West Central Research and Extension Center

The Tractor and Equipment Safety Certification Course lets youth gain hands-on tractor and mechanized equipment experience while learning farm and ATV safety. Register for the course in North Platte on May 26–27 or in McCook on May 28–29. ›› buff.ly/fX7cfDC 📲

Join us for a day focused on practical cover crop management for Nebraska producers! 🌱 From irrigation and water use to weed control and soil health, attendees will gain insights through demonstrations, tours and producer experiences. Register ›› buff.ly/Jr07epL 📲

Full-season cover crops may offer more than soil and wildlife benefits by increasing insect activity in fields. A study found higher insect abundance and diversity in cover crop areas compared to seed corn, including beneficial species and pests. ›› buff.ly/NmCp9Vx 📲

Grasshoppers are once again becoming a concern across Nebraska rangelands, especially in western portions of the state where ongoing dry conditions have created favorable conditions for population increases. Learn more about this threat here ›› buff.ly/ldwl69g 📲

NEBRASKA FARMERS & AG PROFESSIONALS: The next Regenerative Agriculture Learning Hub virtual course begins June 15. There is no cost to participate. This two-month program provides a comprehensive introduction to #regenerativeag practices and the economic, environmental and management benefits. ›› go.unl.edu/regen-ag #UNL #NebExt #UNLAgroHort

Before turning cattle out to pasture this spring, take time to review the essentials. From mineral supplementation and grass readiness to fencing, water quality and herd health, a simple checklist can help set your grazing season up for success. ›› buff.ly/IWomudM 📲

For pasture-based livestock systems, horn flies remain one of the most persistent pests affecting cattle performance. Their impact can be seen through lower weight gains, decreased milk production and overall stress on animals. 🪰 Read more here ›› buff.ly/E5rzIxf 📲

Join us in the field this May! 🌱 The Grow What Works: Cover Crop Field Day will bring together producers, researchers and Extension specialists to explore cover crop management in western Nebraska cropping systems. Learn more and register now ›› buff.ly/Jr07epL 📲

REGISTER NOW! 2026 Tractor & Equipment Safety Trainings are scheduled across the state. Register at go.unmc.edu/tractor-safety…! No Day 1 at your location? You can attend at another location, or choose the online option! #FarmSafety #TractorSafety #NebExt @UNLExtension

The road to the 2026 @UNL_TAPS competition begins in the field 🚜🌱 Here’s to another year of innovation, collaboration and real-world agricultural competition in the field!

Step into the heart of the Nebraska Sandhills for a hands-on ranching education experience. 🤠 The Nebraska Ranch Practicum at the Gudmundsen Sandhills Laboratory helps producers master 'Ranch Ready' principles they can apply to their operations. ›› nebraskaranchpracticum.unl.edu 🔗

As interest in field peas continues to grow across Nebraska, producers are invited to get a firsthand look at current research and variety performance during a field pea plot tour on Wednesday, May 13 at the West Central Research Center. ›› buff.ly/H9zVxpY 📲

Join us on May 27 at the Henry J. Stumpf International Wheat Center for a hands-on field day featuring demonstrations, field tours, producer insights and the latest research on cover crops in the region. 🌱 Learn more and register now ›› buff.ly/iRFBOPf 📲

Join us in the field on May 13 for the Field Pea Plot Tour at the West Central Research, Extension and Education Center. 🌱 This evening tour will highlight current field pea research and production topics while providing an opportunity to network at a dinner at 6:30 p.m.

Individuals with a passion for agriculture, leadership and shaping the future of Nebraska are encouraged to apply for @LEADNebraska’s cohort. Applications for the state’s premier agricultural leadership development program are now being accepted. ›› buff.ly/zNNcq08 📲

Jerry D. Volesky, professor and range management specialist in the Department of Agronomy and Horticulture, retires June 30, 2026, after a 31-year career at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. During his time at Nebraska, Volesky conducted research in western Nebraska's vast rangelands and plains, focusing on the effects of droughts and wildfires on Sandhills plants and investigating grazing by concentrating on factors like the stocking rate, stocking density and season of grazing. He also had a profound impact on extension, particularly in helping found the Nebraska Ranch Practicum in 1999 that has since helped hundreds of ranchers improve their natural resources, economic and livestock management skills. Read more about Jerry Volesky at go.unl.edu/st9c #rangemanagement #nebraska #agresearch

Soybean planting is beginning to kick off earlier across the state and farmers are reaping the benefits through yields. 🌱 Learn more about this planting trend here ›› buff.ly/7BhTTze 📲

May is National Beef Month 🥩 From pasture to plate, beef production plays a vital role in Nebraska’s economy and communities. At West Central, we’re proud to support research and extension efforts that help producers raise quality beef while caring for our land and resources.

After wildfires burned nearly 1 million acres of Nebraska grazing lands, an online hub is helping producers recover by combining science, mapping and data to track recovery and inform decisions. ›› wildfire.unl.edu. 📲

Planting season sets the tone for the growing season, but current dry conditions are raising questions for farmers about how to get this year’s crop off to a strong start. Learn more about key considerations for planting in dry conditions ›› buff.ly/0dRxCzi 🌱