In Nebraska, residents must be 18 years or older and certified/licensed by the state to purchase and use restricted-use pesticides. Nebraska pesticide applicator licenses are valid for a period of three years.
Producers who need to acquire or renew a private pesticide applicator license this year can choose between several options, including in-person training, online self-study programs, and an NDA-administered exam.
In Nebraska, all applicators who handle restricted-use pesticides, as well as general-use pesticides for structural or ornamental/turf pest control, or outdoor vector control on behalf of a political subdivision of the state, must be certified/licensed. More info on applicator certification categories can be found here.
Nebraskans can access several courses online for pesticide certification training in 2024, including commercial/noncommercial applicator, private applicator, chemigation and the new Spanish course for private pesticide applicators.
Introduced in 2023, the online Spanish pesticide safety online training course will be available to the public again in 2024. See details below.
The Spanish training course covers all required materials for individuals to get a private applicator license or recertification for restricted use pesticides.
Extension Events
Five exam prep courses will be offered across the state in February and March for producers and other members of the public who need to obtain a Part 107 remote pilot certification or license to fly drones for commercial applications.
The course will prepare producers to pass the FFA exam and earn a remote pilot certification for commercial use of drones, such as for checking cattle and spraying crops.
The 2024 Nebraska Corn Production Clinic is free to attend and will offer CCA credits for each presentation.
Topics of the free, day-long clinic in Aurora will include management of weeds, insect damage and plant disease, corn planter setup, nitrogen sources and stabilizers, fertilizer applications, and more.
Turning manure nutrients into better crop yields while protecting the environment will be the focus of seven Nebraska Extension workshops held across the state this February and March.
Improve your grain marketing skills by attending a Nebraska Extension workshop on Jan. 31 in Crawford or Feb. 7 in Oshkosh. More resources on grain marketing can be found here.
Real audio and video examples of grain market analysts will be used during the workshops to help producers decode market lingo and hone their marketing skills.
Snow covers the landscape around a center pivot and bales of hay. (Photo by Chabella Guzman)
Following a presentation that will assist producers with creating an estate plan, the workshops will feature a Q&A session with an attorney or panel of estate planning professionals.
This new publication from Nebraska Extension describes how to properly manage sulfur in agricultural systems, with a focus on the 4Rs of S fertilization, the sulfur cycle, and sulfur concentration within the state of Nebraska.
During a break, Bob Harveson, Nebraska Extension plant pathologist (standing at right), chats with Bob Wilson, UNL emeritus professor at the Crop Production Clinic in Gering.
See the results of the 2023 UNL-TAPS Competition for sorghum, SDI corn, sprinkler corn and the newest category for the contest — irrigated popcorn.
Forage Production
For some areas of Nebraska that struggled with drought in 2023, pasture and forage production could be challenging, especially in early 2024. One strategy for improving production early in the season is frost-seeding legumes like red clover from February to mid-March.
Extension Forage Crop Residue Specialist Daren Redfearn shares his observations on pasture and forage production throughout 2023, and what producers can do to enhance plant growth in 2024.
The last day for farmers and ranchers to file taxes is Friday, March 1, 2024.
It's time for another tax season. Agricultural Economics Extension Educator Shannon Sand shares tips on getting prepared for the March 1 deadline. Plus, considerations for selecting alfalfa varieties.
Extension Meteorologist Eric Hunt shares a brief update on freeze and fire risks for Oct. 14-18. With severe drought and high winds, producers should remain vigilant during harvest activities this week.
Sunshine and higher temperatures are expected for next week; however, more precipitation is also on the way to Nebraska.
Crop Reports & AgNews
The 2024 Bazile Groundwater Management Area winter meeting will feature presentations by Dan Snow, UNL professor and University of Nebraska Water Sciences Laboratory director, and Robert Noonan, Northeast Community College agriculture instructor.
Proso millet took the lead for 2023 crop production in Nebraska, increasing 203% over the prior year. Dry edible pea and sorghum estimates also reflect a significant boost in the state's production, increasing 178% and 139%, respectively.
Though the farm finance and ag law clinics are offered monthly at sites across Nebraska, remote sessions are another option — call the number below to arrange a one-on-one meeting via phone or virtual platform.
The survey will gather information from Nebraska producers on planted and harvested acreage, yield, production and value of hemp.
In Case You Missed It...
The Eastern Nebraska Corn and Soybean Expo on Jan. 25 combines two events at the University of Nebraska Eastern Nebraska Research, Extension and Education Center near Mead, Nebraska.
Free to attend, the new corn and soybean expo combines two previous extension events — the Fremont Corn Expo and Nebraska Soybean Day and Machinery Expo — into one full day of research, presentations, industry updates and more.
Participants who register for the 2024 Nebraska Women in Ag Conference before Feb. 9 can take advantage of a discounted rate for attending the two-day event in Kearney.
The 2024 conference highlights include keynote speakers Ashley Machado, Dr. David Kohl, John Noltner, and more than 20 workshops on ag risk management of production, marketing, finances, human and legal.
In a new user-friendly format, UNL's updated nitrogen tool is now accessible via mobile devices, for use anywhere on the farm.
Available now on CropWatch, the web-based tool allows users to input data for individual fields to help fine-tune their nitrogen applications, and maximize yield and profitability.
