Views from VanDeWalle

When I first came into Extension I sought for ways to incorporate my agricultural education teaching experience with the adult crops programming. Last year, I was able to get a project up and rolling which I’ve been involved and is approaching its one year completion which is exciting to see my two passions – youth and agriculture come together.

The University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension and the Nebraska Corn Board have teamed up to offer the First Annual Innovative Youth Corn Challenge contest. This contest was open to 4-H members or FFA members and challenged them to create an innovative, yet economical way to increase yields in their own corn plot. As a team youth were challenged to implement a production practice different than normal to determine if they increased their yield. Yields, cropping history, and production information is being gathered by participants.

Six teams completed proposals and projects in this pilot year. Teams are the Super Strong H’s 4-H club from Polk County, Humphrey FFA, Wrangler’s 4-H Club from Platte County, Fillmore Central FFA, David City FFA, and the Pioneers 4-H Club from Madison County.

Cash prizes and plaques will be given to the first, second, and third place teams at the Corn Yield Challenge Banquet set for December 5, 2012 at UNL’s East Campus.

Youth interested in participating next year should go to cropwatch.unl.edu/youth/ website. For more information, contact myself at brandy.vandewalle@unl.edu.

Crops

Cropping Fertilizer Update

November 2, 2012 Brandy VanDeWalle

Producers are now thinking about soil fertility needs for next growing season. It is always important to soil sample to ensure you are applying the correct amounts of fertilizer, but with this past season’s drought it’s even more important! Soil nitrates may be higher than normal this fall, especially in rain fed fields. Take soil samples and determine residual soil nitrate levels before deciding on fertilizer N application rates. Remember that soil temperature. As I write this, soil temperatures are between 44-45 degrees in Fillmore County.)

If you have collected soil samples, you can go UNL CropWatch’s Soils page to calculate fertilizer recommendations based on your soil test results.

My colleague, Gary Zoubek reminds producers that timing is important when applying nitrogen, ideally it’s best to apply the nitrogen near the time the crop will be using it, and thus, split applications are often are the best! You don’t want to apply it all in the fall, plan to sidedress or chemigate some on. Often conditions are not always ideal in the spring or you do not have enough time, so we understand why some producers make applications in the fall. We also know that if we don’t get excessive rains, we won’t move the nitrogen that’s been applied, but we’re all hoping for above normal precipitation this fall, winter and spring.

In addition, we’re always looking for producers interested in conducting On-Farm Research. If you you’re planning to make fall anhydrous ammonia applications and would consider doing a timing study comparing fall vs. spring or sidedress, email me at brandy.vandewalle@unl.edu. I would be glad to work with you.

UNL Extension’s Hort Update

The latest horticulture update explained that late October, average soil temperatures across the state ranged from 50 to 59 degrees F. Even with freezing air temperatures, root and rhizome growth can continue until soil temperatures drop below 40 degrees. Fall root growth aids drought recovery but only if adequate soil oxygen and moisture is available. Continue to provide moisture in the absence of rainfall without overwatering so soil oxygen levels are lowered due to saturated soils. Planting of deciduous trees and shrubs can also continue.

Landlord/Tenant Workshop in Fairmont!

This free workshop is sponsored by the Nebraska Soybean Board and the North Central Risk Management Agency in collaboration with our local Famers & Ranchers College committee. A meal and handouts are included. Handouts and materials will be available on a first-come, first-serve basis. This program will be on November 13, 2012 at the Fairmont Legion from 11-3:00 p.m. with registration at 10:30 a.m. Please RSVP by November 6^th via email at brandy.vandewalle@unl.edu.

Uncategorized

November 2, 2012 Brandy VanDeWalle

Producers, read about a great opportunity on fertilizer research options for your farm by Jenny Rees:

JenResources

November 1 is just around the corner-the beginning of when fall fertilizing occurs in this area of the State. Hopefully many of you have taken soil samples as excess nitrate is to be expected after this drought year. This is an excellent time to consider evaluating your nitrogen program by starting an on-farm research trial!

On-farm research is using your own equipment, in your own fields, over single or multiple growing seasons allowing you to determine the most economical, efficient, and sustainable practice for the production of irrigated and/or dryland crops on your own farm.

What are the soil fertility questions you have for your farm?

Right now, with fertilizing on producers’ minds, we’re hoping you will consider a soil fertility study. We have several example nutrient protocols including the UNL N fertility rate compared to +/- 30 lbs, and considerations for nitrogen timing…

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Crops, Programming

Landlord/Tenant Workshop & Returning to the Farm Program

October 26, 2012 Brandy VanDeWalle

Developing farm cash leases that meet the needs of both landlord and tenant, while maintaining a positive relationship, is the goal of these workshops. Both tenants and the landlord are encouraged to attend! A team of UNL Extension Educators will be on hand to discuss these topics and provide common sense tips during the presentation. Managing the 2012 drought and implications for 2013 will also be discussed.

Session presenter Al Vyhnalek points out that “Putting together the right lease isn’t about what is being discussed at the coffee shop, or what a university survey of cash lease rates says; it is about what fits both the landlord and tenant for their circumstance and situation. Attending this presentation will provide a set of ideas to work from as those specifics are discussed.”

Topics include: Expectations from the lease, including goal setting for the rental property; Lease communication, determining appropriate information sharing for both the tenant and landlord; Tips for farm leases that include relatives; Alternative cash lease arrangements, flexible provision considerations for your situation; How the 2012 drought affects leases, irrigation systems, grain bin rental, and other topics related to leases will be discussed as time allows.ing this presentation will provide a set of ideas to work from as those specifics are discussed.”

This free workshop is sponsored by the Nebraska Soybean Board and the North Central Risk Management Agency in collaboration with our local Famers & Ranchers College committee. A meal and handouts are included. Handouts and materials will be available on a first-come, first-serve basis. This program will be on November 13, 2012 at theFairmont Legion from 11-3:00 p.m. with registration at 10:30 a.m. Please RSVP by November 6^th. To register, contact our office at (402)759-3712 or via email at brandy.vandewalle@unl.edu.

Returning to the Farm Workshop Planned

The past several years our UNL Agricultural Economic Department has conducted “Returning to the Farm Workshops” designed for farm families transitioning their operation. This year the sessions will be held Friday Dec. 7th from 2:00 – 9:00 p.m. & Saturday Dec. 8th from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and Friday Jan. 11th from 2:00 – 9:00 p.m. and Sat. 12th from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. in Lincoln at the Holiday Inn Downtown.

The cost of the conference is $350 for the first 4 family members, plus $40 for each family member after the first 4. This fee covers instruction, handout materials, meeting room costs, refreshment breaks, Saturday continental breakfast and most meals. The registration deadline is November 30, 2012 and it’s limited to the first 15 families with paid registrations.

Crops, Programming

Farmers & Ranchers College Year Planned

October 12, 2012 Brandy VanDeWalle

The Farmers & Ranchers College was formed in January, 2000 with the purpose of providing high quality, dynamic, up to date educational workshops for area agricultural producers in south central Nebraska through a collaborative effort between business, industry and higher education leaders. Furthermore, the Farmers & Ranchers College will provide the tools necessary so that agricultural producers will be able to respond positively to these changes using a profitable decision making process.

The Farmers and Ranchers College is a unique opportunity to educate agricultural producers in south central Nebraska. Four hundred producers from twenty counties and three states participated in the 2011-2012 Farmers & Ranchers College programs. Producers attending these workshops managed over 284,000 acres. Participants surveyed indicated an average of $12.12/acre of knowledge gained from participating for a potential impact of $3.4 million.

Contributions and support of area businesses allow participants to attend at no cost, however for programs that have meals, it is requested that people RSVP at least a week in advance for an accurate meal count by calling Fillmore County Extension at (402) 759-3712.

The Farmers and Ranchers College Committee consists of Fred Bruning of Bruning, Bryan Dohrman of Grafton, Sarah Miller of Carleton, Eric Milton of Milligan, Jim Donovan of Geneva, Bryce Kassik of Geneva, Gordy Nuss of Sutton, and Brandy VanDeWalle of Ohiowa.

2012 -2013 Farmers & Ranchers College Programming

November 13, 2012 – Landowner/Tenant Lease Workshop – Fairmont Legion, 11-3:00, registration at 10:30 a.m.*
December 10, 2012 – “Agriculture: What’s Around the Corner & Down the Road” Featuring Dr. David Kohl Professor Emeritus, Dept. of AAEC, VA TECH at the Bruning Opera House – Bruning, NE at 1:00 p.m.
January 22, 2013 – “Partners In Progress – Beef Seminar” at the U.S. Meat Animal Research Center near Clay Center from 10:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., registration at 9:30 a.m.*
March 14,2013 – Keeping Your Farm in the Family for the Next Generation” Featuring Ron Hanson, UNL at Evening with Friends in Milligan with meal at 6:00 p.m. and program to follow.*

* Programs are provided at no cost to the public, but registration is appreciated for a meal count. Please call the Fillmore Co. Extension Office at (402) 759-3712 one week prior to the program.

Uncategorized

Next Year’s Field Plans

October 5, 2012 Brandy VanDeWalle

With harvest almost complete for some producers or in full swing, now is the time to reflect on both the challenges and successes from this dry growing season. As you harvested many fields, did you notice any trouble-some spots where excess weeds were present? Did you notice areas that were pretty variable in yield? Did you evaluate any practices you might have implemented for the first time? Were you surprised by any yields from your fields? While this was a very trying year with the drought, there are many things you can control or work to improve if you didn’t obtain desirable results.

Harvest provides an opportunity for a final evaluation of your weed management program and to a lesser extent, your insect management program. As you travel over all of your fields, take a minute to record observations such as where weeds are present. Be sure to note the exact locations and details so you know how to correct it for next year.

It is also important to take soil samples with this year’s drought. Have you sampled for soybean cyst nematode in soybean fields with less yield than anticipated?

On-Farm Research Opportunities

Now is also a good time to think how weather conditions in 2012 might impact performance of crop inputs and management practices in 2013. Locally, we have the Greater Quad County On-Farm Research group who participates in various trials, but last year a collaborative statewide effort was launched, the Nebraska On-Farm Research Network. Two of my colleagues, Gary Zoubek and Keith Glewen are co-coordinators for the project and recently suggested in a CropWatch article that whether one’s corn and soybean production is dryland or irrigated, inputs and certain production practices may respond differently in 2013 as a result of unprecedented drought conditions this past growing season.

The Nebraska On-Farm Research Network provides growers the framework and opportunity to conduct relevant research in their own fields, using their own farm machinery. With the assistance of UNL faculty, farm operators can make valid, field-sized and replicated comparisons which can provide growers valuable economic information.

For more information, see the On-Farm Research section of CropWatch. The Nebraska On-Farm Research Network is sponsored by UNL Extension in partnership with the Nebraska Corn Growers Association and the Nebraska Corn Board.

Youth

Celebrate National 4-H Week October 7-13

September 28, 2012 Brandy VanDeWalle

October 7-13 is National 4-H Week, and Fillmore County is celebrating the 4-H youth who have made an impact on the community, and are stepping up to the challenges of a complex and changing world. 4-H youth are a living breathing, culture-changing revolution for doing the right thing, breaking through obstacles and pushing our country forward by making a measurable difference right where they live.

During 4-H Week in Fillmore County youth will be participating in fun events:

–Monday through Friday of 4-H Week, youth who guess the correct number of candy in a jar will win up to $25 gift certificate to purchase anything of their choosing in our 4-H Source Catalog!

–Tuesday youth are encouraged to wear their 4-H shirts to school and eligible for a prize.

-Hundreds of thousands of youth from all around the nation will complete an innovative experiment on 4-H National Youth Science Day, which will be held on Wednesday, Oct. 10, 2012. The 2012 National Science Experiment, 4-H Eco-Bot Challenge, explores how robots can be used to preserve and protect the environment, while offering a glimpse into the future of science, technology, engineering and math. Locally, youth can participate in National Youth Science Day at the Extension Office from 4-6:00 p.m. Please register by Oct. 8^th.

–Thursday, past and current 4-Her’s are encouraged to share how 4-H has made an impact in their life on the Fillmore County 4-H FaceBook page. Person’s story with the most likes, is eligible for a prize as well.

–Friday, spread the word about 4-H to your friends at Friday night football games or around town by handing out green and white mints to others, etc.

Learn how you can Join the Revolution of Responsibility, or contact your local Extension office. In Fillmore County, you can call (402) 759-3712 or email me at brandy.vandewalle@unl.edu

Crops, Livestock

Grazing Corn Stalks in No-till Fields

September 28, 2012 Brandy VanDeWalle

The drought this year has left many cattle producers in a bind. Hay prices are high and pastures are burnt up which leaves corn stalks as an excellent grazing option. While many producers annually graze cornstalks, this year it will be of even more importance. Cattle are already in stalks and there are lots of corn fields being baled for forage.

A recent UNL CropWatch article by Charles Wortmann, Terry Klopfenstein, and Aaron Stalker showed that in a corn-soybean rotation study conducted from 1996 to 2011, the effects on yields of the following crop were determined for fall-winter grazing (November to February) and spring grazing (February to mid-April, the time of greatest concern of compaction by animal traffic on thawed and wet soil). The field was irrigated and had three treatments (fall/winter grazed, spring grazed, and ungrazed) which have been maintained in the same area since 1996. The stocking rate was with yearlings at 2.5 times the normal level since 2000. On average, yield of the following soybean crop was increased by about 2 bu/ac with fall-winter grazing, and 1.3 bu/ac with spring grazing, compared with no grazing of corn stalks. Yield of corn as the second crop after grazing was not significantly affected. There is ongoing research which will be reported in the 2013 Nebraska Beef Cattle Report which include a dryland trial.

The article concluded that grazing corn stalks is compatible with no-till management in eastern Nebraska and probably is for irrigated fields throughout the state with no loss in average grain yield expected. With wet soil conditions in the spring, consider removing cattle from the field or taking other steps management steps to minimize the effect of compaction.

Programming

Mentally Coping with Drought

September 21, 2012 Brandy VanDeWalle

With harvest underway, most likely producers are suffering yield losses in rainfield fields. Many producers will have very high energy bills from the long irrigation season. High nitrate issues are of concern for livestock producers. The list goes on for the problems this year’s drought caused. With that can come an emotional stress that directly impact farm families as they cope with those burdens.

After the Drought, a September 27 one-hour national webinar will address this topic and the resources available to help farm families cope. The program’s goal is to provide farm families, Extension educators, and other agriculture professionals with basic resources to address mental/behavioral issues related to the drought.

Program topics will include:

Mental health issues likely to be encountered by drought-stressed farmers, such as depression, anxiety disorders, suicidal thoughts and actions, and substance abuse
Proper identification of signs and symptoms
Appropriate responses when interacting with farm family members
Referral sources for additional assistance
Training opportunities available through Mental Health First Aid.

More information is available at UNL Extension’s CropWatch website.

Crops

Grain Storage

September 19, 2012 Brandy VanDeWalle

With harvest well underway, it is always important to ensure proper grain storage, especially as farmers build larger grain bins than in the past. This week, I’ve decided to share an article written by my Extension colleague, Tom Dorn in Lancaster County which was featured on UNL Extension’s CropWatch website, Managing Large Grain Bins for Potential Mycotoxin Contamination. Dorn points out that a typical on-farm grain bin traditionally was 27 to 36 feet in diameter and would hold 18 to 22 feet of grain depth. Now it is common on many farms to build 42- to 48-foot diameter bins that can hold 28 to 32 feet of grain depth.

These large bins work well for storing dry grain and regulating grain temperature. The low airflow rates that are good for controlling grain temperature require relatively low static pressure to move the air through the grain mass. Generally, fans intended for temperature control are sized to produce 0.2 to 0.3 cubic feet of air per minute per bushel (cfm/bu) through the grain. Many fan manufacturers produce a 10 horsepower axial-flow fan capable of producing 0.3 cfm/bu in a 48-foot diameter bin with 30 feet of corn depth.

Using a 48-foot diameter bin for drying corn is a much different situation. The minimum airflow recommended for drying corn in Nebraska is 1.0 cfm/bushel. An even higher airflow is required for grain that has, or even might have storage molds that could continue to grow and produce mycotoxins in storage. The higher airflow will dry the grain more quickly. Drying time is proportional to the airflow, cfm/bu, and the airflow a fan can produce is affected by the grain depth. Therefore, Dorn recommends reducing grain depth to provide higher airflow (1.25 cfm/bu or higher) and shorter drying times.

Remember, while a minimum of 1.25 cfm/bu is recommended, providing more airflow is better. Drying time is inversely proportional to the airflow (cfm/bu). An airflow of 2 cfm/bu will dry corn in half the time as an airflow of 1 cfm/bu.

To achieve the recommended 1.25 cfm/bu in a 48-foot diameter bin using only one 40 hph fan, grain depth would need to be limited to 8 feet or less. If two 40 hp fans are used, grain depth needs to be 15 feet or less to achieve the recommended airflow.

If mycotoxins are suspected in corn, grain depths in large bins may need to be adjusted to facilitate quick drying. For more information on grain bin storage visit the Lancaster County Extension site.