Farm & Ranch

September 2, 2010

NDA Alerts Horse Owners

To Eastern Equine Encephalomyelitis

LINCOLN — Nebraska Agriculture Director Greg Ibach is encouraging horse owners to visit with their veterinarian about vaccinating their animals against Eastern Equine Encephalomyelitis. A case of the mosquito-borne virus was diagnosed this week in a Keith County horse.

Eastern Equine Encephalomyelitis (EEE) is a viral disease of the equine species that is transmitted primarily by infected mosquitoes. It affects an animal’s central nervous system. “This case serves as a reminder to equine owners to visit with their veterinarian regarding measures that can protect their animals from disease,” Ibach said.

State Veterinarian Dennis Hughes said vaccines are available to protect against EEE, and it is not too late in the season to consider this option. “Vaccination will help prevent the horse from contracting the virus, and if they do get it, improve their chances of survival,” Hughes said.

Some clinical symptoms of EEE-infected horses include fever, loss of appetite, weakness, lack of coordination, irritability and abnormal sensitivity to light and sound.

Horse owners are encouraged to take general mosquito-control measures, such as eliminating pools of standing water. Hughes said owners also may consider moving animals indoors during dawn and dusk, when mosquitoes are most active. Other preventative measures include: avoid turning on lights inside the stable during evening and overnight; remove birds that are in, or close to, the stable; and use mosquito repellants.

Humans also can contract the EEE virus through the bite of an infected mosquito. Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services Public Health Veterinarian Annette Bredthauer said human cases are rare, but can be severe causing hospitalization and even death. People should take general precautions to protect themselves from mosquito bites, such as wearing insect repellant, wearing protective clothing, especially during dawn and dusk when mosquitoes are most active, and eliminating standing water to reduce mosquito breeding sites.

No-Till Notes —

Dry Edible Bean Field Day

By Mark Watson

Panhandle No-Till Educator

I recently attended the annual Dry Edible Bean Day field tour sponsored by the Nebraska Dry Bean Growers Association in conjunction with the University of Nebraska Panhandle Research and Extension Center. The Dry Edible Bean Day field tour was at the Mitchell research station where research is being conducted on many crops grown in our region by the UNL research team.

John Smith, a UNL equipment researcher has been working on direct harvest of edible beans. John planted a research plot where he had sugar beets last year and was planted to edible beans this growing season. The plot was plowed after the sugar beet harvest.

John’s idea was to plant a cover crop on one half of his plot and leave the other half to bare soil, which was farmed and planted to dry edible beans in a more conventional tillage system. The cover crop John decided to plant was spring triticale, which was planted in early spring. The idea behind this research was to see if the dry edible beans would grow taller and more upright in the cover crop which would help facilitate direct harvest of the dry edible beans.

John let the spring triticale grow until the 1st of June when the crop was desiccated prior to planting. The spring triticale was just short of waist high when the crop was terminated. Heavy rainfall followed slowing the planting of the plot until the middle of June.

The results of the research plot showed the beans planted in the spring triticale appear to be a much healthier and vibrant crop. There was a noticeable difference in the size and consistent growth pattern in the edible beans planted in the cover crop. I suspect the results at harvest time will show an increase in yield in the edible beans planted in the cover crop.

John also made a couple of other observations in the cover crop plots. At planting time the cover crop plots had more moisture in the planting zone, which may have led to a more consistent emergence of the edible beans. The other observation was the weed pressure in the plots planted in the cover crops was far less than in the ploys where conventional tillage was used. I would also suspect the cover crop plots would require less irrigation due to less soil moisture evaporation because of the heavy amount of residue. John’s research has shown there may be several advantages to planting edible beans in a cover crop such as spring triticale over planting beans in a more conventional tillage system.

Workshop Airs Producer-Packer Issues

FT. COLLINS, Colo. — A chartered bus with 54 individuals returned early Saturday morning from the Aug. 27, workshop hosted at Colorado State University in Fort Collins by the U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The purpose of the workshop was to hear from producers and rural Americans about the concentration and buying power of the packing industry in the livestock markets. The workshop was well attended as over 1,500 people gathered to participate.

The agenda included opening statements from both the Secretary of Ag Tom Vilsack and the Attorney General Eric Holder. Both men stated that this was a historical event, as this is the first time the two agencies have worked together. They both seem to have a firm grip on not only the situation producers are facing, but also the importance of the livestock industry to a prosperous and safe America.

After opening remarks the Ag leaders led a roundtable discussion with various State officials. The questions and discussion centered on the trend of the family farm and ranches disappearing at an alarming rate.

“If the survival of the family farm and ranch is important, then we have to admit that what we are doing now is not working,” said Montana’s Attorney General Steve Bullock. “If we cannot give the Packers and Stockyard Act teeth, we can at least give it a new set of dentures.”

Other panels were presented throughout the day, on producer issues, trends in the livestock industry associated with contracting, price transparency, the effects of concentration, and finally a panel dealing with market structure. Independent Producers were well represented on these panels by several individuals. These included, Dr. Taylor Haynes a rancher from near Cheyenne, Wyo., also a regional director for R-CALF USA; Allan Sents, a feedlot owner from Marquette, Kan., and with the US Cattleman’s Association. Gilles Stockton, a rancher from Range, Mont., and Dave Domina, a lawyer from Omaha, who was also the lead attorney in the Pickett vs. Tyson/IPB lawsuit.

These men did not criticize the US Department of Ag for past policy but provided clear solutions for the current problems cattle producers face.

August 26, 2010

Navigating The Wheat Varieties Virtual Tour

By DREW LYON

Extension Dryland Cropping Systems Specialist

UNL Panhandle Research and Extension Center  

SCOTTSBLUFF — The 2009-10 winter wheat season was a wild ride, but now that the grain is in the bin, it is time to start planning for the 2010-11 season.

Whatever the coming season has in store, one of the most critical decisions a wheat grower will make is what wheat varieties to grow.

One resource for this decision is the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s Wheat Varieties Virtual Tour:  (http://cropwatch.unl.edu/web/wheat/virtual).

Virtual tourists can see a list of wheat varieties recommended for their part of the state, read about a variety’s characteristics and compare those characteristics to other varieties of interest. Tourists can also see how different varieties performed in nearby wheat variety trials and locate a certified seed dealer that carries the varieties they are most interested in purchasing.

Thursday night the Alliance Public Schools Board of Education unanimously voted to move forward with the performing arts center addition to Alliance High School. ... FIND OUT MORE IN THE PRINT EDITION OR SUBSCRIBE TO OUR ONLINE EDITION




IMPORTANT #s COMMUNITY LINKS Chamber of Commerce Visiting Box Butte County City of Alliance Box Butte Development Corp City Data for Alliance City of Hemingford Box Butte General Hospital Box Butte County Churches Alliance Public Schools St. Agnes Academy Hemingford Schools BNSF Crew Caller White Pages Yellow Pages Local Map and Directions AG LINKS Complete Hourly Local Weather Daily WESTCO Weather Camera Livestock & Grain Market News Fruits & Vegetable Market News Crop Watch UNL Extension in Box Butte County Panhandle Research & Extension Center UNL Agricultural Reserach & Development Center UNL High Plains Ag Lab ONE STOP Wheat Information Extension Crop Management Workshops Institute of Agriculture & Natural Resources Pesticide Education Resources National Drought Mitigation Center Crop Protection Clinics Market Journal UNL Department of Agranony Variety Testing The High Plains Regional Climate Center The Nebraska Agriculatural Statistics Service	Chris Wright’s market steer was selected Grand Champion Market Beef at the Central States Fair in Rapid City, S.D., on Aug. 23. Wright competed against entrants from South Dakota, Wyoming, Nebraska, Minnesota and Colorado. His 1,410 lb Shorthorn steer was bred by Aaron Rasmussen of A&T Cattle, Hay Springs. He is an eighth grader at Alliance Middle School and is the son of Charlie and Cathy Wright of Alliance. September 2, 2010 NDA Alerts Horse Owners To Eastern Equine Encephalomyelitis LINCOLN — Nebraska Agriculture Director Greg Ibach is encouraging horse owners to visit with their veterinarian about vaccinating their animals against Eastern Equine Encephalomyelitis. A case of the mosquito-borne virus was diagnosed this week in a Keith County horse. Eastern Equine Encephalomyelitis (EEE) is a viral disease of the equine species that is transmitted primarily by infected mosquitoes. It affects an animal’s central nervous system. “This case serves as a reminder to equine owners to visit with their veterinarian regarding measures that can protect their animals from disease,” Ibach said. State Veterinarian Dennis Hughes said vaccines are available to protect against EEE, and it is not too late in the season to consider this option. “Vaccination will help prevent the horse from contracting the virus, and if they do get it, improve their chances of survival,” Hughes said. Some clinical symptoms of EEE-infected horses include fever, loss of appetite, weakness, lack of coordination, irritability and abnormal sensitivity to light and sound. Horse owners are encouraged to take general mosquito-control measures, such as eliminating pools of standing water. Hughes said owners also may consider moving animals indoors during dawn and dusk, when mosquitoes are most active. Other preventative measures include: avoid turning on lights inside the stable during evening and overnight; remove birds that are in, or close to, the stable; and use mosquito repellants. Humans also can contract the EEE virus through the bite of an infected mosquito. Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services Public Health Veterinarian Annette Bredthauer said human cases are rare, but can be severe causing hospitalization and even death. People should take general precautions to protect themselves from mosquito bites, such as wearing insect repellant, wearing protective clothing, especially during dawn and dusk when mosquitoes are most active, and eliminating standing water to reduce mosquito breeding sites. No-Till Notes — Dry Edible Bean Field Day By Mark Watson Panhandle No-Till Educator I recently attended the annual Dry Edible Bean Day field tour sponsored by the Nebraska Dry Bean Growers Association in conjunction with the University of Nebraska Panhandle Research and Extension Center. The Dry Edible Bean Day field tour was at the Mitchell research station where research is being conducted on many crops grown in our region by the UNL research team. John Smith, a UNL equipment researcher has been working on direct harvest of edible beans. John planted a research plot where he had sugar beets last year and was planted to edible beans this growing season. The plot was plowed after the sugar beet harvest. John’s idea was to plant a cover crop on one half of his plot and leave the other half to bare soil, which was farmed and planted to dry edible beans in a more conventional tillage system. The cover crop John decided to plant was spring triticale, which was planted in early spring. The idea behind this research was to see if the dry edible beans would grow taller and more upright in the cover crop which would help facilitate direct harvest of the dry edible beans. John let the spring triticale grow until the 1st of June when the crop was desiccated prior to planting. The spring triticale was just short of waist high when the crop was terminated. Heavy rainfall followed slowing the planting of the plot until the middle of June. The results of the research plot showed the beans planted in the spring triticale appear to be a much healthier and vibrant crop. There was a noticeable difference in the size and consistent growth pattern in the edible beans planted in the cover crop. I suspect the results at harvest time will show an increase in yield in the edible beans planted in the cover crop. John also made a couple of other observations in the cover crop plots. At planting time the cover crop plots had more moisture in the planting zone, which may have led to a more consistent emergence of the edible beans. The other observation was the weed pressure in the plots planted in the cover crops was far less than in the ploys where conventional tillage was used. I would also suspect the cover crop plots would require less irrigation due to less soil moisture evaporation because of the heavy amount of residue. John’s research has shown there may be several advantages to planting edible beans in a cover crop such as spring triticale over planting beans in a more conventional tillage system. Workshop Airs Producer-Packer Issues FT. COLLINS, Colo. — A chartered bus with 54 individuals returned early Saturday morning from the Aug. 27, workshop hosted at Colorado State University in Fort Collins by the U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The purpose of the workshop was to hear from producers and rural Americans about the concentration and buying power of the packing industry in the livestock markets. The workshop was well attended as over 1,500 people gathered to participate. The agenda included opening statements from both the Secretary of Ag Tom Vilsack and the Attorney General Eric Holder. Both men stated that this was a historical event, as this is the first time the two agencies have worked together. They both seem to have a firm grip on not only the situation producers are facing, but also the importance of the livestock industry to a prosperous and safe America. After opening remarks the Ag leaders led a roundtable discussion with various State officials. The questions and discussion centered on the trend of the family farm and ranches disappearing at an alarming rate. “If the survival of the family farm and ranch is important, then we have to admit that what we are doing now is not working,” said Montana’s Attorney General Steve Bullock. “If we cannot give the Packers and Stockyard Act teeth, we can at least give it a new set of dentures.” Other panels were presented throughout the day, on producer issues, trends in the livestock industry associated with contracting, price transparency, the effects of concentration, and finally a panel dealing with market structure. Independent Producers were well represented on these panels by several individuals. These included, Dr. Taylor Haynes a rancher from near Cheyenne, Wyo., also a regional director for R-CALF USA; Allan Sents, a feedlot owner from Marquette, Kan., and with the US Cattleman’s Association. Gilles Stockton, a rancher from Range, Mont., and Dave Domina, a lawyer from Omaha, who was also the lead attorney in the Pickett vs. Tyson/IPB lawsuit. These men did not criticize the US Department of Ag for past policy but provided clear solutions for the current problems cattle producers face. August 26, 2010 Navigating The Wheat Varieties Virtual Tour By DREW LYON Extension Dryland Cropping Systems Specialist UNL Panhandle Research and Extension Center   SCOTTSBLUFF — The 2009-10 winter wheat season was a wild ride, but now that the grain is in the bin, it is time to start planning for the 2010-11 season. Whatever the coming season has in store, one of the most critical decisions a wheat grower will make is what wheat varieties to grow. One resource for this decision is the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s Wheat Varieties Virtual Tour:  (http://cropwatch.unl.edu/web/wheat/virtual). Virtual tourists can see a list of wheat varieties recommended for their part of the state, read about a variety’s characteristics and compare those characteristics to other varieties of interest. Tourists can also see how different varieties performed in nearby wheat variety trials and locate a certified seed dealer that carries the varieties they are most interested in purchasing.


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