Gusty winds, warm days mark January

Posted: Thursday, Feb 2nd, 2012
Seasonal winds continued to flow across the tri-state region over the last seven days as the barometer ticked up and the split jet stream wobbled a bit as it passed over our region.
Warmish daytime temperatures continued to be the norm and overnight lows were reasonably mild as well. The light dustings of scattered snow that temporarily halted traffic on ...more

Getting the most from your fertilizer investment

Modified: Thursday, Feb 2nd, 2012
Fertilizer production costs have increased substantially in recent years. When you look at the numbers, remember that commodity prices also have increased significantly.
If you are a shrewd marketer, you have taken advantage of crop pricing opportunities that will help offset the higher production costs. You may still be able to find a few bargains for pre-paid fertilizer, however, most ...more

Premier seed grower award goes to Cullan Farms

Posted: Thursday, Feb 2nd, 2012
The Nebraska Crop Improvement Association and the Nebraska Seed Trade Association held its 19th annual Seed Improvement Conference on Jan. 16-18 in North Platte.
The Nebraska Crop Improvement Association presented its 2011 Premier Seed Grower Award and Distinguished Service Award during the award banquet on Jan. 17. ...more

Cow-calf commentary: Night moves

Posted: Thursday, Feb 2nd, 2012
It's just after 9 p.m. and I'm in my element. I'm on the billiard table flatness of Kimball County's South Divide, a few miles north of the broken lands that mark the Nebraska-Colorado border. All around me the country is flat to the horizon, providing unobstructed sightlines across former short grass prairie, most of which has been long since turned ...more

Farmers produced less in 2011, USDA reports

Posted: Thursday, Feb 2nd, 2012
Hindered by unfavorable planting and growing conditions during 2011, U.S. farmers produced a smaller crop than the previous year according to the Crop Production 2011 Summary released Jan. 12 by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Agricultural Statistics Service.
Depending on location, producers in the United States battled everything from drought and above normal temperatures to heavy rains and lowland ...more

USDA unveils new plant hardiness zone map

Posted: Thursday, Feb 2nd, 2012
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) released the new version of its Plant Hardiness Zone Map (PHZM) on Jan. 25, updating a useful tool for gardeners and researchers for the first time since 1990 with greater accuracy and detail. The new map, jointly developed by USDA's Agricultural Research Service (ARS) and Oregon State University's (OSU) PRISM Climate Group, is available ...more

Seasonal winds scour tri-state region

Posted: Thursday, Jan 26th, 2012
The trend of unusual January warmth continued across the tri-state region over the past week, following a now established weekly pattern of reasonably warm and sunny days and mild nights interrupted by little more than a day-long weekly dose of wintry conditions.
Strong seasonal winds reappeared over the week as high-pressure air flowed from the north to wash across the ...more

Dry bean variety trial results online at CropWatch website

Modified: Thursday, Jan 26th, 2012
LINCOLN, University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension Educator Jim Schild said the 2011 Dry Bean Variety tests included 103 entries representing eight market classes of dry edible beans: great northern, pinto, light red kidney, navy, small red, black, cranberry and pink beans.
The trial results come from plots at the Mitchell and Scottsbluff agricultural labs. Schild said stand establishment at the ...more

Animal welfare topic for livestock producers

Modified: Thursday, Jan 26th, 2012
GERING, Gering and three other Nebraska cities will host meetings in early February to educate livestock producers about perceptions and perspectives of animal welfare in relation to consumers, retailers, and advocacy groups.
It is valuable information for producers as the world population grows and safe and wholesome food production remains a top priority, organizers say. The University of Nebraska-Lincoln ...more

2012 Beef Feedlot Roundtables at Bridgeport, other locations in February

Posted: Thursday, Jan 26th, 2012
SCOTTSBLUFF, Beef feedlot managers, owners, employees and supporting industry personnel will learn the latest in feedlot health, nutrition, environment and economics at the 2012 Beef Feedlot Roundtables Feb. 16 in Bridgeport and earlier in the week at two other locations.
In Bridgeport, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension Roundtable will be offered at the Prairie Winds Community Center.
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Cow-calf commentary: Enjoying welcome weather and my return to good health

Posted: Thursday, Jan 26th, 2012
Tuesday morning as I drove out to check cattle, I was surrounded by the beauty of a light January snowfall. The snow was heavy enough to bring the horizon close and to frost the sere brown grass of the native prairie. The temperature was cool but pleasant for a January day in the southwest Panhandle and the north-northwest wind was ...more

Bruning files for U.S. Senate run

Posted: Thursday, Jan 26th, 2012
LINCOLN - Nebraska Attorney General Jon Bruning filed papers with the secretary of state Monday to seek election to the U.S. Senate.
Bruning is seeking the seat currently held by Ben Nelson, who recently announced he would not seek re-election. ...more

UNL leads $25 million project targeting E. coli threat to food safety

Posted: Thursday, Jan 26th, 2012
LINCOLN, The University of Nebraska-Lincoln will lead a $25 million project to reduce throughout the beef production chain the occurrence of E. coli strains that pose a major threat to public health.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Institute of Food and Agriculture announced the grant Monday at UNL.
...more