Gage County Extension Newsletter

Announcements

September 4th Office Closed- Labor Day

Horticulture - Nicole Stoner

Upcoming Events with Nicole

Plants for Fall Interest

Summer Garden Problems

Fall Lawn Care

Yard & Garden

4-H & Youth Development - Jacie Milius

State Fair Results

4-H Career Portfolios & Achievement Application Info

Save the Date- Career Portfolios & Achievement Applications Judging

Water & Cropping Systems - Nathan Mueller

Winter Wheat Variety Season

Another Cutting of Alfalfa?

• Husker Harvest Days in Grand Island September 12-14, Nicole will be at the Horticulture, Landscape and Environmental Systems (HLES) Booth in the Nebraska Extension building on September 14th all day.
• Fall Master Gardener Classes: September 19, October 3, & October 17.
  
• Tree Planting workshop in Geneva at the Fillmore County Extension Office on September 28.

In August, many of our flowers are starting to fade for the year. It also is one of our hotter months of the year and it makes it difficult to do much outdoors. However, there are some great plants that start to reach their stride in August and September. Continue Reading

Gardens are really hitting their stride now. I have been eating cucumbers nearly every night and I am planning to make salsa with my tomatoes and peppers soon. It is also that time of the year when we start to see problems develop in our gardens. Continue reading.

It is time for all that fun, fall lawn activity. There are so many things we can do to help our lawns in the fall. If your lawn needs help, this is the time to fertilize and overseed. On the other hand, if your lawn looks great, you can fertilize and spray weeds to maintain the good look of your lawn. Continue Reading.

Yard & Garden Live season is over. However, it will be returning in the fall for two episodes. September 8th & 15th yard and garden will return. This is a call-in radio show I do on KUTT 99.5 FM from 10-11:30 am. It can also be found on kutt995.com for online listening. If you missed a show or just want to read through the questions, I have written them all in my blog and will continue to do so throughout the season. Continue Reading.

The 2023 Nebraska State Fair featured over 4500 4-H exhibitors and nearly 11,000 exhibits. Congratulations to all Gage County 4-H exhibitors. Proud of you for representing Gage County youth with pride, dignity, character, and kindness. Special award recognition goes to:

Victoria Barkoudah: STEAM Clothing 2

Drakan DeCoteau: Conservation & Wildlife

Jeffery Lohse: Reserve Champion Horticulture Judging

Claire McGrury: Floriculture

Grant Musil: Champion Division 3 Natural Color Market Lambs

Jordan Musil: 3rd Place Senior Sheep Showmanship

Reegan Kracke: Champion Spot, Champion Purebred Market Hog, Reserve Champion Division 3 Market Gilt

Cooper Lovitt: Reserve Champion Division 2 Market Barrow

Luke Katz: Champion Intermediate Beef Showman, Champion Simmental Breeding Heifer

The fair is over, the excitement settled, and it’s time for 4-H members to record your accomplishments for the year. October 2nd is right around the corner - the time to submit your Career Portfolio or Achievement Application. No project records required. We want to recognize all youth for your achievements. For more information check out the 4-H Newsletter or call the extension office.

• Career Portfolio Achievement Program Judging is October 17th @ 4:30 p.m. here at the extension office- Looking for volunteers to judge. If you are interested in judging contact the extension office at 402-223-1384
• Achievement Program Celebration is November 12th @ 2 p.m. at the 4-H Building

Winter wheat variety selection is one of the first key management decisions that you make each year as a wheat farmer in southeast Nebraska. The three-year average yield difference in currently planted varieties evaluated at the University of Nebraska Jefferson County trial is 12 bushels per acre. I consider southeast Nebraska to include the 22 counties south of Highway 30 and east of Highway 14. In 2022, there were nearly 40,000 acres of wheat in southeast Nebraska. Given the limited wheat acres in each farm operation and my experience indicates that most wheat farmers only plant one or two varieties each season. Therefore, how do you select the best variety for your farm? Continue Reading.

What risks are there for cutting alfalfa in the fall? When and how long is the alfalfa fall resting period or winterizing period? What impact will cutting alfalfa during this ongoing drought have this fall? The answers to these questions can help you make an informed decision on whether to take another cutting of alfalfa in 2023. Continue Reading.

HOW TO CONTACT US

For Horticulture and Entomology questions:

• E-mail Nicole Stoner at nstoner2@unl.edu

For Food, Nutrition and Health questions:

For 4-H and Youth Development questions:

• E-mail Jacie Milius at jacie.milius@unl.edu

For Water & Integrated Cropping Systems

• E-mail Nathan Mueller at nathan.mueller@unl.edu

For Beef Systems Questions:

• E-mail Wayde Pickinpaugh at wayde.pickinpaugh@unl.edu

Email: gage-county@unl.edu
Website: https://extension.unl.edu/statewide/gage/
Location: 1115 West Scott Street, Beatrice, NE, USA
Phone: 402-223-1384
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/UNLExtensionGageCo