2025 Fridays in February Conversations: For the past few years I’ve hosted “Fridays in February” conversations with the goals for producers and ag industry to gather and have informal, practical conversations, and share experiences/solutions around topics ag is facing. With the downturn in commodity prices and tight economics, I’ve been thinking about alternative strategies. I’ve also received increased questions and interest around some common topics. So, they will be the topics of conversation this year. With every conversation, I will invite a few producers and/or ag industry to share their experiences. Then all engage in informal conversation. Please consider joining us for coffee, cookies, and conversation around any/all these topics if you’re interested! Conversations are held each Friday from 10 a.m.-Noon at the 4-H Building in York. Please RSVP to me or to 402-362-5508 so I can have enough materials prepared for each conversation.

February 7 – Relay Cropping and Double Cropping: There’s been increasing interest of how to improve the economics of small grains with either relay cropping or double cropping soybeans with either rye or wheat. Hear from growers who are trying this in a variety of ways and what they have learned.

February 14 – Roller Crimping Strategies: Small grains have huge benefits in our crops regarding reducing soil erosion, weed control, and breaking pest cycles. There’s also been an increase of growers planting corn or soybeans green into small grains. Hear from growers on the equipment they’re using, different strategies on roller crimping small grains and what they’ve learned.

February 21 – Using Compost Extracts: There’s an increased interest in using biology to help release soil nutrients to the plants while reducing the amount of synthetic nutrients applied. Instead of purchasing biological products, the growers using compost extracts are “growing their own biology” from composts using various methods, then adding water to the compost to extract the microbes and applying them to fields. Hear about the different methods growers are using for creating compost, extracting microbes, and what they’ve learned. On-Farm Research results will also be presented.

February 28 – Annual Forage Systems: With low commodity prices and high cattle markets, there could be opportunity for more producers to consider annual forage systems instead of traditional commodity crops. There’s also increasing interest in trying “regen” years on a piece of ground that includes cover crops and grazing to build diversity. Hear from growers who are incorporating annual forage systems into their crop rotations and what they’ve learned.

Reporting Survey: It’s reporting season for Extension. If you’d kindly like to share how my Extension work impacted you in 2024, please go to slido.com and use the code 4EXT. It’s anonymous and only 5 questions. Thanks!