Kearney, NE (May 28, 2008) The Nebraska Beef Council is encouraging cattle producers to nominate a Nebraska restaurant that they think does a great job of selling beef. All restaurants that are nominated and submit an entry form will be eligible to compete in the 2008 Beef Backer Contest sponsored by the Nebraska Beef Council.

Diesel prices are up roughly 50 percent from this time last year, and farmers need to look at different methods to maximize fuel efficiency, said a Purdue University expert.

Cattle feedlots are a significant source of atmospheric ammonia in the United States, but a team of Kansas State University researchers is working on ways to help producers reduce those emissions.

Several aspects of a nutrient plan will need to be adjusted to account for dietary inclusion rates of distillers grains in beef cattle diets. Failure to consider these changes in a nutrient plan may produce a plan incapable of achieving the intended environmental goals or regulations. As DGS inclusion rates increase, your long-term or strategic nutrient plan should address:

There's still a need to vaccinate horses against West Nile Virus, a South Dakota State University specialist said.

Several alfalfa growers in eastern and Central Nebraska have lost some of their alfalfa stands to winterkill this spring, a University of Nebraska-Lincoln forage specialist said.

Nebraska's beef industry is the number one consumer of corn and corn co-products like distillers grains and, therefore, is top of mind for Nebraska's corn producers, said Don Hutchens executive director of the Nebraska Corn Board.

The University of Nebraska-Lincoln's College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources Alumni Association presented its Achievement Award to Keith Olsen, president of the Nebraska Farm Bureau Federation, and its Service Award to Greg Ibach, director of the Nebraska Department of Agriculture.

As planting season progresses, it's important corn growers review current requirements for use of Bt corn hybrids, a University of Nebraska-Lincoln entomologist says.

Diesel prices are up roughly 50 percent from this time last year, and farmers need to look at different methods to maximize fuel efficiency, said a Purdue University expert.

Gov. Dave Heineman has signed proclamations celebrating May is Egg Month, and June is Turkey Lovers' Month in Nebraska. The proclamations were signed during a luncheon with egg and turkey producers, state senators, and representatives from the Nebraska Department of Agriculture (NDA).

The Nebraska Ethanol Board, the National Ethanol Vehicle Coalition and the Clean Fuels Development Coalition are holding a series of E85 Direct Marketing Workshops. The aim of the workshops is to promote direct marketing relationships between ethanol producers and fuel retailers and reduce costs for all parties involved. Ethanol plants, petroleum equipment suppliers, petroleum marketers and auto dealers are encouraged to attend these free workshops.

Chilling is an important step in processing poultry carcasses before marketing of the birds, and there are different ways to do it.  Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientists at the Richard B. Russell Research Center in Athens, Ga., recently compared two chilling methods to determine which better suits processors' needs.

A system that turns irrigation water on and off automatically based on leaf temperature is being developed by Agricultural Research Service (ARS) soil scientist Steven Evett and colleagues in Texas.

Central and southwest Nebraska rangeland are again at high risk for serious grasshopper infestations this summer, a University of Nebraska-Lincoln entomologist said.

Several alfalfa growers in eastern and central Nebraska have lost some of their alfalfa stands to winterkill this spring, a University of Nebraska-Lincoln forage specialist said.

Buckwheat cover cropping can reduce both the emergence and growth of weeds, thereby presenting an easy and economical alternative to herbicides, according to a new study that analyzed the roles of both nitrogen and fungal pathogens in weed inhibition. Results of the study are published in the latest issue of Weed Science.

Department of Agriculture (NDA) Director Greg Ibach today announced the statewide designation of non-native phragmites as a noxious weed.

Thirty-four contestants from across Nebraska competed in the 2008 Nebraska Tractor Operators' Contest at the Nebraska Tractor Test Laboratory at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln April 7. Five participated in the 4-H and 29 in the FFA categories, including Jacob Dexter of Central City who one of three FFA top winners.

The Nebraska Beef Council (NBC) will hold Board of Director elections in five districts in 2008.  This opportunity is open to qualified Nebraska beef producers who are 21 years of age or older, a registered voter, and a resident of the district that he or she will represent. The term is four years and will begin on January 1, 2009.