on Friday, Nov. 1, 2024. Visit https://apply.mykaleidoscope.com/login to apply. Student Application Live: Nov. 1, 2024 Student A...
By Nebraska Extension Nebraska Extension will host a grain marketing workshop for farmers in Oshkosh on Thursday, Nov. 21, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at the Berea Lutheran Church, 2874 Hwy 27, between Oshkosh and Chappell. Nebraska Extension Educator Jessica Groskopf will discuss the basis, bears, bulls, long, short, and more in the workshop and use real audio and video examples. The workshop will help you decode the “market talk.” “With harvest complete, it is time for farmers to develop a marketing plan,” said Groskopf. “This workshop is an opport...
By Chabella Guzman, PREEC Communications On a warm September day along the edge of the Sandhills in Box Butte County, a combine harvested dry edible beans. The beans were in an On-Farm Research project by John Thomas, Nebraska Extension Educator at Box Butte County, and Tim Hashman, the farmer and driver of the combine. The project looked at a product called Pod Ceal. "Last year, we had a hailstorm come through before harvest, and it (Pod Ceal) actually helped to keep the pod from shattering," H...
St. Louis, Mo. - Strong agriculture leaders are critical to the future of the soybean industry, and the American Soybean Association wants to provide a student interested in agriculture with a college scholarship as they start their education. The Soy Scholarship is a $7,000, one-time award presented to a high school senior who plans to pursue agriculture as an area of study at any accredited college or university in the 2025-26 academic year. The scholarship is managed by ASA and made possible through a grant by BASF Corporation. “Today’s stu...
