Coming Events
Dec. 9, 2014, York Farm Bill Informational Mtg, 1:30 p.m., Cornerstone Event Center, York Fairgrounds
Dec. 18, 2014, NE Soybean Day & Machinery Expo, 8:30 a.m., Fairgrounds, Wahoo
Dec. 22, 2014, Extension Board Exec. Mtg, noon, Extension Office, York
Farm Bill Education Meetings Planned
Just a reminder of the Farm Bill meeting planned for Tuesday morning, December 9, from 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Cornerstone Ag Event Center here in York. The University of Nebraska Lincoln Extension and the Farm Service Agency (FSA), are teaming up to provide educational meetings about the 2014 Farm Bill.
If you cannot make the Dec. 9 informational meeting, others planned in our area include:
Dec. 16 – Fillmore County Fairgrounds (Geneva) – 9:00 a.m.
Dec. 16 – Clay County Fairgrounds (Clay Center) – 1:30 p.m.
Dec. 19 – Polk County Fairgrounds (Osceola) – 1:00 p.m.
For more Farm Bill information, go to: http://agecon.unl.edu/farmbill.
Nebraska Soybean Day & Machinery Expo
The 2014 Nebraska Soybean Day and Machinery Expo is planned for Dec. 18, from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. in the pavilion at the Saunders County Fairgrounds in Wahoo. Speakers begin at 9:00 a.m.
The Saunders County Soybean Growers Organization requests that each participant donate one or more cans of nonperishable food to the food pantry. A complimentary noon lunch will be served. Registration is free and available the day of the expo at the door. For exhibitor information or more information about the program, call (800) 529-8030 or e-mail kglewen1@unl.edu.
Crop Production Clinics Planned
Our Annual Crop Production Clinics will be planned for January of the coming year. Registration information can be found at:  http://agronomy.unl.edu/cpc. The York Session will be held January 14, 2015, at the Holthus Convention Center.
Topics will include:
- Corn Yield Forecasts for Nebraska and the Corn Belt
- Herbicide-Resistant Weed Update and Management
- Managing Goss’s Wilt
- Pest-Resistant Crops: A Perspective from Game Theory
- Nutrient Management Update
- Effects of Baling and Grazing on Soil Properties
- Checkup for Pivot Efficiency
- Use of Climate Information for Agricultural Decisions
- Cover Crops: What we Know and Don’t Know
- On-Farm Research: Reliable Data to Drive Decisions
- How to Control Crop Input Costs and a Land Lease Update
I hope to see you there. Be sure to go to the website and register in advance.
York Extension Centennial Notes
Alvah Hecht was the County Agent in 1946. That year modern sewage disposal systems were constructed on 35 farms. Three train carloads of commercial fertilizer were purchased and applied by 43 farmers. A new car was purchased for $1,260 for use by the county agricultural agent.
The use of DDT was demonstrated at many meetings. It came in dust, oil solution, suspension and emulsion. Commercial fertilizer was used rather extensively this past year, 75 years after land was broken out of virgin sod. No N yield was 25.9 bu/acre and with 100 pounds N, yield was 72 bu/acre. N use will double in 1947 as a result. The importance of legumes and of nitrogen is being well received.
At the current time, there are approximately 100 irrigation wells in York County.
Seven farmers entered the corn yield contest, and Walter Haack, with a yield of 131.3 bu/acre topped the contest.
Many York County Farm people while living only fifty miles from the College of Agriculture, know very little about their own institution. On May 23rd, 95 people went in a caravan to Lincoln. They visited the poultry plant, dairy plant, rose garden and saw the results of 2,4-D on bindweed. 50% had never been to the Agriculture College before.
In 1947 Gerda Peterson came and was the first regularly employed Home Agent. Agriculture and Home Economics Extension workers have as their aim to reach as many people as possible with new methods and improved practices. In order to do that, it can best be done by working through organizations and training men and women as leaders that in turn, spread the information to their associates, neighbors and friends.
A total of 829 farm and home visits were made and 18,471 miles were driven. 127 sewage disposal systems installed this year. The County Agent went out and staked out the locations of the tanks and disposal systems.
In 1948 we hosted a District Irrigation meeting attended by over 500 producers. Ten farmers used a sprinkler irrigation system for the first time this year. The third Irrigation Tour was held and attended by 150 people. The tour included 12 stops. This office secured detailed information on each new irrigation well constructed, as to its location, depth, and yield of water secured. This information is made available to the public.
A proposal was submitted to the voters at the general election asking that the County Commissioners be given permission to rent 70 acres of land owned by the County adjacent to York on the north for the purpose of holding a County Fair. This was to last 25 years and the annual rent of $600.00 a year was to be paid. The Proposal was carried by a two to one majority.
Dale Olson an outstanding young man in dairy, swine and beef work and Kathleen Barry, who is equally talented with pen and needle were selected York County Fair Royalty in 1948.
The top irrigated corn yield was 143.5 by Warren Otto of Bradshaw.
Fifteen carloads of commercial fertilizer (all but four, ammonia nitrate), a rapid growth since 1945. An estimated 10,000 acres had it applied this year.
Ten sprinkling systems of irrigation are being used in the county on acres not suited for gravity irrigation. Two meetings on taxation of irrigation were held. Plan to tax as personal property, and not assessed against the land.
