Extension Update by Gary Zoubeck [December 24, 2015]

Coming Events

Jan. 8, 8:30 a.m., Crop Production Clinic, Holthus Convention Center, York.  Registration at: http://agronomy.unl.edu/cpc.

Jan. 12, 7:00 p.m., Heuermann Lecture titled “A Dialogue on the History and Vision for the Future of International Trade for U.S. Agriculture”, Nebraska Innovation Campus Conference Center, 2021 Transformation Drive, Lincoln, Nebraska. Streamed live at http://heuermannlectures.unl.edu 

Jan. 13-14, York Ag Expo, Holthus Convention Center, York http://yorkagexpo.com/

Jan. 18-19, 2016 Nebraska Extension Precision Ag Data Management Workshop, 8:30 a.m., ARDC http://agronomy.unl.edu/precisionag

Jan. 20, 9:00 a.m. Farmers and Ranchers Cow/Calf College at USMARC near Clay Center

2015 CropWatch Survey

Over the years most all area farmers and ranchers know that I’ve mentioned the CropWatch numerous times.  CropWatch is written by Nebraska Extension specialists and educators from across Nebraska to provide timely, research-based information to help you make your farm decisions. I know that Jenny Rees and I have mentioned it every year at Pesticide Safety Education Classes and I have threatened to not stop teaching the classes until almost all producer attending the session are utilizing this newsletter.  We’re reached more each year, but we still have many producers that are not checking it on a regular basis.  I hope you’ll all make it a goal or resolution to do so in 2016! 

We need your help to evaluate CropWatch and let us know how you use the information and what topics you’d like to see more on in 2016 via a reader survey at http://go.unl.edu/2015CWSurvey.

Those that complete the survey will be entered into a drawing for one of these prizes:

1.  Free one-day registration to a 2016 Precision Ag Workshop (valued at $75)

2.  Free registration for a Nebraska Extension Crop Production Clinics in January (2 awarded; each valued at $65)

3.  Up to $25 toward diagnostic services at the UNL Plant and Pest Diagnostic Clinic, and

4.  One of 5 copies of the 2016 Nebraska Guide for Weed, Disease and Insect Management (each valued at $15).

You’ve got a little time to complete the survey (open through Monday Jan 4^th), but why not do it now.  That link is:   http://go.unl.edu/2015CWSurvey or http://cropwatch.unl.edu/.  I’d like to see someone from the York area winning one of the prizes, but more importantly I’s like to see you all using the CropWatch website frequently.

Crop Production Clinics Planned

I’ve shared information about the Crop Production Clinics the past couple of weeks.  It’s planned for January 8^th here in York County at the Holthus Convention Center.  For information or to register: http://agronomy.unl.edu/cpc. 

Heuermann Lecture

With the first of the year comes the annual series of “Heuermann Lectures”.  The first one this season is titled “A Dialogue on the History and Vision for the Future of International Trade for U.S. Agriculture.”  This lecture, hosted by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources, is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. January 12, 2016 at the Nebraska Innovation Campus Conference Center, 2021 Transformation Drive, Lincoln, Nebraska.

Dr. Ronnie Green will be facilitating a discussion between Clayton Yeutter, former U.S. Trade Representative and U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, and Darci Vetter, the Chief Agricultural Negotiator for the Office of the United States Trade Representative.  This should be a great lecture and I hope you can attend in person, but if you cannot, you can watch it streamed live or archived at: http://heuermannlectures.unl.edu.

Farmers and Ranchers Cow/Calf College at USMARC January 20

The annual Farmers and Ranchers Cow/Calf College “Partners in Progress – Beef Seminar” will be held at the U.S. Meat Animal Research Center and Great Plains Veterinary Education Center near Clay Center on January 20, 2016.

The day’s program looks like the following:

9:00 – 9:30 a.m. Registration, coffee and donuts

9:45-10:35 a.m. Chad Engle, USMARC Livestock Operations Manager  “MARC – The Real Story”

10:40-11:30 a.m. Deanna Karmazin, NE Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture “The Issues Surrounding Animal Agriculture”

11:35-12:40 p.m. Session and Lunch Deanna Karmazin “Cattlemen – Telling Your Story”

12:50-1:40 p.m. Dr. Michael Apley, Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine “Animal Health, Antibiotics and VFDs”

1:45-3:10 p.m. Dr. Kip Lukasiewicz, Sandhills Cattle Consultants Inc. “The Basics of Stockmanship”

3:15-3:50 p.m. Coffee Shop Panel of all the days’ presenters

4:00 p.m. Dr. Mary Drewnoski Tour of USMARC Beef Integrated Crop Beef Systems Research

To help with meal planning, please pre-register by Friday, January 15th, 2016, at the Nebraska Extension Office in Webster County or call (402) 746-3417 to insure a seat and lunch. Walk-ins are accepted, but may not get a lunch. You may also email your registration to Dewey Lienemann to dlienemann2@unl.edu.

2016 Nebraska Extension Precision Ag Data Management Workshops Planned

A series one or two day hands-on workshops will be held at the ARDC near Mead on Jan. 18^th & 19^th; at  Northeast Community College Lifelong Learning Center, Norfolk, NE on Jan. 25^th & 26^th; at the Clay County Fairgrounds on Feb. 15^th & 16^th and at Monsanto Learning Center, Gothenburg, NE on Feb. 29^th & March 1^st. 

Session One, Intermediate Ag Data Management Topics

•Working with as-applied data, tracking product locations and rates

•Creating templates to speed up the data import process

•Terrain analysis diagnostic opportunities and working with LiDAR data

•Georeferenced soil sample data input and prescription map development options

•Setting up on farm research trials with precision ag data – case study from Project SENSE: Crop Canopy Sensors for In-Season Nitrogen Management

Session Two, Advanced Ag Data Management

•Generating maps from georeferenced soil samples:  Map interpolation strategies

•Improving Yield Monitor Data Accuracy with Yield Editor Software from USDA

•Multi-layer geospatial analysis to determine hybrid performance across changing landscapes

•Imagery analysis using data from active and passive sensors

For more information and to register: http://agronomy.unl.edu/precisionag