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A workshop series for women in agriculture will offer strategies to evaluate and improve farm estate and transition plans. “Leaving a Lasting Legacy for Midwestern Farm Women: A Succession Planning Series,” will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. on Tuesdays, Jan. 21, Jan. 28, Feb. 4 and Feb. 11, at two locations in the Post Rock District; First Bank Meeting Room in Beloit and the Smith County Courthouse basement meeting room in Smith Center. The workshops will also be hosted at 61 other sites across Kansas, Nebraska and Indiana. The series is being pro...
Most producers are working on or finishing up drilling their 2025 wheat crop. Especially with the dry conditions, the wheat has been slow to germinate and when it does, there will be limited growth. So, it won’t take many worms to actually damage the wheat. Scouting is the key and producers should take the time, once the wheat germinates, to look for the worms to determine if damage has occurred. Some insects that could be invading your wheat crop, include grasshoppers, flea beetles and several different “worms.” These “worms” are most comm...
Somewhere “In the Middle”… NOAA has released its U.S. Winter Outlook. The outlook is for December 2024 through February 2025. For the U.S. as a whole, the general trend leans toward cooler and wetter conditions across the north and drier and warmer conditions across the south. That leaves south central Nebraska and north central Kansas somewhere “in the middle.” More specifically, and despite the expected development of weak La Nina conditions in the Central Pacific Ocean, there are no strong trends to sway the outlook either way for the local...
Livestock Producers in Nuckolls County are eligible for drought recovery assistance according to Jay VanWesten, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) executive director for Thayer and Nuckolls counties. The agency is now accepting applications for the Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP) for grazing losses because of the drought. The deadline to apply for 2024 LFP assistance is Jan. 30, 2025. LFP provides compensation to eligible livestock producers who suffered grazing losses for covered livestock because of...
The regular meeting of the Mankato City Council was called to order by Mayor Justin Schoonover Tuesday, Sept. 3. Councilmembers present were Kevin Ost, Stuart Boyles, George Hennion, Rodney Payne and Sam Becker. Also present were Anthony Roy, city administrator, Mavin McCormick, electric superintendent, and Darrell Miller, city attorney. Visitor present was Shelby Dennard. City administrator presented Ordinance No. 478 allowing female chickens within city limits. The council approved the ordinance. After the council reviewed payment number 6 fo...
The Osborne County Community Foundation is partnering with Midway Co-op, to create an endowed fund. The Midway Coop Ag Fund will provide competitive grant opportunities for agriculture projects, FFA programs, and 4-H clubs within the company’s operating area, including Jewell, Osborne, Russell and Smith counties. The framework for Midway Co-op dates back to 1907 when the framework was laid for the Osborne County Farmers Union Cooperative Association—the first county unit cooperative in the state of Kansas. It all began when Osborne County res...
The Jewell County Farm Service Agency will be holding an election for a new county committee member to represent LAA 3 for a three-year term beginning in January. Jared Nelson has agreed to be the nominee for this election. The following is a biography shared by Jared. My name is Jared Nelson. I was raised on the family farm in Jewell County. Growing up, I was involved in 4-H and FFA. After high school, I attended Fort Hays State University and achieved a bachelor’s degree in agronomy. I then returned to the area where I worked as an ag mechani...
One word best defines how Megan Landes-Murphy and her husband, Tom Murphy, met, made career choices and launched a unique-to-Nebraska business. Sheep. Neither spent much time around the animals while growing up in northwest Wisconsin and the Omaha area, respectively. Now, they have sheep, a few chickens and two Great Pyrenees dogs named Milo and Birdie on their 12-acre ranch east of the small south-central Nebraska town of Lawrence. Two years ago, Landes-Murphy launched Kestrel Ridge Pellet...
They used to call them corn husking bees but corn husking is no more so perhaps we should call it a corn picking bee. Whatever, the name friends and neighbors of the late Richard Corman, am Edgar-Davenport area farmer, are gathering at 8 a.m. Friday to harvest approximately 400 acres of corn. The noon lunch will be provided by nearby business firms....
Nebraska Extension will host a crop insurance workshop for agricultural producers and agribusiness professionals from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, at the Heartland Events Center in Grand Island, 700 E. Stolley Park Road. The event will help attendees improve their risk management strategies and boost their understanding of crop insurance. Crop and livestock producers, insurance agents, marketing consultants, agricultural educators and other risk management service providers are encouraged to attend. “Understanding crop insurance can g...
Benoit Angus, Esbon, ranked as third largest in registering the most Angus beef cattle in Kansas with the American Angus Association during fiscal year 2024, which ended Sept. 30, according to Mark McCully, association chief executive officer. Angus breeders across the nation in 2024 registered 302,716 head of Angus cattle. “Our association members lead the industry in adopting new technology and breeding the most problem-free cattle for their customers,” McCully said. “Cattlemen across the country continue to find registered Angus seeds...
While Nuckolls County was not included, many nearby counties were under a Red Flag Warning on Monday. Such warnings are issued by the National Weather Service when the expected weather conditions can lead to ideal wildland fire conditions. These exist when conditions are right for combustion or ignition of a wildfire and the rapid spread of the fire. While the harvest season always increases the danger of fire, the danger has been increased by the lack of precipitation the last couple of months. On Monday the movement of a cold wave through...
L-N competes at FFA State Range Judging at Imperial On Wednesday, Sept. 25, the 2024 State Range Judging Contest was held in Chase County near Imperial, Nebraska. This is the 70th year for the contest and it was graciously hosted by the Society for Range Management, the NRCS, Nebraska Extension and the NRD. This contest is held in varying parts of the state each year and can prove to be a challenge even for those students familiar with the area. Vying for top spot were 402 students from 41 FFA...
Harvest is here and it’s been wonderful to see some good yields thus far! I was not expecting what we’re seeing for non-irrigated corn yields with how dry it’s been. And, it’s wonderful to finally see good soybean yields again! So far, non-irrigated, depending on area, is going 50 to 70 bushels per acre and irrigated is going 70 to high 80s. The beans are also beautiful in size and quality so far this year! Harvest Safety: For all of us as we’re on the roads, please be alert and slow down. It’s also important to talk about safety with teens...
One of the greatest challenges cattle producers often experience during weaning is getting newly weaned calves to consume feed in bunk. Unfortunately, successfully addressing this challenge is essential to success. Simply stated, “Cattle that don’t eat don’t perform.” Preparing calves, understanding how much dry feed calves will likely consume and developing a feeding strategy or plan is one of the best ways to ensure success in the weaning pen. Feeding both cows and calves a small amount of the supplement or weaning ration prior to weaning...
Kylie Beard of Nelson is among 200 Husker undergraduates who have been awarded stipends by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln to participate in research with a faculty mentor this fall. Beard, a junior majoring in animal science, will participate in the project “Endocrine Comparison of the Follicular Phase of the Estrous Cycle Between GnRH-II Receptor Knockdown and Litter Mate Control Gilts” as part of Nebraska’s Undergraduate Creative Activities and Research Experiences program, which supports undergraduates to work with faculty mentors in re...
Throughout the year, Robyn Menke elementary cook, and Janie Corman, middle-high school cook, provide locally raised beef two days a week for the students. The Lawrence-Nelson Beef @ School committee alternates between the elementary and middle-high school every month to educate about beef and grill hamburgers for the students. Another activity the beef donations provide is for the senior class to have a special steak meal on their last day of school. The only request is for the senior class to carry forward the producers’ passion for the beef i...
Seven sponsoring agencies provided the funding for a soil health tour, last Tuesday to Wine Glass Ranch, Imperial, Nebraska. This ranch is the 2022 Leopold Conservation Award recipient for the State of Nebraska. During the ride to the ranch Troy Munsch, KACD-ADM, Brian Sorensen, KAWS-WRAPS, and Jeremy Jacobs, NRCS, presented information oncover crop payment options, livestock watering options and conservation practices available for cost-share. Logan Pribbeno, the 5th gener- ation family member...
Producers of north central Kansas are studying their 2024 wheat yields and making selections for their 2025 wheat crop. Post Rock Extension District was fortunate to have had five wheat demonstration plots around the district with one of them the KSU performance “replicated” trials that were planted four times in one location. “We are fortunate to have very special cooperators around the district who are willing to put in the extra time to provide local data for producers of north central Kansas,” according to Sandra Wick, crop product...
Jewell County Farm Service Agency (FSA) reminds producers of approaching application deadlines for purchasing risk coverage for some crops through the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP). NAP provides financial assistance to producers of non-insurable crops impacted by natural disasters that result in lower yields, crop losses or prevented crop planting. NAP covers losses from natural disasters on crops for which no permanent federal crop insurance program is available, including forage and grazing crops, fruits, vegetables, flori...
Forage Analysis: What Numbers Do I Need? By Blaire Todd Post Rock District Livestock Production Agent One of the more common questions regarding analytical testing of forages and other feedstuffs is “I have the sample, now what do I test for or what analysis package should I select?” The basic components that nutritionists need to evaluate a feedstuff or develop a ration are dry matter or moisture, crude protein, an estimate of the energy content of the feedstuff (Total Digestible Nutrients (TDN), Net Energy for Maintenance (NEm), Net Ene...
Clover Kid Fair Results Brittyn Bargen - placemat. Freya Bargen - placemat. Kimber Bargen - Placemat, healthy snack - energy bites, home item made from recycled items - tin can lantern, my choice - just outside the door - tic tac toe, hanging heart, wooden rainbow, beef showmanship, companion animal show. Baylor Behrends - Making food for me - my choice - chocolate chip cookie, photography display - just outside the door - duck, cat, dog, my choice - just outside the door - painted table, my...
Participants on the annual Soil Health Tour, hosted by the Jewell County Conservation District, will have the opportunity to tour a progressive and innovative ranch in the Sandhills of Nebraska. Wine Glass Ranch, north of Imperial, Nebraska, is a Leopold Conservation Award Recipient. The Leopold Award is given in honor of renowned conservationist Aldo Leopold. “The award recognizes landowners who inspire others with their exemplary dedication to land, water and wildlife habitat management on private, working lands,” as stated by the Sand Cou...
For the fifth consecutive year, the average all-land value of agricultural land in Nebraska increased, reaching $4,015 per acre in the 12-month period ending Feb. 1, 2024, according to the final report from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s 2023-2024 Farm Real Estate Market Survey. This marks a 5 percent increase over the prior year and is the highest non-inflation-adjusted statewide land value in the history of the survey. Based on 2024 market values, Nebraska’s estimated total value of agricultural land and buildings rose to app...
Many folks in south central Nebraska are just sitting back and enjoying what seems to be very adequate rainfall for the year. Even with the weekend storm that toppled 30 poles in the South Central Public Power District, most of which were in Clay County, the local area has been mostly storm damaged free in 2024. The weekend storm was interesting. The wind and rain event seemed to be the worse in the Clay Center to Sutton area, but the South Central Public Power District had to repair damage in Nuckolls and Webster counties as well. They...
