Thursday October 16 Ag News - UNL Elite 11 Vet Program - Tri-State Beef Tech Wksp - Fall Grazing Annuals Considerations - Ag Budget Calculator sessions for Livestock and Crops upcoming - and more!

 APPLICATIONS BEING ACCEPTED FOR NEBRASKA ELITE 11 VETERINARIAN PROGRAM

The University of Nebraska–Lincoln is accepting applications for the Nebraska Elite 11 Veterinarian Program, a competitive scholarship designed to increase the number of veterinarians serving livestock producers in rural Nebraska.

The Elite 11 program provides financial assistance and hands-on experiences for students pursuing degrees in animal or veterinary sciences within the university’s College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources. Selected students must be incoming freshmen, residents of Nebraska and demonstrate a strong commitment to the well-being of production animals and to serving agricultural communities statewide.

“The Nebraska Elite 11 Veterinarian Program exemplifies our commitment to supporting Nebraska students who are passionate about production animal health and rural communities,” said Tom Burkey, interim dean of CASNR. “By providing financial support and hands-on learning opportunities, this program helps prepare the next generation of veterinarians to serve livestock producers across our state — strengthening both Nebraska’s agricultural future and the vitality of its rural communities.”

Up to 20 incoming freshmen will receive the Nebraska Production Animal Health Scholarship, covering half of tuition for their first two years in CASNR. Of those students, up to 13 will earn a continuation scholarship covering full tuition for their junior and senior years. After completing the Nebraska Aspiring Production Animal Veterinarians Program, 11 students — the “Elite 11” — will receive full tuition and fees for UNL’s Professional Program in Veterinary Medicine. In return, they commit to practicing as production-animal veterinarians in Nebraska for eight years following graduation. 

Applications are due Feb. 2. Applicants must be Nebraska residents admitted to CASNR with plans to major in animal science or veterinary science.

Full application instructions, eligibility requirements and submission links are available at http://casnr.unl.edu/elite11. 



Nov. 14- Tri-State Beef Technology Series 

SDSU Extension, ISU Extension, and Nebraska Extension will host a beef technology series on November 14 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. CST at the Eastern Nebraska Research Extension and Education Center, 1071 Co Rd G, Ithaca, NE 68033.

This event is intended to educate producers about precision livestock technologies in the beef industry.

Tentative Agenda
    9:30 a.m. - Registration
    10:00 a.m. - Virtual fencing and wearable ear tags
    11:00 a.m. - Reading the fine print with Precision Livestock Technologies
    11:30 a.m. - SDSU Extension Precision Livestock Trailer demonstration
    12:00 p.m. - Vendor viewing and discussion (with lunch)
    1:00 p.m. - UNL research update with Precision Livestock Technologies & Tour of ENREEC and Klosterman Feedlot Innovation Center

Registration
The cost to attend is $30 and includes a meal. Vendor registration is also available and includes two meals. 

Sign up and check out here https://beef.unl.edu/news/nov-14-tri-state-beef-technology-series-ithaca-ne/.

This series is supported by funds appropriated to South Dakota State University by the Beef Checkoff through the Iowa Beef Industry Council.



Champion Seed welcomes Nebraska Sales Agronomist Zach Painter

Champion Seed is pleased to announce the addition of Zach Painter to its team. Based in Norfolk, Nebraska, Painter will serve as a sales agronomist, supporting Champion Seed customers across the state. With his strong agricultural background and commitment to customer success, Painter will play a key role in strengthening Champion Seed’s presence and grower relationships throughout Nebraska.

Originally from Battle Creek, Nebraska, Painter comes to Champion with more than eight years of experience in the seed industry. He has worked closely with growers to identify the right seed for the right acre.

“Zach understands the grit it takes to persevere on some of the toughest fields,” said Champion Seed Co-owner Brett Hodnefield. “His deep agronomic knowledge and dedication to helping farmers succeed align perfectly with Champion Seed’s mission to deliver performance-driven solutions for every farmer.”

Painter is a graduate of Norfolk Community College, where he earned degrees in agronomy, precision agriculture and ag business. He also completed a bachelor’s degree in business management and administration from Peru State College.

Painter lives in Norfolk with his wife and newborn child. When he’s not working with farmers, he enjoys golfing, hunting, fishing and spending time outdoors.



CONSIDERATIONS FOR FALL GRAZING ANNUAL FORAGES 
- Ben Beckman, NE Extension Educator

Fresh forage options in the fall often come with strings attached.  While the potential for high quality grazing is present, knowing the risks that may come along is critical to make the most out of these forage resources.

The two main drivers of risks for fall grazing come from the environment, freezing temperatures and drought. Let’s look at drought first.

When moisture is lacking, plant growth is slowed.  This is a major obstacle for establishing fall forages but can cause problems with already growing plants too.  Cover or forage crops planted during the summer may begin accumulating nitrates as dry weather slows growth.  This is especially true for forages that planted into an already fertilized row crop that was hailed out.

Cold weather can be a cause for concern too.  As temperatures drop, growth slows, and nitrates can build up again.  When plant cells freeze, they can burst, making nutrients more readily available.  In high quality forages, this can lead to bloat, especially early in the morning when forage moisture is highest.

In sorghum species including sudans, ruptured cells due to freezing is a bit more serious.  This damage releases prussic acid a cyanide compound which can be deadly to livestock if consumed in high enough quantities.  While it can dissipate out in 5-7 days, each time more of the plant is damaged by frost, prussic acid is released.  

Fall forages can be a great grazing opportunity, but need to be managed carefully to be safe.  Watch for nitrates during dry weather and nitrates, bloat, and prussic acid in sorghum species as temperatures drop to get the most out of your fall grazing.



Online Training: ABC Program and the Livestock Module Feature

It’s always important to estimate cost of production for our agricultural enterprises. Understanding and knowing projected  cost of production figures for your various enterprises can assist you in making important management decisions now and throughout the production and marketing year. 

Hop on your computer, create an Ag Budget Calculator (ABC) program account at agbudget.unl.edu, and walk you through the program features and provide instruction on using the program!

For anyone beginning to use the ABC program with an interest in the livestock budgeting feature. 

Topics covered: 
    The steps to creating or updating livestock enterprise budgets for your farm or ranch using the ABC program. 
    Learn what is included in the projected cost of production and anticipated return reports generated by ABC (cash and economic costs and returns). 
    Discuss information included in the program along with management decisions that might be possible as a result. 
    As time allows, other features of ABC will be shared including crop budgeting and how to integrate crops grown for feed into your livestock enterprise budgets. 

ABC Livestock Module Training Schedule:
    Monday, October 20 — 6:30 p.m. CT 
    Friday, October 24 — 10 a.m. CT
    Tuesday, November 25 — 1:00 p.m. CT

Register here:  https://unlcorexmuw.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_0dr4NQhbXp6UsWG.  Upon your registration to any online training session, a Zoom link and passcode will be emailed to you.




Looking Ahead at Enterprise Cost of Production for 2026: How the Agricultural Budget Calculator (ABC) Tool Can Help

Budgeting for crops and livestock production is one of the cornerstones of sound farm business management. To help producers prepare for the year ahead, the University of Nebraska–Lincoln’s Center for Agricultural Profitability and Nebraska Extension will host a workshop on Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2025, in Dodge, at the Dodge Municipal Building, 226 Elm St., 10am to 2pm.

The program will focus on strategies for projecting costs of production, determining breakeven prices, setting marketing plans, and estimating profitability.

Topics will include:
    Key principles for calculating cost of production and breakeven costs
    A review of Nebraska crop budgets with estimates for 2026 production costs
    How enterprise budgeting can guide management decisions
    Features of the free, online UNL Agricultural Budget Calculator (ABC) program, including customizable enterprise budgets, risk analysis, whole-farm pro forma profit and loss, and monthly cash flow tracking

Registrations will be accepted through Nov. 25, 205. Lunch, sponsored by Nebraska Bank in Dodge, is included at no cost.

Following lunch, participants will take part in a hands-on session featuring an interactive demonstration of the ABC program. Attendees will learn how to get started using the program or enhance their skills if they are already familiar with it.

Participants are encouraged to bring a laptop or tablet with internet access to fully engage in the hands-on portion of the workshop.

The Agricultural Budget Calculator program is available online at agbudget.unl.edu.

To register by Nov. 25, click here https://unlcorexmuw.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_ahlnbgixiLHjCaG. If you prefer to register by phone, contact the Dodge County Extension office at 402-727-2775 or Nebraska Bank in Dodge at 402-693-2251.



Field day offers look at precision beef technologies in the air, online and on the hoof

Emerging technologies are on the agenda for a November 13 field day near Red Oak, and all are invited. Iowa Beef Center at Iowa State University and South Dakota State University Beef Extension have partnered to showcase, demonstrate, and discuss a wide variety of new tools and techniques in beef production.

ISU beef specialist Erika Woolfolk said a unique feature is the SDSU technology trailer packed with a variety of livestock technologies.

“The trailer has animal health monitoring software, water monitoring software, a handheld feed analyzer, drones, and much more,” she said. “Additional topics include cybersecurity awareness and applicable precision technologies research, and we’ll have a designated time for technology demonstrations.”

Woolfolk and ISU extension forage specialist Shelby Gruss will share updates on ongoing ISU research utilizing various technologies such as 701x ear tags for monitoring grazing behaviors.

The event will be hosted by the Matt Versmeersch family of Mud Ridge Ranch and Resilient Farms located at 1582 200th Street, Red Oak. It starts at 10 a.m. and will wrap up at 2 p.m. The Versmeersch family will demonstrate the use of NoFence virtual collars that they have been using on their cow herd for more than a year.

RSVPs are required by Friday, November 7, to ensure adequate meals and space. To register, call the Montgomery County Extension Office at 712-623-2592 or sign up online at https://go.iastate.edu/5B6LAK. Attendees are encouraged to dress for the weather.

Thanks to sponsorship from Iowa State Beef Checkoff Program, NoFence, Iowa Forage and Grassland Council, Iowa NRCS, and Halter, this program is provided at no cost to attendees and includes a meal grilled by the Mills-Montgomery County Cattlemen. 



Nominate Your Neighbor for 2026 Environmental Stewardship Award 

The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) is accepting nominations for the 2026 Environmental Stewardship Awards. Established in 1991, the Environmental Stewardship Award Program (ESAP) annually recognizes outstanding stewardship practices and conservation achievements of cattle producers across the country.

“Since its inception 35 years ago, this prestigious program has recognized 235 cattle operations for their stewardship efforts,” said NCBA President Buck Wehrbein. “We look forward to finding the next deserving stewards and sharing their stories.” 

Any individual, group or organization is eligible to nominate one individual or business raising or feeding cattle. While individuals and families may not nominate themselves, they should be involved in the preparation of the application. Past nominees are encouraged to resubmit applications; however, previous winners may not reapply. 

Along with a typed application, one nomination letter and three letters of recommendation highlighting the nominee’s leadership in conservation are required. The application deadline is Feb. 16, 2026. Nominees do not have to be members of NCBA but should support the objectives of their state and national organization. 

Award winners are selected by a committee of representatives from universities, cattle production, conservation organizations as well as federal and state agencies. For guidance, the judges consider the management of water, wildlife, vegetation, air, and soil along with leadership abilities and the sustainability of the business. Regional winners will be recognized at the cattle industry’s Summer Business Meeting in Denver, Colorado, in July 2026, and the national winner will be announced during CattleCon 2027 in Nashville, Tennessee, in February 2027.

The Environmental Stewardship Award Program is an initiative of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association and the National Cattlemen’s Foundation and is made possible with generous support from USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), Corteva Agriscience, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. For more information and to download the nomination packet, visit www.environmentalstewardship.org.



Fuel Smart and Farm Ready: AGI Launches Diesel-Powered Auger and Conveyor   

Ag Growth International Inc. (“AGI”) proudly unveils two innovative diesel-powered grain handling solutions – the STX3 Auger and the UCX4 Conveyor. These new additions to AGI’s portable grain handling lineup deliver unmatched performance, durability and fuel efficiency for today’s demanding farm operations.  

“AGI is excited to bring these diesel-driving products to market. The STX3 and UCX4 are power-pair innovations, engineered to meet the demanding requirements of grain farmers in Canada and the U.S. with a focus on uptime, fuel savings and rugged performance,” says Paul Brisebois, AGI Senior Vice-President North American Farm and Global Portables.  

Following product introductions at summer agricultural equipment shows, both products are available now in limited release with production ramping up in 2026. 

STX3 Auger: Power, Precision and Performance 
The STX3 is the first diesel-powered direct-drive portable truck loading auger on the market replacing traditional belt drives. The auger features a 56 HP Kohler diesel engine for better torque and a belt-free direct drive system for consistent mechanical PTO performance. Key features include:  
    Open discharge spout for smoother grain flow 
    Manual clutch engagement for controlled startups 
    Heavy-duty gearboxes and solid drive shaft for long-term durability and superior power transfer  
    High-clearance intake hopper with triple flighting for increased output and easier setup  
    All-wheel drive hydraulic mover kit to maneuver through tough terrain with ease 
    Wear Edge Technology, sealed top end and bright LED work lights for extended workdays  

“This auger isn’t just diesel-powered—it's farmer-driven. They told us what they needed, and we built it,” says Kent Woods, AGI Director of Global Product Management. “The STX3 is direct-drive and great for farms with multiple bins and trucks. It gives farmers what they are looking for in an auger – high capacity, enhanced durability and diesel efficiency.”   

The STX3 diesel auger is available under the following brands: AGI Westfield (STX3), AGI (XTA3) and GrainMaxx (GTX3).  

UCX4 Conveyor: Better Torque and Fuel Efficiency  
The UCX4 conveyor is engineered for efficiency delivering up to 10,500 bushels per hour with a 24 HP Kohler diesel engine. In AGI field tests, the UCX4 can use up to 48.78 percent less fuel than comparable gas-powered models, making it a smart investment for farms looking to reduce operating costs. Key features include:  
    Bell housing electric clutch that is safer, more durable and fully self-contained  
    Direct mount hydraulic pump for smooth, low-maintenance operation 
    Heads-up digital display with a clear interface and customizable mounting  
    1500W block heater and 1000CCA battery for enhanced cold weather starting performance  
    Overhauled engine mount keeps hydraulics flowing smoothly  
    Lower profile collapsible hopper for easier setup and maneuverability  

“We’ve engineered the UCX4 from the ground up to meet the real-world needs of large farm operations,” says Woods. “This conveyor moves large volumes of commodities that require gentler handling, like seed grain, canola and other pulses. From the direct drive gearbox to the cold weather start hydraulic system, every detail is designed to maximize uptime and simplify operation in harsh conditions.”  

The UCX4 Diesel Conveyor is available under the following brands: AGI Batco, AGI Westfield and AGI GrainMaxx.