Ashley Ahrens, Assistant Extension Educator, will participate in a pilot partnership between Nebraska Extension and the Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center.. Photo By Kim Haas Nebraska Extension work is built on relationships and trust. In an evolving role, Ashley Ahrens, Assistant Extension Educator, will participate in a pilot partnership between Nebraska Extension and the Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center. Since January of 2023, Ahrens has been the Health and Wellbeing

A live auction sale at the Bassett Livestock Auction. Photo by Bethany Johnston, Nebraska Extension By Marilyn Schlake | Nebraska Extension Educator Emerita Social relationships build a sense of community and belonging. For farming and ranching, one of those communities is the livestock sale barns. Researchers at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln examined four Nebraska livestock sale barns to assess the social value these businesses provide to their patrons and surrounding c

The upcoming workshop will be in mid February Nebraska Extension invites feedlot owners, managers, employees, and allied industry professionals to attend the 2026 Beef Feedlot Roundtable Series. The roundtable will be held on Tuesday, Feb. 17, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Prairie Winds Community Center in Bridgeport. The Beef Feedlot Roundtable Series will feature timely, research-based discussions focused on feedlot management, cattle health, nutrition, and market outlooks,

Cold weather will affect the region through the weekend in the KVSH area. USDA- The U.S. Department of Agriculture is encouraging farmers, ranchers, families, and small businesses in the path of Winter Storm Fern to prepare for severe winter weather and be aware of available USDA assistance. USDA staff in regional, state, and county offices are ready to help communities respond and recover. USDA’s Disaster Resource Center  and Disaster Assistance Discovery Tool offer easy a

The bill would remove the Mexican wolf from the lists of threatened and endangered species under the ESA. R-CALF USA applauded the House Committee on Natural Resources yesterday for voting to advance H.R. 4255, the Enhancing Safety for Animals Act, out of Committee. If passed, the bill, led by Rep. Paul Gosar, R-Ariz., would remove the Mexican wolf from the lists of threatened and endangered species under the Endangered Species Act. “We applaud Congressman Gosar’s efforts in

The course is open to the public IANR News - The University of Nebraska’s Department of Agricultural Economics, in partnership with Rural Prosperity Nebraska, announces its online, non-credit course “Public Participation and Engagement” for the third semester running, beginning Feb. 15. With the course open to the public, the curriculum focuses on helping community leaders and those involved in their communities enhance their work and locally-focused projects through public e

The Ag Group Continues To Push For Property Tax Reform In Nebraska The Nebraska Farm Bureau is urging state lawmakers to make property tax reform a top priority in the 2026 legislative session with an emphasis on taking steps to slow the growth in property tax collections. The message was delivered during a January 22 news conference held at the State Capitol during a meeting of the organization’s State Board of Directors. “Property taxes continue to be a top concern for Nebr

R-CALF USA and its affiliate, the South Dakota Stockgrowers Association, will host a booth at the Black Hills Stock Show at The Monument in Rapid City. Located in spaces 117 and 118 on the Lower East Concourse, the booth will serve as a hub for conversation and producer engagement. Raffle tickets for a custom saddle handcrafted by South Dakota saddle maker Baxter Badure of Belvidere will be available for purchase at the booth, with proceeds supporting R-CALF USA’s work on beh

For more information, contact your local Nebraska Extension office. Nebraska Extension will offer a six-part webinar series in February 2026 designed to equip ranchers, landowners, and natural resource professionals with the latest research and management strategies for tackling invasive weeds, woody encroachment, and pasture pests. “Controlling Invasive Weeds & Pests in Pastures” will be held over three weeks, with webinars taking place on Mondays and Thursdays — Feb. 9, 12,

R-CALF USA - Last week, a new federal nutrition plan was released emphasizing real, nutrient-dense foods and a move away from highly processed products. In a joint   op-ed   published by Fox News, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. outlined a dietary approach encouraging Americans to prioritize whole foods, including increased consumption of protein, dairy and vegetables. The secretaries wrote that, in addition t

2025- A Defining Year For Producers As 2026 begins, it’s worth looking back on one of the most consequential years in the modern American cattle industry. It was a year defined by historically high cattle prices paired with sharp market volatility, alongside major developments in R-CALF USA’s antitrust and electronic ID eartag cases, the dismissal of criminal charges against the Maudes, New World screwworm, and the cattle industry in headline news. From working across all thr

Crawford Livestock Market will host an R-CALF USA rollover auction fundraiser at noon during its special calf sale on Friday, Jan. 9. Dyesville Angus/Jack and Penny Dye of Hermosa, South Dakota, will donate a calf for the rollover auction – the third year that the Dyes have generously donated an animal to benefit R-CALF USA. R-CALF USA Vice President Eric Gropper will attend the fundraiser and be on hand to answer any questions. R-CALF USA works with the three branches of go

Nebraska farm and ranch families are invited to attend a free educational workshop focused on succession and estate planning. Hosted by the Nebraska Rural Response Hotline, these workshops are designed to help producers prepare for the future of their operations. The Farm & Ranch Succession Workshops will take place:• Mullen: Jan. 5th from 11 am to 3 pm MT at the Methodist Church• Valentine: Jan. 6th from 10 am to 2 pm CT at Mid-Plains Community College• Ainsworth: Jan. 6th

R-CALF USA commended the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) for intervening in the King Ranch case in Washington state. In a letter   to the Washington Department of Ecology and the Washington Department of Natural Resources, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins raised concerns about excessive penalties, revoked grazing leases and what she described as secretive criminal proceedings brought without due process. In 2023, the ranch was fined more than $250,000 after the Depa

Nebraska farm and ranch families are invited to attend a free educational workshop focused on succession and estate planning. Hosted by the Nebraska Rural Response Hotline in collaboration with the Nebraska Department of Agriculture’s Beginning Farmer Tax Credit and Negotiations Programs, Nebraska Extension, and the Nebraska Farmers Union Foundation, these workshops are designed to help producers prepare for the future of their operations. The Farm & Ranch Succession Workshop

Leaders in Washington, Agriculture, offering words of praise to the new program. U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins today highlighted the outpouring of support from governors, commodity groups, farm bureaus, and agriculture industry leaders across the country following President Trump’s announcement of $12 billion in Farmer Bridge Assistance Program payments. As producers battle historic market disruptions, rising input costs, and the lingering effects of foreign

Bree DeMontigny, a Cherry County Farm Bureau member, was re-elected to serve as the North Central Region representative. Nebraska Farm Bureau - Delegates representing farm and ranch families from all 93 Nebraska counties outlined key agricultural policy priorities and elected leaders for Nebraska Farm Bureau (NEFB) as part of the organization’s 108th Annual Meeting and Convention held Dec. 7-9 in Kearney. Delegates discussed a broad spectrum of agricultural policy issues to p

Pres. Donald Trump announces billions in relief for farmers impacted by the trade war. Administration officials and farmers gathered at the White House Monday to announce details. It’s a $12 billion package with Ag Secretary Brooke Rollins saying $11 billion will be available for row crop producers by February. The Rural Radio Network visited with Rep. Adrian Smith as he attended the Nebraska Farm Bureau Convention in Kearney. He said he’s not a fan of tariffs but said Trump’

Press Release from Bill Bullard, CEO of R-CALF USA On Saturday, President Donald J. Trump issued an   executive order   titled, “Addressing Security Risks from Price Fixing and Anti-Competitive Behavior in the Food Supply Chain.” The order directs the attorney general and the chairman of the Federal Trade Commission to each establish a task force to determine whether anti-competitive behavior exists in food supply chains and whether control by foreign entities is increasing t

A third case of New World Screwworm has been reported near the US border. Billings, Mont., Dec. 4 – Media reports indicate that on Dec. 2 the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) confirmed the third case of New World Screwworm (NWS) in close proximity to the United States border. This is the third case reported in Nuevo León, Mexico. The first case was detected in September within about 70 miles of the Texas border, the second detecti