Beef cattle experts discuss how genetics, health and management decisions shape a heifer's lifetime productivity
- By Noah Seberger, Bassett, Neb.
"I’ve heard reports of the hay crop being 50-60% of what it was last year. That is what we are seeing, too."
Editor’s note: The following was written by Tamra Jackson-Ziems and Dylan Mangel, University of Nebraska Extension plant pathologist, and Talon Mues, Extension educator, for the university’s Crop Watch website June 19.
- By Marie Flanagan, Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE)
For Roger Licking of LickingAg and some neighboring ranchers across Arthur, Grant, Hooker, Thomas and Brown counties, Nebraska, the "summer slump" of cool-season pastures has been a recurring hurdle.
- Kristen Sindelar
The family at Moreland Farms takes pride in handling every step of production for the flour, from planting and harvesting the wheat to milling and bagging the Niobrara Grain and Milling flour.
The Dan Gillespie Soil Health Fund aims to strengthen Nebraska agriculture through investments in youth engagement, farmer innovation and hands-on soil health education.
- Kristen Sindelar
In all she does through 4-H, Kristin Coufal of David City, Nebraska, has taken to heart the words of former NFL coach Tony Dungy: remember that mentor leadership is all about serving.
- Staff at Iowa State University
Livestock manure is a rich source of fertility, and Iowa has abundant supplies from about 8,200 livestock farms. About 20 percent of cropped acres across the state are estimated to receive manure.
- Kristen Sindelar
Most teens aren’t leaping out of bed at 6 a.m. to wash calves before the heat of the day. Then again, most seventh graders aren’t begging their parents to let them buy cows, either.
Recent wildfires across Nebraska have left many ranchers facing difficult questions about forage recovery, grazing management, infrastructure repairs and what comes next.
- Kristen Sindelar
Youth who attended the Feed to Fair to Fork Pork Workshop at Nebraska Extension in Dodge County learned about “everything but the oink.”
- By Noah Seberger of Bassett, Neb.
"We got a few rain showers more recently, which caused the grass to green up quite a bit, but we’re still needing more rain."
- Kristen Sindelar
In its heyday, Deloit was far from being a sleepy, doldrum community in rural Nebraska. It is the birthplace of the man behind a prominent 20th century traveling entertainment show and where daredevil farm boys literally found their wings.
- Kristen Sindelar
As the Fourth of July nears, a nationwide celebration reverberates from coast to coast in anticipation of America’s 250th birthday. In Nebraska, another lesser-known place also has an upcoming milestone.
- Janelle Atyeo
After another inch and a half of rain in late June, southeastern Nebraska has completely emerged from drought status, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor’s June 25 update.
- By BaiLee McMillan, Nebraska IFYE Association
Wow my first four weeks into this IFYE experience has been eye opening!
- Kristen Sindelar
“America is not like a blanket—one piece of unbroken cloth. America is more like a quilt—many patches, many pieces, many colors, many sizes, all woven together by a common thread.”
- By Pat Melgares, K-State Extension
A cool, wet start to the 2026 growing season has pushed tar spot to the top of Kansas corn growers’ disease concerns, according to Kansas State University row crop specialist Rodrigo Onofre.
The York FFA Difference Makers “Difference in Action” committee is launching a new community-driven food security and ag-education program this summer at the York County Fair Aug. 6-9.
- Kristen Sindelar
A successful marksman has a steady hand and a sharp eye. Equally important to the 4-H’ers and instructors in the Knox County Shooting Sports program is safety.
- By Kelsey Stremel, Kansas State University
A student from Nebraska is studying whether one routine management decision — where producers place cattle supplement — could improve calf performance while helping manage invasive Old World bluestem.
BaiLee McMillan of Milburn, Nebraska, a recent graduate of the College of Veterinary Medicine at Iowa State University, is representing Nebraska and the U.S. in an international agricultural immersion program called IFYE.
- Kristen Sindelar
Scotts Bluff 4-H is a frenzy of fur and feathers. The small animal program has a strong presence at each Scotts Bluff County Fair with between 50-65 rabbits and an additional 80 chickens, Bantams, geese, ducks, turkey and other fowl.
- Kristen Sindelar
A woman in southwestern Nebraska is unlocking the potential of the seemingly common milkweed plant for its unprecedented silken, thermal and medicinal attributes.
- Janelle Atyeo
Meet the Messenger's newest Producer Progress Reporter! Noah Seberger is a junior at Rock County High School in Bassett, and the Rock County FFA president. He'll be giving reports from his grandparents' black Angus ranch, and he's got some pretty grand ambitions for the coming school year an…