Extension Update by Gary Zoubeck [December 20, 2012]

Coming Events

• 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 643-2981 or email seward-county@unl.edu
• Jan. 15 – Private Pesticide Training 9:00 a.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 a.m., 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

Historic Weather Data
December is rapidly coming to a close!  The rain/snow was sure welcome this past week even though I’m not excited about ice.  The precipitation totaled .46” in the York area or about half of the December average of .81”.  I have a chart of York monthly rainfall amounts going back to 1921 or 92 years of data.  The average yearly rainfall for York is 26.90”.  So far for the year we’re at 16.80”.  I’m guessing we won’t receive a lot more moisture this year, but it does look like we have a couple of chance before the year is over.

If we don’t receive much more precipitation this year, 2012 will be the driest year in the York area since 1955 when we received 15.60”.  From the data I  have which starts in 1921, 1934 was the driest year in York, we 14.10” for the year.  Hopefully we’ll soon get back to more normal and our average of 26.90” in 2013.

Landlord/Tenant Cash Lease Workshop Planned for January 10 in Seward
The final landlord/tenant cash lease workshop 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 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 January 7 for the Seward meeting.  Handout materials, a meal, and refreshments provided.  Participation is limited. To register, call the Seward Extension Office at 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 in this column.  A few other places to keep informed of the latest activities and events for these websites: York webpage at: http://york.unl.edu/, CropWatch at: http://cropwatch.unl.edu/ and the IANR webpage at: http://ianrhome.unl.edu/.  I hope you’ll take time to attend the workshops that you are interested in.  Let me know of topics that you’d like addressed in the area and I’ll see what we can do about schedule them.

Private Applicator and Chemigation Certification Programs
I’m working on setting up dates for private applicator training as well as chemigation training for the coming year!  If your certification expires this year, you’ll be getting a letter from me, but if it expired last year, you won’t receive a letter, so now is a good time to see if you’ll need this training or not.

2012 Census of Agriculture and Agricultural Advocacy
It’s that time of year again, late December, when farmers and ranchers will be receiving the 2012 Census of Agriculture.  This is a very important opportunity for you as farmers and ranchers to be advocates for your industry agriculture by completing the Census by February 4.

Conducted every five years by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), the census is a complete count of all U.S. farms, ranches and those who operate them.  The census is the only source of uniform, comprehensive agricultural data for every county in the nation. It is a critical tool that gives producers a voice to influence decisions shaping the future of their community, industry and operation. The census looks at land use and ownership, operator characteristics, production practices, income, expenditures, and other topics.  This information is used by all who serve farmers and rural communities from federal, state and local governments to agribusinesses and trade associations. Answers to the census will impact farm programs and rural services that support our communities.

If you want, you can complete the census on a secure website, www.agcensus.usda.gov, or return their forms by mail.  Federal law requires all agricultural producers to participate in the census and requires NASS to keep all individual information confidential.

For more information, please visit www.agcensus.usda.gov.  The Census of Agriculture is agriculture’s voice, agriculture’s future, agriculture’s responsibility.  I hope each of you will do your part and complete by February 4!

While I’m on the topic, last week I attended the 2012 Nebraska Ag Classic in Grand Island.  A few area agricultural producers were in attendance, but I would have like to see more.  Numbers do count, and I’d encourage all area producers to join at least one commodity organization and a couple would even be better.  In the crops area, the Nebraska Corn Growers and the Nebraska Soybean Growers would be a couple that would work for many of the area growers.  Livestock growers, how about the Nebraska Pork Producers and the Nebraska Cattlemen organizations?

The York County Corn Growers have just finished getting their webpage going.  You can access it at: http://www.yorkcountycorngrowers.com/.  They’ve got a great membership incentive going for membership at the local, state and national level. If you join for three years, the 2013 NeCGA Membership Incentive Program will provide $150 off a future purchase of 24 units of seed from the following companies: Mycogen Seeds, Pioneer, Dekalb, Fontanelle, Garst, Golden Harvest, NK, BigCob and Channel.  Just go to the York County Corn Grower Website, complete the on-line form and mail your check to our office to join.  The Nebraska Corn Grower web address is: http://www.necga.org/.

Information for the Nebraska Soybean Association can be found at: http://www.nebraskasoybeans.org/ne-nsa/Membership.html.  They also have an incentive, if you join for three years and purchase 12 bags of soybean seed you’ll receive 6 bags free from the following companies:  Ag Ventrue, Asgrow, Channel, Fontanelle Hybrids, Hoegemeyer Hybrids, LG Seeds, Mycogen Seeds, Pioneer Hybrid, Renze Seeds, Producers Hybrids, Renze Seeds, Stine Seed Co. and  Syngenta NK Seeds (NK, Golden Harvest or Garst).  Area producers, if you’re not a member of these two commodity groups, I hope you’ll consider joining in 2013!

Farmer’s Tax Guides Available
When I was in Lincoln last week, I picked up a few copies of publication 225 “Farmer’s Tax Guides for use in preparing 2012 Returns”.  If you’d like a copy, they’re available at our office.