Nebraska Extension in Gage County
February 2018
Welcome to your monthly update from Nebraska Extension in Gage County.  For additional information, call 402-223-1384, like us on  Facebook, or check us out  online.

Your Monthly News & Updates
Paul C. Hay Scholarship

The Gage County Agriculture Society will award one (1) $500 Scholarship to graduating senior, who plans to continue their post-secondary education at a two or four year college or its equivalent (trade/vocational, technical or career institutions). Applications will be judged by a committee from outside of Gage County. 

Submit this application, along with essay and letter of recommendation by March 15. Submit Applications to: Gage County Agriculture Society Box 671 Beatrice, NE 68310

HeadlineYQCA Face to Face Training - February 8

YQCA certification can be obtained through face to face training ($3.00) or online web based ($12.00). Limited training sessions will be offered;
Thursday, February 8, 1:30 - 2:30 pm, Tri County Schools ag  classroom. Email Dave Barnard if you plan to attend:dave.barnard@tricountyschools.org. 
Youth must be  registered for 4-H Online prior to attending (http://ne.4honline.com). Register online for the training and pay online: http://yqca.learngrow.io.
Deadline for all 4-H and FFA livestock and small animal exhibitors to complete certification is June 1.

Dicamba Training Required in 2018

In October 2017, the Environmental Protection Agency required that soybean and cotton Dicamba products (currently XtendiMax™, FeXapan™, and Engenia™) be classified as Restricted Use Pesticides (RUPs). This change requires anyone purchasing and using these products to be a licensed certified applicator whether for private, commercial, or non-commercial application. There was also a requirement by EPA for additional training on Dicamba use for these three products. This is a special training which is different from the normal local, agronomy and restricted use pesticide certification meetings. You will find information for training opportunities and information applicators need to know at the Nebraska Department of Agriculture website: http://www.nda.nebraska.gov/pesticide/dicamba.html It includes a suggested new record keeping form to comply with the labels.

  For more information contact Randy Pryor at Saline Co. Extension Office 402-821-2151 
How can you get started with cover crops in your corn/soybean rotation? Already using cover crops - could you be doing it better?

Cover Crop Conference
Thursday, Feb. 15, 2018

Eastern Nebraska Research and Extension Center near Mead, NE. 
9:00 am - 3:30 pm
Registration at 8:30 am

2018 Wilber Crop Clinic
Friday, February 16, 2018
Sokol Hall
317 South Wilson - Wilber, NE
Register by February 12, 2018 for meal count. Registration is free.  Register by calling (402) 821-2151 or email, Lou Hajek at lhajek2@unl.edu

For more information: Crop Clinic
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Thinking Spring?
The winter months are a great time to start thinking about gardening for the spring. There is nothing for us to grow and we can't go outdoors and do much in our garden beds, so we can start to think about spring to reduce our cabin fever. It is a great time because the plant catalogs have begun to arrive. Hooray! A great listing of plants to utilize in your garden would include the All-American Selections and the Perennial Plant of the Year.Plants and Pests
Nebraska Cattlemen's Classic
February 17-25

Buffalo County Fairgrounds in Kearney, NE. 
The Nebraska Cattlemen's Classic is excited to share all the opportunities at the 2018 event.
Summer has flown by and the fall rush of sales is upon us. It is an exciting time for cattlemen as they evaluate calves and make their marketing plans for 2018. The Nebraska Cattlemen's Classic is excited to share all the opportunities can offer cattlemen.
February 17 - 25, 2018 is the dates of the 27th Annual Classic. We have made a few changes to better serve cattlemen. Make sure and review the complete schedule of events.

BEEF PROFIT TIPS WORKSHOP
"Emphasis On Grazing Strategies"
Wednesday, February 28, 2018
1:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
First Evangelical Lutheran Church Fellowship Hall
204 South School Street - Wilber, NE

More Information
4-H Events and Activities

Its time to enroll for the 2017-2018 year. 4-H is open to any youth ages 5-18. Youth learn skills that last a lifetime. 
Through the projects and activities, youth learn critical thinking, respect, problem solving, making healthy choices and how to relate to others.
Go online to https://ne.4honline.com, use your previous log in and password, or create a new one if you are new to 4-H, and update your contact information and don't forget to pay the $10 fee at the Gage Co. Extension office. Deadline to enroll is May 1, 2018.

For 4-H Information and listings go to Gage County
Extension Website:

Online Calendar - February:

Facebook is a great way to stay in touch with all the happenings of Gage County. "Like" this page to get news, share ideas, and join in the discussions. Its a great way to stay connected.
SE Nebraska Soil Health Conference - March 5
Extension Events
See all Gage County Extension Events on our Online Calendar

February 7 -  Private Pesticide Applicator Training - Jefferson Co.
February 8 - YQCA Face to Face Training, Tri County
February 9-10 - Healthy Farms Conference
February 15 - Commercial Re-certification Training - Gage County
February 15 - State 4-H Awards Judging, Lincoln
February 15 - Cover Crop Conference
February 16 - Wilber Crop Clinic, Saline County
February 17-25 - Nebraska Cattlemen's Classic, Kearney
February 17 - State FLL Competition, Lincoln
February 24 - Farm Beginnings
February 28- Beef Profit Tips Workshop, Wilber

March 3 - Farm Beginnings
March 3 - Jr. FLL Competition, Lincoln
March 3 - Private Pesticide Applicator Training - Saline Co.
March 5 - Soil Health Conference, Syracuse, NE
March 13 - Commercial Pesticide Training - Recertification - Gage County
March 17 - Farm Beginnings
March 20 - Commercial Pesticide Training - Initial - Gage County
March 22 - Commercial Pesticide Training - Recertification - Gage County
March 22 - Quilts of Valor Kick-off, Quilt Stitches, Beatrice
March 24 - Farm Beginnings

April 7 - Farm Beginnings
April 15 - DNA & Online entry deadline for Market Beef (State Fair & Ak-Sar-Ben)
April 19 - 4-H Public Speaking Contest, Gage Extension Office
April 21 - Farm Beginnings
April 28 - Farm Beginnings

May 1, 2018 - Online 4-H Member & Volunteer Enrollment Deadline

June 1 - YQCA Certification Deadline
June 1 - Horse ID Deadline
June 10-15 Big Red Summer Academic Camps, UNL
June 2-12, 2018 - Citizenship Washington Trip
June 13-22 - District Horse Show sites across Nebraska
June 14 - District Horse Show, York
June 19-20 - Camp Renegade, Fairbury
June 26 - 4-H Presentations Contest & Table Setting Contest, Extension Office

July 9-13 - NAYI, Lincoln
July 15-19 - State 4-H Horse Show, Fonner Park, Grand Island
July 19 - 4-H Livestock Show, Wymore
July 16 - 4-H Fashion Show, Beatrice
July 24 - Exhibits entry & judging, 4-H Building
July 25-29 - WELCOME HOME to the Gage County Fair & Expo

A ugust 24-Sept. 3 - Nebraska State Fair, Grand Island

September 27-30 - Ak-Sar-Ben Livestock Show, Grand Island

October 1 - Career Portfolio & Awards Application due Extension
October 11 - Rural Safety Day, Gage County Fairgrounds


Additional Resources
Nebraska Extension in Gage County
Nebraska Extension in Gage County work in collaboration with Nebraskans, county boards and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension to implement urban, research-based education that will best serve county residents.
 
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.

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension educational programs abide with the nondiscrimination policies of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and the United States Department of Agriculture.
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