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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As Nebraskans know well, we are the beef state. We have every segment of the supply chain from cow-calf producers, to backgrounders, to large and small feed yards and also three of the four big packers in the state. The livestock industry contributes $13.8 billion to Nebraska’s economy annually. It is without a doubt the economic engine of our state. Recently, there was a legislative hearing on my bipartisan bill The Cattle Price Discovery and Transparency Act in the Senate Agriculture C...
Inspect, Connect, Direct, Select -the four steps of the Water Sense Sprinkler Spruce Up. First, inspect and replace clogged, broken or missing sprinkler heads. Second, check for leaks where heads and pipes connect and tighten if needed. Third, direct sprays on the landscape. And fourth, select the proper watering schedule or employ a weather-based irrigation controller. Sparingly and Caringly. Fertilizer is the largest pollutant in stormwater runoff and spawns large algae blooms, nutrient overload, and hypoxic (or Dead zones) in ponds, lakes,...
By John Thomas; Crops Extension Educator, Box Butte, Dawes, Sheridan, and Sioux Counties Karen DeBoer; Crops Extension Educator, Kimball, Banner, and Cheyenne Counties John Smith; Retired Machinery Systems Engineer, PREC, Scottsbluff High winds lasting for multiple days combined with long-term dry conditions have created the “perfect storm” for soil erosion to develop across Nebraska. The erosion is visible in moving and drifted soil (Fig 1) and should be controlled before more topsoil and cro...
There’s an old wives’ tale in farming: Seven years of drought and seven years of good conditions. Galen Roebke, Seward farmer, said the current drought timeline makes him wonder if it’s true. He said he’s starting to notice how dry his farm is after not having drought be a concern the past few years. “You sometimes think about those things, that we might have a prolonged dry time,” Roebke said. “Our last few years, we’ve been blessed with adequate rainfall. Sometimes, you almost think it’s too...
Those interested in learning about current trends in cash rental rates, lease provisions, and crop and grazing land considerations should make plans to attend an upcoming workshop in Rushville. A Farmland and Pasture Lease workshop will be held April 29, from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. at the Sheridan County Extension Office (800 S Loofborrow Street, Rushville). To register call the Sheridan County Extension Office at (308) 327-2312. The program is free and open to the public. This workshop is designed to provide up to date information on management str...
Whether it’s a reptile wrapped around a wrist or a cool splash in the Middle Loup River, Adventure Camp about the Environment (ACE) has something to offer this summer. Nebraska’s Natural Resources Districts (NRDs) are now accepting registrations for ACE Camp June 26-29, 2022, at the State 4-H Youth Camp near Halsey, Nebraska. Nebraska’s 23 NRDs encourage middle school students interested in the outdoors to sign up for this educational, action-packed camp. To qualify, students should have completed sixth, seventh or eighth grade in the 2021-...
By UNMC, Central States Center for Agricultural Safety and Health, Omaha What do you want to protect? That’s the first question Purdue University College of Agriculture’s Fred Whitford advises farmers to ask when considering how to make their farm site safer. “With all of today’s rules and regulations, farmers may find it challenging to add another task,” Whitford says. “Right now may be a good time to make your site more secure. Theft and vandalism tend to increase during cycles of high fuel and chemical prices. But set up something you will u...
Scottsbluff native Brittany Fulton has been appointed as Communications Specialist for the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Panhandle Research, Extension and Education Center at Scottsbluff. She will be responsible for news media, social media, web content, video content, meeting technology, and other communications roles related to the Panhandle Center and Extension in western Nebraska. Her appointment was announced by Mitchell Stephenson, interim director of the Panhandle Center, where she is...
The Sandhills Cattle Association, Nebraska Beef Quality Assurance, and Nebraska Extension – Beef Systems have teamed up for the first-ever “Branding School”. This event brings content that will be beneficial for producers before their next branding. The event will take place on April 27th, 2022, at the Cherry County Fairgrounds. Registration opens at 9:30 am with the event kicking off at 10:00 am. MultiMin will be sponsoring lunch for attendees. To ensure enough food and materials, those who wish to participate will need to RSVP online at Sa...
Lincoln — Each spring, the annual return of “Backyard Farmer” to the airwaves is as eagerly anticipated as the return of Sandhill cranes to Central Platte waters. The show has been a shared Nebraska experience for generations, featuring practical lawn and gardening advice leavened by lighthearted fun. This year, it celebrates its 70th anniversary. The show, produced by Nebraska Extension and Nebraska Public Media, retains the same basic format now as when, on Aug. 3, 1953, grainy images of Un...
Spring has sprung and garden fever is in the air. What better way to get kids outside than to plant a garden? Making the whole garden experience a family affair can be an extension of the classroom in the outdoors. It also gives youth an opportunity to learn where their food comes from and connect them to nature. Where do you start? Now is the time to start with the planning process. Including every member of the family in this step gives them ownership in the garden. First, decide what your family is going to plant and where. To ensure a...
Teens 14 or 15 years of age who work on farms, or others who are interested in learning about safe farming practices, can register for a tractor safety training course offered at six locations across Nebraska from May 25 through June 10. The course is sponsored by the University of Nebraska Extension and the Central States Center for Agricultural Safety and Health at the University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Public Health. Students will complete the first day of the course either by attending a hands-on event at one of two locations...
LINCOLN – The Nebraska Department of Agriculture (NDA) in conjunction with the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is announcing a confirmed case of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in a commercial flock of 570,000 broilers in Butler County. HPAI is a highly contagious virus that spreads easily among birds through nasal and eye secretions, as well as manure. The virus can be spread in various ways from flock to flock, including by wild birds, through contact with inf...
LINCOLN – March 22 was celebrated as National Ag Day, a time for us to thank farmers and ranchers for feeding, sheltering and powering our nation. We also want to celebrate and recognize the pivotal role of producers in mitigating climate change through voluntary conservation efforts. Climate change is happening, evidenced by persistent drought, frequent tornadoes and storms, and larger and more powerful wildfires. Our agricultural communities are on the frontlines. Now is the time for us to act, and Nebraska producers are doing their part. W...
LINCOLN – Three individuals were recognized at the Nebraska Corn Board’s (NCB) 2022 awards dinner on March 17 in Lincoln. The annual awards event highlights outstanding contributions to the state’s corn industry. Each of the three recipients have long histories serving Nebraska agriculture. Two recipients received the inaugural NCB Vision Award. The purpose of this recognition is to honor individuals, industry leaders, businesses or organizations that have gone above and beyond to help NCB a...
As the search continues for the next permanent director of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Panhandle Research, Extension and Education Center at Scottsbluff, Mitchell Stephenson, Range and Forage Management Specialist at the Panhandle Center and Associate Professor in the Department of Agronomy and Horticulture, has been appointed interim director. Stephenson had been interim associate director since mid-2020, when Panhandle Center Director Jack Whittier retired. He replaces Jeff Bradshaw, who had been interim director between Whittier’s d...
ASA President Brad Doyle (AR) recently testified during the U.S. House of Representatives Agriculture Committee’s hearing on Title I of the farm bill, specifically farm safety net components of the 2018 Farm Bill. During his testimony, Doyle reflected on farmer feedback received from ASA’s 12 farm bill listening sessions, farm bill survey, and written comments received, highlighting two primary concerns of U.S. soybean growers regarding Agricultural Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Cov...
GREEN BAY, Wis. — Edge Dairy Farmer Cooperative, one of the largest dairy co-ops in the U.S., said today the proposed changes by the Canadian government to how it administers its tariff-rate quotas (TRQs) for U.S. dairy would continue to block key export opportunities. Edge urged U.S. officials to work with the country to bring about fair reforms. A dispute settlement panel earlier had found Canada was noncompliant with the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) in its use of the quotas, unfairly limiting export opportunities for Am...
Nebraskans know every drop of water is precious. Agriculture is our top industry. It makes up 20% of our economy, and it generates one in four jobs in our state. Access to water makes this possible. We have the most irrigated acres of cropland in the country. Three of eight acres of farmland in Nebraska are irrigated. Fifty years ago, far-sighted Nebraskans set up a system of water management, including our Natural Resources Districts (NRDs), that has allowed us to manage our water based on...
WASHINGTON – Agricultural producers who have not yet enrolled in the Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) or Price Loss Coverage (PLC) programs for the 2022 crop year have until March 15, 2022, to sign a contract. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) offers these two safety net programs to provide vital income support to farmers experiencing substantial declines in crop prices or revenues. “The Agriculture Risk Coverage and Price Loss Coverage programs provide critical financial protections to many American farmers. As producers continue to...
Groups across the United States wishing to participate should fill out the online application by March 11, 2022: http://bit.ly/2022GMKPollinator. Bloomington, Ill. (AgPR) February 17, 2022 – Honey bees and other pollinators play an important role in the agricultural ecosystem. These same pollinators are under stress from a number of factors: pests, disease, lack of habitat, and more. The GROWMARK System would like to help youth organizations do their part to help sustain and increase honey bee populations. This is the seventh year of the p...
Hart, Texas — The American Agri-Women (AAW) Foundation is now accepting applications for the 2022 Daughters of American Agriculture Scholarships. Get an application at https://americanagriwomen.org/scholarships. The application deadline is March 1, 2022. The Jean Ibendahl Scholarship (for ages 18-23) and the Sister Thomas More Bertels Scholarship (for ages 24+) honors the memory of these courageous and adventurous women who played an essential role in serving and leading and who encouraged agricultural pursuits. These scholarships are a...
OMAHA – The Aksarben Foundation, along with Nebraska Farm Bureau and the Nebraska Association of Fair Managers, announces that applications for the Nebraska Pioneer Farm and Nebraska Heritage Farm Awards are being accepted now through April 15, 2022. These awards recognize Nebraska farm families who have consecutively held ownership of land in the same family for at least 100 years (Pioneer) or 150 years (Heritage), respectively. “We look forward to recognizing and awarding these Nebraska farm families each year. The dedication and per...
Bob Wright and Jeff Bradshaw Extension Entomologists The risk of grasshopper infestation in Nebraska rangelands will be low in 2022, with slightly higher risk in southwestern Nebraska, based on fall adult surveys conducted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA-APHIS). As the accompanying map illustrates, a majority of the western United States is projected to have very low numbers. USDA-APHIS continues to provide us with regular updates on t...
Lincoln — The Center for Agricultural Profitability at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln will cover the latest trends in Nebraska cash rental rates, new leasing considerations and more during its Land Management Quarterly webinar at 10 a.m. on Feb. 21. Offered since 2019, the quarterly webinars address common management issues for Nebraska landowners, agricultural operators and related stakeholders interested in the latest insight on trends in real estate, managing agricultural land and solutions for addressing challenges in the upcoming g...
