Extension Update from Jenny Rees

UPCOMING EVENTS:  
Jan. 4:  Fremont Corn Expo, http://croptechcafe.org/fremontcornexpo/ 
Jan. 9-11:  Nebraska Turfgrass Conference, LaVista Conference Center, http://www.nebraskaturfgrass.com
Jan. 10:  UBBNRD Nitrogen Mgmt Training, 9:30 a.m., Leadership Center Aurora
Jan. 10:  York Ag Expo, Holthus Convention Center, York (Chemigation Training 9 a.m.-Noon steve.melvin@unl.edu, Cover Crop/Annual Forages Topics 1-4 p.m.)
Jan. 11:  York Ag Expo, Holthus Convention Center, York (Private Pesticide Training 9-Noon jrees2@unl.edu, Precision Ag Topics 1-4 p.m.)
Jan. 11:  LBNRD Operator Training, 1:30 p.m., Fairbury 4-H Bldg
Jan. 11:  Crop Production Clinic, North Platte, https://agronomy.unl.edu/cpc
Jan. 16:  LBNRD Operator Training, 9 a.m., Fairgrounds in Hastings
Jan. 16:  Crop Production Clinic, Norfolk, https://agronomy.unl.edu/cpc
Jan. 18:  LBNRD Training, 1:30 p.m., Davenport Community Center
Jan. 18:  Crop Production Clinic, Lincoln, https://agronomy.unl.edu/cpc
Jan. 18-19:  Hops Grower, Brewer Conference, Embassy Suites Downtown Omaha, http://www.growbrewnebraska.com/registration/
Jan. 24:  UBBNRD Nitrogen Mgmt Training, 9:30 a.m., Faigrounds in Seward
Jan. 24-25:  Nebraska Crop Management Conference, Kearney, https://agronomy.unl.edu/NCMC
Jan. 30:  “Partners In Progress Beef Seminar” Cow/Calf College at U.S. MARC near Clay Center, NE from 10-3:30 a.m., Registration at 9:30.  RSVP to (402) 759-3712.
Jan. 30-31:  No-Till On the Plains Winter Conference, Wichita, KS http://notill.org/
Feb. 1:  LBNRD Operator Training, 9am, Hebron Community Center
Feb. 1:  Merrick County Ag Day, Fairgrounds Central City RSVP:  steve.melvin@unl.edu
Feb. 7-9:  Nebraska Ag Tech Assoc. (NeATA) Conference
Feb. 8:  LBNRD Operator Training, 1:30 p.m., Fairgrounds Clay Center
Feb. 15:  LBNRD Operator Training, 9 a.m., Shickley Community Center
Feb. 14:  Hamilton County Ag Day, Fairgrounds Aurora, RSVP:  steve.melvin@unl.edu
Feb. 15:  Cover Crop Conference, former ARDC near Mead, kglewen1@unl.edu
Feb. 19:  Nebraska On-Farm Research Network Update, former ARDC near Mead
Feb. 20:  Nebraska On-Farm Research Network Update, Lifelong Learning Center Northeast Com. College, Norfolk
Feb. 21:  Nebraska On-Farm Research Network Update, Hall Co. Extension Office, Grand Island
Feb. 22-23:  Women in Ag Conference, Kearney
Feb. 23: Farmers/Ranchers College: “Crop Insurance, Farm Bill Policy Update & More!”, Fillmore Co. Fairgrounds-Geneva, 10- 3:00 p.m., Registration at 9:30 a.m. RSVP to (402) 759-3712.
Feb. 28:  UBBNRD Nitrogen Mgmt Training, 9:30 a.m., Holthus Convention Center, York
Mar. 1:  LBNRD Operator Training, 1:30 p.m., Kenesaw Senior Center

Farm Finance Clinic Sites and Dates To sign up for a clinic or to get more information, call Michelle at the Nebraska Farm Hotline at 1-800-464-0258.

Pesticide Recertification Information:  I received a number of calls this week regarding pesticide recertification dates.  The week between Christmas and New Year’s, a letter explaining pesticide recertification and our winter program brochure will be mailed in all the counties I serve and will list all the upcoming recertification dates and other upcoming programs.  You can also view all the dates located throughout the State at:  https://edmedia.wufoo.com/reports/2018-psep-private-training-dates/.  I will not be having dicamba training as a part of pesticide recertification as it will be available online and will share more details in the coming month as we receive them.   

Beef Cattle Report:  The 2018 Nebraska Beef Cattle Report is now available. The report provides a summary of the latest beef cattle research conducted at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. The report can be accessed at https://beef.unl.edu/2018-nebraska-beef-cattle-report

BeefWatch Newsletter:  Some of you may be interested in UNL’s BeefWatch newsletter which shares a number of upcoming programs for cattle producers.  Most of these are held in west-central Nebraska but sharing in the event they may be of interest to you.  You can find all these programs in addition to other articles at: http://newsroom.unl.edu/announce/beef/7288. 

Farmers Sought to Join in Data-Intensive Farm Research:  Researchers and farmers are collaborating on a project using GPS‐guided precision ag technology.  The goal of Data-Intensive Farm Management (DIFM) is to revolutionize farm management by assisting growers in implementing scientific experiments on their own farms. This will enable growers to increase their profits by making data‐driven management decisions.

The public will have an opportunity to learn about the on-farm research results gathered so far at a meeting Wednesday, January 10 at the Hall County Extension office, 3180 W. Hwy. 34, in Grand Island. It will be from 12 to 3 p.m. To RSVP for the complimentary noon lunch, call 402-624-8030.

According to University of Nebraska Precision Ag Engineer Joe Luck and Nebraska Extension Educator Keith Glewen, growers and agronomists are being sought to participate in the project. Growers using variable rate seeding in continuous corn production and those using variable rate nitrogen fertilizer application should consider participating. The initial meeting will provide information on yield results and Veris® data, aerial imagery, and economic information.

Data-intensive farm management field trials are highly computerized, automated, and are conducted on large-scale, on-farm “checkerboard” field plots. Specialized software “instructs” variable rate equipment to work with GPS technologies in order to implement the experiment while growers simply drive through the field.

Participants are compensated for yield losses due to treatments, details of which will be provided at the January 10 session.  Growers interested in participating are asked to consider having information available about planting, fertilizer, and harvest systems as well as the variable-rate controller they use.  For more information, contact Luck at 402-472-1488 or jluck2@unl.edu, or Glewen at 402-624-8030 or klglewen1@unl.edu.  Information is also available online at https://go.unl.edu/january2018difm.

Nebraska Sorghum Symposium: The Nebraska Sorghum Symposium offers timely and useful information to help sorghum farmers make confident, informed production and management decisions for their 2018 crop.  Sponsored by the Nebraska Grain Sorghum Producers Association (NeGSPA), Nebraska Grain Sorghum Board, and Nebraska Extension, the symposium will be held at the Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture in Curtis, 404 East 7th St., beginning at 9 a.m. January 18.

Program presentations include:  Al Dutcher, associate state climatologist, with a weather outlook; Cody Creech, extension dryland cropping specialist, on sorghum production in western Nebraska; Galen Erickson, extension beef feedlot nutrition specialist, on sorghum’s grazing value and how it works in cover crops; Dennis Macfee with Ag West Commodities with a market analysis and look at demand trends for 2018; Scott Staggenborg, vice-president of research and development for Chromatin, on important production and management strategies and new technology in sorghum; Matt Stockton, extension ag economist, on managing risk in uncertain times; and a representative of the National Sorghum Producers with an in-depth look at new developments and policy priorities as they work on behalf of sorghum producers – both at home and abroad.

The program will conclude with the annual membership meeting of NeGSPA and an update report by the Grain Sorghum Board.  All sorghum growers and allied industry are invited to attend.  Conference registration can be done by emailing sorghum.board@nebraska.gov or by calling the office at 402-471-4276.  The Sorghum Symposium is free and includes lunch. Registration begins at 9 a.m. with coffee and rolls and viewing of commercial exhibits.  CCA credits have been applied for.