• May 15: Webinar: Ag Mgmt. Quarterly, Noon, Register: https://unl.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_S4qjwD45RHi3d9iezXFJTA
• May 23: Intro. Crop Scout Training, ENREEC near Mead
• May 25: Progressive Ag Safety Day, 8:30-1:30 p.m., Geneva
• June 27: Youth Agronomy Day, 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m., NCTA, Curtis
• June 27-28: Soil Health School, West Central REEC, North Platte
• June 28: SCAL Weed Management Field Day, near Clay Center
For Fun: Two weeks earlier, throughout the duration of warm temperatures, every field and farm see included me seeing a snake. I don’t like snakes! But I believe the greatest factor I don’t like them is since they typically take me off-guard. I can state a number of times walking wheat fields and/or pastures to feel something soft under foot, look down to discover a bull snake, and high tail it out of there, typically with a minimum of one scream, regardless if the farmer existed or not!
People are likewise checking out…
And, remaining in Extension, determining snakes has actually belonged to the job, albeit not one I delight in, nor one that’s my knowledge. My guideline is that they are not brought into the workplace alive – they can remain recorded alive beyond the building (I’d choose images though). The factor for this guideline is, like with many professions, stories are given from those who preceded us. There’s lots of however here’s a couple of. One story included a scenario where a snake generated for ID got loose in the Extension workplace. Another was when ‘Corny the corn snake’, utilized for youth Earth Festivals, got loose in a county vehicle…or so the teacher believed that held true however couldn’t discover it. Unfortunately, the workplace supervisor discovered it when she drove the vehicle next!
Years earlier throughout a dry duration, I was driving and a farmer remained in the traveler seat directing me to the next field. Suddenly, he got the guiding wheel and swerved screaming, “Don’t hit it! That’s the 5th one I’ve seen today!” It was a snake. It lived. My heart was racing as I gained back control of my truck and got it stopped. There’s a variety of old spouses’ tales I’ve heard throughout the years, and I don’t dismiss them; I’m primarily simply interested as I do worth individuals’s observations. The one he informed me that day was if you see 7 snakes in a day it will drizzle. I’ve heard a variety of variations of this.
Back to the story of 2 weeks earlier, it didn’t rain that week. Then I began getting concerns followed by a handful of remarks about the number of snakes individuals were seeing. Another thing we are taught in Extension is if the very same concern takes place two times, there’s a great chance more individuals have the very same concern. When the very same concern about snake numbers occurred the very same day, I consulted our Extension wildlife professional, Dennis Ferraro, who is a herpetologist (snake specialist). You might have seen him on “Backyard Farmer“.
His answer, “I can assure you snake numbers are average or a bit in decline across the entire state (30 years of data). I’ve been out over 8 times this year and data is on track. Since we had more than average very warm days early … emergence is occurring in groups rather than gradually. People usually forget that snakes “group up” / aggregate to mate in early spring; plus because it is spotty at any one area every year individuals are not in the area at the “right” time. Amphibians are what I’m concerned about … absence of vernal water is revealing terrific decrease.”
So, for those of you likewise questioning, there you have it! It’s still difficult for me to think due to the number I’ve seen this year and the large variety of remarks and concerns I’ve received. If they continue, I will ask him to take more information points from this location of the State!
I understand some have actually utilized sprinklers to keep fruit tree buds from freezing when frosts have actually happened. That’s not constantly an alternative. Kelly Feehan shares extra insight about cold temperatures and fruit tree bud injury. “Recent cold temperatures have some wondering if fruit tree buds were injured. The stage of flower bud development when cold temperatures occur determines injury level. Fully dormant flower buds tolerate very cold temperatures. When damaged, it’s usually because warm winter or spring temperatures caused flower buds to lose dormancy. For example, if apple flower buds break dormancy but show no color, 10 percent are killed by 15°F and 90 percent by 2°. If apple flower buds show a bit of green color, 10 percent are killed by 18° and 90 percent by 10°. On flower buds showing any pink color, 10 percent are killed by 28° and 90 percent by 24°. With above average temperatures this spring, followed by some cold nights, the likelihood of damage is present. The entire fruit crop may not be lost, just a portion which could be beneficial in limiting overproduction that leads to alternate year bearing.”
