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NewsWhat's going on in the Panhandle DistrictComplete Calender of Events
Topic of seminar: Producing forage with limited irrigation Producing forage for livestock with a limited water supply will be the topic of a seminar presented Friday, Nov. 21, at Scottsbluff. University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension Educator Aaron Berger will speak at 3:15 p.m. in the Bluestem Room at the UNL Panhandle Research and Extension Center. The seminar is free and open to the public. Berger notes that forage production with limited irrigation supplies is a reality for producers in the Nebraska Panhandle and Eastern Wyoming. Understanding how different forages use water at different times during the growing season, and the time of year when they are most water use efficient can help producers plan irrigation strategies.
Panhandle Extension specialists, educators gain national recognition University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension specialists and educators from the Panhandle were among the national award winners at several recent meetings. Several Panhandle Extension personnel were recognized at the Joint Council of Extension Professionals Galaxy III Meeting in Indianapolis recently: -- Linda Boeckner, Jamie Goffena and Jeanne Murray were members of a team that won third place from the National Association of Family and Consumer Sciences in the category of Communications – Internet Education Technology. Boeckner, formerly an Extension nutrition specialist, is now the director of the Panhandle Research and Extension Center. Goffena and Murray are Extension educators based in Dawes and Box Butte County, respectively. They were recognized for their work on the Walk Nebraska web site, (www.walknebraska.org), a web site that encourages physical activity by allowing walkers to virtually trek across parts of Nebraska without physically leaving their hometown. Visitors can record their walking activities and the web site allows them to translate the miles they have walked on a treadmill, or in their own neighborhood, city, or locale, into miles walked along any of five different virtual routes in Nebraska. The virtual trails range in length from several hundred miles to more than 600 miles. As a person records miles walked, a map on the web site shows progress along the virtual trail. Pictures of landmarks, historical sites and natural scenery along the trail can be viewed. -- The Diverse Youth-Adult Partnerships in Rural Nebraska Team, of which Jackie Cervantes-Guzman is a member, received one of five exemplary national 4-H Families Count Family Strengthening Awards. The $15,000 award was given by National 4-H Council, in partnership with the Annie E. Casey Foundation. The programs were selected by 4-H for their ability to improve outcomes for rural, disadvantaged families by fostering the social network, economic opportunities, and the support that families need to be successful. Diverse Youth-Adult Partnerships in Rural Nebraska also received a $1500 Award of Excellence from National 4-H Council with support from the MetLife Foundation. The local program was recognized for creating PRIDE, a youth-adult partnership with a focus on youth service. A Scotts Bluff County PRIDE group was formed several years ago by Latino youth and Cervantes-Guzman to promote East Overland and the southeast area of Scottsbluff. The group has been active in efforts to beautify East Overland, and also to recognized efforts by businesses and homeowners to make the area more attractive. -- Cheryl Burkhart Kriesel, community development specialist based in the Panhandle, was a co-winner of the national Excellence in Teamwork Award from the National Association of Community Development Extension Professionals. The award was presented for UNL’s Red Carpet Service, a train-the-trainer program created because of a specific community request. Red Carpet Service is designed to help front-line employees in rural communities learn how to promote tourism in their area, practice skills to identify and respond to traveler needs, and sell their community in a positive way. Burkhart-Kriesel and Connie Francis, Extension Educator based in North Platte, are the team members. At the American Society of Agronomy Meeting held in Houston, a Certificate of Excellence for Publications was awarded to “Producing and Marketing Proso Millet in the Great Plains”, an Extension Circular that was updated and expanded this year by a team including Dryland Crops Specialist Drew Lyon; Ag Economist Paul Burgener; Educator Karen DeBoer; Plant Pathologist Robert Harveson; Entomologist Gary Hein; Soil Fertility Specialist Gary Hergert; Educator Thomas Holman, and Lenis Nelson, of the Agronomy and Horticulture Faculty. Other co-authors are from Colorado State University, South Dakota State University, the University of Wyoming, and USDA’s Agricultural Research Services Central Great Plains Research Station in Colorado. The 20-page guide to growing and selling proso millet has a number of improvements over the first edition, published in 1995.
Timely topics, speakers for Beef Production Convention Nov. 25 in Torrington The Southeast Wyoming Western Nebraska Beef Production Convention, scheduled for Nov. 25 at Torrington, will feature information on improving ranch profitability as well as updates on important issues facing the beef industry.
Pre-registration is requested for a meal count. Registration can be done online at www.plattecountyextension.com or by calling Mount at (307) 322-3667, or Aaron Berger, University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension Educator in Kimball, Banner and Cheyenne counties, (308) 235-3122.
Sire Selection and Cow Herd Management Clinic Dec. 4 at Bridgeport The University of Nebraska Extension and Nebraska Cattlemen Seedstock Council are joining forces to sponsor a "Sire Selection and Cow Herd Management Clinic" on Dec. 4 in Bridgeport. The Bridgeport clinic will take place at the Prairie Winds Community Center and is one of four throughout the state. The other three are in Blue Hill (Dec. 1), O'Neill (Dec. 2), and Burwell (Dec. 3). Early registration is due by Nov. 24. There is a nominal fee to cover lunch, proceedings and materials. At-door registration will also be available but at a higher rate. Registration for the clinics can be done by contacting Extension Educator Tom Holman, Scotts Bluff/Morrill Counties at (308) 632-1480. The day of the clinic will start with registration and coffee beginning at 10:00 am. The Sire Selection part of the clinic will start at10:30 a.m. Dr. Matt Spangler, Beef Genetics Specialist with UNL Extension in Lincoln, will speak about “Additions to the Genetic Toolbox: EPDs, Indexes, & DNA Markers. Dr. Rick Rasby, UNL Extension Beef Specialist from Lincoln, will talk on “Management Tips to Increase Profit Potential”. Lunch will include a question-and-answer period. During the afternoon session, Spangler will speak on “Putting It All Together: Visual Appraisal & EPDs” followed by a hands-on application on “Body Condition Scoring” and “Examples of By-product Feeds” with Dr. Rasby. Cows will be available for BCS Scoring and bulls for visual evaluation and EPD appraisal present at the clinics. A registration form also is available on-line.
Sustainable Crops and Livestock Systems Workshop set for Dec. 6 “Keeping Agriculture Viable for the Next Generation” is the theme of the Sustainable Crops and Livestock Systems Conference, scheduled for Dec. 6 at Sidney. The workshop will take place at Western Nebraska Community College, 371 S. College Drive, from 8:45 a.m. until 3:45 p.m. It sponsored by the University of Nebraska, Nebraska Sustainable Agriculture Society (NSAS) and Organic Crop Improvement Association (OCIA) NE Chapter No. 2. Advance registration is requested by Dec. 1. The registration fee is $25. Certified Crop Adviser (CCA) credits have been applied for. Lunch will be served. For registration and information about the conference or exhibitor booths, contact Extension Educator Karen DeBoer at the UNL Extension Office, P.O. Box 356, 920 Jackson St., Sidney, NE 69162. Phone: 308-254-4455 or 866-865-1703; Email: kdeboer1@unl.edu. To download a brochure and registration form, go to http://www.ckb.unl.edu. Ag producers and personnel from the University of Wyoming, South Dakota State University, and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln will describe how producers can use cover crops and crop rotations to improve soil fertility and feed livestock; transition their operations to organic production using EQIP (the Environmental Quality Incentive Program); apply for SARE (Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education) farmer-rancher grants to perform on-farm research, marketing or demonstration projects; diversity farm and ranch operations; and involve the family in an agri-tourism venture. Keynote speaker Jim Krall of the University of Wyoming will speak about research conducted at UW aimed at understanding the potential of “Ley” system agriculture, in which annual forages are rotated with winter wheat, replacing at least part of the traditional 14-month fallow period. At noon, Gary Lesoing, Extension Educator, Nebraska Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Coordinator, will talk about SARE Farmer-Rancher Grants and how to apply for them. Topics of concurrent sessions will include:
Nebraska-Colorado Crop Clinic focuses on conservation tillage systems The Nebraska and Colorado Crop Clinic, set for Dec. 9 and 10 at Sidney, will focus on conservation tillage cropping systems. With one day set aside for dryland crops and the second for irrigated crop systems, the conference is aimed at crop advisors, farmers, agricultural professionals, and ag chemical dealers and applicators. It is sponsored by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension and Colorado State University Extension. The dryland program on the first day will focus on millet and winter wheat. Topics will include water use; plant growth and placement in rotations; fertility; weed, insect, and disease management; marketing millet; millet equipment issues; summer fallow management; and harvest considerations. The irrigation program on the second day will include the following topics: insect and disease management for corn, dry beans, and winter wheat; strip/zone tillage and no-till farming management for soil temperature, compaction and residue issues; carbon sequestration in agriculture; Atrazine degradation and weed and resistance management for cropping rotations; making sense out of fertilizer expenditures; and irrigated and limited irrigation cropping systems. The registration fee is $60 per day or $100 for both days if received by Nov. 28. For registrations received after Nov. 28, the fee is $75 and $130. For registration and information about the conference or exhibitor booths, contact Extension Educator Karen DeBoer at the UNL Extension Office, P.O. Box 356, 920 Jackson St., Sidney, NE 69162. Phone: 308-254-4455 or 866-865-1703; Email: kdeboer1@unl.edu. To download a brochure and registration form, point your browser to http://www.ckb.unl.edu. In Colorado, contact Extension Agent Bruce Bosley at 970-522-3200, ext. 285, or e-mail bruce.bosley@colstate.edu. Certified Crop Adviser (CCA) credits are available in pest management, crop management, soil and water management, and crop fertility management. Lunch will be served.
2009 National Western 4-H Catch-A-Calf applicants wanted A limited number of 4-H members have the opportunity to catch a calf each January during the National Western Stock Show. Winners will receive calves in May 2009, feed them to a market finish, and show them at the National Western Stock Show in January 2010. These calves are bought with money donated by sponsoring businesses. To qualify for the contest, 4-H members must be between the ages of 12 and 18 on Dec. 31, 2008, and must remain a 4-H member throughout the year if they successfully catch. Participants must have access to facilities adequate for feeding and handling a calf for a year. Previous participants who have caught and shown calves are not eligible. Eligible 4-H members from western Nebraska, Colorado, Wyoming, and western Kansas can obtain applications from their county UNL Extension Educators. Forms must be completed, signed by a parent or guardian and the local Extension Educator, and submitted to Suzanne Thacker, Livestock Support Staff, 4502 Avenue I, Scottsbluff, NE 69361, by Nov. 17. Participants are selected in a random drawing process. The 4-Hers who catch calves are then awarded calves in May 2009. Top achievers are recognized for their record keeping abilities, their relationships with their sponsors primarily through correspondence, plus the gain and carcass value are important in evaluating winners along with the live animal evaluation and showmanship. Interested 4-H members should contact their local Extension Educators for more information and an application.
Extension offers resources for high inputs in crop production LINCOLN, Neb. -- With input costs for the 2009 crop production season projected to be two to three times higher than in recent years, University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension has resources to help. UNL's Surviving High Input Costs in Crop Production Web page offers Nebraska crop producers timely information to curb increasing costs and improve profit margins. Input costs, such as fuel, fertilizer, seed and land all have influenced crop production costs, said Tom Dorn, UNL Extension educator in Lancaster County. "In the last five years, the cost of off-road diesel fuel has shot up from $1.30 to $3.50 per gallon, a cost increase of 269 percent," Dorn said. "The fuel cost to run a moderately sized, 130 horsepower, tractor has increased from $7.41 to $19.95 per hour. The fuel cost to operate a 220 horsepower combine has gone up from $8.73 to $33.95 per hour in the same time period." Total listed costs for field operations and purchased materials are estimated at $336 per acre for dryland corn in west central Nebraska with 100 bushel per acre anticipated yield -- a break even of $3.36 per bushel, and $562 per acre for center pivot irrigated corn following soybeans with a yield of 205 bushels per acre -- a break even of $2.96 per bushel, Dorn said. The UNL Extension initiative targets corn, soybean, sorghum, dry bean, wheat, millet, oat and sunflower producers. Dorn and Gary Hergert, UNL nutrient management and soil quality specialist, lead the team. UNL Extension specialists and educators related to crop production will post recommendations that will help producers take measures to reduce input costs. These will start to go online this week. The site will continuously be updated, so check back often. "This series of timely tips can help producers improve profitability in times of rapidly increasing costs and uncertain crop prices," Hergert said. "It really is in keeping with Extension's slogan of Know How. Know Now." Topics include: Eliminate One Field Operation Such as Shredding Stalks; No-till Farming in Dryalnd Cropping Systems; Switching to No-till can Save Irrigation Water; Credit Soil for Nitrate Nitrogen; Credit Soil Organic Matter for Nitrogen; Eliminate Unnecessary Use of Phosphorus, Potassium and Sulfur Fertilizer; Taking Advantage of Manure Resources; Giving Proper Nitrogen Credit for Legumes in Corn and Milo Rotations; Corn/Soybean Rotation vs. Continuous Corn; Eliminate Use of Inoculant on Soybeans Where Soil has a History of Beans; Setting Realistic Yield Goals; Skip-Row Corn for Improved Drought Tolerance in Rain fed Corn; Generic Products Versus Name Brand Products; Eliminate Routine Treatment of Wireworm; Managing Foliar Diseases of Winter Wheat with Fungicides -- Treatment Criteria, Profitability and Products; Selecting Resistance in Soybean Varieties to Combat Soybean Diseases; Leasing or Sharing Machinery; Improve Efficience of Irrigation Pumping Plants; Repair Leaky Gates/Gaskets and Eliminate a Set; Using Cutoff Ratio to Fine Tune Furrow Irrgations; Harvest Soybeans at 13 Percent Moisture; Using On-Farm Research to Evaluate Profitability and Fill Drying Bins in Layers to Reduce Drying Time and Energy Cost. In addition, these topics will be discussed at UNL Extension crop meetings in the next few months across Nebraska. Topics also will be featured on future episodes of UNL's "Market Journal" program.
Extension offers cattle producers resources to deal with high input costs LINCOLN, Neb. -- Nebraska's cattle producers are facing economic challenges due to high input costs. To help combat this problem, several Profit Tips will be available for help on the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension's Beef Web site at http://beef.unl.edu/. Input costs, such as fuel, land, fertilizer and especially feed all have influenced the profitability of the beef industry. Feed costs represent a major part of beef cattle production expenses, said Judson Vasconcelos, feedlot nutrition/management specialist at UNL's Panhandle Research and Extension Center at Scottsbluff. "Those days of $2 a bushel corn are probably gone," Vasconcelos said. "The high cost of feed grains is putting cow-calf and feedlot profits under severe economic pressures." The UNL Extension initiative, "Surviving High Input Costs," targets feedlot and cow-calf producers. UNL Extension specialists from the departments of agricultural economics and animal science and the Great Plains Veterinary Educational Center all have written some very helpful material about basic management principles that could help producers survive bad economic times, Vasconcelos said. These will start to go on-line early this month. Some of the topics to be covered include: Cow-calf: harvesting date on forage quality and regrowth, low cost heifer development strategies; managing calving and weaning dates to reduce inputs, supplementing phosphorus to beef cows, sampling forages for quality, determining unit cost of production for the cow/calf enterprise, understanding a forage analysis; calculating supplementation costs on a price per nutrient basis; maximizing winter grazing opportunities, managing cow body condition to optimize performance, minimizing forage feeding losses, matching milk production and cow size to resources, improving marketing of cull cows and storing grain byproduct. Feedlot: importance of good record keeping; calf vs. yearling systems; grazing vs. feedlot backgrounding; use of price protection mechanisms to manage risk; international markets; breakeven price; feed processing; feed delivery and bunk management; feed quality, feed storage and feed loss management; alternative feedstuffs; byproducts; storing byproducts; feed additives; implants; improving cattle comfort; summer and winter cost of gain; health protocols; water management and capturing manure's value.
Hard white wheat crop near Hemingford does well in 2008 LINCOLN, Neb. -- Hard white wheat growers near Hemingford in Nebraska's Panhandle have something to celebrate this fall. Wheat growers were able to raise more than 400,000 bushels of hard white wheat. Last year, growers were hoping to hit that mark, but fell short, producing only about 125,000 bushels. "This year we got a little over 400,000 bushels," said Bart Moseman, grain manager of the Farmers Co-op Elevator in Hemingford. "Volume always is key." The bigger the amount of the grain that farmers are able to deliver to the co-op, the more cost effective it is to handle and store it. While 400,000 bushels is enough to fill a 110-car unit train, the grain will be shipped out in increments about one-fourth that size. "Logistically, we can't put 400,000 bushels in one place to be able to load a full train," Moseman said. While volume is key, handling hard white wheat is still challenging. Hard white wheat must be kept separate from hard red winter wheats and other grains. Wheat is reduced a full grade for every 1 percent contamination with a contrasting class of grain. Hemingford handles white wheat at a separate location. Wheat growers also are excited because this puts Hemingford on the map in terms of hard white wheat production in the state, said Drew Lyon, dryland crops specialist at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln's Panhandle Research and Extension Center at Scottsbluff. Hemingford is in a good spot because it has easy access to railroad lines by which the wheat can be shipped to Portland, Ore., or Mexico. Hard white wheat also is an ideal crop for Nebraska's semi-arid regions in the southwest and Panhandle. Chris Cullan of Cullan Farms in Hemingford, who is one of the area's seed suppliers, said the crop has excellent potential in his area, and the trend is in place for acres to be up in 2009, according to seed sales. Problems that can occur with hard white wheat, such as sprouting in the head at harvest, are of small concern in the drier climate. "At planting, the variety sprouts quickly once planted and gets good cover in the fall, especially in regard to the irrigated wheat that follows edible beans, sugarbeets and millet," Cullan said. Early varieties had some yield drag, but newer varieties of hard white wheat have performed as well as other red varieties, eliminating that concern. The newest hard white winter wheat release is Anton. It was a joint release this past year between the USDA-ARS and UNL, said Robert Graybosch, USDA-ARS research geneticist at UNL. Its most unique characteristic is low levels of polyphenol oxidase, an enzyme responsible for dark color in food products. Low levels are desirable and those in Anton are lower than any other white wheat released by Nebraska programs to date. Across the state, there are about 30,000 acres of hard white wheat, said Royce Schaneman, executive director of the Nebraska Wheat Board. Other growers trying hard white wheat should call their local elevator to see if it accepts the crop, Schaneman said. "We are still working on hard white wheat being established as a viable market class," he said. The market for white wheat is sizeable; about 124 million bushels are needed in 14 countries a year. Currently the three big potential markets for hard white wheat are through gulf ports to Latin America for bread and tortillas, through the Pacific Northwest to Asia for noodles and steamed breads and through both sets of ports for use in the Middle East and India. Australia dominates the hard white wheat market internationally, and Kansas ranks No. 1 in hard white wheat production nationally. Nebraska ranks eighth in white wheat production, behind Kansas, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Washington and Oklahoma. The demand for hard white wheat also continues to go up domestically. "It really ties in with eating healthier, which includes eating more whole grains," Schaneman said. "With hard white wheat, we are able to maintain the quality and brighter, whiter color and sweeter flavor. This continues to drive demand." Nebraska will rank seventh this year in the nation for hard winter wheat production, he said. About half of Nebraska's wheat is exported. Wheat acres were steady in Nebraska and in other states this year. For more information about hard white wheat in Nebraska, visit the university's hard white wheat Web page at http://www.hardwhitewheat.unl.edu/.
Linda Boeckner appointed Director of Panhandle Research and Extension Center Boeckner’s appointment was announced Friday morning by John Owens, NU Vice President and Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources Harlan Vice Chancellor. Her appointment is effective August 1. Boeckner has served as interim director since the departure of Dr. Charles A. Hibberd, who resigned in November 2007 to become Director of Extension at Purdue University. She has been an Extension Nutrition Specialist at the Panhandle Center since 1987. In announcing the appointment, Owens praised Boeckner’s professionalism and administrative skills. Boeckner said the Panhandle Center is an important part of the university’s research and extension program. “We are dedicated to serving the clientele of the area in excellent fashion, and will be continuing those strong efforts into the future,” she said. “The fact that we have an excellent faculty and staff to help meet those needs of one of the perks of the job.”
UNL appoints alternative crop breeding specialist in Panhandle Dr. Dipak Santra has been appointed as alternative crop breeding specialist for the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in the Panhandle. The appointment was announced by Dr. Linda Boeckner, interim director of the UNL Panhandle Research and Extension Center in Scottsbluff, and Dr. Mark Lagrimini, chairman of the UNL Agronomy and Horticulture Department. Santra is scheduled to start on Nov. 1. He will fill the position vacated by the departure of Dr. David Baltensperger to become chairman of the Agronomy and Soils Department at Texas A & M University. Since 2006 Santra has been an assistant research professor in the Department of Crop and Soil Sciences at Washington State University. In 1999 he received a Ph.D. in biotechnology from the University of Pune, India, and Washington State University. His doctoral dissertation focused on applying biotechnology to improve blight resistance in chickpea. He has conducted research at Washington State and Iowa State University. At UNL, his assignment will be to develop and lead a research and extension program focusing on genetic improvement, variety development and evaluation of alternative and existing crops adapted to rain-fed and limited irrigation production systems in western Nebraska. Strong collaboration with producers, commodity boards and industry representatives is expected to be key to his efforts. The alternative crop breeder also is expected to lead a regional effort to enhance alternative crop development in western Nebraska, Wyoming, Colorado, Kansas and South Dakota. “Dr. Santra is full of energy and enthusiasm and we will expect many good outcomes to his program,” Boeckner said.
Distance learning offerings include crop breeding, plant science, ag biochemistry courses For Fall 2008-Spring 2009, the Department of Agronomy and Horticulture at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln will offer the following distance-delivered courses for academic credit, noncredit professional development and CEU credit. For more information, visit the department's Distance Education and Life-Long Learning Program Web site at http://www.agronomy.unl.edu/newprospective/distanceed.html, or contact Cathy Dickinson, cdickinson2@unl.edu, 402.472.1730. Individuals interested in taking courses for noncredit or CEU credit can register online through the ADEC eStore at: https://estore.adec.edu. Cross-Pollinated Crop Breeding: March 25 - April 23, 2009. Noncredit Registration Fee: $150 ($200 after March 18) Mini-course examining standard breeding methods and theories associated with population improvement of cross-pollinated crops (i.e., corn, alfalfa, sunflowers and forage grasses) and self-pollinated crops that are forced to cross-pollinate.
eXtension.org offers free expert advice Think of it as sort of “next-gen Google,” where curious minds can find a range of information including how to calculate their retirement readiness score, tips to easing credit card debt, how to grow the best tomatoes on the block or ways to set a schedule for a newborn baby. Even better, if the consumer can’t find the information he or she is looking for, real live authorities in their area of interest monitor and answer questions through the Web site. And all of eXtension’s resources are available to knowledge-seekers at no cost. University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension is part of the national extension partnership that’s created eXtension. The idea is to pull together the “best of the best” educational resources from the nation’s land-grant universities and make them easily available to the public. The Web site is currently supported by national teams, or Communities of Practice, supporting 16 areas of interest. Information on additional areas of interest will come online as new Communities of Practice complete their work. Consumers can easily navigate the site to find exactly the answers they need. A Community of Practice is typically multi-institutional, multi-state and multi-disciplinary. In addition to providing credible eXtension experts to answer knowledge-seekers’ questions, eXtension.org also allows consumers to interact with each other to grow their knowledge in a particular field. Drawing on the popularity of online social networking, individuals interested in a specific topic or subject matter area can “gather” to form a Community of Interest. As that Community of Interest grows, professional educators with expertise in that topic or subject matter area join together and form a Community of Practice. Not only does eXtension.org bring consumers the best knowledge from the sharpest minds in higher education, it also uses the most innovative and advanced features available on the Web to enhance the learning experience. Users can rate eXtension.org articles based on their usefulness, with the “most useful” articles ranking the highest on searches. If an article does not answer a user’s question, he or she has the option to “Ask an Expert.” Also, articles receive tags showing what users are searching for most often. Users who register with eXtension.org can really personalize their experience by subscribing to RSS feeds that will allow eXtension to automatically send updates on topics of interest.
Web site can help people reduce their debt LINCOLN, Neb. -- For people who have financial troubles, a University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension Web site can help users reduce their debt. Kathy Prochaska-Cue, a UNL Extension family economic specialist, proposed the original idea for the Web site, known as Pay Down Debt. The site, located at paydowndebt.unl.edu, contains a simple-step system and worksheets to help users plan to work toward reducing debt and increasing savings. "The ultimate bottom line goal of the plan is to help people start saving for long-term goals," Prochaska-Cue said. "There's some good worksheets on there," said Peggy Jeffries, a project assistant for 4-H, who attended one o the demonstrations. "You can go become more aware of what your debt is or isn't." Other main contributors to the site were Leanne Manning and Sandy Preston, extension educators. Gary Zhu, a software design specialist in UNL's Communications and Information Technology unit, programmed the Web site. Updated Nov. 18, 2008
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Dr. Linda S. Boeckner, Professor of Nutrition and Health Sciences at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, has been appointed District Director of the Panhandle Research and Extension Center and the Panhandle Extension District.
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