Extension Update by Gary L. Zoubek - Extension Educator
Coming Events
Jan. 17, 2012, 7:00 p.m. – Heuermann Lecture, Hardin Hall, Lincoln, http://heuermannlectures.unl.edu/
Jan. 19, 2012, 8:30 a.m. – Ag Day, Hamilton County Fairgrounds, Aurora
Jam. 23, 2012, 7:00 p.m. – Extension Board Meeting, Extension Office, York
Jan. 25, 2012, 1:30 p.m. – Private Pesticide Applicator Training, 4-H Building, York
Feb. 1-2, 2012 – Nebraska Agricultural Technologies Association Conference & Trade Show, Midtown Holiday Inn, Grand Island http://neata.org
Feb. 2, 2012, 6:00 p.m. – From Farms to Families Program, Opera House, Bruning
Feb. 6, 2012, 9:00 a.m. – Center Pivot Irrigation Management Short-Course, Monsanto Water Utilization Learning Center, Gothenburg
Feb. 8, 2012, 9:00 a.m. – Center Pivot Irrigation Management Short-Course, Cornerstone Ag & Event Center, York
Feb. 16, 2012, 1:30 p.m. – Private Pesticide Applicator Training – 4-H Building, York
Feb. 16, 2012, 6:00 p.m. – From Farms to Families Program, Opera House, Bruning
March 7, 1:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m., Chemigation Training, 4-H Building, YorkÂ
CropWatch Updates
Have you been to the CropWatch Website this week?  If not and you are a crop producer, tenant or landlord, you need to check it out! It’s packed full with timely information including 2012 crop budgets (which on average have gone up about 15%) and two stories related to negotiating cash rents and leases as well as lease termination.
It also includes updates about this past years research related to soybean seed treatments and the effects of foliar fungicides plus insecticides on soybean disease severity and yields. Results from the nutrient management trials conducted at the Soybean Management Field Days have also been posted along the variety trail results!
I hope you’ll take some time this week to check it out at http://CropWatch.unl.edu it’s packed full of information I know you can use.
Pesticide Safety Education Programs
It’s that time of year for those of you needing to renew your Private Pesticide Applicators License or for those of you that want to be licensed for the first time. I will be holding sessions in York, Seward and Polk Counties:
In addition to the core required topic concerning pesticide safety, I will share information about our on-farm research and our ag water efforts as well as other timely UNL research updates. Dates for my first two York sessions are included in my list of coming events and the third session is planned for March 13th! If you are unable to attend one of these sessions, you can attend a session in a different county or take it by home study, which costs $60.00 compared to coming to the sessions I present which cost $30.00.
A list of all the Nebraska pesticide safety education programs can be found at: http://pested.unl.edu/.
AG Day Program Planned
All area producers are invited to the Annual Ag Day Program to be held in Aurora on Thursday January 19th. It looks like Jim and his committee has a great program planned! I hope you’ll be able to attend.
Topics will include:
Nebraska Corn Grower and Corn Board Reports
USDA Program Updates
Upper Big Blue NRD Updates
Selecting Criteria for Corn Hybrid Selection
Goss’s Wilt and Frogeye Leaf Spot- Which diseases are present and how to manage them
An introduction to Flexible Cash Leasing
On-Farm Research and Extension Educator Updates
The final topic of the day will be a report by Al Dutcher, NE State Climatologist on La Nina Conditions and a 2012 Weather Update.
From Farms to Families
Brandy VanDeWalle wanted me to share information about some upcoming From Farms to Families programs being planned for Feb. 2nd and 16th! From Farms to Families is a program designed to empower women in agriculture with a better understanding of the issues that affect their operation’s profitability.
It will be held on February 2nd and 16th from 6:00 to 8:30 p.m. at the Opera House in Bruning, NE. During the first session, participants will learn how to develop their green thumb, become a more informed citizen about animal welfare policies and learn a quick and easy healthy meal that can be prepared in a crock-pot. The second session focuses on canning and food preservation, learning about some basic animal health issues and learning another healthy meal option that can be prepared quickly and conveniently.
Cost of the program is $25 for one session or $45 for both sessions. The price includes all materials and a light meal. To register, call 759-3712. More information can be found at:  http://fillmore.unl.edu/crops-future.
Center Pivot Irrigation Management Short-Courses Planned
Enhancing the value of water through advanced irrigation management is the goal of a series of two center pivot irrigation management short-courses planned for Feb. 6 & 8, 2012 in Gothenburg and York. They will be held February 6, 2012 at the Monsanto Water Utilization Learning Center near Gothenburg and for February 8, 2012 at the Cornerstone Ag & Event Center on the York County Fairgrounds in York.
Registration begins at 9:00 a.m. with the welcome at 9:30 a.m.
The Planned Program Topics will include: Performance of center pivots; soil water management; matching sprinklers to soils; sprinkler package selection; minimizing pumping costs; estimating crop water use; water balance, consumptive use/limited irrigation; center pivot technology and variable rate irrigation; and center pivot management.
The meetings will close with keynote speakers at 2:20 p.m.
Feb. 6th – Chandler Mazour, Monsanto Learning Center Manager, Gothenburg Water Utilization Learning Center
Feb. 8th – Ronnie Green, NU Vice President and IANR Harlan Vice Chancellor, Lincoln
These two short courses are sponsored by the University of Nebraska Lincoln Extension, Reinke, Valley, T-L Lindsay, and the Nebraska Environmental Trust Fund.
No cost to attend, however participants are asked to register so that adequate materials and meals will be available.
For the Feb. 6th Gothenburg meeting call 308-995-4222 or email:cburr1@unl.edu
For the Feb. 8th York meeting call (402)-362-5508 or email:gzoubek1@unl.edu
Additional information can be found at: http://water.unl.edu/web/cropswater/home.
Chemigation Training and Certification Classes Planned
I’ve received a few calls and questions about Chemigation classes. The dates for these classes in our area of the state have been set! These sessions are designed for producers that may want to apply nitrogen or pesticides thru the irrigation water. We’ve had increased interest in this process especially for spoon feeding nitrogen during the growing season.
Participants will be provided a chemigation manual and calibration workbook the day of the training. Participants attending for the first time are encourage to pick up a copy of the training materials prior to the training. Review of study materials prior to the training session is encouraged.
Training and testing will take approximately 3 to 4 hours. On the day of training please bring your Chemigation Training Manual, Calibration Workbook, and a calculator. There is no charge for the manuals or training. Advanced registration is not required. Let me know if you need information about the chemigation sessions.
Training sessions in our area of the state are planned for:
Mach 2, 9:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., Extension Office, Fremont
March 2, 9:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., Extension Office, Beatrice
March 7, 1:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m., 4-H Building, York
March 13, 9:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., Extension Office, Grand Island
April 4, 1:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m., 4-H Building, York
Other sessions across the state can be found at: http://bit.ly/A8FGbg.
NeATA Conference Planned
Dave Varner and the Nebraska Agricultural Technologies Association (NeATA) have a great Conference & Trade Show planned for Feb. 1-2nd at the Midtown Holiday Inn in Grand Island. Some topics I’m interested in include: Farm-Based Networks for Irrigation Management, Variable Rate Irrigation, Smartphone and Tablet Applications for the Farm and Irrigation Sensor Remote Data Access just to name a few.
Check out their website: http://neata.org for more information or to register. I hope you’ll be able to attend!
