STRAIGHT FROM THE HORSES MOUTH

Duane A. Lienemann
UNL Extension Educator

     Can you believe that it is August?  We can count on it being dry, and it is. We just can’t seem to buy a shower right now. It really dampens the enthusiasm we had just a month ago when things looked so good.  A bunch of hail and a week of hot dry weather and no measurable precipitation can really take a toll on crops and a producer’s attitude as well.  Unfortunately I believe that a lot of our crops didn’t root down like they should have and we are now paying the price for that. For “being out of the drought”, this sure looks eerily familiar.  It is disconcerting to see the blue color to the pastures and the dryland soybeans and the corn showing the pineappling and discoloration effects. We at least got further into the season this year and we can still hold out hope for timely and saving rainfall.
The good news is that Husker football will give us hope for another long over-due National Championship. Always something to look towards.
     Alignment of the Planets: I am not much into astrology or the alignment of planets, but I did read that this August is a month for planetary pairings with Saturn meeting Mars in the evening sky, and an amazingly close conjunction of Jupiter and Venus in the morning sky. I vaguely remember a song by the Mama’s and Papa’s about planets aligning or something like that. Well, I guess that kind of information is probably useful to some people, but August means several other things that are more important to me and a lot of other people I know.  Let’s look at a few of these things.
     It means that most County Fairs are done, that two-a-days in athletics will be starting shortly and  that school will begin. Oh how I remember, as a past teacher, the anticipation of summer vacation and the rush that came with the anticipation of a new school year. Believe it or not, I miss that. It to me was the metamorphous each year that gave you a fresh start-- and fresh new faces to blend in with the familiar faces. It is hard to describe, but teachers know exactly what I mean. Good Luck to the teachers as they prepare for a new year.
     August also brings the Nebraska State Fair and it will soon be upon us. I know that our office will be taking down the 4-H static exhibits in just a little over two weeks. All 4-H and FFA livestock entries are hopefully in and I know that we have several open class exhibitors that attend, so I thought it prudent to remind them that all applications for entry must be made online at www.statefair.org   or on an official Nebraska State Fair Entry Form which may be obtained from the State Fair website, or the Nebraska State Fair office (photo copies are acceptable). Using the online method is preferred as it is the most accurate way of entering. All Livestock entries must be made through the State Fair website by August 10, or if mailed in, must be postmarked by August 10. Entries must be accompanied by all fees and other sums due the State Fair or entry will not be accepted. All FFA and 4-H advance entries are due electronically at midnight on August 10. So that does not give any State Fair exhibitors much more time. If you need help please feel free to call our office.
     South Central Nebraska Association Activities: The South Central Cattlemen’s Association has several activities coming up in August as well. If you have an interest in the USDA Forage Disaster Program and how it can help or effect you, there are two meetings coming up that may be of help.  On Tuesday, August 5, come to the KO Bar in Bladen at 7:00 pm to learn about what you may have available to you for help for your livestock considering the loss of forages and hay from the last two years due to the drought and the designation of our area as a drought disaster area. You will also get the chance to listen to Clay Mead from Boehringer-Ingelheim on “Pre & Post-Weaning Health in Calves.” A popular and fun time is involved when the SCCA Steer Showdown Calcutta Results are presented during this meeting.  If you can’t make that one, you have a second chance as a similar meeting on USDA Forage Disaster Program and the SCCA Steer Showdown Calcutta Results will be held on Tuesday, August 19 at the Nelson American Legion starting at 7:00 pm.
     Golf Tournament: For the golfers out there, the South Central Cattlemen’s Annual Golf Tournament 4-person Scramble will be held on August 15 at the Crooked Creek Golf Course in Clay Center with registration at 2:30 pm and a shot gun start at 3:00 pm. You can even have a practice round that starts at 12:00 noon for $10. NOTE: If you bring your own golf cart you can get a $10.00 per person credit. Cost is $30.00/person which includes: 9 holes of golf; Flag prizes; Flight Prizes; and Steak Supper (following golf). If you would like further information on the tournament or on any of the SCCA meetings please contact our office or directly to Hans Burken at hansburken@gmail.com or call 402-469-1966. 
     Nebraska State Fair Beef Pit: I mentioned the Nebraska State Fair coming up. Each year the South Central Cattlemen have a day that they man the Nebraska Cattlemen’s Beef Pit and once again it is on Labor Day Weekend on Sunday, August 31. If you are not afraid of a little intense work, interested in meeting lots of people, serving some great Nebraska Corn-Fed Beef and most importantly- having a great time, contact Hans or any other SCCA officers and they can give you the particulars. If I wasn’t busy with the 4-H shows I would love to be a part of this activity promoting the beef industry!
     Locusts Singing? August obviously brings us a lot of things. I hesitate to mention it, but last night was the first time I noticed something that also is associated with August….How many of you have heard the locusts sing? That’s right, we can start thinking about what many believe will be an early frost.  According to folk legend, when you hear the first song of the dog-day cicadas (we call them locusts), it means there's just six weeks until frost. Grabbing my calendar now!

The preceding information comes from the research and personal observations of the writer which may or may not reflect the views of UNL or UNL Extension. For more further information on these or other topics contact D. A. Lienemann, UNL Extension Educator for Webster  County in Red Cloud, (402) 746-3417 or email to: dlienemann2@unl.edu or go to the website at: www.webster.unl.edu/home