The tradition of showing livestock is something many Nebraska kids know well. Extension Beef Educator Lindsay Waechter-Mead says there are handling and health issues that should be considered when transporting livestock both to and from a show.

Some conditions in the state have led to an ideal environment for stable flies to thrive. Nebraska Extension Educator Dave Boxler says ranchers can take steps to help control stable flies which can affect weight gain and other performance issues with cattle.

The South Central Agricultural Lab near Clay Center will be the location for this year’s Weed Management Field Day sponsored by Nebraska Extension. The seminar is set for June 25th and Extension Specialist Amit Jhala says there will be plenty of critical weed management issues discussed during the day.

As corn is emerging from cropland across the state, Extension Plant Pathologist Tamra Jackson Ziems says there are a few disease issues for farmers to keep a sharp eye out for. She says early identification is a critical element to helping control some of these disease issues.

Toxic weeds in pastures can be a headache for ranchers and could seriously affect cattle health. Nebraska Extension Educator Ben Beckman talks about a series of webinars that will address identification, cattle health and controlling these toxic plants. The webinars begin this week and there will be two more sessions later this month.

Body condition of your cows and bulls play a big part in achieving your operations breeding goals. Nebraska Extension Educator Wayde Pikinpaugh talks about what you can do now when preparing for the upcoming breeding season.

With many small-town nursing facilities shutting down, older Nebraskans need options for their healthcare. Cindy Houlden from the Nebraska Cooperative Development Center talks about a program that is looking at solutions to the growing senior population and diminishing health care facilities.

New UNL research shows supplementing cattle on pasture with dry distillers grains can reduce feeding without impacting body weight or condition scores. Nebraska Extension Beef Systems Specialist Mary Drewnoski talks about the cost, labor and protein benefits of a dried distillers grain as a supplement feed.

Cover crops on livestock operations can offer many economic and environmental benefits. University of Nebraska – Lincoln Agricultural Economics Professor Jay Parsons talks about how cover crops can help make cattle operations successful and points out the benefits of incorporating them.

For farmers and ranchers, having enough cash on hand to make purchases throughout the season may not always be possible. Nebraska Extension Ag Economist Jessica Groskopf talks about the basics when it comes to farm loans and discusses several options for farmers who need cash for critical purchases.