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Saturday, November 22, 2008
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Corn Stalk Grazing Calculator
A University of Nebraska-Lincoln spreadsheet allows farmers and ranchers to make better informed decisions about cattle grazing corn stalks. The Excel spreadsheet, titled The Corn Stalk Grazing Calculator, can be accessed at www.agmanagerstools.com. — Full Story »
2009: A challenging time for ag producers
Local ag conference focuses on grain market instability
With the agricultural world topsy-turvy and the whole planet suffering an economic meltdown, 2009 will be a year of challenges.
That was one of the main themes on Wednesday during the 10th annual Ag Conference sponsored by TierOne Bank and KRVN at the Heartland Events Center. — Full Story »
Area farmers lose millions from flooding along Prairie Creek
It has been a bad year for farming along Prairie Creek in the Central Platte Natural Resources District.
Heavy rains - more than 25 inches from April through June this year - caused extensive flooding throughout the Prairie Creek watershed and millions of dollars of crop losses for farmers who were unable to plant their crops. — Full Story »
NRD announces program to cut irrigated acres
The manager of the Curtis-based Middle Republican Natural Resources District announced a 2009 pilot program Wednesday to reduce irrigated acres.
Dan Smith outlined the goals in Cambridge at the Nebraska Republican River Management District Association, which includes the NRDs and surface water irrigation districts in Nebraska's part of the basin.
— Full Story »
Rep River officials think there's enough water for next year
It's been a long time since Republican Basin officials could say with confidence that there should be enough water for Nebraska's uses in the coming year.
With increased 2008 precipitation, full lakes and reduced groundwater pumping, Nebraska Department of Natural Resources officials said Wednesday there should be enough water in 2009.
— Full Story »
 One injured in grain elevator explosion
Investigation underway at Gothenburg cooperative
An employee of All Points Cooperative, in Gothenburg, was injured when the primary grain elevator exploded during the early morning hours on Thursday.
According to Ed Foster, president of the cooperative, the explosion occurred at approximately 3:15 a.m. while the employee was working the dryers in the wet grain storage facility. Foster said the employee managed to escape through the south door and get to safety himself before being transported to a local hospital. — Full Story » |
Fairbury FFA News
The Fairbury FFA Chapter has been very busy this fall. The chapter started the fall activities with a parent-alumni picnic in the city park. FFA members attended Husker Harvest Day. — Full Story »
Alliance FFA News
The Alliance FFA chapter has started off the school year with an explosion of activities.
During Alliance’s Annual Heritage Days, the local chapter entered a float in the parade, receiving first place. They also hosted the Backwards Tractor Pull. Instead of having tractors pull weight, a team of six was timed as they pulled an antique tractor to the finish line. Several teams competed. — Full Story »
Cody-Kilgore FFA News
On Thursday, October 16, 2008, Gene Popkie and Beau Westover from Cherry-Todd visited Cody-Kilgore Jr. and Sr. High School students and presented an electrical safety demonstration. — Full Story »
McCool Junction FFA starts their 2nd Year
The McCool Junction FFA chapter has been busy with the start of their second year as a new FFA Chapter. The summer was spent with several activities including: COLT Conference for the officers, Horse Evaluation Contest, Tractor Driving Contest, hosting Blood Mobiles, meeting with LEAD alumni and Omaha North FFA members, and the York County Fair. Exhibiting at the County and State Fair was new for most the our members, but several members did very well in a variety of areas.
— Full Story »
Sioux County FFA News
The Sioux County FFA Chapter is very involved with the community. We deliver cookies and do cleanup around the town. We do a lot of different activities to involve members of the community too. — Full Story »
Kimball FFA News
The Kimball FFA Chapter has been having a very busy year. Last spring the new officers headed to COLT in Aurora NE, where they learned many new leadership skills. — Full Story »
Heartland FFA News
The Heartland FFA Chapter had a large display of mechanic projects, wood projects, and crops at the 2008 Nebraska State Fair.
Students entered their agricultural mechanics projects in classes ranging from extra small to extra large and were judged on construction, workmanship, utility, design, and finish. — Full Story »
Scottsbluff FFA Members attend National Convention
On Wednesday, October 22nd, the 81st National FFA Convention in Indianapolis, IN, officially kicked off with five members of the Scottsbluff FFA Chapter attending. These members included: Senior, Shelby Duncan; Juniors, Sara Fulk and Shelby Winchell; Sophomore, Kenny Willman; and graduated member Chelsea Mckenzie. McKenzie won her Agricultural Services Proficiency at the state level, which meant she would attend Nationals the following October.
— Full Story »
Diller-Odell FFA participates in area range and land judging
Eighteen members of the Diller-Odell FFA Chapter participated in the area range judging contest held in Lancaster County at Pioneer Park in Lincoln. The event was sponsored by the Lower Platte South Natural Resource District and the Lancaster County Extension Service. — Full Story »
Crete FFA News
Nine Crete FFA members and Advisor Marc Wittstruck traveled to Indianapolis to attend the 81st annual National FFA Convention. — Full Story »
Centennieal FFA News
The Centennial FFA worked hard this last year to be selected by the National FFA as a Model of Innovation Finalist in Chapter Development. Top Model of Innovation chapters showcased those unique and innovative ideas and activities that the chapter sponsored throughout the year. — Full Story »
Kamler produces corn, cash for FFA National award
Eric Kamler, 17, of Fillmore Central, is one of 10 students from across the country who received a National Agri-Entrepreneurship Award and $1,000 during a ceremony at the 81st National FFA Convention in Indianapolis, Ind., Oct. 24. The award program recognizes young people who start or are planning to start businesses.
— Full Story »
 Laurel corn grower responds to ethanol criticism
The National Corn Growers Association, under the leadership of its president Bob Dickey of Laurel, responded strongly Tuesday to ethanol critics who launched another wave of attacks on corn and ethanol. This attack on ethanol comes from the same group that failed earlier this year in its efforts to reduce the renewable fuels standard and increase the nation's dependence on foreign oil, the association said. — Full Story » |
 Corn harvest making ground but still behind
With corn harvest two and a half weeks behind as of Sunday, corn yields have been mostly better than expected, but further delays could cause problems. Wet weather last week imposed yet another impediment to this year's harvest, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Agricultural Statistics Service, Nebraska Field Office. Last week, Grand Island received 1.46 inches of rain on what has already been a wet fall. — Full Story » |
 Harvest falling far behind schedule
A wet spring, combined with less than average summer temperatures have delayed corn harvest this year.
"Normally, harvest is 75-80 percent complete as we approach Thanksgiving," said Kent Weems, branch manager of North Platte Ag Valley Coop. "Right now, we are running at about 35-45 percent, and some people are as low as 15 percent complete." — Full Story » |
Report highlights economic benefits of ethanol
A new report released this week by an analyst at the consulting firm LECG LLC noted that since 1978, the U.S. ethanol industry has generated an estimated $33.4 billion in tax revenues for the federal government and nearly $17 billion of additional tax revenues for state and local governments. The figures are in 2008 dollars. — Full Story »
Farmers convert to alternative agriculture
Melisa "Misy'' Fulton is a town kid who fell in love with farming, though not the high-tech, high-dollar and high-risk world of conventional agriculture. She and her husband, Terry, moved back to his hometown of Auburn, Neb., in 2000 to partner with his father on 1,000 acres of conventionally raised corn and soybeans. — Full Story »
 Pleasanton man retires after almost 40 years of keeping farmers going
Every morning at about 7 a.m., Delmer Shafto is in the back room at the Trotter Service Station in Pleasanton drinking coffee with a group of regulars. "We all get in here every day and sit and gossip," he said, laughing. Shafto, 65, said that's one thing that won't change just because he retired last week from Trotter Fertilizer after almost 38 years of hauling fuel to area farmers. — Full Story » |
 Nebraska water guide suitable for framing
A new map bottles Nebraska's water issues into a poster-size package. The free map from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln depicts a wide range of information about Nebraska's water resources. It goes into great depths about underground water. The 24-by-36-inch "Nebraska Water Map'' is a collection of more than a dozen color graphics, each depicting different aspects of the state's water riches and challenges.
— Full Story » |
How weather affects corn stalk quality
Fall rainfall is good for the next growing season but it can take a toll on corn stalk quality by reducing its feed value in combined fields in several ways. Bruce Anderson, University of Nebraska Extension forage specialist, says the most easily noticed is how fast stalks get soiled or trampled into the ground when fields are muddy. — Full Story »
Nebraska students tour Taiwan
Three Nebraska youth are currently traveling over 7,000 miles from Nebraska to Taiwan. During a week-long visit to Taiwan, the students will learn about the country’s agricultural industry and share their Nebraska agricultural experiences with their hosts. — Full Story »
LRNRD landowners must pay irrigated land
taxes to maintain acre certification, water allocation
Lower Republican Natural Resources District farmers must pay irrigated land taxes on acres with water allocations or face losing their ability to irrigate the land in the future.
At their meeting Thursday in Alma, LRNRD board members decided to keep that rule in place, even though it's different than a current state tax rule. — Full Story »
 Mother Nature tests corn producers' mettle
Dawson County corn producers were scrambling Monday to get a few more acres combined before rain, sleet and snow arrived to bring yet another harvest delay. Across the state producers are struggling to get in a crop that is nearly three weeks behind normal.
— Full Story » |
Is your windbreak less effective than it used to be?
As windbreaks age, they deteriorate and simple maintenance may not assure their continued efficiency, said a Nebraska Forest Service specialist. By walking the windbreak from time to time, a landowner can keep tabs on its health, said Conservation Forestry Specialist, Steve Lyda. These checkups allow landowners to see when water’s needed, when a dead branch needs to be removed or when a newly-established windbreak is getting too much competition from weeds or grass. They also allow for assessing any insect or disease damage. — Full Story »
58 percent of Nebraska corn is in the bin
Nebraska's corn harvest jumped to 58 percent complete as of Nov. 9, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said today. That's a big increase from last week's 35 percent complete, although harvest is still well behind the five-year average of 85 percent completed by now. — Full Story »
Friendlier climate for livestock in Nebraska
According to Roger Berry, field director for A-FAN—the Alliance for the Future of Agriculture in Nebraska, some states are implementing tougher regulations for animal agriculture, while the climate for livestock production in Nebraska is actually getting friendlier. He discussed this topic at a recent agriculture conference in Lincoln, Nebraska. — Full Story »
Sustainable Crops and
Livestock Systems Conference set for Dec. 6
“Keeping Agriculture Viable for the Next Generation” is the theme of the sustainable Crops and Livestock Systems Conference, scheduled for Dec. 6 at Sidney. The workshop will take place at Western Nebraska Community College, 371 S. College Drive, from 8:45 a.m. until 3:45 p.m. It sponsored by the University of Nebraska, Nebraska Sustainable Agriculture Society (NSAS) and Organic Crop Improvement Association (OCIA) NE Chapter No. 2. — Full Story »
Growing season battle to bitter end
The 2008 growing season has been a dynamic one to say the least.
"2008 is a growing season that growers and people in agriculture are going to remember for a long time to come," said Extension Educator Keith Glewen. "It's going to be a battle to the bitter end to get those crops in the bin."
— Full Story »
 Powering up wind industry
offers opportunities, challenges
For centuries, entrepreneurs have used windmills to pump water, operate sawmills and flour mills, and generate power. So constructing massive, modern windmills to generate a significant part of the nation's electricity seems like a logical advancement in harnessing wind for a 21st-century world.
— Full Story » |
 Buffer strip program sign-up deadline approaching
The Nebraska Department of Agriculture (NDA) would like to remind landowners and producers of the approaching November 15 deadline to apply for the Nebraska Buffer Strip Program. Applications are currently being accepted for filter strips and riparian forest buffers. — Full Story » |
USDA reduces crop forecast
The USDA Monday slightly reduced its forecast for this year's nationwide corn and soybean harvest, although the federal agency continues to predict the second highest corn harvest on record and fourth largest soy bean harvest. — Full Story »
 Ag land prices may be wilting
After several years of double-digit growth, agricultural land values might be on the decline. While prices for cropland remain high, some properties are fetching 10 to 20 percent less than they would have a few months ago, agricultural real estate agents said. — Full Story » |
Plant trees and shrubs suited for Nebraska's weather
Now is a good time to examine your landscape trees and shrubs to determine which ones may need replacing in the near future. When planting trees next spring, it’s a good idea to keep Nebraska’s weather conditions in mind when deciding what to plant. — Full Story »
Home Heating - Cutting the Costs
The weather has turned colder and if you haven’t thought about how much money it takes to heat your home, you will soon be. There are some simple things to do to help winterize your home. Start with weather stripping and caulking. Both are inexpensive and can pay back in immediate savings on your heating bills. — Full Story »
Sorghum producers association offers scholarships
The Nebraska Grain Sorghum Producers Association is again offering a $400 scholarship to a graduating high school senior or to a student currently enrolled in post-high school education. — Full Story »
Drought management workshop set for Nov. 19 in Imperial
Dry times call for changes in ranch land management — and how to make those changes will be the topic of a meeting Wed., Nov. 19, at the Community Center in Imperial, Neb. The meeting will begin at 6 p.m. with a hosted meal, followed by speakers including Walt Davis of Bennington, Okla., Jerry Volesky of North Platte, Neb., and Bruce Troester of Marsland, Neb.
— Full Story »
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