Wildfire photo
Resources are available for people who want to help producers affected by fires, and the affected producers. A meeting March 12 will provide more information. (UNL Beef photo by David Orr)

Resources Available for Producers Affected by Central Nebraska Wildfires

March 1, 2024
Central Nebraska producers seeking help with wildfire recovery are encouraged to attend to an informational meeting on March 12 in North Platte.

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Cattle in snow
While water demands in the winter may be less than summer, keeping water available can be difficult. Having animals eat snow may be tempting but requires an experienced herd, plenty of fresh snow and healthy animals.

Pasture and Forage Minute: Winter Insect Mortality and Livestock Water Needs

January 16, 2024
Extension educators review the effects of subzero temperatures on overwintering insects and whether snow can adequately be used as a water source for cattle. 

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Hay in stacks
Producers should be mindful of their hay feeding practices to reduce financial loss — with no restrictions, cattle can waste nearly 45% of fed hay.

Pasture and Forage Minute: Reducing Hay Losses, Understanding Relative Feed Value of Hay

November 21, 2023
Extension educators share insights on how to reduce fed hay losses and the differences between relative feed value and relative forage quality when testing grass hay.

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Cattle grazing pasture
The 2023 Cover Crop Grazing Conference will feature keynote speakers Dr. Bart Lardner, University of Saskatchewan, and Dr. Mary Drewnoski, University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Nebraska Extension Provides Cover Crop Grazing Conference Nov. 7

October 12, 2023
This expo will help first-time and experienced farmers looking to fine-tune their grazing management utilizing cover crops as an alternative forage source.

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Manure pile in field
Careful consideration should be given when determining stockpile placement. The above photo shows what to avoid, a pile placed directly across the road from a neighbor's driveway. While potentially a good place water quality wise, the neighbor is likely to be upset - especially if the pile stays there for more than a few days. (UNL Water photo)

Manure Stockpiles: Mind Your Manners

October 6, 2023
All manure managers should focus on reducing nuisance odor risks and preventing nutrient loss from stored manure piles.

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Cattle grazing field
The total expenditures per farm or ranch in Nebraska averaged $644,018 in 2022, up 18 from 2021. The livestock expense category was the leading expenditure, at $151,242 per operation, 6.61 times the national average.

2022 Nebraska Farm Production Expenditures Up 16%

August 4, 2023
Livestock expenses were the largest expense category, which increased 3% from 2021, but feed expenses represented the most dramatic difference, increasing 52% from the prior year.

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Cattle grazing
Grazing wheat or harvesting it early in the boot stage for hay could also open a window of opportunity to plant a summer annual forage into the wheat stubble as a second crop if good moisture conditions are present. (Photo by Troy Walz)

Winter Wheat May Have More Value as Forage Than Taking It to Grain

May 4, 2023
Due to current cattle market conditions, and the price and availability of hay, Nebraska Extension Educator Aaron Berger evaluates the value of grazing or haying winter wheat this year.

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Cattle grazing pasture
With intense drought conditions last year, it may be prudent to reduce stocking rates and delay turnout this spring, to help grasses in their recovery process.

Pasture and Forage Minute: 2023 Grazing Plans, Preventing Grass Tetany

March 30, 2023
With spring officially here, it's time to put 2023 grazing plans in place and be on the lookout for signs of grass tetany.

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