Grain Prices and Markets


Current markets as of 8: am 8/25/14

Corn -5 ¼ @ 3.60 ¼

New Corn -4 ¼ @ 3.67 ¾

 

Beans -6 ¾ @10.35 ¾

 

Commodities are softer this morning outside of Sep beans and soybean oil. Corn is down -3 and soybeans are down -7 after the overnight session.  While the US Dollar index is higher.

 

-New crop beans made new lows overnight, marking the fifth time it has done so in the last 10 trading sessions.

-slower harvest in the south and fewer soybean imports than expected have caused old crop bean basis levels to rocket upwards, this may be an opportune time to make an old crop sale if any beans are left.  Harvest basis is likely to head back into negative territory come October.

-good weekend rain coverage across key portions of the growing region and more to come this week.

-crop conditions will be out later this afternoon

 

Strategy: It may be time to look at adding some premium to a new crop sale or hedge.  For example receiving an extra 20 cents on a sale today in exchange for a new crop offer.  Harvest basis levels also may be a risk concern, especially for beans.

 

Pro-Farmer Tour

Pro-Farmer state by state yield estimates vs last year’s USDA yield are shown in the charts below. As you can see, it appears even better yields are expected with the exception of Nebraska Soybeans.

 

Corn Yield (bpa) Last Year PF This Year % Change
Nebraska 170.0 171.5 +1%
  1. Dakota
138.0 140.0 +1%
Minnesota 160.0 160.0 NC
Illinois 178.0 198.0 +11%
Iowa 165.0 183.0 +11%
Indiana 177.0 193.0 +9%
Ohio 177.0 187.0 +6%
US Total 158.8 169.3 +6.6%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Soybean Yield (bpa) Last Year PF This Year % Change
Nebraska 53.0 51.0 -4%
  1. Dakota
40.0 40.0 NC
Minnesota 41.0 41.5 +1%
Illinois 49.0 54.0 +10%
Iowa 44.5 49.5 +11%
Indiana 51.0 52.0 +2%
Ohio 49.0 50.0 +2%
US Total 43.3 45.3 +4.6%

 

For more information contact:

 

Greg Mockenhaupt

Risk Management Consultant

Central Valley Ag – ProEdge

1007 County Road O

Oakland, NE 68045

Office: 402-685-5613

Cell: 402-380-9855

 

The Buck Will Stop at My Desk


Chuck Hassebrook was in Omaha with law enforcement officials from Douglas County Corrections and the Fraternal Order of Police to talk about the issues in the Nebraska Department of Corrections.

Citing last week’s testimony before the Special Legislative committee by former Corrections Director Bob Houston, Hassebrook re-stated the Department has, but has never fully used, broad authority to take automatically granted good time away from inmates for breaking prison rules.

 

As a result, four Omahans died and four Omaha families lost loved ones.

 

But in spite of that tragedy, the Governor and Department of Corrections have still not used their authority under existing statutes to take away all good time when warranted.

“Under current rules, Nikko Jenkins would have had to make six separate assaults on prison guards to lose all of his good time. That is unacceptable,” said Hassebrook. “I will initiate a change in that policy on the day I take office to take every day of automatically granted good time away from prisoners who repeatedly refuse to comply with Department of Corrections rules.”

 

President of the Nebraska State Lodge of the Fraternal Order of Police John Francavilla added, “The Good Time issue is important and should be addressed immediately. We feel that any delay in this will jeopardize the public safety of the citizens of Nebraskans.”

 

“The blatant disregard for public safety is deeply troubling. When I take office in January, the buck will stop at my desk to ensure that sentencing statutes are fully and faithfully implemented. The failures of recent years will not be repeated under my watch,” said Hassebrook.

 

Hassebrook went on to detail his plan for prison reform, which includes reducing the prison population by thoroughly examining each nonviolent offender’s case, reestablishing job training and education programs and mental health services for prisoners, and the expansion of drug and mental health courts, which has been proven to drastically reduce recidivism. He is also focused on long term solutions that will prevent further burden on Nebraska’s budget and the criminal justice system, including investing in expanding quality early childhood education programs and job training programs in high school.

Hassebrook served on the University of Nebraska Board of Regents for 18 years, and spent 36 years working for Nebraska communities at the Center for Rural Affairs, a national rural advocacy and development organization based in Lyons, where he has assisted over 10,000 rural Nebraska small businesses.

Since announcing he will run for Governor over a year ago, Hassebrook has received the support of key leaders in Lincoln and Omaha, including Lincoln Mayor Chris Beutler, former Omaha Mayors Mike Boyle, Mike Fahey, and Jim Suttle, fourteen state Senators, former Nebraska Governor and U.S. Senator Bob Kerrey, the Nebraska Farmers Union, Nebraska State Education Association, Nebraska AFL-CIO, and others.

Chuck Hassebrook with law enforcement officials. Photo Courtesy of Chuck Hassebrook's office.

Chuck Hassebrook with law enforcement officials. Photo Courtesy of Chuck Hassebrook’s office.

Watering Lawns


By John Wilson

John Wilson

John Wilson

Hopefully by the time you are reading this, we will have received some significant precipitation. Because unless we can get some rain soon, more and more people are going to be forced to water their lawns if they haven’t done so already. (Fortunately, I’ve only had to water my lawn once this year.) Here are some thoughts on how to efficiently water our lawns throughout the growing season.

It has been UNL Extension’s recommendations for years that it is better to water our lawns deeply and infrequently for the best water use efficiency and plant health. That hasn’t changed… it is much more efficient, and better for the turf, to apply one inch of water in a single application once a week than a quarter inch of water every other day… or an eighth of an inch every day. The water will soak deeper in the soil which encourages deeper rooting AND the evaporation losses will be less so more of the water goes to the plant.

However, what constitutes deep and infrequent irrigation changes during the growing season. Deep and infrequent irrigation is summarized as irrigating only after the first signs of drought stress become visible, water thoroughly to wet the soil to the depth of rooting, and then do not water again until symptoms of drought stress reappear. What is “deep and infrequent” in May is far different than what it is in August, so your irrigation controllers for automatic watering systems need to be changed throughout the year. No more “set it and forget it”!

High soil temperatures decrease root growth while increasing root death, the end result is a shallower and likely less dense root system. August rooting depth may decrease by 50% or more compared to May rooting depth. Therefore, less water is needed to wet the soil to the depth of rooting. Additionally, water use increases with temperature as the plant uses it to cool itself.

The end effect of these two process is irrigation frequency increases during the heat of summer, but the amount of water applied during each irrigation cycle is less. Unfortunately, there is no hard and fast numbers recommended for amount and frequency of irrigation.

Turfgrass species, soil type, slope, exposure, compaction, mowing height and frequency, overall plant health, and daily wind, temperature, and precipitation will determine the amount of irrigation required on each individual lawn. It is further complicated by irrigation method and if an underground system is used, volume, pressure, nozzles, head spacing, and condition of the system will also complicate the irrigation.

A good way to tell how deep in the soil the water has soaked is to take a large screwdriver and poke it in the turf in several places. When the soil is moist, it will slide into the soil easily. But when the soil is dry, you can still poke the screwdriver in, but there will be much more resistance. If it slides in easily to a depth of four to six inches, you do not need to water until the turf starts to show signs of moisture stress.

The bottom line is that turfgrasses require water for optimum performance, but they much prefer slightly drier conditions over slightly wetter conditions and are extremely capable of withstanding slight to excess drought or even drought-induced dormancy. Therefore, always error on the dry side when it comes to irrigating your lawn. Not only will the turf perform better, you’ll also reduce your overall water use.

For more information on lawn care, go to the UNL turf website at http://turf.unl.edu/ or contact your local UNL Extension office.

Volunteer at the State Fair


J

Mary Loftis

Mary Loftis

oin the Fun at the State Fair as a Volunteer!

The Nebraska 4-H program is seeking volunteers to help with exhibit entry day, judging, and serving as 4-H exhibit building hosts and greeters. Volunteers will be needed for educational activities in the 4-H building, serving as the Lil’ Green Mascot and assisting with all 4-H contests and events throughout the fair. State Fair 4-H volunteers will receive a fair pass for the day(s) they volunteer. They are looking for volunteers, parents, teens, anyone familiar with the 4-H program who will donate a little time to support 4-H.

Volunteers can sign-up by visiting http://4h.unl.edu/becomevolunteer or by contacting the Burt County extension office. A complete list of volunteer opportunities is also available on the site. If you have questions about being a 4-H volunteer at the Nebraska State Fair, please contact Cathy Johnston, Extension Educator, at (402) 472-1762 orcjohnston1@unl.edu.

 

Centennial Open House at the State Fair

Join the fun in Grand Island on Saturday, August 30 in the brand new Raising Nebraska Building. UNL Extension will host its final celebration of the 100th anniversary of the signing of the Smith Lever Act which provided the establishment of the Extension program nationwide.

The big event will be from 1:00-5:00 p.m. with demonstrations and activities on two stages. There are also additional activities like a Scavenger Hunt and the opportunity to tape an extension testimonial (see bottom of column for extra details on these events.)

Extension Demonstrations and Activities on the Kitchen Stage

1:00 pm Cooking with Local Products

UNL Extension Food & Nutrition Team

1:30 pm 4-H Commodity Carnival: Risk Ranch

UNL Extension 4-H Youth Development Program

2:00 pm Cooking with Local Products

UNL Extension Food & Nutrition Team

3:00 pm Ice Cream Social

UNL Extension

4:00 pm Blender Bike Bonanza

UNL Extension 4-H Youth Development Program

Extension Demonstrations and Activities on the Presentation Stage

1:00 pm Do you want to be a Millionaire?

UNL Extension Community Vitality Initiative

2:00 pm Raising Nebraska Landscaping Preview

UNL Extension Water, Environment, and Community Team

2:30 pm Centennial Celebration Presentation

UNL Extension

3:00 pm Raising Nebraska Landscaping Walkthrough

UNL Extension Water, Environment, and Community Team

3:30 pm Nebraska’s Biggest Storytime

UNL Extension Learning Child Team & NET Kids powered by a Ready To Grant

4:00 pm Whisper Stethoscope

Great Plains Veterinary Educational Center

4:30 pm Automated Weather Data Network

High Plains Regional Climate Center

 

Scavenger Hunt

As part of our centennial celebration at the state fair, we are conducting a centennial emblem scavenger hunt. Several centennial emblems will be hidden across the state fair grounds. If you find one, just tweet a selfie with the emblem to #ext100 and be entered to win some UNL swag.

Testimonial Taping

During the Open House in the Conversation Pit, we will be collecting testimonials from Nebraskans on the impact that UNL Extension has had on their lives. We are asking volunteers to give us just 20-30 seconds of their time in front of the camera.

These testimonials will then be combined and made into a short video.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mary Loftis,

Extension Assistant
UNL Extension – Burt County
111 North 13th Street, Suite 6
Tekamah, NE 68061
Phone: (402) 374-2929

Fax: (402) 374-2930

Internet: mloftis2@unl.edu

Happenings at Oakland Heights


Oakland Heights News

By Nancy Silvey Activity Director

We would like to thank Bev Peterson for bring up and displaying her mother’s Hats, the residents really enjoyed it. We have several birthdays coming up next week, Happy Birthday to Jackie Caldwell on August 24th, Teresa Bowman on August 26th and Anita Beckner on August 29th. This week we have Waffle supper on Thursday August 21st at 5:30 pm. Next week on Monday August 25th is the monthly Resident council meeting at 2:30 pm and on Thursday August 28th we will be having Bomb pops on the patio at 2:30 pm. , and on Saturday August 30th is the first Nebraska football game of the season at 2:30 pm we will be showing it for the residents to watch.

Church Service for Sunday August 24th at 2:30 pm will be given by the Craig-Alder Grove Church with refreshments served afterwards. Tuesday August 26th at 9:30 am is Catholic Mass given by Father Paul.

Activities for the week of August 25th to August 30th , are as follows, , Reading with Marilyn, Sing a Long, Game Day, Bingo w/Methodist, Reading Group, Bible Fellowship, Let’s Play Ball, Crafty Cooking, Friday Bingo, Saturday morning movie, and Lawrence Welk.

Volunteers signing in last week were; Judy Nelson, Betty Hanna, Mary Donovan, Seth Anderson, Dani Moseman, Marge Maller, Anne Anderson, Pat Anderson, Anna Anderson, Mary Fritts, Mary Alice Pearson, Bonnie Fleischman, and Sly Rouse.

Guest signing in last week was: Beth Floyd, Cecil James, and William Torrey to see Iona Long. Lyle Mueller to see Lillian Mueller.

 

 

 

The Role of the Judge


Rachel Wise, District 3, Nebraska State Board of Education 

Rachel Wise

Rachel Wise

Since the Nebraska State Board of Education did not meet in July, we had an incredibly full agenda for our August work session and business meeting. As I list some of the highlights of the past meeting, I want to remind readers of the State Board’s three broad areas of responsibility. That is policy-making, development and adoption of rules and regulations and quasi-judicial decision-making. In most of my articles I share information about the policy-making and regulatory responsibilities of the board, but for this article, I want to start out with the quasi-judicial role.

What does the board do in its quasi-judicial role? We make some very difficult decisions about the certificates of educational professionals―teachers, coaches, administrators, etc. At this meeting, we had four certification cases about which we had to make “judgments.” This is some of the most challenging work that we do as a board. Educational professionals have an ethical code of conduct they must follow and at times, some individuals make very poor choices or decisions. The Nebraska Professional Practices Commission (PPC) is the first line of decision-makers when an educational professional is alleged to have violated the code of conduct. Typically, all of the evidence in any case is introduced when the PPC hears from witnesses and receives documents as evidence. In cases where the PPC believes an educator’s certificate should be suspended or revoked, then all of the case materials are filed with the State Board of Education who becomes the final quasi-judicial decision-maker. While decisions on whether educators lose their certificates for a short-time or for a lifetime are very difficult, in my opinion, this is one of the most important roles we fulfill as board members.

On to a more uplifting topic, accountability!! At the August meeting the Nebraska Department of Education presented a draft framework of an accountability and quality system for Nebraska schools ― called A QuESTT (Accountability for a Quality Education System, Today and Tomorrow}. Under this system, schools will be classified as excellent, great, good or needs improvement. As required by LB 438, three schools most in need of improvement will be identified as priority schools. Tenets of the system are as follows: College and Career Readiness; Assessment; Positive Partnerships, Relationships and Student Success; Educator Effectiveness; Transitions; and Educational Opportunities and Access. During the next few months specific indicators, measures and timelines will be identified. Public hearings and public comment opportunities will be held to gather input before finalizing the new system.

We are now moving closer to adopting more rigorous college and career ready, English Language Art Standards in Nebraska. On August 5th, public hearings were held throughout the state to gather additional input on the standards. The next step is a final review and validation by postsecondary education, then back to the State Board in September.

Finally, I would like to take a moment to thank Lynn Cronk, who stepped down from the State Board of Education as a result of her move from Grand Island to Lincoln. Lynn has been a longtime public servant, serving first on the Grand Island School Board and then the State Board of Education for almost four years. Lynn demonstrated a strong passion for education and was a champion for all students.

This article represents my personal view, not that of the State Board of Education or my role as president. Feel free to contact me at rachel.wise@nebraska.gov. Search the Nebraska Department of Education website at www.education.ne.gov to learn more

Hassebrook on Taxpayers Repaying the Government


“The revelation that Nebraska taxpayers may face another $2.5 million repayment to the federal government because the Department of Health and Human Services’ repeated mismanagement demonstrates the need for a Governor who will take responsibility for the management of state government.

“This is just the latest in a long series of failings in state agencies. The Department of Corrections released dangerous convicts early, costing lives and jeopardizing the safety of all Nebraskans. The state has lost or repaid over $40 million to the federal government due to the mismanagement of the Beatrice State Developmental Center and the privatization of foster care.

“Nebraskans have a right to expect their Governor to run their government in a competent manner. When I am Governor, I will pay attention to state agencies and fulfill my responsibility to make state government work effectively and cost effectively.

“The Governor must be responsible for government – and I will be. The buck will stop at my desk.”

Chuck Hassebrook

Chuck Hassebrook

Penke Starts Ninth Year Teaching at O-C


 

Kylie Penke in her newly arranged and decorated room at O-C. Photo courtesy of Kylie Penke.

Kylie Penke in her newly arranged and decorated room at O-C. Photo courtesy of Kylie Penke.

“We have really great kids at O-C and that makes my job rewarding,” stated Kylie Penke, a teacher at Oakland-Craig Schools. “I also think we have rock-star administrators, faculty and staff that make this a great school for everyone!”

Kylie is beginning her ninth year teaching at Oakland-Craig. She teaches biology, advanced biology, intro to agriculture, plant science, animal science and ag business in grades 9-12.

She has been busy the last few days in preparation of the first day of school, tomorrow. “There are more changes than usual this year due to the elementary renovation being complete and several teachers being on the move in the high school as well,” Kylie said.

She has a new room and has been working at getting it ready for the new school year. “I am really excited to have more space and storage to properly accommodate teaching science and ag,” Kylie stated.

Education is ever evolving, and providing students with the best education possible is important to teachers. “I have been revising the syllabi to reflect some of the new technologies and policies that I will be using in hopes of keeping parents more in the loop of what is going on in class,” Kylie said. “I have also spent some time working with professors at UNL’s College of Agricultural Science and Natural Resources on a new Plant Science course that will mirror a current college course.” Students have the option to take an on-line version of this class. “It will be offered through the Advanced Scholars Program for college credit,” Kylie stated.

Kylie’s inspiration to become a teacher came while working with students during her year of service as a Nebraska FFA State Officer. “I discovered I really enjoyed working with high school students and being with them nearly every day presents an amazing opportunity to have a positive impact on their lives,” Kylie said.

She also thought she had a lot that she could teach students about school and life. “Turns out, they are constantly teaching me!” Kylie stated.

Teaching for nine years, Kylie has had many memorable moments. “Helping students excel in class, athletics and life who have truly worked hard to accomplish their goals is wonderful, Kylie said. “I could name several kids from all walks of life whom accomplish some pretty amazing feats and their satisfaction is priceless.”

Not only is Kylie entering her ninth year of teaching, this will also be her ninth year coaching cross country. “Cross Country has been so positive for myself and the runners. I couldn’t imagine life without it,” Kylie stated. “I am especially excited for the 2014 season because I think this is going to be a very big year with all of the talent and hard work I have already witnessed.”

Kylie doesn’t just coach cross country, she runs too. “Although I never catch the kids, I do run during most practices. It started as a selfish way to stay in shape, but I have learned that the kids really appreciate me “suffering” with them,” Kylie said. “It motivates them to do more. I guess if these old bones can do it, they should be able to do it too!”

Kylie and her husband, Jason, are the parents of two boys. Tate is five and Tye is three. “Tate is pumped about starting kindergarten and Tye is excited about the cool toilet he gets to sit on at preschool,” Kylie stated. Her and Jason will be hands on, assisting the boys with homework. “We will be doing plenty of reading in the evenings,” Kylie said.

To those considering the education field, Kylie has some advice to share. “I can’t count on two hands how many people have told me they wish they would have become a teacher,” Kylie stated. “The summers are wonderful, but most teachers are still working/teaching/coaching throughout the break so hopefully you have other reasons for going into education. It is an extremely rewarding field that is very family friendly. There truly is no other job I would rather have!”

 

Dry Weather Stress


By John Wilson

John Wilson

John Wilson

Our wet spring turned into a dry summer. At least we haven’t had extreme heat to make matters worse. Lawns, gardens and ornamentals are starting to show signs of our dry weather. Lawns starting to turn brown and wilting plants are the most visible signs. Low yields and poor quality vegetables are additional signs of heat stress.

Brown lawns are becoming a more common sight. Kentucky bluegrass has the ability to go dormant during summer to protect itself from heat and drought. This is what is happening when bluegrass lawns are turning brown… the grass is dormant, not dead.

To conserve water on turfgrass, it is fine to allow bluegrass lawns to go dormant. To keep them alive so they recover when cooler temperatures return, you should apply about a half inch of water every week or two, as needed, if you don’t get it from precipitation.

Fescue lawns are another story. You need to water them enough to keep them green… not golf course green… but at least a light green. Unlike bluegrass, fescue does not go dormant. If it turns brown, it enters a state which we call permanent dormancy… which is another way of saying it died and you will need to reseed the brown areas later this summer.

Ornamental plants and vegetables wilting during the heat of the day are also signs of plants protecting themselves from heat and drought. As long as the soil is moist and the plants only wilt during the day and then recover in the evenings, they are fine.

When plants wilt, you automatically assume they need water. In most cases they do, but check to see the soil is dry before watering. Larger leaved plants, like cucumbers, wilt during the heat of the day even when the soil is moist. This is the plant’s way of reducing the amount of water lost from leaves during the day. They do not need additional water… in fact too much water can injure them more than if you don’t water them at all.

Less obvious signs of heat and drought stress are bitter cucumbers, tomatoes with leathery brown bottoms, missing kernels in sweet corn ears, potato plants turning brown, poor fruit set, and the list could go on and on.

Most cucumber plants contain a bitter compound. When plants are stressed from heat, too little moisture, or poor fertility… bitterness in cucumbers is more prominent. Cucumber varieties listed as bitter-free or burpless are less likely to develop bitterness.

Bitterness is often limited to the stem end of the cucumber and the skin. Cutting off these portions will remove most of the bitterness. If the stress is severe, some cucumbers will be bitter all the way through and are best discarded. Even when pickled, they will remain bitter tasting.

When the bottom of a tomato fruit turns brown, this is blossom-end rot. It is caused by a lack of calcium in the fruit and peppers, squash and watermelon also can be affected. This deficiency is not due to a lack of calcium in the soil. It is result of factors that slow growth, such as heat or drought stress. To reduce blossom end rot, use mulch around plants, maintain uniform soil moisture and avoid overfertilizing with nitrogen.

If hot, dry conditions occur during pollination of sweet corn then pollination is often reduced. The results are sweet corn ears that do not develop kernels to the ear tip or have missing kernels throughout the ear. This sweet corn can still be eaten. Tomatoes with end rot can also be eaten if the brown portion is removed.

Some potatoes are turning brown due to hot air and soil temperatures. Once plants begin to die, harvest the potatoes. Even if there are not many potatoes or the tubers are small, once the plant dies tubers stop developing. If left in the ground, they are likely to rot.

For more information on watering your lawn or garden, contact your local UNL Extension office.

Hassebrook to Participate in Debates


Democratic candidate for Governor of Nebraska, Chuck Hassebrook, has confirmed that he will participate in at least three debates for the upcoming election.

Last week, Hassebrook announced that he had contacted his opponent, Pete Ricketts, to plan a series of debates and town halls all over the state. Ricketts declined to participate, stating that his campaign’s calendar was already full.

Details about the debates are below:

WHAT: Debate at Nebraska State Fair
WHEN: Monday, September 1, 2014, 6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
WHERE: Heartland Events Center (Grand Island)
WHO: Open to the public
NOTES: Hosted by the Omaha World-Herald, moderated by Mike’l Severe. The debate will stream on the World-Herald’s website.

WHAT: NET Debate
WHEN: Thursday, October 2, 2014, 7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
WHERE: NET Studio (Lincoln)
WHO: Limited seats available
NOTES: A limited number of tickets are available from each campaign. The debate will air live on NET TV and radio, and will be available on NET’s website.

WHAT: Press Club Debate
WHEN: Thursday, October 23, 2014, 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.
WHERE: Press Club (Omaha)
WHO: Limited seats available
NOTES: The debate will be sponsored by the Omaha Press Club, the League of Women Voters of Greater Omaha, and WOWT. WOWT will tape the debate and air it the same day during prime time. About 200 tickets are available for $15 each, which includes lunch.

Questions about the debates or the Hassebrook campaign should be directed to Meg Mandy, Communications Director, at meg@chuckhassebrook.com or (619) 288-3823.

Chuck Hassebrook

Chuck Hassebrook