Life Sciences Commons^™

Ec96-142 Crp Land Use Guide (Conservation Reserve Program), Douglas Anderson

Douglas Anderson

Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) contracts held by Nebraska producers will begin to expire in 1996. Thousands of acres of grassland will be eligible for haying, grazing or to be returned to other uses. Land-use decisions made by owners and operators will impact the economic viability and long-term productivity of individual farms, as well as the region as a whole. The intent of the CRP Land Use Guide is not to provide all the asnwers - in many instances we don't even know the questions. It is however, intended to provide an outline of the key issues you will face when …

Ec05-130 Guide For Weed Management In Nebraska, Roch E. Gaussoin, Brady F. Kappler, Robert N. Klein, Stevan Z. Knezevic, Drew J. Lyon, Alex Martin, Fred Roeth, Gail A. Wicks, Robert G. Wilson, Robert A. Masters, Patrick J. Shea, Larry D. Schulze

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

One of the major thrusts of all University of Nebraska weed science faculty is the Guide for Weed Management in Nebraska. This guide is not just the work of one or two people, rather it is a joint effort of all the authors to produce a comprehensive, information-packed resource. Each weed science faculty member is responsible for particular sections of the guide. The process of reviewing the current content, checking labels and research data and updating the content can be an extensive process. Each year new herbicide active ingredients and trade names are introduced and figuring out what a herbicide …

Ec05-185 Grazing Winter Wheat In Nebraska, Tom Holman, Drew J. Lyon, David D. Baltensperger, Ivan G. Rush, Ray Weed

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

Grazing cattle on winter wheat, often prior to grain harvest, is common throughout the southern Great Plains. Grazing generates about $50 million in income for Texas wheat producers and reduces the risk of growing wheat by providing a substantial income source other than grain. Benefits can be realized by grazing prior to the primary environmental risk period for drought, heat stress, and hail, all of which frequently reduce grain yield while having limited impact on forage production. Cattle also are grazed on winter wheat fields in western Nebraska and the surrounding region. Typically in Nebraska, fall forage would be used …

Ec03-176 Noxious Weeds Of Nebraska: Musk Thistle, Fred Roeth, Steven R. Melvin, Irvin L. Schleufer

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

Musk Thistle is an introduced invasive broadleaf weed native to Europe, North Africa, and Asia. In these areas it is a minor weed because natural enemies keep its population low. When the plant was introduced into North America, its natural enemies were left behind. Without these natural checks, the thistle is able to thrive and compete with native vegetation. This Extension Circular discusses the history, biology, identification, distribution and control of the musk thistle.

Ec03-181 Alfalfa In Nebraska, Bruce Anderson, Loren J. Giesler, Thomas E. Hunt, Shripat T. Kamble, Stevan Z. Knezevic, Charles A. Shapiro

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

Alfalfa is the most important forage crop grown in Nebraska, with over 1,000 acres grown in every county. It has the highest feeding value for livestock and one of the highest yield potentials. Alfalfa can produce more protein per acre than any other crop and can provide all of the protein needed by many livestock as well as supplying large amounts of vitamins, minerals, and energy. Protein of alfalfa. In also covers the cultural practices, insect pests, diseases, weeds that affect alfalfa.

Ec02-177 Purple Loosestrife, Stevan Z. Knezevic

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

Purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria) is an introduced invasive weed that isover running thousands of acres of wetlands and waterways in the Midwest. Once purple loosestrife invades a wetland, natural habitat is lost and the productivity of native plant and animal communities is severely reduced. These losses in turn interfere with various levels of the ecosystem and area recreational activities such as fishing, boating and hunting, diminishing revenue from tourism and impairing the social and economic well being of local communities. A single control measure cannot provide long-term, sustainable control of this weed. An integrated approach, using a variety …

Ec02-173 Spotted And Diffuse Knapweed, Neil L. Heckman, Ryan M. Goss, Roch E. Gaussoin, Stevan Z. Knezevic, John L. Lindquist

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

Spotted knapweed (Centaure amaculosa Lam. = C. biebersteinii DC.) and diffuse knapweed (C.diffusa Lam.) are two of Nebraska’s seven noxious weeds. They are also noxious in at least 17 other states. These are closely related species that are well adapted to a variety of habitats including open forests, rangelands and pastures, Conservation Reserve Program lands, roadsides, and ditch banks. Centaurea is a large genus of over 400 species, 32 of which are common weeds of the United States and several of which [e.g., yellowstar thistle, C. solstitalis L, and Russian knapweed, C. repens L. =Acroptilon repens (L.) …

Ec02-172 Plumeless Thistle, Kara L. Hilgenfeld, Alex Martin

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

Plumeless thistle (Carduus acanthoides L.) is one of seven noxious weeds in Nebraska. An introduced invasive broadleaf weed native to Europe and Asia, plumeless thistle currently infests about 65,000 acres in Nebraska. Infestations of plumeless thistle may reduce productivity of pastures and rangeland, where infestations tend to be the largest. Plumeless thistle competes with and suppresses growth of desirable species. Heavy infestations prevent livestock from grazing the area and lighter infestations prevent livestock from eating plants growing near the thistle. Estimates place the annual loss in Nebraska agricultural production due to plumeless thistle at $162,000. Although plumeless thistle is …

Ec02-171 Canada Thistle, Robert G. Wilson

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

Canada thistle [Cirsium arvense (L) Scop.] is one of the seven species defined by Nebraska law as a noxious weed. At least 35 other states also have determined by law that Canada thistle poses a threat to the economic, social, and aesthetic well-being of the residents of their state. Canada thistle is probably the most widespread of all the thistle species and many land managers consider it the most difficult thistle to control. In Nebraska, Canada thistle is estimated to infest 460,000 acres.

Ec02-176 Musk Thistle, Fred Roeth, Steven R. Melvin, Irvin L. Schleufer

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

Musk thistle (Carduus nutans L.) is an introduced invasive broadleaf weed native to Europe, North Africa, and Asia. In these areas it is a minor weed because natural enemies keep its population low. When the plant was introduced into North America, its natural enemies were left behind. Without these natural checks, the thistle is able to thrive and compete with native vegetation.

Musk thistles aggressively invade all lands in Nebraska. Typical cropland weed control methods are very effective against them; however, land with permanent cover (pasture, range, roadway ditches and wasteland) that is not tilled or treated with a …

Ec02-174 Leafy Spurge, Robert A. Masters, Brady F. Kappler

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

Leafy spurge is an invasive weed that infests over three million acres in the northern Great Plains and the prairie provinces of Canada. It is commonly found in rangelands, pastures, roadsides, rights-of-way, and woodlands. Leafy spurge can reduce rangeland and pasture carrying capacity by as much as 75 percent because it competes with forages and cattle avoid grazing areas infested with this weed. In North Dakota where leafy spurge infests about 900,000 acres, estimates of direct and indirect losses exceed $100 million each year. In Nebraska, the direct loss in forage value attributed to leafy spurge has been estimated at …

Ec01-158 Integrating Management Objectives And Grazing Strategies On Semi-Arid Rangeland, Patrick E. Reece, Jerry D. Volesky, Walter H. Schacht

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

Rangelands account for about half of Nebraska's total land area or about 24 million acres. Much of these expansive natural resource areas are in the semi-arid climatic region of Nebraska where grazing management decisions have a profound effect on ranch survival.

The educational object of this circular is to explain management practices that optimize the sustainability of rangeland-based enterprises. Additionally a decision-support tool is provided for selecting grazing systems best suited to livestock production and natural resource management objectives.

Ec01-872 Nebraska Crop Budgets 2001, Roger Selley, Tina N. Barrett, Richard T. Clark, Robert N. Klein, Steve Melvin

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

The 2001 Crop Budgets contains a list of representative field operations and materials that provides a reminder of items typically invovled in producing the crop. The budgets are presented in a worksheet format with a "Your Estimate" column for recording modifications in costs.

This publication covers the following crops: Forages -- alfalfa, annual hay, corn silage, grass, grass hay, and pasture. Grain -- corn, dry beans, grain sorghum, proso millet, oats, soybeans, sugar beets, sunflower, wheat.

Ec00-280 Hiring Dairy Personnel: Making The Process Easier, Jeffrey F. Keown

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

Position descriptions are essential. A detailed position, or job, description can help you as an employer identify and eliminate applicants who will not perform well on the job and gives you justifiable grounds for terminating an employee who does not perform the job satisfactorily.

On most dairy farms, employees can be grouped into three categories: herd managers, feeders or outdoor workers, and milkers. This extension circular discusses the description for each category, how to start the hiring process, and questions that may be asked during interviewing and after hiring for a position on the dairy farm.

Mp99-40 The Economics And Control Of Insects Affecting Beef Cattle In Nebraska (Northern Great Plains), John B. Campbell, Gustave D. Thomas

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

Livestock insect control should be considered an integral part of an efficient beef herd health program.

This extension circular discusses the behavior and control of these major insect parasites of range and pasture cattle in Nebraska: stable fly, horn fly, face fly, cattle grubs, cattle lice, cattle scabies, horse and deer flies, mosquito, black fly, and biting midges (gnats).

Rp97-75 Fixed And Flexible Cash Rental Arrangements For Your Farm, Larry N. Langemeier

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

The kind of rental arrangements for cropland vary widely in each locality and from one geographic area to another. What is desirable for one particular landlord/tenant relationship is not acceptable for others. The purpose of this publication is to help tenants and landlords develop fair cash-rent arrangements and assist them in making sound decisions based on a fair evaluation of resources. The first section addresses whether a fixed cash-rent lease arrangement should be used. Part II discusses how to develop a fair fixed cash rental rate, while Part III provides information on setting rent for other cropland, pasture, and buildings. …

Ec96-142 Crp Land Use Guide (Conservation Reserve Program), Douglas Anderson

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) contracts held by Nebraska producers will begin to expire in 1996. Thousands of acres of grassland will be eligible for haying, grazing or to be returned to other uses. Land-use decisions made by owners and operators will impact the economic viability and long-term productivity of individual farms, as well as the region as a whole.

The intent of the CRP Land Use Guide is not to provide all the asnwers - in many instances we don't even know the questions. It is however, intended to provide an outline of the key issues you will face when …

G91-1023 Insects That Attack Seeds And Seedlings Of Field Crops, Stephen D. Danielson, Robert J. Wright, Gary L. Hein, Leroy Peters, James A. Kalisch

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

This NebGuide discusses how to identify and control eight insects that feed on planted seeds and seedlings.

Planted seeds of field crops can attract several kinds of insects. In many cases, the insects do not cause enough damage to justify control procedures. However, under some conditions seed pests may be very destructive. Seed that is slow to germinate and establish is more likely to be damaged. Situations such as first-year crops following sod or pasture, ecofallow, or reduced tillage/heavy crop residue conditions have a good chance for seed/seedling damage. Consider grower experience and past pest problems when deciding about individual …

G89-905 Weed Control On Crp Acres (Revised July 1997), Robert N. Klein, Gail A. Wicks, John E. Watkins, Jerry D. Volesky

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

Establishing perennial grasses on former cropland presents a challenge. Weed control can be accomplished with herbicides, tillage, burning, mowing, and crop competition. The key to weed control is timeliness. Weeds should be controlled on CRP acres to reduce the risk of seeding failure and eliminate possible reseeding costs. Soil moisture must be available for seed germination, seedling emergence, and establishment to be successful in getting stands of grasses and/or legumes. Weeds can quickly and thoroughly consume soil water throughout the upper soil profile and must be controlled to allow grass and legume seedlings to germinate and emerge. In addition, rapid-growing, …

G88-864 Handling Internal Worm Parasitism In Sheep, Dale M. Grotelueschen, Don Ferguson, Ted Doane

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

This publication acquaints the reader with methods of preventing, controlling, and treating parasitism in sheep.

Introduction

Parasites or worms affecting the digestive system are a severe health problem in sheep production. The economic losses from parasitism can be extensive, ranging from mortality or death loss to weight loss, reduced weight gain, reduced wool production, decreased milk yield resulting in lower lamb weights, poor reproductive performance, and the cost of medications and handling.

Coccidiosis, another costly intestinal parasite, but not caused by worm infestation, will be discussed briefly.

G86-775 Prussic Acid Poisoning, Norman Shcneider, Bruce Anderson

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

Prussic acid poisoning and its treatment are discussed in this NebGuide, along with methods to reduce its occurrence.

Sudangrass, forage sorghum, and sorghum-sudangrass hybrids are often used for summer pasture, green chop, hay, or silage. Under certain conditions, livestock consuming these feedstuffs may be poisoned by prussic acid (HCN).

Exposure to excessive prussic acid--also called hydrocyanic acid, hydrogen cyanide, or cyanide--can be fatal. However, producers can manage and feed their livestock to avoid problems with prussic acid.

G83-655 Management Of Early Weaned Calves, Paul Q. Guyer

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

This NebGuide discusses the benefits and disadvantages of weaning beef calves early, including rations and methods for both drylot and pasture-grain feeding programs.

Early weaning of beef calves is a management practice that should be considered under situations such as fall calving, drylot cow-calf production and drought. In areas where forage quality is very poor in late summer and early fall, early weaning might also be considered as a regular practice. Early weaning can enhance the efficiency of drylot cow-calf operations by allowing greater use of poor quality roughages by the cow herd.

G80-509 Canada Thistle, Robert G. Wilson

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

The growth and control of Canada thistle is covered here.

Canada thistle plant

Canada thistle [Cirsium arvense (L) Scop.] is a native of Eurasia and was probably introduced to America around 1750. Since that time it has spread throughout the northern part of the United States. Canada thistle is estimated to infest 800,000 acres in northern and western Nebraska.

A perennial that reproduces from seed and by an extensive root system, Canada thistle is dioecious, with the male and female flowers on separate plants. For viable seed to be produced, both male and female plants need to be present.

G80-504 Proper Livestock Grazing Distribution On Rangeland (Revised February 1996), Jerry D. Volesky, Walter H. Schacht, Steven S. Waller

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

Good grazing distribution can increase harvest efficiency and grazing capacity. This NebGuide discusses common grazing problems and offers solutions.

The 23 million acres of rangeland in Nebraska are mostly grassland and are primarily devoted to forage production for Nebraska's multibillion dollar beef cattle industry. Nebraska's rangelands are inherently productive, and potential returns from efficient management practices are high for livestock producers.

Proper grazing distribution is a factor which can increase livestock production from Nebraska's rangeland. Grazing distribution refers to dispersion of grazing animals over a management unit. It is just one element of good grazing management which should also include …

G78-406 Fertilizing Grass Pastures And Haylands, Bruce Anderson, Charles A. Shapiro

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

This article discusses managing nitrogen and using phosphorus and other nutrients for grass pastures and hay-lands. Pastures are important to many livestock producers in Nebraska, but production from many pastures is low. Research shows that fertilizing, weed control and rotational grazing increases grass production from pastures, resulting in greater livestock production. Fertilizing and controlling weeds on haylands also increases production. Since more plant material is removed when land is managed as hayland, more attention needs to be paid to fertilization. In addition to increasing grass production, fertilizing can improve forage quality. On-the-farm demonstrations show that fertilizing increases the amount of …

G78-390 Right Crop Stage For Herbicide Use Alfalfa, Sugarbeets, Soybeans, And Fieldbeans (Revised January 1987), Robert G. Wilson, Alex Martin

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

If you are using herbicides on alfalfa, sugarbeets, soybeans, or fieldbeans, information in this Guide will help you apply them at the proper time for best weed control with a minimum of crop injury. Proper timing of postemergence herbicides is essential to achieve maximum weed control with minimum crop injury. As field crops grow and mature, their tolerance to herbicides changes. As a general rule, annual and biennial weeds are more susceptible to postemergence herbicides when they are in the seedling stage, becoming increasingly difficult to control as they mature. The grower is thus faced with the problem of when …

G75-242 Space Requirements For Swine (Revised July 1978), R. D. Fritschen, A.J. Muehling

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

The amount of space required per pig was given little attention when pigs were reared on dirt lots or pasture. As confinement production developed, the amount of space needed per pig for optimal performance became an important planning-management considerations. Too few pigs per pen reduces the return on initial building investment. However, overcrowding may result in: tail biting or cannibalism, reduced gain, increase feed required per unit gain, gastric ulcers, and additive stress factors. This NebGuide discusses the space requirements needed to raise swine.

G74-171 Summer Annual Forage Grasses (Revised January 1986), Bruce Anderson, Paul Guyer

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

This NebGuide discusses production practices, methods of use, and precautions for using summer annual grasses.

Summer annual grasses are used for summer pasture, green chop, hay, silage, and winter pasture. They are often used as sources of emergency forage. In addition, residues of summer annuals make an excellent seedbed mulch for new stands of perennial grass, particularly on sands.

The summer annual grasses most often used for forage in Nebraska are sudangrass, hybrid sudangrass, sorghum-sudangrass hybrids, and forage sorghums. Foxtail millet and pearl millet are used occasionally. Each of these grasses has unique growth characteristics that require proper management for …

G74-123 Weed Control In Reduced Tillage Corn (Revised May 1982), Russell Moomaw, Alex Martin, David P. Shelton

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

Weeds compete with corn plants for water, nutrients and light. Historically, the soil has been extensively tilled to prepare a seedbed and to lessen or remove weed competition. This tillage centered around moldboard plowing.

Results of a recent survey indicate that most Nebraska farmers now use some form of reduced tillage, with the moldboard plow being used on only 11 percent of Nebraska's corn acreage. Reduced tillage is used in many forms.

This NebGuide discusses how to control weeds using the different types of tillage systems.

G74-149 Bloat Prevention And Treatment, Rick Stock, Richard J. Rasby, Duane Rice

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

This NebGuide discusses the types of bloat which may occur in cattle and methods to prevent and treat bloat.

Bloat is a form of indigestion marked by an excessive accumulation of gas in the rumen. Immediately after cattle consume a meal, the digestive process creates gases in the rumen. Most of the gases are eliminated by eructation (belching). Gases that are trapped and not eructated may form a foam or froth in the rumen which further prevents their elimination. Froth formation can be caused by many factors resulting from interactions between the animal, rumen microorganisms, and differences in plant biochemistry.