Extension Update by Gary L. Zoubek - Extension Educator
Coming Events
Nov. 30, 2011 – York County Corn Grower Resolutions Meeting, 8:30 a.m., Chance R, York
Nov. 30, 2011 – Farmers and Ranchers College, Dr. Dave Kohl, 1p.m., Opera House, Bruning, call 402-759-3712 to register
Dec. 6, 2011 – Landlord/Tenant Cash Lease Workshop, 5-9pm, Adams Co. Fairgrounds, Hastings, call 402-461-7209 to register
Dec. 9-10, 2011– Returning to the Farm Workshop, Holiday Inn Downtown Lincoln. 800-472-1742
Dec. 15-16 – AgSMARTS Program, Extension Office, Seward
Dec. 19, 2011 – Extension Board Exec. Mtg, 7:00 p.m., Extension Office, York.
Corn Growers Resolution Meeting Planned
Clark Pickrel, President of the York County Corn Growers asked that I mention in my column that they will be holding a Board of Directors meeting Wednesday, November 30th at the Chances R at 8:30am. All York County Corn Growers are invited to attend this Board of Director’s Meeting. They will be conducting officer elections and discussing possible resolutions for the Annual Nebraska Corn Grower meeting to be held in Kearney in January! Hopefully we’ll see you at the meeting this Wednesday morning!
Happy Holidays and Christmas Ideas
I hope you had a great Thanksgiving weekend! It’s hard to believe that another year is almost gone! I did not go out and do much shopping on Friday or online this weekend, but did see a lot of people out and around! For me it’s a little too early with too much to select from.
How about some ideas for that producer in your life that’s like me and hard to shop for? If they’re an irrigator like many in this area are, how about some irrigation management tools like Watermark Sensors or ETgagues? They’re a gift that I know every producer can use and in most cases save water and energy with no or little effect on yields. I visited with Dan at the Upper Big Blue NRD today and he indicated that the NRD will again have cost share available to producers on this equipment! I know that this equipment does work and every producer that irrigates should at least try it on a field or two. We’ve got manuals and how to information and would be glad to assist you your first year with installing, monitoring and learning to use the equipment.
The network we’ve been involved with since 2005 has grown from 15-18 producers in this NRD to over 700 statewide this past year! For more information about these tools or questions about what to order contact me at the Extension Office 402-362-5508 or gzoubek1@unl.edu or Dan at the NRD 402-362-6601 or at: http://www.upperbigblue.org/. Information is also available at http://water.unl.edu/web/cropswater/nawmdn. We’re planning on hosting some informational meeting after the first of the year, watch for more details to come.
Another popular gift idea at this time of year are our blue (now red) farming record books. Each year we sell several copies of this popular publication!
Farmers Tax Guides
Each year at this time I pickup several copies of the IRS Publication 225 Farmer’s Tax Guide. I’ve picked them up and they’re available at our office, stop by our office located at 2345 Nebraska Avenue here in York if you’d like a copy!
Farmers & Ranches College
I’ve mentioned it a couple times that Dr. David Kohl will be the featured speaker at the kick-off of the Farmers & Ranches College season. It will be November 30th at the Bruning Opera House at 1:00 p.m. and is titled “Global Economic Impacts on the Farm & Ranchâ€. This workshop will focus on the new mega trends impacting  producers’ profitability and lifestyles. What will be the emerging nations’ role? What will be the economic game changers? How can producers position themselves to capitalize on these trends? Do high farmland values represent a credit or asset bubble? Where is the economy heading? To register, call the Fillmore County Extension Office at (402) 759-3712.
CROP-TIP Meeting Planned
The Eighth Annual CROP-TIP field day will be held Wednesday December 7th at the City Auditoriums. Topics will include irrigation and nitrogen management, results from the CROP-TIP plots, weather outlook information as well as featured speaker Sue Martin, President and owner of Ag. & Investment Services, Inc.
Registration is from 9:00 – 9:30 a.m. with the program from 9:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Lunch and door prizes will be provided. Please RSVP to DeeDee at the NRD by calling 402-362-6601. It should be a good program that will also get you certified for Phase II certification.
Returning to the Farm
Is someone from your family considering returning to the farm in the future? If so, consider attending this returning to the farm program! It will be held Dec. 9-10 and Jan. 6-7 the Holiday Inn Downtown in Lincoln and it is required that you attend both weekends and that all members of the farm management team attend.
Bringing a young person into a farm/ranch operation presents challenges. However, the business operation can accomplish numerous goals by helping the young person get a solid start in the operation, keeping the farm/ranch in the family, and ensuring a comfortable retirement for all involved. Blending different talents and personalities into one farming operation takes planning, communication, and management accomplish. The Returning to the Farm program is designed to assist families and operations in developing a financial plan and successful working arrangements that will meet the needs of multiple families. For more information call 800-472-1742 or check it out by going to http://york.unl.edu, click on my articles and you’ll find a registration form.
Explore Farming Class Planned
My column this week seems to be filled with information about beginning farming. But when you think of farming I often think of large fields and corn and soybeans or livestock production. But what about those of us on acreages or small farms, did your garden do well this year, and you are thinking about selling at the farmer’s market next year? Do you have dreams of self-sufficiency and living off the land? Are you a budding entrepreneur?
If any of these apply to you, come to the free Explore Farming Class at UNL Extension in Lancaster County on December 3, 2011 from 10 – noon. This two-hour seminar will help you think through the resources, skills, and time you will need to launch a successful farm business. Local farmers and participants in the Community CROPS Growing Farmers Training Program will be on hand to answer questions. Information about various training opportunities in the 2012 season will also be available.
The class is free, but you must register to attend. To register, simply send your name and phone number to warren@communitycrops.org. For more information, check out this website: http://www.communitycrops.org/
Often, when we think of farms, today we think of large equipment and large farms, but growing food locally is on the steady increase, so if you’re interested, think about attending.
Variety Testing Results
Now is the time of year that your evaluating this past years yield results and selecting next season varieties. Have you checked out the UNL variety trials? They’re available on the CropWatch website at: http://cropwatch.unl.edu/web/varietytest/home. This seasons tests include plots in Butler, Clay, Gage, Hamilton and York Counties, while the soybean results are from Clay, Saline and Saunders counties.
Also be sure the check out the York County Corn Growers and RoundUp Ready plots. They’re located at our website: http://york.unl.edu. Click on Gary’s articles and then plot results!
