Extension Highlights

Improving beef herd profitability

Rick Funston, University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension beef reproductive physiologist, encourages ranchers to look at their operation as a system from calving to harvesting the steers and adding heifers to the breeding herd. Funston says having cows calve in the early part of the calving season is the most important factor in the profitability of the herd. Additional information summarizing opportunities for improving beef herd profitability are found in the first four articles of the 2010 Beef Report including the topic of early calving season.

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Are You Interested in Becoming a Farmers Market Grower?

The reasons for growing your own food on your acreage are numerous; however, it is just as important to grow food for your community. There are multiple reasons to become a local producer. Check out the reasons listed by the Nebraska Local Foods Network

See what college students think about local foods. Check out RealNebraska.unl.edu-

Good, Fresh, Local

Weigh the benefits and strongly consider becoming a local producer. The growing local foods movement needs more local producers. If you are interested in starting a local foods business, search for more information on the Nebraska Local Foods Network website or go to the UNL Extension website on Locally Grown Food.

Extension Help on Last Irrigation Timing

The last few irrigations of the season require some of the most important water management decisions of the year. An extra irrigation may mean wasting 1 to 3 inches of water and 2 to 5 gallons of diesel fuel per acre. In addition, leaving the soil dry in the fall has several important advantages including reduced opportunity for soil compaction during harvest, shorter harvest delays following rain, and opportunity for storing more off-season precipitation. For additional information of timing of your last irrigation, see the CropWatch news release or the NebGuide publication on this topic.

Come and Enjoy the Nebraska State Fair

With eleven-days of fabulous fun, the Nebraska State Fair is one of the biggest events in Nebraska. In fact, the fun is so huge, immense, and vast; you can’t fit it all in one day. Come see the many 4-H, FFA, Open Class exhibits and interactive educational activities. There will be Agricultural displays, exhibits, presentations and demonstrations; concerts and shows; contests; special displays and events; festivals and exciting attractions; motorsports; parades and marching bands; and of course lots of fun on the midway. For more information visit the Nebraska State Fair

For a listing of 4-H events and schedules go to: 4-H at the Nebraska State Fair