Tag: farming

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Nebraska LEAD Program

Brandy VanDeWalle

It is hard to believe it has been 17 years since I participated in the Nebraska LEAD program! Through this program, I met twenty-nine talented individuals with a passion of agriculture through the Nebraska LEAD program. To date, I remain friends with many of them and the networking opportunities have been tremendous. The in-state seminars challenged me to think outside of the box and remain an advocate for agriculture. I could go on and on about the excellent opportunities the LEAD program has provided, but I challenge you to experience it yourself!

Individuals passionate about agriculture, leadership and making a difference across Nebraska are encouraged to apply for the Nebraska LEAD (Leadership Education/Action Development) Program’s 44th cohort. Applications for this premier agricultural leadership development program are now being accepted through June 15, 2025.

For more than four decades, the Nebraska LEAD Program has identified and cultivated leaders for Nebraska’s agricultural industry and rural communities. Over the course of two years, Nebraska LEAD Fellows participate in a series of dynamic seminars, in-state and national study travel, and a life-changing international study experience — all designed to build critical leadership skills, broaden perspectives and strengthen participants’ ability to shape the future of agriculture and their communities.

“Nebraska agriculture needs visionary leaders who can not only navigate change but drive it — leaders who advocate fiercely for our industry and unite people toward a common purpose,” said Kurtis Harms, Nebraska LEAD Program Director. “The Nebraska LEAD Program offers an unparalleled opportunity for both personal growth and professional impact. Whether you farm, ranch, work in agribusiness or champion rural communities, if you’re passionate about leadership and ready to make a difference, Nebraska LEAD is your next step.”

Individuals involved in production agriculture, agribusiness or professions closely tied to the agricultural industry are encouraged to apply. Ideal candidates are emerging leaders who have demonstrated a commitment to leadership and service.

Application packets can be requested online at lead.unl.edu. Those interested can also nominate individuals who exhibit high leadership potential to receive application information.

The deadline to submit applications for Nebraska LEAD Group 44 is June 15, 2025.

For more information about the Nebraska LEAD Program, including eligibility requirements and program details, visit lead.unl.edu.

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Progressive Agriculture Safety Day

Brandy VanDeWalle

Recognized as the largest rural safety and health education program for children in North America, Progressive Agriculture Safety Day® (PAF Safety Day) provides age-appropriate, hands-on educational lessons primarily designed for children ages 4 to 13 years old. Since the program’s start in 1995, more than 1.9 million individuals have been reached in 45 states, two U.S. territories, and nine Canadian provinces.  Trained PAF Safety Day Coordinators partner within their community, using one of the three delivery modes, to customize their PAF Safety Day selecting from more than 30 safety and health topics with hundreds of activities and demonstrations to meet the needs of the youth in their area.

Statistics from those impacted by a farm-related injury or death are sobering. Many know someone who was impacted by a farm accident that in many cases could have been prevented. Therefore, I feel so passionately about conducting the Annual Progressive Safety Day each year. The Progressive Agriculture Foundation provides safety and health information to rural communities that need it, which is why I’ve teamed up with them. The mission of Progressive Agriculture Days is simple – to provide education, training, and resources to make farm and ranch life safer and healthier for children and their communities. The vision is that “no child become ill, injured or die from farm, ranch and rural activities.”

Locally, since I have been involved with a Progressive Agriculture Safety Day in Geneva for nearly 20 years. We have grown from approximately 60 participants to nearly 100 youth from surrounding counties. This half-day event involves many volunteers and local sponsors to make the program what it is today. Every year, business staff or volunteers help teach the hands-on activities. In addition, area FFA chapters assist in delivery of sessions and guiding youth participants to each session.

Current 1st through 6th graders are invited to attend Progressive Agriculture Safety Day on Thursday, May 29, 2025 at the Fillmore County Fairgrounds in Geneva, NE.  Youth will participate in a variety of events designed to help them be aware of safety in potentially hazardous situations in and around rural and agricultural settings, including electricity, online safety, severe weather safety, lawn mower safety, sun safety, chemical look-alikes, impacts on mental health and a drug dog demonstration.  NE Extension hosts this event in Fillmore County, along with Shickley, Fillmore Central, Exeter-Milligan-Friend FFA chapters, 4-H, W.I.F.E. and Fillmore County Emergency Management. Early registration forms and $5 are due April 25th; forms can be downloaded at fillmore.unl.edu. After April 25th, registration is $10/youth. For more info or to register, call 402-759-3712 or email brandy.vandewalle@unl.edu.

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What is NE Extension?

Brandy VanDeWalle

As I approach my twentieth year in Extension later this year, there is one question that many people commonly ask, “What exactly is Extension and what do you do?” While I have a quick answer to that question, there is so much more I’d like to tell them about the great work my colleagues do across the state. Nebraska Extension brings the University of Nebraska’s expertise and research in 8 key impact areas directly to Nebraskans from all walks of life in the state’s 93 counties. Nebraskans turn to Nebraska Extension to strengthen their families, inspire their communities, empower young people, conserve and protect natural resources, and advance their farms, ranches, and businesses.

Every county in Nebraska is served by talented and dedicated Extension faculty and staff. Each county has an educator focused on one of the 8 key areas with accountability to other counties in their specific discipline. This ensures that every county has access to a subject matter expert to provide clients the best answer to any question that might arise, and each county is provided relevant programming in that topical area.

 Annually, Extension faculty complete a yearly report capturing the most important, impactful work completed during that year. As a youth development educator, the statewide goals I aim to accomplish are as follows: “Youth will be prepared to make decisions for today and the future, thrive in their careers, and become competent & connected members of their communities.” In the next two columns, I will share some excerpts from my report to explain some programming you may or may not be aware.

In 2024, I spearheaded state programming that engaged 795 youth in STEM education with a focus on crop science through the Innovative Youth Corn Challenge (IYCC), Youth Crop Scouting Competition (YCSC), and Special Agronomy Project. These efforts generated nearly $13,000 in revenue. I directly taught or facilitated programming for 2,250 youth, contributing 4,518 teaching hours. Through collaboration with Clay and Fillmore County staff, we successfully reached 82% of youth in Clay County and 66% in Fillmore County.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 6% growth in agronomy jobs, with 2,100 new positions expected by 2032. Girdziute et al. (2002) found that youth are often reluctant to pursue agricultural careers due to factors like gender, location, and the belief that agriculture lacks opportunities for personal fulfillment. This emphasizes the need for the ag industry to actively engage youth in the workforce.

A 13-year partnership with the NE Corn Board in the Innovative Youth Corn Challenge (IYCC),a youth on-farm research project has successfully engaged youth in agricultural, science-based learning. A long-term program evaluation shows that over 100 IYCC alumni have pursued agricultural or STEM careers, with nearly 300 youth participating. In the last growing season, 5 teams (43 youth) harvested corn plots, and 2 teams (18 youth) took part in a drone field day, using Tello EDU drones for crop scouting and agricultural literacy projects. Two FFA Chapters created impactful videos of their projects, which were featured in CropWatch, Nebraska Corn Board publications, Nebraska Farmer magazine, and social media. The Arlington FFA video alone has nearly 1,000 views and 6 shares. During the last growing season, 6 participants reported a combined total of 288 hours working on their corn challenge plots. With 43 youth participating, and assuming each spent an average of 48 hours, the total time invested by youth could reach up to 2,064 hours.

  • 100% of current IYCC participants (n=12) enhanced their ability to 1) accurately identify pests, 2) understand crop scouting procedures, 3) set-up research plots, 4) determine profitability of practices and 5) evaluate new products/practices in the field.
  • “I enjoyed having a project last for a long duration and seeing the end results.” -Current Participant
  • “There have been numerous individuals that have gone into ag fields. Two have went to farming, one ag retail and one agronomy.” – Former Innovative Youth Corn Challenge advisor

Next week, I’ll share more of how I strive to accomplish this and other goals.

Programming

Nebraska Extension Succession Planning Series for Women In Agriculture

Brandy VanDeWalle

A multi-state extension workshop series for women in agriculture will offer strategies to evaluate and improve farm estate and transition plans. Leaving a Lasting Legacy for Midwestern Farm Women: A Succession Planning Series, will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. Central time on Jan. 21, Jan. 28, Feb. 4, and Feb. 11 at sites across Kansas, Nebraska, and Indiana. The series is being produced through a collaborative effort by extension programs at Kansas State University, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and Purdue University.

Topics covered will include motivation for succession planning, communicating with family, the financial aspects of estate and transition plans, and the legal aspects of putting a plan in place. A keynote speaker will be simulcast to every workshop location during each meeting, with time for questions and a hands-on activity for participants. A meal will be provided on each date.

“Planning for what happens to your things when you’re gone can be daunting, but it’s so important, especially in agriculture, so that the transition to the next generation goes smoothly,” said Jessica Groskopf, director of the Nebraska Women in Agriculture program. “This series will help women learn best practices and new strategies to help the transition and estate planning processes so they can take that back to their farm or ranch and help lead the way in creating or reevaluating their plans.”

Groskopf said the program’s structure is intended to strengthen networks of women in rural areas, which can provide opportunities for building trust and sharing information. “Connections are so important to rural women,” she said. “We have seen the benefits that come from knowing your peers, having a place to share difficulties, and mitigating the isolation that so many of us in agriculture often feel.”

Locally, the Fillmore County Extension office located at 1340 G Street in Geneva, NE will be one of the hosting sites. The registration fee for in-person attendance is $60 before Jan. 13 and increases to $75 on or after Jan. 13. A virtual option is available for $75. Participants are encouraged to attend all four sessions. More information and registration is available on the Nebraska Women in Agriculture website, https://wia.unl.edu/succession25.

This material is based upon work supported by USDA/NIFA under Award Number2023-70027-40444.

Crops, Programming

Farmers & Ranchers College 

Brandy VanDeWalle

The Farmers & Ranchers College continues to provide high-quality programming to area producers and agribusiness professionals with 2024-25 programming. Farmers & Ranchers College will kick off with its traditional program featuring Dr. David Kohl. The committee will continue the annual Cow/Calf College in January and end with a crop insurance and weather program in February.

This year Farmers & Ranchers College will kick off December 3rd featuring Dr. David Kohl Registration will start at 12:45 p.m. and the program will start at 1:00 p.m. at the Opera House in Bruning, NE. The program is titled, “Economic Realities in the Agricultural Industry: The Pulse.”  What economic realities can we expect to see in the global and domestic agricultural industry?  Dr. Kohl keeps a pulse on trends and factors to be mindful of during the economic downturn. Some of these topics are land and machinery values, interest rates, concentration of agriculture, importance of cash flows, non-financial factors and much more.  

On the road ahead, the good doctor will draw upon his decades of experience as an educator and businessperson to present common financial and business practices that will proactively position your business regardless of the economic cycle.  Don’t miss this high energy session in preparation for 2025! 

Many to the area are very familiar with Dr. Kohl, but if you are not, here are some details about him. Dr. Dave Kohl is an academic Hall of Famer in the College of Agriculture at Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA.  Dr. Kohl has keen insight into the agriculture industry gained through extensive travel, research, and involvement in ag businesses.  He has traveled nearly 10 million miles; conducted more than 6,500 presentations; and published more than 2,250 articles in his career. Dr. Kohl’s wisdom and engagement with all levels of the industry provide a unique perspective into future trends.

In 2025, the Partners in Progress –Beef Seminar (Cow/Calf College) will be at U.S. Meat Animal Research Center near Clay Center on January 21st. More details will follow as the date nears. Finally, in February, Farmers & Ranchers College will host a crop insurance and weather update.

Questions on the Farmers & Ranchers College can be directed to the Fillmore County Extension Office at (402) 759-3712. To participate and register, go to the website: go.unl.edu/frcollege.

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Harvest Safety

Brandy VanDeWalle

It is hard to believe that harvest has started for some. As a reminder with harvest comes more traffic on county roads and other stresses for farmers. It never fails, that equipment can break, there are delays at the elevator and extra-long hours can all add extra stress to farmers. It is important to carefully slow down and realize the many hazards you are being exposed to during harvest.

Photo by Tom Fisk on Pexels.com

An Iowa State Extension publication, Harvest Safety Yields Big Dividends points out that injuries can occur by taking shortcuts to perform routine tasks, not getting enough sleep or regular breaks, or failing to follow safety practices. Some injuries occur when operators are pulled into the intake area of harvesting machines, such as balers, combines, or corn pickers, and many injuries occur from slips or falls around these machines. Exposure to powerful machinery is highest during the harvest season. The equipment must be powerful to effectively handle large amounts of agricultural commodities. When equipment plugs, NEVER try to unplug it with live equipment, instead always disengage power and turn off the engine before trying to manually clear a plugged machine. Regular maintenance of these machines can also make harvest go smoother. Also, lots of accidents happen by the operator slipping and falling off equipment.

In the same publication listed above, there are several tips for reducing fall hazards: 

  • Always keep all platforms free of tools or other objects.
  • Frequently clean the steps and other areas where workers stand to service, mount, and dismount, or operate the machine.
  • Wear well-fitting, comfortable shoes with non-slip soles.
  • Use grab bars when mounting or dismounting machinery.
  • Be sure your position is stable before you work on a machine.
  • Recognize that fatigue, stress, drugs or alcohol, and age may affect stability.

Other helpful tips during harvest are to keep kids away from machinery. Tell them the dangers that can occur and not to play near the equipment, even when it is shut off; you never know when they will be playing in hidden areas of the equipment. Operators should double check where kids are before moving the equipment. Too many accidents can occur when youth are in the path of equipment out of the operator’s view. Operators of all equipment should check in regularly and let someone know where you are. Keep all guards on equipment; it is there for a reason! 

It is also important for the public to understand the increased traffic on public roads and be patient. The greatest threat raised between farm equipment and passenger vehicles is the difference in speed. Farm equipment runs at an average speed of 20 miles per hour while passenger vehicles average 60 miles per hour. If the motor vehicle overtakes a tractor, the impact is comparable to a passenger vehicle hitting a brick wall at 40 miles per hour. If the tractor and a car, mini-van or pickup collides head on, the impact is the same as hitting a brick wall at 60 miles per hour.

Farmers can reduce the chances of an accident by using warning lights, reflectors, and reflective tape on their machinery to keep passenger vehicle operators aware of their presence on roads. Some farmers may choose to install supplemental lights to increase visibility. It also is a good idea for producers to keep off heavily traveled roads as much as possible and avoid moving equipment during the busiest part of the day.

Some farm equipment, such as combines, can take up more than half of the road. Even so, it is up to both drivers to be aware of their own limitations and adjust accordingly. Farmers should not take up more space than is needed, but other drivers should try to provide as much room as possible. It is a good idea for passenger vehicles to turn off onto side or field roads until larger machinery has passed. Whenever possible, farmers should use an escort vehicle such as a pickup to precede or follow large machinery and equipment on public roads. More than one escort may be necessary. Ideally, the escort vehicle would have extra warning lights and a sign indicating oversized or slow equipment ahead or following.

Have a safe harvest!

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South Central Ag Lab Weed Management Field Day

Brandy VanDeWalle

Those interested in learning the latest in weed management technologies and herbicides for weed control in corn, soybeans and sorghum are invited to attend Nebraska Extension Weed Management Field Day to be held on Wednesday June 26, 2024 from 9 am to 1 pm at South Central Ag Lab near Clay Center, NE. The Field Day is free to attend and lunch; UNL Dairy Store Ice cream will be provided. Register is required at https://agronomy.unl.edu/fieldday.

Tour one features onsite demonstrations of new technology/herbicides for weed control in soybeans in sorghum such as:

  • Planting Green and Residual Herbicide Interaction in soybean: Planting green refers to no-till planting of the primary crop into actively growing cover crop. Cereal rye is the most planted cover crop in corn/soybean cropping systems in Nebraska. The objectives of this project are (1) To evaluate effect of planting green on performance of residual herbicides applied pre-emergence for weed control in soybean, and (2) Effect of early termination of cereal rye versus planting green on weed control and soybean yield.
  • Inter-seeding Small Grains (Barley, Oat, and Wheat) in Soybean for Weed Suppression: Evaluate the effect of inter-seeding small grains into soybean on weed suppression and soybean yield and grain quality.
  • Comparison of Herbicide Programs for Weed Control in Soybean: Unbiased comparison of herbicide programs of different companies for weed control in Roundup Ready 2 Xtend and Enlist soybean. New herbicides and multiple herbicide-resistant soybean will be discussed for management of herbicide-resistant weeds.
  • Evaluating Residual Herbicides for Overlapping Residual Weed Control in Soybean: Can we achieve season-long weed control in soybean by using residual herbicides applied pre-emergence and post-emergence without a foliar active herbicide? This project will discuss the possibility of complete residual weed control in soybean.

Tour two features onsite demonstrations of new technology/herbicides for weed control in corn such as:

  • Comparison of Herbicide Programs for Weed Control in Corn: Unbiased comparison of herbicide programs by different companies for weed control in Roundup Ready/LibertyLink corn. New herbicides in corn will be discussed.
  • Control of Corn Volunteers in Enlist Corn: Volunteer corn is a major weed in corn-soybean cropping systems. Project will demonstrate how to control volunteer corn in Enlist corn using Assure II and a premix of glufosinate (Liberty) + quizalofop (Assure II).
  • Evaluating Surtain (saflufenacil + pyroxasulfone) for weed control and crop safety in corn & popcorn: Surtain is the new Kixor herbicide based on solid-encapsulation technology, enabling pre- and early-post-emergence application for weed control in corn.
  • Control of Corn Volunteers in iGrowth and Double Team Sorghum: When sorghum is planted after corn, corn volunteer is a major weed. iGrowth sorghum is a new herbicide-resistant sorghum that provides an opportunity for post-emergence control of grass weeds, including corn volunteers. ImiFlex (imazamox) and Zest (quizalofop) will be evaluated for control of volunteer corn.
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Youth Crop Scouting Competition – Connecting Youth with Crops

Brandy VanDeWalle

Looking for a fun club project? Want to unite your club members? Running out of ideas for club meetings?  If you answered, “yes” to any of these questions, help is on the way!  Nebraska Extension is pleased to present the 11th annual Crop Scouting Competition for Nebraska youth. Youth interested in crops can learn about crop growth & development and basic crop scouting principles. 

Don’t know a lot about crops?  Ask a local agronomist to assist by providing a short lesson on crop production. You can have the agronomist meet with the youth a little during each meeting or outside of the meeting. This is one way to engage those youth interested in crops. 

This contest will be held at the Eastern Nebraska Research & Extension Center near Mead, Nebraska on August 7, 2024. The event will include both indoor and outdoor events. Teams of junior high and high school students (those completing 5-12th grades) from across Nebraska are invited to participate. This event is limited to the first ten teams who sign up! 

            Clubs or other organizations may enter a team composed of three to five participants. An adult team leader must accompany each team of students. Team leaders could be FFA advisors, crop consultants, extension staff, coop employees, etc. 

Top-scoring teams win prizes: $500 for first, $250 for second, $100 for third place. The top two teams will be eligible for the regional competition held in Nebraska this year.

Teams will be expected to know the basics of scouting corn and soybean fields. This includes crop staging; looking for patterns of crop injury; disease, insect and weed seedling identification; etc. Other topics may include but are not limited to, pesticide safety, nutrient disorders, and herbicide injury. 

More information about the crop scouting competition and instructions on how to register a team are available online at cropwatch.unl.edu/youth. Register at: https://go.unl.edu/cropscoutingreg

Teams must be registered by July 15. This program is sponsored by Nebraska Independent Crop Consultant Association, Ward Laboratories, the Nebraska Soybean Board and Nebraska Extension.

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Emergency Preparedness Workshop Series for Rural Families

Brandy VanDeWalle

An upcoming four-part extension workshop for women in agriculture will focus on emergency preparedness for rural families. The program will be a four-part series, held at numerous locations across Nebraska and Indiana. The series will focus on farm and ranch emergency management, first aid, fire protection and hazardous materials. Workshops will be held from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Central time on March 5, 7, 12 and 14.

The program is a collaboration between extension women in agriculture programs at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Purdue University. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, agricultural occupations have high rates of work-related injuries and deaths. While not all emergencies result in bodily injury or death, they also may cost rural families in other ways.

“Women play a critical role in ensuring the safety of their homes and rural communities,” said Jessica Groskopf, director of the Nebraska Women in Agriculture program. “In many farm and ranch families, safety is an important topic, but it sometimes gets overlooked because it does not directly impact profitability.”

Each state’s workshop sites will be hosted by local extension personnel. Keynote speakers will be simulcast to each location, and each site will provide additional speakers and hands-on activities. Dinner will be included.

Groskopf said the program’s structure is intended to strengthen women’s networks in rural areas, which can provide opportunities for building trust and sharing information.“Connections are so important to rural women,” she said. “We have seen the benefits that come from knowing your peers, having a place to share difficulties, and mitigate the isolation that so many of us in agriculture often feel.”

The workshops seek to help participants initiate preventative practices, set up a plan to deal with emergencies before they occur and be more comfortable reacting to emergency situations. There is a registration fee of $50 per person before Tuesday, Feb. 20. The fee increases to $60 per person after Feb. 20. Participants should plan to attend each session. A virtual option is available for those unable to attend a workshop site, although in-person attendance is highly encouraged to better network with other attendees and interact with speakers. The virtual registration fee is $75 before Feb. 20, and $80 after Feb. 20. Registration may be completed on the Nebraska Women in Agriculture website.

This project was supported by a grant from NCRCRD through funding from USDA NIFA Award #2022-51150-38141.  ​

Nebraska Workshop Sites

  • Beatrice — Beatrice Fire and Rescue, 300 S. Sixth St.
  • Concord — Haskell Ag Lab, 57905 866 Rd.
  • Grand Island — Raising Nebraska, 501 E. Fonner Park Rd., Suite 100
  • O‘Neill — Holt County Courthouse Annex, 128 N. Sixth St.
Crops, Livestock, Programming, Uncategorized

Manure Management Programming

Brandy VanDeWalle

Turning manure nutrients into better crop yields while protecting the environment will be the focus of seven Nebraska Extension workshops being held across the state this February and March. Leslie Johnson, UNL animal manure management coordinator has announced that these workshops have traditionally focused on livestock producers because they’re required to attend manure training regularly, but efforts have been made to include crop farmers that are often recipients of the manure because the information shared is just as valuable to them and their bottom line. The workshops will still meet the educational requirements for permitted livestock operations laid out by the Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy’s title 130.

 The news release also states that participants who attend the day-long (9 a.m.–4 p.m.) event will receive NDEE land application training certification. The initial land application training certification requires participation in the full-day program, which includes lunch. Attendance at the afternoon session will meet minimum needs for recertification, but participants who only need recertification may choose to attend the full event if they wish for no additional charge. Sessions will include an update on regulations and discussions on how to best use manure on cropland. Anyone is welcome regardless of the need for certification. Crop farmers and livestock operations will learn useful information to apply to their operations.

Sessions will focus on what fields should be chosen to best utilize manure nutrients and other benefits. Each session will be highly participant-led with limited seating. Participants will be given a scenario and asked to determine the priority ranking of each field within the scenario. This ranking will be done at the end of each activity focused on manure nutrients, transportation cost, soil health, water quality, as well as neighbors and odors. Regulations and record-keeping about manure storage and application will also be addressed during each session.

Sessions include:

  • Feb. 12 — Columbus
  • Feb. 13 — Geneva
  • Feb. 19 — Scottsbluff
  • Feb. 20 — Lexington
  • Feb. 29 — Norfolk
  • March 5 — West Point
  • March 6 — Ord

Because of participation limits in each session, registration is required. If registration numbers exceed expectations, more sessions may be added. To ensure your attendance, register online. The cost of the sessions will be $75 per operation requiring certification or $25 per person with no expectation of certification.

The workshops are sponsored by the Nebraska Extension Animal Manure Management Team, which is dedicated to helping livestock and crop producers better utilize manure resources for agronomic and environmental benefits. For additional information on the workshops and other resources for managing manure nutrients, visit UNL Water or contact Leslie Johnson at 402-584-3818.

Register now