Author: Brandy VanDeWalle

Uncategorized, Youth

Get Involved!

Brandy VanDeWalle

One of the many great things about the 4-H Youth Development program is the family time that often occurs. Whether it is working on a project, attending club meetings together, working at 4-H events or learning more about their projects, the opportunity for family involvement is huge! As a youth myself, I remember countless hours of my Dad helping me with my 4-H calves and lots of hours of time spent on sewing, gardening and craft projects with my mom. My grandma4H family wordle taught me so much about baking and that is where I developed my love of making yeast breads and rolls. At the time, I thought I was just learning about projects to take to the fair, but I was actually learning life skills that have benefitted me even now. My colleague, Eric Stehlik from Saline County shared with me information on more benefits youth obtain from family involvement with their activities.

Becoming involved in children’s 4-H activities is a great way for families to grow and develop. Whether parents are attending club meetings or teaching their children about animal care, rocketry or entrepreneurship, they are helping to build stronger relationships and families.

Research shows that young people need caring relationships with adults to help them grow and develop positively. Parents can build these relationships by becoming involved in their children’s activities. Grandparents, aunts, uncles and other extended family members should become involved too because they also play important roles in the lives of children.

4-H’ers participate in a variety of individual and group projects, and family members can be a part of these learning experiences. If a participant is enrolled in foods and nutrition, a family member can teach them proper food safety. This can then easily become a part of daily life. Just interacting and communicating can help family members learn more about each other and grow closer.

Families can also benefit from participating in 4-H community service projects. They can help with a food drive by donating supplies from their own cupboards, asking neighbors for a donation or making a cash donation to the local food pantry. What matters is that families do these activities together. Not only will family members have fun, but also they will help their community and grow closer together, all at little or no cost!

Uncategorized

Fun Food Facts

Brandy VanDeWalle

Did you know? 

Easter candy facts include:

  • As many as 5 million Marshmallow Peeps, bunnies, and other shapes are made each day in preparation for Easter.
  • In 1953, it took 27 hours to create a Marshmallow Peep. Today it takes six minutes.
  • Yellow PeEASTEReps are the most popular, followed by pink, lavender, blue, and white.
  • Adults prefer milk chocolate (65%), to dark chocolate (27%).
  • Americans consume 16 billion jellybeans at Easter, many of them hidden in baskets. If all the Easter jellybeans were lined end to end, they would circle the globe nearly three times.
    (Source: National Confectioners Association)

 

Egg Facts 

  • Laying eggs is hard work! In fact, it takes 24-26 hours to complete the process, according to research from the University of Illinois-Urbana. Even the best brood hens cannot lay more than one egg a day.
  • If you lay all of the *PAAS® wire dippers end-to-end, they would equal the height of 6,628 Washington Monuments.
  • Today, Americans purchase more than 10 million PAAS® Easter Egg Color Kits during the Easter season, and use them to decorate as many as 180 million eggs!
    (Source: PAAS®)

*Note: Extension does not endorse use of any product over the other.

Programming, Uncategorized, Youth

NE Extension Tractor Safety Courses

Brandy VanDeWalle

With planting season right around the corner, there will be a lot of tractors out on the roadways. As a reminder, any 14 or 15 year old who plans to work on a farm other than his/her parents’ needs to participate in Nebraska Extension’s Tractor Safety/Hazardous Occupations Course. This course will be offered at seven locations in Nebraska during May and June.

Federal law prohibits youth less than 16 years of age from working on a farm for anyone other than his or her parents or guardian. Certification through the course grants an exemption to the law allowing 14- and 15-year-olds to drive a tractor and to do field work with mechanized equipment.TractorCourse

The most common cause of death in agriculture accidents in Nebraska is overturn from tractors and all-terrain-vehicles (ATVs), according to farm fatality surveillance data. Tractor and ATV overturn prevention are featured in the class work. Instilling an attitude of ‘safety first’ is a primary goal of the course, according to class instructors, where youth have the chance to learn respect for agricultural jobs and the tools involved.

Classes consist of two days of instruction plus homework assignments. Classes are from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. each day. Dates and locations include:

— May 23-24, Fairgrounds, Kearney
— May 26-27, Fairgrounds, McCook
— June 2-3, Fairgrounds, Valentine
— June 13-14, West Central Research and Extension Center, North Platte
— June 16-17, Legacy of the Plains Museum, Gering
— June 20-21, Fairgrounds, Wayne
— June 23-24, College Park, Grand Island
— July 6-7, Fairgrounds, Gordon

Pre-registration is strongly encouraged at least one week before a location’s start date to the Extension Office at the course site. Cost is $60, which includes educational materials, testing, supplies, lunches and breaks. For more information, contact Aaron Yoder at (402) 552-7240, aaron.yoder@unmc.edu or Ellen Duysen at (402) 552-3394, ellen.duysen@unmc.edu.

The first day of class will consist of intensive classroom instruction with hands-on demonstrations, concluding with a written test that must be completed satisfactorily before students may continue driving tests the next day.  Classroom instruction will cover the required elements of the National Safe Tractor and Machinery Operation Program. Homework will be assigned to turn in the next day.

The second day will include testing, driving and operating machinery. Students must demonstrate competence in hitching equipment and driving a tractor and trailer through a standardized course as well as hitching PTO and hydraulic systems.

Crops, Livestock, Programming, Uncategorized

Passing the Farm to the Next Generation

Brandy VanDeWalle

At our final Farmers & Ranchers College program for the programming year, Dr. Ron Hanson from the University Of Nebraska – Lincoln Ag Economics Department spoke on the Importance of Family Farm Succession. This is never an easy task, yet essential for the farm to be passed on and able to financially operate. Most importantly, it is important to maintain relationships with family members and honor the wishes of the parents who intended for assets to be transferred a certain way.IMG_4969

Hanson had eleven challenges families face in order to being this process.

  1. First consider “Who is family” and is entitled to owning the farm. Are in-laws considered family? Usually excluding in-laws will backfire and cause hard feelings.
  2. It is difficult for parents to not play favorites with their adult kids. Parents should be fair and equitable, which is different than equal. Unfortunately, there are adult kids who are greedy and plan to retire on their parents’ assets, which is not an acceptable retirement plan. Parents should consider who has always taken care of them and which kids will care for them in end of life situations.
  3. Controlling parents need to give control of the farm/ranch to the adult kid who is farming. Serve as mentors and hand over responsibility to the future owner.
  4. Consider when farm ownership will happen. How will those changes occur?
  5. Think about if it is possible to keep the farm in the family. Are there kids who actually want to farm?
  6. Too often families don’t talk about the “what-ifs”. If a parent or adult kid were to tragically die tomorrow, are you prepared for that?
  7. If parents don’t agree on how to transfer assets, more than likely nothing will get done.
  8. Some children feel they are entitled. Children should RESPECT their parents and agree to their parents’ decision. Your parents don’t owe you anything.
  9. Greed has become a curse of family wealth and assets. Wealth can destroy family relationships and end a family legacy. No farm is worth losing family relationships!
  10. Families that don’t communicate openly about the parents plans are more likely to be unsuccessful with a succession plan. Parents must talk openly and honestly to all children – preferably at the same time. Parents should ask their children:
    1. Have we as parents done anything to make you not get along as a family when we are no longer here? If so, please tell me. Then apologize.
    2. Is there any reason you kids can’t get along as a family?
  11. Each family farm/ranch should have a vision. Family members should share this vision.

Family farm succession is time consuming, complicated and emotionally draining, but essential! After all, consider all of the hard work you have done to keep it going through rough economic times; why wouldn’t you put a plan together to protect it?

Crops, Uncategorized

Consider On Farm Research

Brandy VanDeWalle

As margins get tighter in 2016, it will be important for producers to cut their costs. With so many products on the market today, it can be hard to know if they will actually increase yields as they claim, but also if it is economically feasible. The Nebraska On-Farm Research Network can help producers do just that – test products and/or production practices to determine their economic feasibility. With planting season just around the corner, consider joining the Network to evaluate products/production practices which can increase your profitability, while gaining access to Extension specialists and educators who will help you set up your research and guide you through the process. In addition, participants benefit from networking with other farmers and being part of this innovative group.

On-farm research has many variants and approaches. It is research that you do on your field(s) using your equipment and normal production practices. This means the research is directly applicable to your operation. The Nebraska On-Farm Research Network approaches topics that are critical farmer production, profitability and natural resources questions, such as:becker-beans-7-7-08.jpg

  • Nutrient management
  • Pest control
  • Irrigation Strategies
  • Conservation programs
  • New technologies
  • Soil amendments
  • Cultural practices
  • Hybrid and variety selection

Comparisons are identified and designed to answer producers’ production questions. Project protocols are developed first and foremost to meet individual cooperator needs. Only projects that are randomized, replicated and harvested accordingly are reported. Multiple year comparisons are encouraged.

In 2015 alone, 80 on-farm research studies were completed with 66 producers participating in studies. Results were presented to 250 people at update meetings in North Platte, Grand Island, Norfolk, and the ARDC near Mead in February. Planning for 2016 projects is underway. More information about project opportunities will be coming soon. If you have interest in conducting an on-farm research study, let Laura Thompson know (laura.thompson@unl.edu) or myself (brandy.vandewalle@unl.edu)!

Access to the 2015 growing season results can be found on the CropWatch website.

Crops, Uncategorized

Pesticide Container Recycling Program

Brandy VanDeWalle

The Nebraska Pesticide Container Recycling Program completed its 24th season last year. If any businesses would like to serve as a pesticide container recycling sites for 2016, submission of 2016 Recycling Site Information is due by March 18, 2016.

These sites are where the plastic pesticide containers are first inspected by
cooperators, bagged in large plastic bags and then temporarily stored for pick-up by a multi-state subcontractor. Assistance with this recycling effort is vital and appreciated. Plastic from rinsed 1.0 and 2.5 gallon plastic pesticide and adjuvant
containers and plastic crop protection drums of 15, 30 and 55 gallons are accepted. No homeowner plastic pesticide containers are accepted. 

This program has successfully recycled more than 2 million pounds of plastic pesticide containers from Nebraska’s landscape. That’s over
1,000 tons! This is a significant quantity that has helped eliminate much of the improper dumping of the containers in ditches or ineffective
burning of the plastic containers. 

If you hosted a collection site in 2015, please confirm this site for participation in 2016 by completing the on-line form listed in the next
paragraph. If you have not had an inspection/collection site, 2016 may be the year for you to consider providing a location. 

Please complete and submit the on-line, electronic form by March 18h for EACH 2016 recycling site on the Pesticide Education website.

General information about the pesticide container recycling program is available on-line. 

Container Services Network (CSN) have responsibility for pick-up and transportation of containers. CSN supplies large plastic bags that are to be
filled at the collection/inspection sites. CSN then takes possession of the bagged containers when 1,000 lb. or more containers are accumulated. 
Communication directly with CSN is essential to receive sufficient quantities of collection bags and to arrange for pick-up.

Irrigation, Programming, Uncategorized

Nebraska Ag Water Management Network Conference

Brandy VanDeWalle

Updates on irrigation engineering tools and research on new irrigation technologies, variable rate irrigation and fertigation fundamentals and cover crops will be the focus of the Nebraska Ag Water Management Network Conference that will be held on Thursday, March 10th. It will be a

MVC-003L
Those who participate in the program receive assistance installing equipment and education on how to read the equipment.

t the Holthus Convention Center, located at 3130 Holen Avenue in York. The conference will run from 9:30 a.m. to 3:20 p.m., with registration beginning at 9:15 a.m.

Producers, crop consultants, NRD, DNR, NRCS, irrigation districts and other professionals are invited to attend. Participants are encouraged to share their experiences that have helped make the Nebraska Ag Water Management Network (NAWMN) successful and any ideas they have for growing the network.

Topics that will be covered include:

  • Update on status of the NAWMN
  • Water-related smart phone apps
  • Z-Mag Ag Water Management Guide
  • Automated Water Use Database Project
  • Cover Crop Research
  • NRD Update
  • Update from the Upper Big Blue NRD CropTip
  • Underground Wireless Sensor Update
  • Soil Moisture Sensor Research Update
  • Variable Rate Irrigation Science and Engineering and Variable Rate Fertigation Research

A total of 4 continuing education units have been applied for in Soil/Water Management.

The NAWMN goal is to transfer high quality research information to producers to use water and energy resources more efficiently for crop production and to enhance crop water productivity. Started in 2005 with 15 collaborators, NAWMN has now grown to nearly 1400 collaborators who implement cutting-edge water management technologies/practices taught in the Network. Many of them regularly contribute water use database to a central NAWMN website. In turn, this information is used by growers across the state to fine-tune their irrigation management and application timing to current plant water needs. The fundamental objective of the NAWMN has been to integrate science, research and education/outreach principles to provide citizens best information available to help them to make better informed decisions in their irrigation management practices, which contributes to the Land-Grant Mission of UNL. The practices/procedures taught in the NAWMN have been based on the scientific and research-based information led by UNL-IANR professor Dr. Suat Irmak.

There is no cost to attend. Lunch will be provided but we ask participants to RSVP for planning purposes by March 7th to Jenny Rees at the Clay County Office Extension Office at 402-762-3644 or jenny.rees@unl.edu.

 

Programming, Uncategorized

Business Succession & Estate Planning Workshop

Brandy VanDeWalle

The Beginning Farmer and Rancher Network’s Farm Succession Series continues in March with a workshop locally offered in Geneva at the Fillmore County Fairgrounds from 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m., March 2nd. The free workshop will cover business succession and estate planning for farm and ranch owners, families and beginning farmers and ranchers.

farmsuccession.pngTopics will include:

  • Stages of succession planning, contribution & compensation, balancing the interests of on-farm and off-farm heirs;
  • Importance of communication, setting goals, analyzing cash flow, and balancing intergenerational expectations and needs;
  • Beginning farmer loan and tax credit programs;
  • Use of trusts, wills, life estate deeds and business entities (such as the limited liability company) in family estate and business succession planning;

Lunch will be provided. To register (and for questions) call the Rural Response Hotline at 1-800-464-0258 or the Fillmore Extension Office in Geneva at 402-759-3712.

The program presenters are Dave Goeller, Deputy Director, Northeast Center for Risk Management Education, UNL & Joe Hawbaker, Agricultural Law attorney, with Hawbaker Law Office, Omaha.

This workshop is made possible by the Nebraska Network for Beginning Farmers & Ranchers, the Farm and Ranch Project of Legal Aid of Nebraska, National Institute of Food and Agriculture, the Nebraska Department of Agriculture’s Next Gen, Nebraska Farmers Union Foundation, University of Nebraska Extension Office Fillmore County.

Uncategorized, Youth

4-H Youth Development Impacts

Brandy VanDeWalle

The mission of Nebraska 4-H is to empower youth to reach their full potential working and learning in partnership with caring adults. Nebraska 4-H strives to help young people achieve their greatest potential by introducing high-quality youth development experiences into the lives of Nebraska youth and families. Engagement in 4-H results in youth who are making positive decisions related to their health and their future goals. Further, they are advocates and leaders determined to leave a lasting impact on Nebraska communities. By taking part in Nebraska 4-H, youth are preparing for a successful future by focusing on 4-H Science, Agricultural Literacy, Career Development and College Readiness, Citizenship and Leadership, and Healthy Living.

IMG_1048
4-H’ers have planted a community garden and given the fresh produce to the local food pantry and a local Senior Center.

In Nebraska, 1 in 3 age-eligible youth across all 93 counties are enrolled in 4-H, for a total enrollment reaching approximately 140,000 youth. Nearly 56,000 youth participated in school enrichment experiences. Over 25,000 Nebraska youth were members of a 4-H club. Nearly 8,000 youth and adults participated in 4-H camping programs. 12,000 volunteers share their time and resources with Nebraska 4-H.

Locally, in 2015 we had 204 youth enrolled in the Fillmore County 4-H program and nearly 400 youth were reached through school enrichment or agricultural literacy based programs. February is Nebraska 4-H Month and ALL youth and their families are invited to attend the Annual 4-H Kick-Off celebration on February 21st from 5-7:00 p.m. at the Fillmore Co. fairgrounds to learn more about 4-H and kick off the 2016 year. kickoff2016The event will showcase 4-H projects, information on the upcoming year, games and 4-H fun. All attendees will be invited to participate in multiple mini projects including fishing, animal science, face painting and more! Did I mention there will be inflatables? As well as, pictures with Lil’ Green and prizes galore! Concessions available.

Programming, Uncategorized

Women in Ag Conference

Brandy VanDeWalle

Nebraska women will learn how to plan and make better business decisions for their farms and ranches, communities, families and themselves at the 31st Women in Agriculture Conference, the longest-running women’s conference of its kind in the country, Feb. 25-26 at the Kearney Holiday Inn, 110 S. Second Ave.

This year’s theme is “Women in Agriculture: The Critical Difference,” and the conference features a variety of workshops, “funshops” and speakers, including Jolene Brown of West Branch, Iowa, and Trent Loos of Litchfield.Farm

Brown will be the keynote speaker the morning of Feb. 25 with her talk, “The Balancing Act: 10 Ideas to Relieve Stress and Bring Renewal to Our Farm and Family Life,” about realistic and applicable ideas to help bring a breath of fresh air, renewal and balance to work and family life. Brown’s talk is sponsored by Farm Credit Services of America. Loos will be the capstone lunchtime speaker on Feb. 26 as he presents “Passion for the Purpose” about developing and sharing a passion and meaningful purpose in one’s life.

Five concurrent sessions will offer participants more than 30 workshops to choose from with topics including crop and livestock marketing, applications for big data, forestry, alternate livestock, real-estate trends and lease provisions, labor management, women’s heart health, pesticide training, business transition, family communication, livestock disease outbreak, farm programs, financial planning and agronomy issues. The evening of Feb. 25 includes time for networking and exercise.

Booth exhibitors will share information with participants that may also be useful in their farm/ranch operation.

Those interested can register online at http://wia.unl.edu or mail a completed registration form with a check to UNL Agricultural Economics, 303 Filley Hall, Lincoln, NE 68583-0922. More information about Women in Agriculture is available at that site.

The early-bird registration fee is $125 for those registering by Feb. 12. Beginning Feb. 13, the fee is $150. The fee includes workshop materials, registration and all meals and breaks.

The conference is sponsored by the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Nebraska Extension, the Department of Agricultural Economics, Farm Credit Services of America, Reinke Irrigation and the Nebraska Farm Bureau Federation. Opportunities for conference sponsorship and booth exhibits still remain.

Lodging is available at the Kearney Holiday Inn, 110 S. Second Ave., by calling 308-237-5971.