Water & Integrated Cropping Systems-Nathan Mueller

Spring seeding alfalfa

Wear gloves when handling treated seed

Horticulture-Nicole Stoner

Spring yard clean up

Yard & Garden Live

Food, Nutrition & Health-Tara Dunker

45 is the new 50

Debunking myths for frozen food month

4-H & Youth Development

Gage Co 4-H Clover Kids

Livestock Showdown

After corn and soybeans, alfalfa is the most grown crop in southeast Nebraska. Based on satellite imagery and crop reflectance, USDA CropScape estimated there was approximately 16,200 acres of alfalfa growing in the summer of 2022 in Saline, Jefferson, and Gage counties and 6,800 acres in Johnson, Pawnee, Nemaha, and Richardson counties. Assuming farmers maintain alfalfa stands for 5 to 7 years, there are about 3,800 new seeding alfalfa acres seeded each year.

In southeast Nebraska, late summer and early spring are the two target seeding windows for alfalfa. Late summer after winter wheat from August 15 to September 1 works well when we have good soil moisture, and it has less weed challenges than with spring seeding. The recommended spring seeding window of April 1 to May 15. Alfalfa seedlings are very cold-tolerant, so there is very little risk when seeding after April 1.

Use inoculated, fungicide-treated alfalfa seed at rates of 12 to 15 pounds per acre in rainfed fields and 15 to 20 pounds per acre in irrigated fields. There are some advantages to the higher end of these seeding rate recommendations when conditions are not perfect. Higher spring seeding rates can help increase canopy cover and competitiveness against weeds. However, over-seeding is costly, and alfalfa stands will self-thin down to a similar number of plants per acre by the end of the second year whether seeded at 15 pounds verses 20 pounds per acre. In general, I do not recommend seeding companion crops other than on tilled highly erodible soils.

For some of you this is a reminder as I ran this column last year about this time, for some this is your first read. Planting season can be busy and stressful, so please don’t forget to be safe when handling treated seed and check the seed tag or talk to your seed dealer for specific handling and use directions. Treated seed is another route of exposure for farmers and other handlers, whether this exposure is to fungicide, insecticide, or nematicide treatments present on the seed. Remember that reducing your exposure is key to reducing the overall risk when handling pesticides.

Below are some basic tips to safely handle treated seed:

1. Read the seed tag. This will be key to identifying personal protective equipment (PPE) requirements, signal words, use, disposal, environmental hazards, and storage information. Also be familiar with any plant back or grazing restrictions listed on the tag before use.

Now that spring is officially here, we can really start to think about outdoor activities. Don’t get ahead of the weather though, that could cause more harm than good or cause us to have to do more work later. I thought I would help you with your to do list and when to do those things.

Screening saves lives, which is why the recommendation for colorectal screenings was bumped up by five years not too long ago.

In 2018, the American Cancer Society (ACS) did this in response to rising rates of colorectal cancers among younger people. While there is no foolproof way to prevent cancer of any type, the ACS has put together a handy list of six ways to lower your risk of colorectal cancers.

In an effort to raise awareness among my neighbors and friends, I’m going to summarize their list here. However, their website at cancer.org provides a wealth of information if you or a loved one would like to learn more. As ever, consult your trusted medical provider wherever your health is concerned.

1. Get screened. Screenings are tests that can detect cancer early, before signs or symptoms have a chance to appear. The earlier a colon or rectal cancer is detected, the more likely treatments are to be successful. The ACS now recommends that any person at average risk begin testing at age 45. Some colorectal screenings can actually find and remove precancerous growths, like polyps, before they become a health concern. While polyps themselves are not cancer, over time cancer can start there—that is why removing them can be so beneficial.

Frozen food often conjures up images of cardboard trays filled with some form of pressed meat, canned corn and instant potatoes, all covered with plastic film.

But, any seasoned cook knows frozen food can be just as good for you as it is convenient. You just need to know what to look for and how to use it.

With March being Frozen Food Month (I know–there’s a month for everything), I thought I’d rerun this article I wrote last year to clear up some long-standing confusion around frozen foods. So, here goes.

Myth: It’s ok to thaw frozen food on the kitchen counter. There are only three safe ways to thaw food prior to cooking, and leaving it on the counter is not one of them.

The gold standard is to give yourself enough time to thaw food completely in the refrigerator. This ensures food is never exposed to unsafe temperatures.

Clover Kids is a special program for youth ages 5-7 who want to participate in 4-H. The program offers a variety of educational and recreational experiences in non-competitive environments. These opportunities are ideal for developing confidence, creativity, and competence during this stage of youth development.

Clover Kids have special opportunities to participate during the Gage County Fair by exhibiting Clover Kids static exhibits. To be eligible to participate, Clover Kids need to enroll through our 4HOnline system at v2.4honline.com

HOW TO CONTACT US

For horticulture and entomology questions:

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

For food, nutrition and health questions:

• E-mail Tara Dunker at tara.dunker@unl.edu
  

For 4-H and youth development questions:

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

For Water & Integrated Cropping Systems

• Email Nathan Mueller at nathan.mueller@unl.edu

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