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Kansas Farm Bureau Perhaps the biggest pastime in spring is watching the weather. I could be just searching for a nice Saturday to visit a park or checking to see if I need to carry an umbrella to the office. For farmers and ranchers, however, spring weather is high stakes and full of questions. Will there be enough rain to awaken the wheat crop and carry it through to maturity? If there is, will it be too much to prevent planting corn and soybeans? Will there be enough moisture to grow enough grass for cattle to graze? Unfortunately for more...
Sam Rempe was born into the cattle industry, helping his dad out much like his own little boy is starting to do now. Rempe Farms sells bulls and heifers, along with embryos that are shipped all over the world. Rempe Farms was established in 1955, and has expanded with each generation. Currently Sam and his father, Jim Rempe, handle the cattle while his uncle ,Ron Rempe, and cousin, Matt Rempe, handle the farming side of business. The goal of the cattle business is to create hybrid seed stock...
4-H members tested their talents and communications skills in front of audiences at Post Rock District 4-H Day events in Beloit and Osborne. Ninety-six youth practiced public speaking, presentation, demonstration, music and dance skills. Risa Overmiller, Post Rock 4-H program coordinator, shared, "4-H is a great way for youth to learn to speak in front of adults and peers with ease." Youth showcased their talents in front of adult judges who provided expert feedback to help youth learn how to...
While some parts of the country didn’t fare so well, Nuckolls County received a great-late winter rain late Sunday and early Monday. Co-CoRaHS reports from around Nuckolls County include 0.49 one and a half miles north of Nora, 0.53 near Lawrence, 0.61 six and a half miles northeast of Superior, 0.63 of inch 8.5 miles northwest of Superior, 0.57 of an inch 4.3 miles east of Hardy, 0.66 of an inch near Nelson. 0.81 inches 4.8 miles south southeast of Deweese and 0.77 inches in Superior. An observer on the outskirts of Guide Rock reported 0...
Sherry Koster, district manager, of Jewell welcomed more than 60 adults and 20 children to the Jewell County Conservation District's Annual Meeting held Wednesday evening, Feb. 22. A Power Point presentation showing the activities of the district, during 2022, played during the meal. The Rangeland and Banker Award winners were also included in the presentation. After the meal, sponsored by the local banks, Chairman Brett Walker, Esbon, called the meeting to order. The minutes of the 2021 annual...
USDA recently mailed its 2022 Census of Agriculture to all known agriculture producers across the nation and Puerto Rico. Producers have the option to respond securely and conveniently online at agcounts.usda.gov or by mail. The deadline for a response is Monday. The Census of Agriculture is conducted every five years by USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS); it is not a Farm Service Agency-conducted survey. However, the Census of Agriculture is important as it tells the story and shows the value of U.S. agriculture. The d...
A letter distributed this week to irrigators served by the Superior Canal reported the Bostwick Irrigation District in Nebraska is now considering the construction of a Republican River Diversion Dam and pumping station to be located south of the Aurora Cooperative’s Superior East elevator. The water taken from the river will be pumped into the Superior Canal about one-half mile east of Superior. The district letter said this will result in a large water savings due to losses currently incurred by running water from the Harlan County Reservoir...
Jewell County farmer, the late Roger Underwood, directed a $5,000 Bayer Fund America’s Farmers Grow Communities donation to Jewell County Helping Hands Ministries. They will use the funds to help feed the residents of Jewell County. “We want to thank the Roger Underwood family for this donation,” said Cathy Dauner, Jewell County Helping Hands Ministries president. “So far we have used the funds to provide extra afternoon snacks for the students at Rock Hills Elementary School, canned vegetables for the food pantry and provide extra condiments f...
USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) sent the 2022 Hemp Production and Disposition Inquiry to Nebraska producers on Jan. 19. Like the 2021 questionnaire, this year’s survey will collect information on the total planted and harvested area, yield, production, and value of hemp in the United States in 2022. NASS estimated the total value of hemp production nationally at $824 million in 2021. Planted area for industrial hemp grown in the open for all utilizations in the United States totaled 54,152 acres. Area harvested for all...
Post Rock Extension District Livestock Production Agent Drought conditions are a common occurrence and livestock producers consequently plan for the worst and hope for the best. Complicating matters this year is the extent to which drought is impacting areas of the U.S., the dramatic increase in feed cost and transportation cost for purchased feed. How does a producer adapt to the current situation without affecting cowherd productivity, while also keeping feed costs from breaking the bank? First, conduct a forage inventory and calculate...
The National Cattlemen's Beef Association's (NCBA) has selected four Nebraska Cattlemen members including one from Nuckolls County to serve as policy committee leaders at the national level. Nebraska Cattlemen now has leaders in four of NCBA's seven policy committees. The policy committee appointments are as follows. Ken Herz from Lawrence is the chairman of the agriculture and food policy committee. Jacylyn Wilson, of Lakeside, is chair of the international trade committee. Mike Drinnin of...
With the area’s economy dependent upon rainfall, the topic of moisture is often the subject of conversations. The year 2022 is now in the history book and for the local area, it will most likely be classified as a “drought” year. Rainfall totals can vary, a lot, even in short distances. We just recorded 2022 total for some locations in Nuckolls and Webster counties from the Little Blue NRD webs site. For the year: Oak: 14.7”; Lawrence: 17.4”; Nelson: 17.6”; Nora 20.14”; SSE Lawrence: 21.6”; and Superior: 23.7”. In Webster County for 2022: Blue...
December brought announcement of plans for two additional shuttle loading elevators to be built in this area. Cooperative Producers, the operator of the Ruskin elevator and other businesses in this area including convenience stores in Superior and Nelson said it will build at 5-million-bushel grain facility along Highway 14 east of Harvard. The site of the new grain handling facility is served by a Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad mainline. The location is one mile north of the Highways 6 and 14 north junction in Clay County. The Clay...
The Kansas State Research and Extension Calving School will be held at 6 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 19, at Mankato. To help prepare for the upcoming calving season, the program will outline overall calving management that includes stages of the normal calving process as well as tips to handle difficult calving situations. A.J. Tarpoff, K-State extension beef veterinarian, who will be the featured speaker. The goals of the program are to increase knowledge, practical skills, and to increase the number of live calves born. The calving school will also...
There is still time to register for an upcoming four-part extension workshop for women in agriculture that will focus on the basics of land management, leasing and conservation for landlords and tenants. “The Power of Negotiation and Communication: Land Leasing Strategies for Midwestern Ag Women” program will be a 4-part series, held at two locations in the Post Rock Extension District. These locations will include Mankato at the Community Center and in Osborne at the United Christian Church. The series will focus on writing agricultural lea...
How did the wheat handle the latest colder temperatures? Kansas weather, you just have to love it or get really frustrated! At this time of year, there can be wide fluctuations of temperatures that can cause the wheat crop to go into dormancy without enough winterhardiness. So keep reading and I will share several factors that can help you determine the degree of potential injury to the wheat crop. The moisture level is an important component when it comes to winter hardiness, according to Romulo Lollato, KSRE wheat and forage specialist....
Dallas Fuller, Mitchell County, is one of Kansas Farm Bureau's Farm Family of the Year honorees. Each year a select number of families receive the Farm Family of the Year award for their service and leadership in agriculture, Farm Bureau and their communities. This year there were 10 families honored. Dallas Fuller farms with his uncle, Jeff, on a 4,500-acre farm south of Beloit where they grow wheat, corn, soybeans and milo. Dallas lives on ground today that can be traced backed to the 1890s...
In recent days Todd Siel, manager of the Lower Republican Natural Resources District, Nick Simonsen, the district’s assistant manager and Mary Goebel, information and education coordinator for the district, have been traveling about the district meeting with residents and reporting on district activities. They were at the Superior County Club on Thursday morning. In 1969, the Nebraska legislature divided the state into 23 natural resource districts. The districts were organized and started operating in 1972. The districts were formed from 1...
Nebraska Extension and the Center for Agricultural Profitability at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln will host a series of in-person land management workshops covering current cash rental rates and leasing considerations for 2023. They will be held at locations across the state during the winter months. The workshops will offer updated leasing information relevant to landlords and tenants, including tips for communication and negotiating. They will address topics like current cash rental rates, managing and adjusting farmland leases,...
Farmers and ranchers interested in preventing erosion, improving soil health, conserving water and wildlife, or making other natural resource conservation improvements to their property are encouraged to apply now for funding available from the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). Those interested in receiving funding should sign up before Nov. 18, 2022. According to NRCS Nebraska State Conservationist Rob Lawson, there are several options available to producers. “NRCS has a whole suite of conservation programs available to f...
What are the risks of planting wheat early? Producers will soon be drilling their 2023 wheat crop and it is always interesting to watch when drilling begins in north central Kansas. Because of our earlier soybean harvest in some fields, producers may be looking to start putting the wheat seed in the ground a little earlier than usual. But waiting may be a better choice! The general target date for planting wheat for optimum grain yields in Kansas is within a week of the best pest management planting date, or BPMP (formerly known as the “Hessian...
More than 30 producers and natural resource professionals attended a field day sponsored by The Kansas Department of Ag Department of Conservation (DOC), Kansas Association of Conservation Districts (KACD), KAWS (Kansas Alliance for Wetland and Streams) and the Jewell County Conservation District (JCCD). These producers came from four counties in Kansas and one in Nebraska to see, firsthand, a variety of working conservation practices that are improving soil health, water quality and livestock...
Unlike in the spring when Lovewell Lake is traditionally filled to the conservation level and beaches donʼt exist, there often are vast beaches available for the Labor Day weekend. The lower level makes it more challenging to launch boats and boaters must watch out for hazards that in the spring are covered by several feet of water. However, the lower level provides for different recreational activities. On Labor Day the lake was filled to about 40 percent of capacity and people were observed...
Dogs make great pets, companions and 4-H projects. Kelli Burrus, Post Rock District 4-H dog project leader, volunteers to teach dog care and training because she thrives on seeing youth find success. Kelli is enthusiastic about dogs and sharing what it takes to show and train dogs. She works with 4-H members at project meetings to help them train their dogs basic obedience commands and, if desired, prepare them for the Post Rock District 4-H dog show in July. "Through the dog project, youth not...
Thanks to “Mother Nature” for the moisture, the wheat crop continues to develop! The “in-person” 2022 KSU-Post Rock Extension District Wheat Plot Tours, Thursday, May 26, will view more than 25 varieties in each of the wheat plots with four stops. The wheat tour day will have an “eastern” and “western” leg of the tours starting at 10 a.m. in Smith County with the Jewell County tour starting at 10:30 a.m. There will be two sites for lunch at Emerson Lake near Jewell, sponsored by Central National Bank and at Solomon Rapids Seed Plant west of O...
