Coming Events
Feb. 28, 6:30 p.m. – MG Horticulture Connect Training, Extension Office, York, Topic: Tree Problems: Environmental and Pests – Graham Herbst, Community Forest Specialist
Feb. 29, 10:00 a.m. – Cornhusker Economics and Outlook Conference – Fairgrounds, Clay Center
March 6, 6:30 p.m. – MG Horticulture Connect Training, Extension Office, York, Topic: Herbaceous Perennial Management –Kim Todd, Landscape Design Professor
March 7, 1:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m., Chemigation Training, 4-H Building, York
March 13, 6:30 p.m. – MG Horticulture Connect Training, Extension Office, York, Topic: Soils and Soil Management Brad Jakubowski, Landscape Environmental and Earth Sciences, Doane College
March 13, 6:30 p.m. – Private Pesticide Applicator Training – 4-H Building, York
March 14, 9:00 a.m. – Crop Scout Training – ARDC, near Mead, http://ardc.unl.edu/training.shtml
March 19, 10:00 a.m. – Nebraska Agricultural Water Management Network Informational Meeting, Polk Co. Fairground Exhibit Building, Osceola
March 19, 1:30 p.m. – Nebraska Agricultural Water Management Network Informational Meeting, Seward Extension Office
March 20, 10:00 a.m. – Nebraska Agricultural Water Management Network Informational Meeting, 4-H Building, York
March 20, 6:30 p.m. – MG Horticulture Connect Training, Extension Office, York, Topic: March 20 – Weed Management Lowell Sandell, Extension Educator
March 21, 6:30 p.m. – Landowner/Tenant Lease Workshop, 4-H Building, York
April 4, 1:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m., Chemigation Training, 4-H Building, York
National Ag Week Open House
National Ag Week, is about recognizing and celebrating the abundance provided by agriculture in the United States. The theme for this year’s celebration is American Agriculture: Feeding the Future, Filling the Gaps.
In recognition of the contributions of the York County farmers, an open house is planned for Monday through Thursday, March 5-8, 2012 at the York USDA Service Center, 419 West 6th St., York, Nebraska. This is an opportunity to thank the farmers of York County for their contribution to sustaining this nation and the world by providing the food, fuel, and fiber that we use every day. The public is invited.
Informational displays will be provided by York County FSA, York County NRCS, Upper Big Blue NRD, York County Extension, and Pheasants Forever. Refreshments will be served and door prizes will be awarded. The open house will run from 8:30 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. each day March 5th – 8th. For additional details, call the office at 402-362-5700 ext 2. The Extension display will include some of the tools being used in our Nebraska Ag Water Management Network (NAWMN), so stop by and check them out!
Chemigation Training and Certification Classes Planned
I have chemigation training sessions planned for:
March 7, 1:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m., 4-H Building, York
April 4, 1:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m., 4-H Building, York
Participants will be provided a manual and calibration workbook the day of the training, but it this will be your first time, you may want to stop by our office to obtain a copy of the materials so that you can review them prior to attending the training session. The training/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.
Crop Scout Training Planned for March 14th
Keith Glewen, Extension Educator in Saunders County shared some information about plans for a Crop Scout Training planned for March 14th from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the university’s Agricultural Research and Development Center near Mead.
Cost is $125 and includes lunch, refreshment breaks, workshop materials and instruction manual. Registrants should preregister to reserve their seat and to ensure workshop materials are available the day of the training session. Updated reference materials are included in this year’s take-home instruction manual.
Topics include: how corn and soybean plants grow and develop, soybean and corn insect management, insect quiz, identifying weeds — plant morphology, using a key to identify weed seedlings, crop diseases and quiz, and nutrient deficiencies.
Certified Crop Advisor continuing education credits are available with 4 in pest management, 1 in crop management and .5 in fertility/nutrient management.
For more information or to register, contact UNL Extension at 402-624-8030, 800-529-8030, email Keith Glewen at kglewen1@unl.edu, or online at http://ardc.unl.edu/training.shtml.
Landowner/Tenant Lease Workshop Planned
This time of year we receive many questions about leases and land values, so we’ve scheduled a workshop designed to assist landowners, tenants and agri-business professionals with issues related to farmland ownership management, and leasing arrangements. This workshop is planned for Wednesday evening March 21st from 6:30 to 9:00 p.m.
Topics include: Trend is farmland values and cash lease values, good lease communications, writing a good lease, and flexible cash leases.
The Nebraska Soybean Board is sponsoring the workshop, so there is no cost to attend and receive the handouts, but please call 402-362-5508 or email me at gzoubek1@unl.edu to reserve a spot and ensure adequate handouts will be prepared. This workshop is designed for both landlords and tenants, so reserve your spot today!
4-H Is Gearing Up!
The 4-H program is now gearing up for the coming year. We have lots of activities for our young people to become involved with such has rockets, gardening, live animals and much more! We can always use more volunteers to help lead 4-H clubs or help with special activities and events including the county fair. If you want to learn more about the 4-H Program contact our office at 402-362-5508 or visit our webpage at: http://york.unl.edu.
Nebraska Agricultural Water Management Network Informational Meetings Planned
I’d like to encourage all area irrigators to a series of informational meetings about our NAWMN planned for Monday March 19th and 20th in our area. Meetings are planned for:
10:00 a.m. Monday March 19, 2012, Polk County Exhibit Building, Osceola
1:30 p.m. Monday March 19, 2012, Seward Extension Office, Seward
10:00 a.m. Tuesday March 20, 2012, 4-H Bulding, York
Dan Leininger, Water Conservationist, from the Upper Big Blue NRD Office and I will be on hand along with some current NAWMN participants to discuss the tools being used in the NAWMN which are ETgage or Atmometers and Watermark Sensors. We hope to share what we have learned about irrigation scheduling in Nebraska using ETgages and Watermark sensors and the NAWMN. Equipment and tools used will be demonstrated and on hand to view as well as cost share order forms for those interested in ordering equipment for the coming year.
We hope to also have a “Question & Answer†session with current producers using these tools!
For more information or questions you can contact Dan at 402-362-6601 or me at 402-362-5508.
With the price of fuel going up, we have had more interest than ever about these tools and learning how to save fuel without sacrificing yields. I hope you’ll be able to attend one of these meetings. Watch for more details in my next couple of columns.
