Nebraska Extension - Gage County
February 2019 Newsletter
In This Issue:
- Welcome Tara Dunker
- N150 Charter Day
- Office Closed President's Day
- Extension Office Internship
- Radon Kits Available
- Master Gardener Training
- Wilber Crop Clinic
- ProHort Update
- Private Pesticide Training
- Commercial Pesticide Training
- Land Applicator Training
- Planning Gardens
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Welcome Food, Nutrition & Health Educator, Tara Dunker!
Born and raised in Beatrice, Tara graduated from Beatrice High School in 2006. From there, she went on to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, graduating in 2010 with a bachelor’s degree in dietetics and in 2013 with a master’s degree in community nutrition and health promotion. After graduating, Tara worked for a couple years in the clinical setting before getting the opportunity to work for Nebraska Extension as the program coordinator for a state 4-H grant-funded program called WeCook: Fun with Food and Fitness.
With mounting evidence linking poor eating habits to lack of cooking at home and insufficient knowledge, WeCook aims to address these issues through a twelve-week out-of-school time program serving 3rd-5th graders and their families at Title I schools across Lincoln, NE. Programs such as this, with an emphasis on reaching underserved populations, demonstrate the important role Extension plays in working toward more unified, prosperous, and well-informed communities.
When she’s not wearing her ‘dietitian hat’, Tara spends the bulk of her time chasing her toddler, Cecilia. She enjoys spending time with family and friends, fixing up her fixer-upper 1940s home, hanging out with neighbors, and reading. She looks forward to working in her home community, where many of her and her husband’s family and friends still live.
N150 Charter Day
The University of Nebraska was chartered on February 15, 1869 and charged with its land-grant mission of public education and service to Nebraska. In 2019, we mark a 150-year legacy of improving the quality of life for Nebraska and beyond. Please join us in celebrating the historic past of your University and helping us chart a bold new future.
Gage County Extension Office is celebrating Charter Day with delicious cookies! Stop by our office for a treat and University of Nebraska Lincoln freebies!
Gage County Extension Offers Summer Internship
Radon Kits Available
UPCOMING EVENTS
Master Gardener Training
Classes are held on Tuesdays, 6:30-9:00pm at the Gage County Extension Office. This year's program runs from February 5-March 12. This class will also be provided in Wilber following the same schedule on Wednesday afternoons from 1-3:30pm. It will run from February 13-March 20 at the Saline County Extension Office. Fee for new Master Gardeners: $160 (covers cost of shirt, name tag, and books), fee for renewal is $15.
2019 MG Class Schedule:
- February 5 - Introduction & 'Do you know Plants?' - Nicole Stoner
- February 12 - Wildlife in the Landscape - Dennis Ferraro
- February 19 - Weather Ready Landscapes - Elizabeth Killinger
- February 26 - Secrets of Service for Master Gardeners - Terri James
- March 5 - Lawn Weeds & Pesticides - Nicole Stoner
- March 12 - Tree Hazard Awareness & EAB - Nicole Stoner
There is still time to sign up before the first class, contact the Extension Office or Nicole Stoner: nstoner2@unl.edu.
Wilber Crop Clinic
Friday, February 8, 2019 at Sokol Hall in Wilber.
The clinic will begin with registration, viewing of sponsor displays, coffee, kolaches, and rolls at 8:00 a.m. The educational program starts at 9:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Speakers and Topics
- Al Dutcher, Associate State Climatologist, on how El-Nino impacts will likely dominate the first half of 2019.
- Jeff Peterson, Grain Marketing Analyst, Heartland Farm Partners, will discuss his corn and soybean marketing outlook and opportunities for 2019.
- Tim Creger, Program Manager for the Department of Agriculture Pesticide Division, will discuss key dicamba label changes for 2019 and program update.
- Brad Lubben, UNL Agricultural Economics Professor, will inform attendees key provisions in the 2018 Farm Bill and what to expect.
- The most interesting title of the program is “Don’t Get Caught with Your Plants Down!” by Tamra Jackson-Ziems, UNL Plant Pathology.
- Ray Ward, Ward Laboratories, will discuss how soil health improves fertilizer efficiency and profitability.
- Randy Pryor will discuss on-farm research being done in the area and assist with the door prizes at the end of the program.
CCA credits will be available.
ProHort Lawn & Landscape Update
Thursday, February 14 | 8:30am - 3:30 pm | Gage Co. Extension Office
Fee: $25 (lunch included), registration due Feb. 11
A workshop for nursery & green industry professionals, public works employees, landscape managers, arborists, tree board volunteers, and cemetery & grounds keepers.
Schedule:
8-8:30am Registration
8:30-9am Welcome & Local Items of Interest
9-10:15am New and Emerging Insects, Libby Smith & David Nielsen, NE Dept. of Ag
10:30-11:30am Avoiding Tree Risks by Starting Right, Graham Herbst, NE Forest Service
11:30-12:15pm Lunch (provided)
12:20-1pm Disease Identification Contest
1-2:15pm Changing Turf Recommendations, Bill Kreuser, UNL Turf Department
2:30-3:15pm What are Weather-Ready Landscapes, Nicole Stoner, Gage County Extension
3:15-3:30pm Closing
Private Pesticide Training
2019 Schedule:
- Friday, Feb. 22 - 9am - Noon - Gage County Extension Office, Beatrice
- Monday, Feb. 25 - 1-4pm - Friend Catholic Church, 403 4th St, Friend
- Wednesday, Feb. 27 - 9am - Noon - Saline County Extension Office, Wilber
- Thursday, March 7 - 9am - Noon AND 1-4pm - 4-H Building Jefferson Co. Fairgrounds
Also check out upcoming required Dicamba Trainings.
There are several more options for attaining your Private Pesticide license. Click the button below for more information.
Commercial Pesticide Training
Is your commercial pesticide license expiring in 2019? Follow the steps below to register for the upcoming recertification training in Beatrice.
- Click link below to register
- Complete form and pay $80 registration fee
- An email confirmation will be sent and that is also your receipt
Categories Offered at 2/19 training: 00 - 04 - 07 - 09 - 11
Ag Plant category 01 will be offered on 3/21/2019 in Beatrice.
Land Applicator Training
Learn basic manure management techniques and tips to keep the environment safe and you in compliance with your NPDES permit.
PRE-REGISTRATION REQUIRED. Initial certification fee: $60 per operation plus $15 per additional operation participant(s).
Recertification: $30 per participant
Who Should Be There?
- Recently permitted operations that have not completed the initial training.
- Additional educational training is required every 5 years for permitted operations. Farm representative attendance for the first 2 hours will fulfill NDEQ Land Application receritfication.
- Farm staff and advisers implementing a farm's permit or nutrient plan. Consider making this workshop part of your staff's training.
Planning Gardens
Click below to continue article on planning your garden.
4-H & Youth Development - Jacie Milius, Extension Educator & Jane Esau, 4-H Assistant
Nebraska 4-H Month
Each year during the month of February we celebrate Nebraska 4-H Month. This year, we'll celebrate another very special event in February. The University of Nebraska was chartered on February 15, 1896. In 2019, we mark a 150-year legacy of improving the quality of life for Nebraska and beyond.
This month, we ask 4-H members, families, and volunteers across the state to celebrate Nebraska 4-H Month by taking part in the Nebraska 150 Celebrations! Take Flat Herbie on a tour of your community, join a local Charter Day celebration on February 15th, bake some N150 cookies, or get a head start on an N150 Stepping Stone exhibit for county fair!
Let's Tailgate & Celebrate Gage County 4-H!
Join us at the 2019 4-H Kick off on Tuesday, April 9, 5:00 – 8:00 pm, at the 4-H Building on the Gage County Fairgrounds. 4-H families, new families, 4-H friends and supporters are invited to stop by the 4-H Kick-Off for fun and food, hands-on learning stations and project information by 4-H clubs, photo booth, drawings and prizes, and more. We celebrate the N-150 with flat Herbie and UNL goodies. Don’t miss the Husker Spirit squad appearance from 6:00 – 7:00 pm. We’ll help families join Clover Kids (ages 5-7) and 4-H at the online enrollment station. Join with the hundreds of 4-H families learning lifeskills, leadership and community service through 4-H. We’re excited to share the fun and learning in 4-H… making the best better in our communities.
Nebraska Extension - Gage County
Email: Gage-County@unl.edu
Website: https://extension.unl.edu/statewide/gage/
Location: 1115 West Scott Street, Beatrice, NE, USA
Phone: 402-223-1384
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/UNLExtensionGageCo/
Twitter: @GageCoExtension