Nebraska Extension in Hamilton County brings you reliable, research-based information in agriculture and natural resources, consumer and family economics, community and economic development, and 4-H / youth development. Our goal is simple . . . to help you put knowledge to work!

A 9-member Extension Board and a 12-member youth and adult 4-H Council representing all areas of Hamilton County are also a part of our Extension team. It gives us great pleasure to serve you in your quest for learning or keeping up-to-date in this ever-changing world.

The market value of agricultural land in Nebraska increased by 5% over the prior year to an average of $4,015 per acre, according to the 2024 Nebraska Farm Real Estate Market Survey (Figure 1 and Table 1). This marks the third consecutive year of increases in the market value of agricultural land in Nebraska, setting another high in the non-inflation-adjusted statewide land value in the survey's 46-year history.

Click here to keep reading: https://agecon.unl.edu/2024-nebraska-farmland-values-and-cash-rental-rates

A new online Quicken course is being offered by Nebraska Extension for farmers, ranchers and agricultural business managers who want to learn more about the program and financial record-keeping.

The course is led by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s Center for Agricultural Profitability and was first developed by Oklahoma State University. It leads users through hands-on sessions to develop a simple set of financial records and reports using Quicken. Exercises based on scenarios from a case farm allow participants to practice many of the steps that they might use to keep records on their farm or ranch.

The course is available through NU Advance, the University of Nebraska’s non-credit and professional development learning system. Course elements include videos, engaging learning activities, quizzes, a Q&A board as well as access to content experts. The course is divided into seven modules which can be completed at your own pace. The total class time is approximately 3 ½ hours. Participants have 60 days to complete the course.

“Strong financial management is the backbone of any successful farm or ranch,” said Jessica Groskopf, an extension educator with the Center for Agricultural Profitability. “Our course empowers farmers and ranchers with the necessary tools to come away with a strong foundation in Quicken, tailored for the demands of the agricultural industry.”

Course development was funded by a grant from the Southern Risk Management Education Center.

To register, visit the Center for Agricultural Profitability’s website, https://cap.unl.edu/quicken.

Marathon Kids is a national running program designed to motivate kids by utilizing running logs, boost their activity, and introduce them to the joy of running! Nebraska Extension teamed up with Marathon Kids to bring this great program to our state through Nebraska Extension Marathon Kids (NEMK).

Whether you are a youth runner, teacher, or running enthusiast wanting to share your passion, we are excited to help jumpstart long-lasting healthy behaviors!

Click here to learn more about Marathon Kids: https://food.unl.edu/programs/marathon-kids

https://hles.unl.edu/grobigred

Rain-Use it, Don't Lose it! - April 10, 2024 | Register

From rain barrels to rain gardens and more, landscape design tips and practices to “slow it down and soak it in”. Presenter: Kelly Feehan, Nebraska Extension Educator

Simple Landscape Design - May 8, 2024 | Register

What exactly differentiates a good landscape from a poor one? Learn the basics of landscape design by covering the principles and elements of design. Personalize your outdoor space by taking your own design style and the growing environment into consideration. Presenter: Elizabeth Exstrom, Nebraska Extension Educator

Summer Lawn Care - June 12, 2024 | Register

When the temperatures heat up, cool season lawns containing Kentucky bluegrass, tall fescue and perennial ryegrass often become stressed. This presentation will focus on the techniques and timing to keep them thriving all year long such as irrigation, fertilization, insect/weed/disease control, reseeding, aeration and mowing. Presenter: John Fech, Nebraska Extension Educator

Vegetable Garden Disease - July 10, 2024 | Register

Mid-summer is the time diseases start to make their appearance in the vegetable garden, and if untreated, can have a significant impact on garden production. However, there are steps a gardener can take to prevent or minimize disease severity. Learn how to use an integrated approach - incorporating mechanical, cultural and chemical strategies - for control of the diseases in your garden. Presenter: Sarah Browning, Nebraska Extension Educator

Fall Garden Maximization - August 14, 2024 | Register

Extend your growing season by learning how to plan for and grow fall crops. Pick the vegetables that love the cooler weather. Use structures such as floating row cover and cold frames to grow a number of crops - even into winter! Presenters: David Lott & Ian Peterson, Nebraska Extension Educators

Pollinator Habitats - September 11, 2024 | Register

Creating a habitat for pollinators takes more than pretty flowers. Join Mary Jane and Scott to understand plant section and the mechanics of building a successful pollinator habitat. Presenters: Scott Evans & Mary Jane Frogge, Nebraska Extension Educators

I’ve talked about the USDA Hardiness Zone map before (Nov 2018). It is a great tool to help gardeners decide what plants can be put in their landscape. The map was recently updated by the USDA and made public in November of 2023. Portions of Douglas and Sarpy counties in Nebraska along with many southeast and south-central counties and small pockets in Keith, Hamilton, Hayes, Washington counties along Pottawattamie, Mills, and Fremont counties in Iowa have been shifted to zone 6a.

What does this mean?

This means our average extreme minimum temperature shifted by 5°F to -10° to -5°F. However, the map does not tell us about weather anomalies, sometimes extreme, and we’ve had some the past few winters. In December of 2022 Omaha recorded a low of -14°F on the 22nd and in February of 2021 a low of -22°F on the 16th. The map does not tell us about perception, soil conditions, microclimates, plant health, and a slew of other factors that all play a part in plant survivability.

What should you do?

We need to be diligent when purchasing plants. If zone 6a plants start to make their appearance in garden centers, we should proceed with caution. We should learn what we can about those plants before putting them in our landscape. Just because they might be able to survive our winters doesn’t mean they can survive our growing conditions.

https://grobigred.com/2023/11/20/2023-usda-plant-hardiness-zone/

Published by Scott Evans

Scott Evans is a horticulture assistant with Nebraska Extension in Douglas-Sarpy Counties. A certified arborist through International Society of Arboirculture and Nebraska Arborist Association. Scott is also Tree Risk Assessment Qualified through ISA. Scott co-leads the Master Gardener program in Douglas & Sarpy counties. Along with volunteer management he provides his expertise with disease and insect identification, lawn and landscape weed management, plant health, and I.P.M. practices. He also enjoys growing many houseplants ranging from African violets to cacti and succulents. Scott has two Bachelors of Science, one in Biology (emphasis in Botany, Ecology and Environmental Science) and second in Environmental Geology from Northwest Missouri State University. He earned his Master of Agriculture from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

It’s that time of year when commercial ranchers and cattle producers are looking to make bull purchases for their operation. With so many different breeds and types of bulls available, picking the right bull at the right price is not easy. To help in making the best selection possible the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Beef Economics Team created the Bull Value Cow-Q-Lator. https://cap.unl.edu/livestock/bull-value-cow-q-lator-what-it-and-how-use-it

On March 12, we hosted INVENTURE Day for 113 students from Hampton, Giltner, and Aurora schools. Together, we learned what it means to be an entrepreneur and each team had a chance to develop their own product and pitch it to a set of judges.

We want to say a huge THANK YOU to all of our local business partners that served as team mentors for the day! We are so grateful for the support towards our youth right here in Hamilton County!

On March 14, Hamilton County hosted Homeschool Science Day for 118 youth, grades K-6, from twelve counties! Youth focused on fun and engaging hands-on activities involving science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). Lessons included Boba Science, Snap Circuits, Slime, Soybean Plastic, and Positively Popcorn. We are grateful for the regional 4-H Educators and Assistants, the UNL Food Science Team, and local businesses that joined us to make this day possible.

Are you ready to take the next step towards a successful future? Join us for an immersive and empowering college and career ready experience through Big Red Camps 2024! Embark on a transformative journey of self-discovery, skill-building, and preparation for the exciting opportunities that lie ahead. We believe that every young person has the potential to achieve greatness. Our comprehensive program is designed to equip participants with the knowledge, skills, and confidence they need to thrive in postsecondary education and beyond. Whether you're exploring potential career paths, preparing for college admissions, or seeking guidance on how to navigate the professional world, our camp provides the tools and resources you need to succeed. Through this experiential learning opportunity, you will work alongside UNL faculty and staff as well as business and industry professionals. Incoming high school freshmen through seniors in the fall of 2024 are welcome. Whether you're a first-time camper or a returning veteran, we guarantee an unforgettable experience filled with learning and fun! Don’t delay, reserve your spot today! For more information and to register, visit our website 4h.unl.edu/big-red-camps or contact us at BigRedCamps@unl.edu. We can't wait to see you at camp!

MAY 1ST & 2ND

For more information, registration and a detailed schedule of the conference click here: https://ruralprosperityne.unl.edu/connecting-entrepreneurial-communities-2024-sidney

The CEC Conference empowers community members by showcasing tools and resources designed to fuel community growth and prosperity. Engage with local, regional, and national presenters as they share their successful strategies in building entrepreneurial ecosystems. Join in dynamic discussions covering vital aspects of community development, including placemaking, people attraction, regional food systems, leadership development and transition, entrepreneurship, childcare, housing, and more.

Say goodbye to boring meeting rooms—CEC sessions take place in vibrant locally-owned businesses, offering participants an immersive experience of the downtown area as they seamlessly transition between sessions. This innovative approach not only ensures an enjoyable experience, but also creates ample opportunities for networking and witnessing the entrepreneurial community in action.

TOURS

Optional tours will be available before and after the conference. The ghost tour and Camp Lookout/Boot Hill historical tour need to be registered for ahead of time so they know if they have enough people to hold the tours. Information will be available in your packets for self-guided tours of other sights in the county. Walking tour of Downtown Sidney

HOTEL INFORMATION

Fairfield Inn & Suites Sidney
$98/night (Tuesday, April 30, & Wednesday, May 1 night)
MUST BE BOOKED BY MONDAY, APRIL 15

Book a group rate for the Conference

Other Available Hotels

The benefits of family meals include: the development of positive eating habits, creation of stronger parent-child bonds, and better school performance. EAT Family Style @ Home supports families with quick, easy, and fun ways to make mealtimes healthy, enjoyable and less stressful for everyone. Together we can all create memorable mealtimes. Click here to learn how to spark conversations, make mealtimes postive, find recipes and activities and so much more! https://cehs.unl.edu/cyaf/eat-family-style-at-home/

Fungi can be very problematic for our plants, and there are a lot of different fungi. In plants, there is a disease triangle that leads to plant diseases. For disease to develop, you must first have a pathogen, a susceptible host, and a favorable environment. Pathogens are common in the environment and just waiting for the right weather to occur and a susceptible host to infect. The environment can sometimes be altered by our plant management practices, such as overwatering or underwatering and improper irrigation practices can lead to more disease problems. That’s why it's so important, whenever possible, to choose disease resistant plants for our landscapes – both turf, fruits, vegetables and ornamentals.

Click here to continue reading: https://water.unl.edu/article/lawns-gardens-landscapes/fungi-can-develop-improper-irrigation

Jenney Rees is an Extension Educator serving York and Seward County and she provides a wealth of resources to the clients of Extension. Jenny writes a weekly newspaper article, newsletter and blog about crop production, educational opportunities, and current issues affecting Nebraska farmers. I encourage you to check them out! Her newspaper articles are published by the Aurora NewsRegister.

Click her to read her blog: https://jenreesources.com/

Our office is located on the ground floor of the Hamilton County Courthouse in the middle of town on 13th and M Streets. Please stop in for a visit and see what the University can do for you. Our 4-H Youth Development Program, for example, reaches more than 220 youth in Hamilton County alone. Statewide, 4-H touches the lives of more than 90,000 youth each year.

Extension EEO Statement
Nebraska Extension is a Division of the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln cooperating with the Counties and the United States Department of Agriculture.
Nebraska Extension educational programs abide with the nondiscrimination policies of the University of Nebraska–Lincoln and the United States Department of Agriculture.

©2022

Email: hamilton-county@unl.edu
Website: www.hamilton.unl.edu
Location: 1111 13th Street, Suite 6, Aurora, NE, USA
Phone: 402-694-6174
Facebook: facebook.com/hamilton.unl
Twitter: @HamiltonExten4H