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1. What Does The Term "Sustainable Agriculture" Mean?
By James Peterson, UNL Extension Educator
The term “Sustainable Agriculture” is often bantered around a great deal without any real understanding of what it means. Many people feel that it means organic, but it's more than that. A brochure entitled, “Exploring Sustainablility in Agriculture”, developed by the Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) Project has an excellent description of the meaning of “Sustainable Agriculture” which is used in this article extensively.
Throughout the world, farmers, ranchers, acreage owners and others are experimenting with a different form of agriculture, a more sustainable way of producing and distributing food and fiber, using a variety of approaches. Sustainable agriculture encompasses broad goals, which farmers and ranchers develop specific strategies to achieve. Using a great variety of farming strategies allows producers to meet their needs; in their operation, their environments and their communities. The primary goals of sustainable agriculture include:
- Providing a more profitable farm income
- Promoting environmental stewardship, including:
- Protecting and improving soil quality;
- Reducing dependence on non-renewable resources, such as fuel and synthetic fertilizers and pesticides;
- Minimizing adverse impacts on safety, wildlife, water quality and other environmental resources;
- Promoting stable, prosperous farm families and communities.
As an example, a field crop farmer might plant different crops each season which would include “cover crops”. Cover crops are non-cash crops grown for their benefit to the soil and ability to suppress weeds, break up pest cycles, improve soil fertility and cut costs. Or a fruit and vegetable grower might try a new approach to selling their harvest, such as marketing directly to restaurants in a nearby city to gain a larger share of the consumer dollar.
There is no single practice that works in every field. No one recipe works on every farm. There are a thousands of ways to farm more sustainably.
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2. Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) Program
By James Peterson, UNL Extension Educator
Supporting and promoting sustainable farming and ranching is the goal of the Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) Program. This federally funded program offers competitive grants and educational opportunities for producers, scientists, educators, institutions, organizations and others exploring sustainable agriculture.
Nebraska is one of twelve states that make up the North Central SARE Region. Since its inception in 1992, the North Central Region has provided more than $30 million dollars worth of competitive grants to farmers, ranchers, researchers, educators, public and private institutions, nonprofit groups, and others exploring sustainable agriculture.
SARE's competitive grant program provides funds for sustainable agriculture projects for the following:
Research and Education Grants - Awarded to multi-disciplinary teams of researchers, producers, educators and others exploring sustainable agriculture. The call for proposals for these grants is in April of each year.
Farmer and Ranchers Grant - These grants are awarded to farmers and ranchers for on-site projects in sustainable agriculture. The call for proposals for these grants is in September each year.
Professional Development Program Grants - These grants are awarded for educational programs in sustainable agriculture practices and concepts for agricultural educators. The call for proposals is held in February of each year.
Graduate Student Program Grants - These grants are awarded to graduate students studying sustainable agriculture in the North Central Region. The call for proposals is held in December of each year.
In addition to these competitive grants, each state in the North Central Region is responsible for developing a SARE Plan of Work for sustainable agriculture. The North Central Region allocates money to each of the Land Grant Institutions to help implement this strategic plan. The plan is primarily used for professional development programs for agriculture educators of all types.
In addition, the SARE Program offers a program known as the Sustainable Agriculture Network (SAN), online at http://www.sare.org/index.htm. This organization is SARE’s outreach arm, providing field-ready information in print and electronic formats.
Further information about the SARE Program can be obtained online at, http://www.sare.org/ncrsare/.
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3. Sustainable Agriculture Network (SAN) Program
By James Peterson, UNL Extension Educator
As an acreage owner or farmer, do you often look for agriculture information that is not available through normal avenues of information? The Sustainable Agriculture Network, or SAN program, may be able to help you. As the outreach arm of the SARE Program, the SAN program provides field-ready information in print and electronic formats.
The SAN program publishes books, bulletins and online resources highlighting SARE-funded project results and other innovative research. Most of SAN's information is available online for free. Print copies of SAN publications can be purchased using their WebStore or by telephone, fax, or mail.
A sampling of the books that are available through the SAN program include:
- Building a Sustainable Business: A Guide to Developing a Business Plan for Farms and Rural Businesses
- Building Soils for Better Crops, 2nd Edition
- How to Direct Market Your Beef
- Manage Insects on Your Farm: A Guide to Ecological Strategies
- Managing Cover Crops Profitably, 2nd Edition
- Smart Water Use on Your Farm or Ranch
- Steel in the Field.
In addition, the SAN program has bulletins that range from 8 to 32 pages in length. They are introductions to a topic based on SARE research and include links to other information and lists of more detailed resources. A sampling of topics include: “Transitioning to Organic Production”, Profitable Pork: Strategies for Hog Producers, Profitable Poultry: Raising Birds on Pasture, and “Smart Water Use on Your Farm or Ranch”.
Further information on these publications is available on the web at http://www.sare.org/publications/.
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4. Alternative Opportunities Abound
By Gary Lesoing, UNL Extension Educator
"Alternative Agriculture" and "Value Added" are just a couple of the terms used to describe methods that farmers are using to make a living here in Nebraska and all across the United States. Each year there are various conferences and trade shows across the Midwest and United States where exhibitors display and promote their products, ranging from mushroom sauces to the native South American animal, the Alpaca. Some of the enterprises that small farm and acreage owners are involved in include: range poultry, gamebirds, value-added berries and mushrooms, herbs, vegetables, bees, goats, and organic farming. Whatever the topic of discussion or product being sold, marketing is always the key to success.
If you are an acreage or small farm owner near Nebraska'a metropolitan areas, there are many opportunities for you to become involved in alternative agricultural enterprises. With your close proximity to a city, there are many potential markets for a variety of products that can be produced on your land. If you have enough land to raise livestock, there are many producers that are selling cattle, hogs, and poultry directly to consumers as “Value Added”. Fruits, vegetables, and even bee products are being marketed in this manner. There is a big demand for small straw bales, wood chips, mulches, and compost.
If your acreage is limited but you live near a large farm, there may be opportunities to work with them on an enterprise, such as putting up small square straw bales or cutting and chipping trees. You an also chip wood to make mulch, or collect grass clippings and make compost.
Bird feed and ear corn for squirrels are also in demand. Sunflowers, grain sorghum, and millet are three popular ingredients for bird feed that could be sold if a market was developed. If you have some land, these crops could be grown for bird seed. You also may be able glean an area farmer’s corn field and collect missed or dropped ears of corn that can be sold as “Critter Corn” for squirrels.
Many people that live in the rural-urban interface on the fringes of the metropolitan counties are involved in what would be classified as alternative agriculture and are doing very well. There are still many opportunities for others to become involved in various agricultural enterprises at different scales if interested. These people are known as agricultural entrepreneurs. Whatever your interest, it is important to thoroughly investigate it to determine cost, time and labor requirements and also to establish your goals before committing to a project. There are several knowledgeable people and resources available that can provide you with a wealth of information on various enterprises.
Specific opportunities are available for organic production as well. There is a tremendous demand for organic or naturally produced and chemically free produce. Organically certified crops generally receive a premium above conventionally grown crops sold on the open market. Land that has not received any chemical fertilizers or pesticides in the past three years is immediately eligible to be certified organically.
While this looks very attractive, the transition from chemical to organic farming is not an easy one. It takes very careful management and if the weeds take over, you may have been better off planting crops conventionally and using chemicals. A suggestion is to start out small on a manageable area of land, rather than putting large tracts into organic production. Control of insects is also a challenge in organic or chemical-free production of crops and produce.
For more information on organic production you can contact Paul Rohrbaugh, Executive Director of the Nebraska Sustainable Agricultural Society (402) 869-2396 or your local Extension Educator.
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5. Heirloom Plants and Livestock Are Excellent For Acreages
By James Peterson, UNL Extension Educator
Are you looking for a unique breed of livestock or variety of vegetable or flowers to grow on your acreage or farm? If so, check out raising heirloom plants or livestock. It can be a very interesting project.
An heirloom plant or livestock breed is an old variety that, for one reason or another, is not being grown today. Although there is no official time limit for heirlooms, many use the idea that the heirloom variety or breed has been in existence more than 50 years. This would include many varieties of plants that your grand and great-grand parents were growing.
In the livestock area, there are many breeds that are no longer raised extensively and some, quite frankly, are close to extinction. These rare and minor breeds have characteristics that make them unique. For example, if you are interested in producing livestock in a sustainable agriculture system or natural environment, one or more of the rare breeds may work better than the conventional breeds. This type of production system often demands different qualities than do the intensive confinement systems that are most common in conventional agriculture.
Beef, for example, for low-input sustainable production must have the ability to flourish on forages alone with greater forage efficiency, parasite and disease resistance, more hardiness, maternal abilities, good fertility under marginal conditions and longevity. The American Livestock Breeds Conservancy at http://www.albc-usa.org/wtchlist.htm can provide a great deal of information on rare and endangered breeds of livestock including poultry.
For those who do not care to raise livestock, heirloom vegetables are also a very interesting hobby. In general, heirloom vegetables were developed in the backyard by gardeners for their taste and ability to adapt to their climate. Today, seed varieties are developed more for storage time, resistance to harvest damage and disease or insect resistance; and less for taste and quality.
Heirloom growers may find that their heirlooms have extremely good flavor. They also run the gamet of colors, shapes, and sizes that furthers the interest in growing them. On the negative side, however, they usually are more susceptible to diseases and have a shorter shelf life than their modern counterparts, which can be discouraging to many.
Another important aspect of raising heirlooms is that the grower maintains the genes of those heirlooms. Once an heirloom plant or breed of livestock is extinct, those genes that made up that variety or breed are also gone. It may be that down the road, those genes would provide just exactly what is needed as far as disease control, taste of the product or some other factor. Thus, it is important to maintain that gene pool into the future. Raising the particular breed or variety will ensure that this is done.
There are several seed catalogs that feature heirloom vegetables and flowers. Seed Savers Exchange, http://www.seedsavers.org/, at Decorah, Iowa is a very good example of such a catalog. Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds, http://www.rareseeds.com/, of Mansfield, Missouri is also an excellent source of these seeds.
The raising of heirlooms, whether they be livestock or plants, is an excellent avocation for acreage owners and farmers. Why not give it a try?
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6. Christmas Trees For Fun and Profit
By Don Janssen, UNL Extension Educator
Approximately 38 million natural Christmas trees are purchased each year by American consumers. These trees represent the annual harvest of an estimated 20,000 individual growers who annually plant, trim, protect and otherwise manage trees on roughly 500,000 acres of plantations. More than 15 different conifer species are grown for Christmas trees.
Christmas tree production is a significant industry in the Lake States, the Pacific Northwest, North Carolina and areas in the Northeast. Traditionally, growers in these regions supply about 90% of all trees offered for sale at retail outlets. Approximately 10,000,000 trees are produced each year in the Lake States of Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota. Michigan is the largest producer, annually harvesting 5,000,000 trees, valued at up to $100,000,000 in some years.
Christmas trees are produced by two principal types of operations; "wholesale" or "choose-and-cut" plantations. Most trees offered for sale at retail outlets such as garden centers, nursery stores, high volume discount stores and lots operated by service clubs, were produced by wholesale growers. These are individuals or companies that operate and manage large plantations of trees. They may sell trees either directly to retail outlets or to "brokers" who in turn market trees to retailers. Some large operations may sell 100,000 trees or more each year.
Choose-and-cut operations are usually smaller plantations that manage and produce trees for direct sale to consumers. These operations invite customers out to their fields and will either cut the trees for the purchaser or allow the customer to cut his/her own trees. Many choose-and-cut operations enhance the experience of getting a Christmas tree by providing a variety of recreational activities for customers. Choose-and-cut farms are found in every state and are often concentrated near large population centers. These operations vary considerably with regard to the species and quality of trees produced, and the services offered.
Christmas tree production is a long-term process. The average 7 to 8 foot tree generally requires 8 years of growth after planting. Some species require even longer production times. Likewise, larger-sized trees which are becoming increasingly popular, require more years to produce.
A major challenge for Christmas tree producers is to determine which tree species will be popular with consumers several years in the future. Although several species are utilized as Christmas trees, the majority of trees sold at retail markets today are Douglas fir, Fraser fir, noble fir and Scotch pine. Species such as white spruce, Austrian pine and red pine are no longer as popular as they were in the past. Producers who are not sensitive to shifts in consumer preference will have difficulty marketing even high-quality trees of less preferred species.
For more information on Christmas tree production checkout these web sites:
Ohio Christmas Tree Producers Manual, http://ohioline.osu.edu/b670/b670_5.html
Christmas Tree Production in Iowa, http://www.extension.iastate.edu/Publications/PM1499.pdf
Pennsylvania Christmas Trees, http://ctrees.cas.psu.edu/references.htm
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7. Specialty Forest Products Provide Supplemental Income and Provide Environmental Benefits
By Becky Erdkamp, Nebraska Forest Service
With proper species selection, taking land out of crop production for a specialty forest product planting doesn't have to mean taking a reduction in profits. There are many species of trees and shrubs that enhance the environment and produce commercially valuable specialty forest products. Some specialty forest product operations require a considerable start-up investment, while others may be implemented with minimal expense. Remember though that specialty forest products have niche markets, so careful planning is required to successfully market them.
When implemented as part of a conservation planting, specialty forest product plantings can provide landowners the opportunity to diversify their farm or acreage’s income, while at the same time protecting and improving the quality of their land.
Specialty forest products fall into four categories:
Medicinals and botanicals are plant-derived substances that are used in an enormous variety of food supplements, herbal health items, cosmetics and other products. Medicinals and botanicals can be developed from nearly all parts of trees, shrubs or herbaceous plants, including wood, bark, buds, leaves, roots, fruit, flowers, nuts, sap and pollen.
Woody-based food products include nuts, fruits and some mushrooms. Nuts with commercial markets include black walnut, Chinese chestnut, pecan, hickory, butternut, hybrid hazelnut and ginkgo. Commonly harvested commercial "minor" fruits include chokecherry, highbush cranberry, sand cherry, currants, Corneliancherry dogwood, elderberry, Saskatoon (serviceberry or juneberry), Nanking cherry, chokeberry, buffaloberry, pawpaw and persimmon. High-value gourmet mushrooms, such as shiitake or oyster, may be grown on logs or wood chips in a forest setting. These products may all be harvested for personal or commercial use. Markets for nut products exist for in-shell products, whole and crushed kernels, oils and soft abrasives from the shell. Fruits may be sold commercially for fresh fruit, jams, jellies, syrups, concentrates, flavorings and wines.
Woody florals include any woody plant species that has a colorful or unusually shaped stem, bud, flower, fruit or leaf. Common examples include pussy, fan and curly willow, red- and yellow-stemmed dogwoods, forsythia, apple, cherry, plum and witchhazel. These plants, and many others, are regularly used in the floral industry. Woody decorative florals may be sold to florists, retailers or wholesalers.
Handicrafts and specialty woods are frequently used by artisans. For example, “basket” or “Streamco” willow can be used to stabilize a streamside, as well as for rustic furniture. Smooth sumac, diamond willow, hickory and aspen seedlings can be used to create beautiful walking sticks. Cottonwood bark, butternut, basswood, figured walnut and catalpa are also favorites among wood carvers.
For more information about specialty forest products and their marketing, visit http://www.snr.unl.edu/forestry/specialtyforestproductsintro.htm or contact the Nebraska Forest Service at (402) 472-2944 or trees@unl.edu.
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8. Beekeeping As An Alternative Agriculture Enterprise
By James Peterson, UNL Extension Educator
Even before recorded history, man was gathering honey from honeybees living in hollow trees. Honey is not the only reason, however, for keeping honeybees. They are a very interesting and exciting communal insect. People have always had a fascination with beehives and how bees live, work and reproduce.
Beekeeping can be done by almost anyone. It is a relatively inexpensive enterprise and can be done in one’s own backyard, an apartment rooftop, a small town garden, an acreage, or on a farm. Beekeeping requires relatively low initial capital investment. It is estimated that the cost of starting up is approximately $300.00. This would include the hive for cut comb production. In comparison, the cost for a yearling heifer could be anywhere from $800.00 to $5,000.00.
In addition, the honey bee has a very important function in pollinating a wide variety of crops. In the United States, it is estimated that 80% of crop pollination done by insects is accomplished by honeybees. A sampling of some crops that depend on honey bee pollination include alfalfa, almonds, apples, blueberries, cantaloupe, cherries, cucumbers, pears, plums, sunflower, and watermelon. Without the honeybee, crop production with these crops would be severely curtailed. As a result of it's pollination activities, the honey bee adds $18.6 billion dollars in value to agricultural products annually in the United States.
The value of the U.S. honey crop was $228 million dollars in 2002. Aside from honey and spun honey, a very wide array of products are made from honey, including soaps, herbal salves, balms, and wrinkle cream. Honey ice cream is delicious.
One fascinating aspect of honey bee behavior is the "waggle dance". The purpose of this dance is to tell other bees the location and estimated distance to a pollen source that this particular bee has come upon. When a bee performs a waggle dance, she makes circuits of movement. Each circuit consists of a waggle run (walking forward while waggling the abdomen back and forth) and a return run (walking back to the starting point). The waggle run portion of each dance is the information part. It conveys information about the direction and the distance to a profitable patch of flowers.
How can I get started in beekeeping? The University of Nebraska annually holds a beekeeping course at the Agriculture Research and Development Center near Mead. In addition, there are master beekeeper courses for those who have had experience in beekeeping. Other avenues of information include many books, subscribing to a bee journal, joining a beekeeping organization, or accompanying an experienced beekeeper. Supply catalogs for beekeeping are available from a wide range of companies.
Further information about beekeeping workshops can be found at http://entomology.unl.edu/beekpg/. This is the webpage for Dr. Marion Ellis who is the beekeeping specialist for the University of Nebraska. It contains a number of links that will answer most of your questions on beekeeping.
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9. Direct Marketing of Locally Grown Produce
By James Peterson, UNL Extension Educator
One of the old sayings regarding small town Nebraska is that during the summer most people close their car windows and lock their doors when in town. Not because they don’t want their car stolen, but because they don’t want their back seat to be full of zucchini squash when they return. This does bring into focus a very common problem- the marketing of locally grown produce.
Discussion in this article will focus on three methods of direct marketing produce such as vegetables and fruits. These marketing methods include the Farmers Market, Road Side Stands, and Community Supported Agriculture.
One of the easiest and most successful methods of marketing excess produce is through farmers markets. Today, Nebraska has 53 Farmers Markets in the state. These include Farmers Markets in Blair, some very excellent ones in Omaha and Lincoln, as well as throughout the state. Being a vendor at a Farmers Market can be downright fun. You get to meet a lot of people with many of the same interests as you. People not only come to the Farmers Market to buy produce, but also to meet the individual who grew the produce and to find out about that produce. That is part of the attractiveness of the Farmers Market.
Become familiar with the rules of the particular Farmers Market where you want to sell. There are also rules and regulations that the Nebraska Department of Agriculture imposes on Farmers Market vendors. Be sure you are aware of those rules before you come to the market. Most Farmers Markets do require that the produce be grown by the individuals who are selling the produce. Selling out of state produce that has been purchased from someone else defeats the purpose of the Farmers Market. In addition, have something for sale that is unique to you that no one else is selling. Some vendors sell heirloom vegetables of all types, which can be very unique. Others sell species of produce that others do not have. Have an attractive display for your produce, something that will draw attention to your booth. It is a challenge but it is certainly doable and can serve as an outlet for your produce.
A road side stand is another direct marketing option. Road side stands can range from a pick-up on the corner of an intersection to a large building dedicated to the sale of agriculture produce, perhaps throughout the year. Unlike the Farmers Market, you control the date and time that you will be selling. However, a consistent time and place will certainly be a benefit to you and to your customers and will build up your customer base. As with the Farmers Market, you need to have a very functional and attractive stand to reassure potential customers about the products you are selling.
For the very serious gardener, the community supported agriculture enterprise is certainly a possibility. Here, urban families pay an annual fee early in the year to belong to the enterprise. For this fee, the family receives a sackful of produce each week during the growing season, which varies according to what is in season. One week the bag may contain lettuce and radishes while a couple weeks later it will have tomatoes and onions. Some CSAs will even market meat that is grown on the farm. CSAs commonly have festivals and other events to draw in members, and so non-members can learn about their enterprise. Very often, CSAs are at least certified organic and may even have higher standards for their produce.
Regardless of the method used, word of mouth is an excellent promotional tool. Thus, as a vendor, you need to be extremely honest and forthright about the produce that you raise. Selling high quality produce that is clean, free of blemishes and is typical of the variety, is very important in the marketing of the produce.
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10. Organic Certification - What does it Mean?
By James Peterson, UNL Extension Educator
The term “organic” is often bantered around a great deal by people who often do not understand what it means. As an example, one may hear that John has grown his vegetables organically, meaning that he has grown them without pesticides or synthetic fertilizers. However, even if he did raise those vegetables in that way, he probably cannot legally, according to Federal law, use the term “organic” unless he has been certified organic.
Organic certification is the process by which a farmer or gardener can certify that their crops are not transgenic, and have never had chemical pesticides applied or received synthetic fertilizers. The certification process takes three years, during which the land that is going to be certified organic, cannot have chemical pesticides or synthetic fertilizers applied. Only after this process, can a person legally call his product organically grown.
Although the Federal Government does provide regulations regarding organic certification, the process itself is normally done by a certifying agency. Here in Nebraska, there are several of these agencies. Two that come to mind are the Organic Crop Improvement Association, http://www.ocia.org/, and One Cert, http://www.onecert.net/. Both agencies are located in and around Lincoln. These certifying agencies will come and inspect the land being certified and the records being kept by the farmer or gardener each year to be sure that the farm is maintaining its certification. There is a great deal of paperwork involved in being certified organic, but there is also a premium price normally paid for the products being raised.
Organic certification is costly and takes a great deal of time. For many people it is well worth the effort as they have very strong beliefs and convictions about the concept. The production of crops being organically grown has been growing at the rate of 20% per year for the past 15 years, so it certainly does have a strong interest in both consumers and growers.
The next time, however, that you hear someone talking about marketing organically grown produce, be sure that they understand that they need to be certified organic in order to use that term.
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11. Turn The Compost Pile
By John Fech, UNL Extension Educator
Turn, turn, turn, to every season turn, turn, turn....... This is a song lyric that can still be heard on oldies radio stations. Turning applies to gardening too. About once a month you should turn the compost pile. Once a week would be better, but one needs to be realistic.
The turning process moves air to the center of the pile, keeping the microorganism population teeming. It is these critters that do the work of changing leafy material to black gold. Turning is very timely in August and September, as it sets the pile up for new additions. As vegetable plants fade, pull them and throw them on top of the pile. Raking leaves? Leftover coffee grounds? Throw them on the pile!
A second pile will be a great convenience to the garden. It’s best to set it up so that one pile is cooking and the other is finished, so that you have a pile for adding and one for using. If you have a medium to large garden, three or more piles may be necessary.
For more information:
Garden Compost, http://www.ianrpubs.unl.edu/sendIt/g810.pdf
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12. Storing Fresh Fruits and Vegetables
By Don Janssen, UNL Extension Educator
Harvesting fruits and vegetables from your garden at the proper stage of maturity is only the first step to fresh table quality. Proper harvesting and post-harvest handling methods, as well as proper storage of fruits and vegetables not immediately eaten, will help maintain the flavor, texture and nutritive value of the produce.
Proper storage means controlling both the temperature and relative humidity of the storage area. All fruits and vegetables do not have the same requirements. Check out this web site to help you select the best storage conditions for home-grown and purchased produce.
Storing Fresh Fruits and Vegetables, http://www.ianrpubs.unl.edu/sendIt/g1264.pdf
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13. Prepare to Plant Alfalfa in August
By Tom Dorn, UNL Extension Educator
Many acreage owners plant alfalfa either as a cash crop or to provide feed to horses or other livestock on the acreage. Alfalfa can be seeded either in spring or fall in eastern Nebraska. Whether it is best to plant alfalfa in the spring or fall depends on two factors- predominant weed species and soil moisture.
If the predominant weed species are summer annuals such as foxtail and pigweed, it may be best to plant alfalfa in the fall, provided the soil profile has adequate moisture for growth. This allows the alfalfa to get established with less weed competition and since it greens up in early spring, it will get a head start on the annual weeds next year that must come from seed when the soil temperature is right for germination.
If the predominant weed species are winter annuals such as pennycress or downy brome, spring planting may be best. The weeds can be killed with tillage or herbicides in early spring and then the alfalfa planted into a clean seed bed. Pennycress, downy brome, and other winter annual weeds are more dominant in former wheat ground since they have the same growth habit as winter wheat.
The best time for fall seeding alfalfa in eastern Nebraska is during the month of August, provided adequate soil moisture is available. Farmers sometimes wait until middle or late September to plant alfalfa. This is most often too late because the plants do not have a chance to become established before the first killing frost. The latest alfalfa should be seeded in the fall is September 10 in Lancaster County. If planting cannot be completed by that time, it is best to wait for another season.
Alfalfa seed needs to be planted 0.25 to 0.5 inch deep in fine textured soils and 0.75 inch deep in sandy soils for best germination. Regardless of seeding time, it is critical that alfalfa be planted into a firm seed bed. Alfalfa seeds must have close contact with soil particles and soil moisture to insure rapid emergence. A firm seedbed also helps prevent seed from being planted too deep. Leave just enough loose soil to cover seed after planting.
Dr. Bruce Anderson, Extension Forage Specialist, says if you can’t bounce a basketball on the seedbed prior to planting alfalfa, the seed bed is too loose. Don’t have a basketball? Walk across the seedbed with hard soled shoes, if your heel sinks in more than ½ inch, it is too loose. A good rain after tillage will firm the seedbed. Harrowing with the spikes set flat or rolling with a packer will firm seedbeds provided there is some moisture in the soil.
Complete tillage (disking) following row crops is okay if the soil is firmed up by either rain, sprinkler irrigation, or packer-seeders. If the untilled soil surface is already smooth, no-till planters have been very successful. In fact, no-till seeding of alfalfa following small grain crops has become the trend among successful alfalfa producers.
Before seeding alfalfa, whether you plant in spring or fall, do a complete soil test. Apply and incorporate lime and phosphorus fertilizer, if needed, and be sure to inoculate the seed so the alfalfa will develop root nodules to fix its own nitrogen.
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14. ATV Safety: Make Every Ride A Safe Ride
By Sharry Nielsen, UNL Extension Educator
Nine-year old boy killed in ATV Accident. Teen Dies in Four-Wheeler Accident. You may have missed the headlines, the stories were short, but their cause of death is a growing concern for youth across the nation, especially in rural areas. ATV (All-Terrain Vehicle) sales are rising, and so is the number of injuries and deaths resulting from their use. Nebraska has reported 5 fatalities due to ATV’s so far this year, and all age groups are involved.
All-terrain vehicles, whether you call them four-wheelers or ATVs, demand the same respect people afford motorcycles and other vehicles. “If young people are using ATV’s, they must have proper training, proper protective gear, and be able to fully comprehend the machine they are operating. No matter what function the ATV is performing, remember that it is only as capable as the operator,” says Shari Burgus, Education Director for Farm Safety 4 Just Kids.
Research has indicated the major reasons for injuries on ATV’s are driver misuse and inappropriate driver behavior. The biggest risk factors are: excessive speed, not using helmets and other protective gear, passengers, inadequate training and improper supervision.
Parents and guardians are the first defense for young ATV operators. If an ATV is being used on your acreage, teach safe handling of the machine and model safe behavior to prevent injuries and fatalities.
You can help make every ATV ride a safe ride. Follow these guidelines:
- Train your ATV driver. Train in the situations they may encounter, such as rolling hills or pastures.
- Supervise young drivers. The ATV Safety Institute says, “Parents or guardians should not permit youngsters to ride an ATV that is not recommended for their age group. Additionally, . . . not all youngsters have the strength, skill or judgment necessary to operate an ATV.”
- Always wear and insist others wear personal protective equipment, including helmets, eye protection, gloves and appropriate footwear.
- Do not operate ATV’s on paved roads.
- Limit speed, especially in unknown environments such as pastures, hills or canyons.
- No riders. ATV’s are one-person machines. Extra riders interfere with the operation of the vehicle and the safety of both driver and passenger.
- Perform regular safety and mechanical checks on your ATV. If a repair is needed, make it before riding.
Years after the ATV industry agreed to improve safety, ATV-related incidents, especially those involving children, continue to rise. You and your children do not need to be one of the statistics. Insist on safe operating behaviors from all ATV riders.
Every ATV ride can be a safe ride. It’s up to us.
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