Extension Update by Gary Zoubeck [December 13, 2012]

Coming Events

• Dec. 11-12 –Nebraska Ag Classic, Mid-Town Holiday Inn, Grand Island, contact Ginger Jelinek, 402-450-5189 http://www.neagclassic.org
• Dec. 13 – UBBNRD CropTip Mtg, 9:30-3:00 p.m. York Auditorium, http://www.upperbigblue.org/
• Dec. 13 – Landlord/Tenant Cash Lease Workshop, 11:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m., Osceola, Fairgrounds, To register, call Coleen Pallas at 402-747-2321
• Dec. 14 – Nebraska Soybean Day and Machinery Expo, 8:30-2:30, Saunders County Fairgrounds in Wahoo, http://ardc.unl.edu/soyexpo.shtm
• Dec. 20 – UNL Extension Beef Short Course, NET TBA
• Jan. 8 – Crop Production Clinic, Adams Co. Fairgrounds, Hastings http://cpc.unl.edu
• Jan. 10 – Landlord/Tenant Cash Lease Workshop, 9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m., Seward Fairgrounds, Harvest Hall, To register, call 402-643-2981 or email seward-county@unl.edu
• Jan. 15 – Private Pesticide Training 9a.m. Osceola, Fairgrounds
• Jan. 15 – Private Pesticide Training 1:30 p.m. Aurora, 4-H Building
• Jan. 16 – Crop Production Clinic, York Auditorium, http://cpc.unl.edu
• Jan. 17 – Hamilton and Merrick Co. Ag Days
• Jan. 21 – Private Pesticide Training 9:00 a.m. Sutton Legion
• Jan. 22 – Private Pesticide Training 1:30 p.m. York, 4-H Building
• Jan. 22 – Nebraska Farmers and Ranchers – Cow Calf College, 9:30 am, Meat Animal Research Center, Clay Center, NE  dlienemann2@unl.edu
• Jan. 28 – Private Pesticide Training 9:00 a.m. Clay Co. Fairgrounds
• Feb. 8 – Private Pesticide Training 9:00 a.m. York, 4-H Building

It’s December!
What a change a week or even a day can make!  Last weekend we had temperatures is the 50/60°F’s and Monday morning they were near 0°F!

Annie’s Project Planned in Geneva
Brandy VanDeWalle, Extension Educator in Geneva shared some information about Annie’s Project!  It is a six-week course designed especially for farm women to help them develop their management and decision-making skills for their farms. Sessions include brief presentations, discussions focused on the participant’s questions, and computer training to use spreadsheets. She indicates that “Annie’s Project gives farm women the opportunity to learn from agricultural professionals and network with other women in similar situations.”

The course will be offered in Geneva, NE at the Fillmore County Extension Office from 6:00-9:00 p.m. on the following days: January 16, 23, and 30, and February 6, 20, and 27. The program has a $75 registration fee which covers all program materials and a light meal each night.  To facilitate discussion, enrollment is limited to the first 12 participants; pre-registration is due January 11, 2013. For more information check out the following webpage: http://fillmore.unl.edu/ or contact Brandy at: brandy.vandewalle@unl.edu or (402) 759-3712.

Climate Masters of Nebraska
Speaking of weather change, if you are interested in climate and what’s happening, UNL last year started a training program similar to the Master Gardener program.  It’s called “Climate Masters of Nebraska” and is a second year program at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s School of Natural Resources.  It is a ten-week course starting January 16, 2013.  Any community member that is 19 years or older is welcome to participate. Throughout the course, participants will learn ways in which to act locally to save money, protect the environment and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.  The course, funded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, will teach participants various ways that they as individuals can reduce greenhouse gas emissions.  In exchange for the free course, participants volunteer 30 hours of their time educating others in the community.

This 10-week course that will meet every Wednesday evening from 6:00-8:30 p.m.  Classes will focus on the basics of climate change, home energy, transportation, green building, renewables, yards, consumption and waste, food, water conservation, preparing for climate change, and more.  Two field trips will also be offered as part of the course.

For more information and registration, please visit the Climate Masters website: http://ClimateMasters.unl.edu or contact Tonya Bernadt at climatemasters@unl.edu.

Landlord/Tenant Cash Lease Workshop Planned for Dec. 13 in Osceola and Jan. 10 in Seward
I’ve mentioned it before, but wanted to remind area tenants and landlords that the final two workshops sponsored by the NE Soybean Board and the North Central Risk Management Education Center in conjunction with the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension will be held Dec. 13 from 11 a.m.–3 p.m. on the Polk County Fairgrounds in Osceola and Jan. 10 from 9:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m. in Seward on the Fairgrounds in Harvest Hall.

The Landlord/Tenant Cash Lease workshop series will help producers and landowners deal with the volatility of their cash rents.  “Landlords are trying to be loyal to their tenants, yet want a fair return for the land asset. Tenants want to be sure to stay in business, yet feel the pressure of bidding to keep the land base that they have been farming,” said Alan Vyhnalek, one of the presenters.

Topics for discussion include: expectations from the lease, including goal setting for the rental property; lease communication; determining appropriate information sharing for both the tenant and landlord; relatives – tips for farm leases that include relatives; irrigation system questions, as they pertain to setting lease rates; alternative cash lease arrangements; flexible provision considerations for your situation; and other topics like grain bin rental will be covered as time allows.  Managing the 2012 drought and implications for 2013 will also be discussed.

This workshop is free, but registration is required to reserve a spot. Please register by December 10 for the Osceola meeting and by January 7 for the Seward meeting.   Handout materials, a meal, and refreshments provided.  Participation is limited. To register, call the Polk Extension Office at 402-747-2321 or email Colleen Pallas at: colleen.pallas@unl.edu.  For the Seward workshop call the Seward Extension Office at 402-643-2981 or email seward-county@unl.edu.

Coming Events          
You’ll notice we have a larger number of coming events planned!  I’ll try and keep the list updated.  Three other good sites to keep posted as to what’s going on include our York webpage at: http://york.unl.edu/, CropWatch at: http://cropwatch.unl.edu/, and our IANR webpage at: http://ianrhome.unl.edu/.

I hope you’ll take time to attend the workshops you are interested in.