Agriculture

The Nebraska Department of Agriculture (NDA) announced an order on March 26 canceling all poultry events across Nebraska due to highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI).

The order prohibits birds of any type at events including but not limited to fairs, expositions, swap meets, exotic sales and live bird auctions. The order is effective immediately and will be in effect until May 1, at which time the order will be reevaluated.

“The decision to cancel poultry events was not taken lightly but is a necessary step to assure we are doing everything possible to protect our poultry producers, both small and large,” NDA Director Steve Wellman, said. “Poultry producers should continue to take biosecurity measures on their farms to help prevent the spread of the disease into their flock.”

Monday night Archery: In back from left—Perry Ridgway, Cody Barritt, Zailey Spilker, Colson Spilker, Jesse Mohnike, Ella Crumbliss, Ashlyn Anderson, Zarriana Witherspoon, and Lyle Skalka. In front from left—Jaddryn Klakken, Kyhler Gibbs, Kylar Ely, Broxton Ely, David Mohnike, and Cailyn Anderson. RITA BRHEL | CLAY COUNTY NEWS

Wednesday night Archery: Ryan Ochsner, Mia Ochsner, Harper Lang, Austin Althouse, Kierra Ebert, Kellen Ebert, Brooks Ebert, Kaden Porter, and Duane Peshek.

Monday night BB Gun: From left—David Mohnike, Jaddryn Klakken, Zailey Spilker, Colson Spilker, Kylar Ely, Broxton Ely, Jesse Mohnike, Ella Crumbliss, Zarriana Witherspoon, Ashlyn Anderson, Cailyn Anderson, and Brandon Anderson.

Wednesday night BB Gun: Kenny Ives, Austin Althouse, Kierra Ebert, Kellen Ebert, Brooks Ebert, Kaden Porter, and Lee Peshek

Air Rifle: From left—Mia Ochsner, Cody Barritt, Jenna Kempf, and Lee Peshek.

NEBRASKA RANCH PRACTICUM

Cow/Calf producers interested in learning about the latest cutting-edge research in range livestock production from the University of Nebraska--Lincoln are encouraged to register for the 2022 Nebraska Ranch Practicum offered by Nebraska Extension.

The practicum will be held during eight sessions over the course of three seasons to cover the production cycle of livestock and forage resources.

Participants will have the opportunity to learn about a variety of topics, including the effective use of decision support tools to evaluate management and marketing alternatives, plant identification, range condition and grazing strategies, wildlife management, evaluation of cow body condition scores, and beef cattle production systems.

The value of agricultural land in Nebraska increased by an average of 16 percent over the prior year, to a statewide average of $3,360 per acre, according to the preliminary findings of the University of Nebraska–Lincoln’s 2022 Farm Real Estate Market Survey.

This marks the largest increase in the market value of agricultural land in the state since 2014 and is the highest non-inflation-adjusted statewide land value in the history of the survey.

According to the survey, higher commodity prices and interest rates near historic lows have contributed to the recent robust real estate sales market.

Survey participants also reported that those purchasing land looked to the asset as a hedge against inflation and economic uncertainty.

Due to a one-year pause in their agriculture-based leadership development program, Nebraska LEAD Class 39 recently received their certificates of completion from the Nebraska Agricultural Leadership Council. There are twenty-eight members of the LEAD 39 graduating class, including Sutton's Jesse Mohnike.

The journey began in the fall of 2019 at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s East Campus. Since that time, members of LEAD 39 traveled to every corner of the state, visiting nearly all of Nebraska’s private and public college campuses.

Hundreds of speakers volunteered their time to share their knowledge with LEAD 39 Fellows. Topics presented ranged from natural resources and nuclear energy to agricultural policy and understanding of leadership styles.

Young farmers, ranchers, and agribusiness professionals from across the state gathered in Kearney to gain valuable insights into agriculture trends, career opportunities, and knowledge on leading issues facing young farmers and ranchers in Nebraska, all while building a strong network of lifelong allies needed to thrive in agriculture. The Nebraska Farm Bureau Young Farmers and Ranchers (YF&R) Conference was Jan. 28-29 at the Younes Conference Center in Kearney.

For nearly four decades, the YF&R Conference has been a great way for young farmers and ranchers in Nebraska to network and share ideas. This year’s conference offered local tours, innovative breakout sessions, inspiring keynote speaker, Discussion Meet contest, and more.

Four finalists in the YF&R Discussion Meet contest were named after competing in preliminary rounds during the 2022 YF&R Conference.

Since I became a youth development educator, I no longer teach pesticide trainings, however, I wanted to share information with producers from a column recently written by my colleague, Jenny Rees.

Training options for 2022 include: in-person training via your local county Extension office (Fee $50), online training via pested.unl.edu (Fee $50), or attending Crop Production Clinics cpc.unl. edu (Fee $80).

RSVP will be required for all in-person training to the county Extension office hosting the training.

One change to the training: a hard copy of the “Guide for Weed, Insect, Disease Management” will not be provided with your training materials this year and is not included in the fee cost.

A weblink to view the Guide will be provided to certifying applicators. A hard copy of the Guide can also be purchased, and information will be shared when pesticide letters to applicators needed to re-certify in 2022.

Eleven farmers, ranchers, and agribusiness professionals from across Nebraska have been selected for Nebraska Farm Bureau’s 2022 Leadership Academy. They will begin a year-long program starting Jan. 20-21 in Kearney.

“The goal of the Nebraska Farm Bureau Leadership Academy is to cultivate the talents and strengths of our members and connect their passion for agriculture to opportunities of service within the Farm Bureau organization. Great leaders have a clearly defined purpose, purpose fuels passion and work ethic. By developing leadership skills, academy members can develop their passions and positively impact their local communities and the state of Nebraska.” Phil Erdman, facilitator of the 2022 Leadership Academy, said.

Erdman works with Audrey

Schipporeit, Nebraska Farm Bureau’s director of generational engagement, to help facilitate the program. Erdman also serves as the vice president of membership for Nebraska Farm Bureau.

Agriculture is the heart and soul of Nebraska. Through the years, our farmers and ranchers have built a reputation for producing crops and livestock that are second to none. Among U.S. states, Nebraska ranks:

• No. 1 in agricultural cash receipts per capita

• No. 2 in ethanol production, cattle on feed, all cattle and calves, beef exports, and commercial red meat production

• No. 3 in corn for grain production, corn exports, and total ag cash receipts

• No. 4 for land in farms and ranches

• No. 5 for soybean exports, soybean production, and sugar beet production

• No. 6 for commercial hog slaughter

• No. 7 in hogs and pigs on farms and pork exports

That’s an impressive resume!

My vision is to grow Nebraska. To grow Nebraska, we must grow agriculture. Agriculture is our state’s largest industry. It supports about one in four jobs in Nebraska.

BY BEN BECKMAN & JERRY VOLESKY

When it comes to feeding cows during the winter, producers have a wide variety of forage and feed sources to choose from, with unique costs and benefits for each. How can you decide which option is best for your operation?

With dry conditions in the western U.S., typical winter feeds like grass hay have become increasingly expensive. To offset this cost, producers may turn to a lower cost grazing resource in crop residues. When available corn fields are local, the decision may be easy, but how far is too far to haul cattle to stalks?