Agriculture

In a joint effort, Kansas and Nebraska Extension are hosting a three-meeting series to address some possible options to help maintain cattle inventory with limited perennial pastures. Topics at these meeting will include confined cow feeding and management, usage of corn residue, cover crops and annual forages systems. All of the programs will start at 6:30 p.m. and the ones for us will be on Dec. 12 at the Helvering Center in Marysville, KS. Please RSVP to Anastasia Johnson at anastasia@ ksu.edu or 785-562-3531. The second meeting will be Dec. 13 at the Blue Hill Community Center in Blue Hill. To attend, please RSVP to Brad Schick, brad.schick@unl.edu or 402-746-3417.

Dinner will be provided and there is no cost to attend; however, please RSVP to the respective contacts by Dec. 8 for an accurate meal count. Speakers for the event include extension specialists from Kansas State University and University of Nebraska.

Excessive grain left in the field due to downed corn and ear drop is leaving producers with questions regarding grazing cornstalks. This is an issue that needs to be addressed accurately and timely in order to have success in the coming months.

An eight-inch ear of corn contains about 0.50 lb equivalent of shelled corn grain; therefore, 112 eight-inch ears would equal 1 bushel (1 bushel = 56 pounds). By counting the number of ears, the amount of corn can be estimated. If corn is planted in 30-inch rows, count the total number of ears in three different 100-foot furrow strips and divide by two to give an approximate number of bushels per acre. See table below.

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More than 65,000 FFA members and guests attended this year’s National FFA convention. Attendees participated in leadership workshops, tours, and motivational sessions.

They were able to hear from keynote speakers Laila Ali, Mike Ebling, Job Setz, and Sonny Purdue (United States Secretary of Agriculture).

During the 90th National FFA Convention in Indianapolis this past week, Sandy Creek’s Ag Communications team placed 20th in the nation, out of 42 teams.

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After a stretch of torrential down pours at the start of harvest, in early October, area row crop producers have been going full bore ahead in an effort to wrap up soybean harvest and put a good dent in the corn harvest for 2017.

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LINCOLN, NE, Oct. 12, 2017 – Farmers and ranchers interested in preventing erosion, improving soil health, conserving water and wildlife, or making any other natural resource conservation improvements to their property are encouraged to apply now for funding available from the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service. Those interested in receiving funding should sign up before Nov. 17.

According to Myron Taylor, Acting State Conservationist for NRCS in Nebraska, there are several options available to producers.

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As part of the Revision Grant, the Sutton Public School agriculture program was able to purchase a Tower Garden.

The garden is a six-foot, white tower complete with bright side lights and sits on wheels for easy mobility. Running through the tower is a water system, which is set on a timer throughout the day.

Agriculture teacher Jesse Bower said right now they will only be growing lettuce, but as soon as they buy two more Tower Gardens, they’ll be grow tomatoes, cucumbers, and other vegetables.

Students will harvest the tower and the food will be used in their lunch. 

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Driving through the highway and county roads it’s easy to see that harvest has officially begun, as tractors, combines, and semis have taken to the thousands of acres of land throughout Clay County.

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FALL PESTS This time of year, we often receive questions on a variety of pests, especially “bugs” entering homes or around the house. Extension horticulturist, Elizabeth Killinger provides great information on how to prepare your house to keep these invaders from living in your house.

Some of the more common nuisance pests include occasional invaders like boxelder bugs, multicolored Asian Lady Beetles, millipedes, and crickets. These pests don’t do any harm once inside the home; they are just looking for a cozy place to spend the winter.

Attendees of the annual Old Trusty Tractor Pull watch as contestants take their turn at trying to make a full pull.

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