Views from VanDeWalle

Crop Moisture Update

As I write this, soil moisture has been adequate and therefore in most cases, no need to irrigate. Those with the watermark sensors are able to closely monitor their soil water status and will be able to know when to trigger their first irrigation. With corn growing at a rapid pace, it will be important to check the sensors and once they hit tassel, take an average of the one, two, and three foot sensors. The crop ET reading south of Geneva read 1.4 inches for the period of July 1 – July 8. This means that corn at the V-12 stage has a coefficient of .88 inches, so .88 x 1.4 means that the crop used 1.23 inches/week or .18”/day. Corn at V-14 would use 1.01 X 1.4 and used 1.41 inches/week or .20”/day. Remember to check the Nebraska Ag Water Management website and click on “view ETgage data” to see other local ET and rainfall data. If you have an ETgage you can register it and report your data here as well.

Sportsmanship starts with Adults!

Webster’s Third International Dictionary defines sportsmanship as “conduct becoming to an individual involving fair and honest competition, courteous relations and graceful acceptance of results”. Sportsmanship starts with parents teaching their youth how to accept a win or a loss, although in the 4-H youth development program, even if the youth receives a red ribbon, nothing is lost as long as some basic knowledge and skills were gained. Too often in our society we focus on the tangible results of a ribbon or trophy and don’t think about the process that youth went through to achieve the end results and what was learned from that process.

I often use the example that as a youth, I’ll never forget receiving a red ribbon for a market heifer; I was frustrated, but will never forget my dad asking me, what the judge said in the comments. After we talked it over, I realized his reasoning and was able to understand the type of animal I should select for the following year. That was a lesson I’ll never forget. My dad and mom also told my sister and me that if we wanted a trophy that badly, instead of spending a large amount of money on an animal just to win or using unethical practices, they’d go out and buy us our own trophy. For these reasons, it is really rewarding to work with youth who are happy with any ribbon placing.

Three reasons adults and teen leaders should be concerned with developing sportsmanship are: 1. Youth programs are easier to conduct and are more positive experiences for everyone involved if good sportsmanship is demonstrated. 2. The development of sportsmanship is an important part of youth development. Youth and adults who develop and show good sportsmanship get along better, and are much more successful on a long-term basis in becoming self-directing, productive, contributing, competent, caring, capable adults, than are those whose behavior is un-sportsmanship-like. 3. Sportsmanship is one of the key elements of civilized society. Those who think of the “big picture” know the reasons for developing sportsmanship extend beyond an individual, a community, or a program. When societies allow sportsmanship to decline, their civilizations also decline.

As we get ready for another Fillmore County Fair, let’s be reminded that the end result is not the ribbon placing, but the skills that each youth learned!

Source: Kathryn J. Cox, Ohio Extension 4-H Specialist, Youth Development, Developing Sportsmanship- A Resource For Preparing Youth And Their Families For Participation in Competitive Programs and Events, 2006

Be proactive, rather than reactive- County Committee Elections

         It is important for one to stand for what they believe in and take an active role in one’s community. Effective leadership is crucial to any community or organization. One of the steps of having effective leadership in any community or organization is to ensure that the right people are in those crucial leadership roles.  An effective leader understands the issues at-hand, is knowledgeable in his/her area, knows the proper ways to motivate others, embraces change, can work in a variety of settings and with a variety of personalities, and involves the group or followers in important decision-making. That being said, remember that a leader is not only a political figure or someone that is well-known, but a leader can be a farmer, local businessmen/women, or anyone in a community or organization.  One that leads others should be proactive rather than reactive; he/she should plan and effectively lead others with the group’s vision in mind.  It is frustrating to hear others complain about various political leaders when often times those complaining never took the time to vote or understand the issue(s) at hand. 

            One important election at hand in this area is the election of responsible agricultural producers to FSA County Committees.  This is important to ALL farmers with large or small operations.  County Committees are a direct link between the farm community and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.  Committee members are a critical component of the day-to-day operations of FSA.  They help deliver FSA farm programs at the local level.  They work to make FSA agricultural programs serve the needs of local producers. Committees make decisions on: commodity price support loans and payments, conservation programs, incentive and disaster payments, and other farm disaster assistance. FSA committees operate within official regulations designed to carry out Federal laws.  Committee members apply their judgment and knowledge to make local decisions.

Nominations
To become a nominee for the COC, eligible individuals must sign nomination form FSA-669A. The form includes a statement that the nominee agrees to serve if elected. This form is available at Service Centers and online at http://www.fsa.usda.gov/elections.  Nomination forms for the 2011 election must be postmarked or received in the local Service Center by close of business August 1, 2011.

Agricultural producers who participate or cooperate in an FSA program may be nominated for candidacy for the county committee. Individuals may nominate themselves or others as a candidate. Additionally, organizations representing minority and women farmers or ranchers may nominate candidates. Nomination forms are filed for the COC in the office that administers a producer’s farm records.

Election Period
August 1, 2011 – Last day to file nomination forms at the local Service Center
November 4, 2011 – Ballots mailed to eligible voters
December 5, 2011 – Last day to return voted ballots to the Service Center
January 2, 2012 – Newly elected COC members take office

Additional election information may be found at: http://www.fsa.usda.gov/elections. Producers may contact their local Service Center for more information.

 As I work with youth in the Crop Science Investigation series, I’m reminding them to consider agriculture as a career choice. Today’s agricultural world faces several challenges, one of them being the decline of our most valuable resource, the future workforce. While Nebraska’s population under 18 years of age grew between the years of 2000 and 2009, this increase was seen in only ten of the 93 counties. Rural communities, including agricultural producers, can benefit from expanding youth into leadership opportunities, therefore mentoring youth leaders (Cantrell, 2010).  One strategy to keep youth in rural communities and involved in production agriculture is to involve them in projects that encourage active participation and learn about the wide array of careers related to production agriculture.

To help address this, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension offers Crop Science Investigation (CSI) programming for youth to increase their knowledge and interest with plants, science, and agriculture. Currently, CSI workshops are offered in several counties which consist of local hands-on workshops for 4-H and FFA youth.

A goal I have for the CSI program is to expand it statewide so youth that don’t have a local CSI program have the opportunity to participate. Workshop topics include: marketing, nutrient management, managing disease, insect and weed problems, row spacing, plant population, water management, etc. These sessions build life skills such as; researching scientifically based answers; problem solving, public speaking, etc. 

Last week, I had the opportunity to work with ten Fillmore and ten Jefferson county youth teaching them how crops grow and other current agronomic factors. If you know of youth interested in crops, I’d be happy to provide some resources to them or check into the possibilities of forming a CSI group in their area.

Start Mosquito Control Now

 I love to spend time outside working in the garden or in the landscape, but unfortunately the mosquitoes have recently started to enjoy spending time outside with me as well. I’ve heard lots of clients already complain about the intense populations of mosquitoes so this week, I’ve decided to share information provided recently by Roberto Cortinas, assistant professor, entomology and veterinary and biomedical sciences and Barb Ogg, Ph.D., extension educator from a recent news release.

There are two types of mosquitoes: floodwater and standing water mosquitoes. Floodwater mosquitoes such as the Aedes vexans, also commonly known as the inland floodwater mosquito lay eggs in dry areas in anticipation of flooding or rain. These eggs may survive a few years without water and hatch into mosquito larvae when water pools in the area. Mosquito larvae develop into pupae and then emerge from the water when they become adult mosquitoes. With the flooding this year, the number of Aedes vexans likely will increase. These mosquitoes transmit dog heartworm, which infects animals, primarily dogs, but it is easily preventable, according to Cortinas. Fortunately, the Aedes vexans mosquitoes are not the key player in the spread of the West Nile virus. The West Nile virus is the most important mosquito-transmitted disease in North America.

In 2010, 39 cases of West Nile were reported in Nebraska with two of those leading to death. The mosquito that spreads West Nile virus is Culex tarsalis, a standing water mosquito. This kind of mosquito prefers to lay eggs in existing, stagnant water sources, such as water in a paper cup or old tires. For the Culex tarsalis mosquito population to increase substantially and increase the risk of West Nile virus transmission the floodwater would have to remain pooled for a few weeks.

To protect oneself against the West Nile virus, control mosquito populations around an area and prevent mosquito bites. Barb Ogg, UNL Extension educator in Lancaster County, said long-term mosquito control starts with people eliminating mosquito breeding grounds instead of just spraying insecticide. If one is going to spray their yard, it’ll be effective for maybe a day or two. Anything in the yard that collects water, such as flower pots, cans and old tires, should be emptied. Dump out the bird bath at least twice a week and check gutters to make sure they are not clogged. For ponds or flooded areas, briquets or granules of the bacteria Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis (Bti) can be used to kill mosquito larvae, but it won’t harm birds, fish mammals and other organisms.

People can avoid getting bitten by mosquitoes by making sure window and door screens are in good condition, and by remaining indoors during dawn and dusk, which is when mosquitoes are most active. When venturing outside, it’s advisable to wear long-sleeved clothing and long pants. Light-colored clothing seems to attract fewer mosquitoes than dark-colored clothing. Mosquito repellents help prevent mosquito bites, too.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends three kinds of mosquito repellents:

• DEET is the most common chemical used in insect repellents. DEET is effective, lasts up to eight hours depending on the concentration and is considered “the gold standard” for mosquito repellents. However, many people don’t like DEET because it has an oily feeling and odor. 
• Picaridin is as effective as DEET but it isn’t as long-lasting. However, it is not greasy and doesn’t have an odor, so some people prefer Picaridin over DEET.
• Oil of lemon eucalyptus (PMD) is extracted from the lemon eucalyptus plant. People like it because it’s a natural substance, but it lasts for a shorter period of time than DEET or Picaridin of the same concentration, so it needs to be re-applied more frequently.

For more tips on controlling mosquitoes around the home, visit UNL NebGuide Residential Mosquito Control.

Welcome!

This summer we were blessed with not only one intern, but two! We have Molly Traush, our Extension Intern working mostly with the 4-H program. We also have Cale Mages, who has been helping me install irrigation equipment and will be working on a special grant-funded project this summer. Here is a short piece from him.

My name is Cale Mages and I am a summer intern with the Partners in Pollution Prevention program at UNL. I will be working in the Fillmore County Extension Office, specifically working with producers to help evaluate irrigation system efficiencies and offering any suggestions for improvement that I can. So far it has be very enjoyable experience, and I hope to give producers a better understanding of their irrigation systems and find ways they can save money. I am originally from a small town southeast of Kansas City. I will be a 5th year senior at the University of Kansas where I study civil engineering. I have grown up both working and playing outside, so I am glad to have an internship that allows me to keep doing so. I look forward to meeting members of the community and enjoying my time in Fillmore County. Feel free to stop by the extension office with any questions.

We are glad to have both Cale and Molly in the office so please help them both feel welcome this summer.

Flooding Resources

Just a quick mention that there are lots of flood resources available at UNL extension’s website. If you know of someone with these issues, help spread the word.