University of Nebraska - Lincoln University of Nebraska - Lincoln

DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln

The NEBLINE Newsletter Archive from UNL Extension in Lancaster County Extension

3-1-2003

The NEBLINE, March 2003 The NEBLINE, March 2003

Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/neblines

Part of the Agriculture Commons

"The NEBLINE, March 2003" (2003). The NEBLINE Newsletter Archive from UNL Extension in Lancaster County. 30. https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/neblines/30

This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Extension at DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. It has been accepted for inclusion in The NEBLINE Newsletter Archive from UNL Extension in Lancaster County by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln.

Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension work, Acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Elbert C. Dickey, Director of Cooperative Extension, University of Nebraska, Institute ofAgriculture and Natural Resources. University of Nebraska Cooperative Extension educational programs abide with the nondiscrimination policies of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and the United States Department of Agriculture.

We assure reasonable accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act; for assistance contact Lancaster County Extension, 444 Cherrycreek Road, Lincoln, Nebraska 68528-1507, 402-441-7180. TDD capability available.

EBLINEUniversity of Nebraska Cooperative Extension

Lancaster County

"Helping Nebraskans enhance their lives through research-based education."

March 2003Vol. XVI, No. 3

CH

AN

GE

SE

RV

ICE

RE

QU

ES

TE

D

EBLINELancaster

County

4-H C

ouncilU

niversity of

Nebraska

Cooperative

Extension

in Lancaster

County

444 Cherrycreek R

oad � Suite A

Lin

coln

, N

ebra

ska

68528-1

507

®

Non-P

rofit O

rganizationU

.S.

Posta

ge

Paid

Perm

it No. 537

Lin

coln

, N

eb

raska

NNTheThe

During times of drought,trees and landscape plants oftenshow the effects of the hot, dryweather. To put into perspectivethe effect severe drought canhave on plants, consider thefollowing facts. Green plantsnormally have a moisturecontent of 125�200 percent ormore. However, during severeand prolonged drought, themoisture content of live, woodyplants can drop below 100percent.

Water deficits in trees havean adverse effect on many of thetree�s growth processes. Severewater stress will injure trees andmay kill them. In addition,stressed trees are more vulnerableto insect and disease pests whencompared to a healthy tree.

Symptoms of WaterStress

Hardwood trees displaynumerous symptoms related towater stress. Wilting of leaves isa common indication of waterstress. Wilting can be classifiedas incipient, temporary orpermanent. Incipient wilting isnot readily noticeable, but it canchange to temporary wiltingwhich is characterized by visibledrooping of the leaves during theday. At night, the plant willrehydrate and recover fromtemporary wilting. Duringprolonged dry periods, tempo-rary wilting can change topermanent wilting where theplant does not recover during theovernight period. Permanentlywilted plants may recover whenwater is added to the soil, butprolonged permanent wiltingusually kills most species ofplants. Keep in mind there isgreat variation in wilting amongdifferent tree species anddifferent types of soils.

In addition to wilting, leaves

What Does Drought Stress Do toTrees and Landscape Plants?

may curl, become crinkly,turn brown along theedges (scorch), turnyellow, turn brown and/orfall from the tree.

Pine trees normallydon�t �wilt� from droughtstress. Pine trees usuallyretain their needles forabout two years. Duringdry periods, the secondyear needles (locatedaway from the tips of thebranches) will turn yellowand begin to drop fromthe tree prematurely. It iscommon to see pine treeswith yellow or red secondyear needles duringsummer droughts.Landowners and home-owners should not bealarmed if they observethis condition. The tree isdefinitely drought stressed, butis probably all right consideringthe dry conditions. Duringextreme drought the pine may die.

Through a process calledtranspiration, plants will releaseconsiderable amounts of watervapor through tiny leaf openingscalled stomata. When adequatesoil moisture is available,temperatures are not too high,and humidity is not too low,transpiration will occur duringmost of the day. Under normalconditions, transpiration islowest during the hottest part ofthe day, greatest in the morningand late afternoon and ceases atnight. When soil water becomeslimited, the plant will try toconserve water by closing thestomata in the leaves. But whenthe stomata are closed forextended periods of time,transpiration ceases and thiscauses photosynthesis to stopand the plant stops growing. Ifthis goes on long enough, theplant will die. Plants try toprotect themselves from water

loss by closing stomata, slowingor stopping growth and byprematurely dropping theirleaves. It is common to seeleaves falling from trees in mid-summer during dry years.

Delayed Effects ofDrought

Immediate effects ofdrought on hardwood trees areusually obvious, but delayedeffects also occur. Whenunfavorable growth conditionsare present now, growth for thecoming year is often affected.Plants store food reserves andprepare for the next growingseason during the currentgrowing season. For instance,buds for next year�s growth willbe set during the current sum-mer. The effects of the droughtof 2001 and 2002 will carry overto the next growing season, andmaybe beyond.

Lack of water also affectsradial growth of trees (diametergrowth). As a tree grows indiameter, each year it will producea growth ring that consists ofspringwood (earlywood) andsummerwood (latewood). Thewidth of tree growth rings isgreatly affected by the availabil-ity of water. During dry years,little radial growth occurs andthe annual growth ring will benarrow. Because severedroughts adversely affect treesin many ways, radial growthoften will be reduced for thecurrent year and maybe evenone or more subsequent years.Scientists can study the growthrings of old trees and determinerainfall patterns for years past.This science is called dendro-chronology.

Location Makesa DifferenceThe general health of

a tree depends a lot onwhere it is growing.Bottomland areas tend tobe one of the mostfavorable sites for trees.There is usually adequatemoisture coupled withdeep, fertile soils. Sitesthat generally are not idealfor good tree health areridges where shallow,eroded soils usuallyoccur. Rocky soils andsoils that may be chemi-cally incorrect (especiallypH or soil acidity/alkalinity) for plantgrowth tend to bestressful to trees. Eventhe direction a slope or

hillside faces can affect treehealth. South and west facingslopes tend to be hotter and drierand trees generally do not growas well as on north and eastslopes.

Soils with a high claycontent will hold water muchbetter than sandy soils. Treesgrowing in clay soils tend to beshallow rooted and may be moreseverely impacted by prolongeddrought than trees growing onloamy or sandy soils whereroots will grow deeper. Most ofa trees feeder roots that absorbmoisture and nutrients arelocated in the upper 12�14inches of the soil. When a claysoil dries out, the impact on thetree can be great since the tree isnot �accustomed� to sendingroots deep into the soil formoisture and nutrients.

Dormant or Dead?Drought-stressed trees may

exhibit signs of dieback ordecline. This may be the treesway of coping with a stressfulsituation. If the roots are unableto supply enough moisture andnutrients to the crown of thetree, the crown will usuallybegin to die back to bring thetrees crown and root systeminto a more favorable balance. Itis often difficult to determine if atree has died from droughtstress or has simply becomedormant and appears to be dead.Two simple tests can be done tohelp determine if a drought-stressed tree is alive or possiblydead. First, collect some smalltwigs about one-eighth inch indiameter and try to break theindividual twigs. If they snap

Drought may leaves to turn partially or completely brown, such as onthis sugar maple. see DROUGHT on page 11

Drought stressed tree

PH

OT

O/P

atric

k W

eich

erdi

ng o

f Uni

vers

ity o

f MN

Ext

ensi

on

Visit Egg Cam!View chickshatching,photos ofembryosas theydevelop,andeducationalresourcesfor youth,parents andteacherson the 4-HEmbryology Web site atwww.lancaster.unl.edu

Horticulture �page 2

EnvironmentalFocus

�page 3

Farm Views�page 4

Urban Agriculture�page 5

Food & Fitness�page 6

WEED AWARENESS�special pull-out section

Family Living �page 7

4-H & Youth �pages 8-9

Community &Home Living

�page 10

In this issue...

PH

OT

O/R

ober

t L. A

nder

son,

US

DA

For

est S

ervi

ce.

Imag

e 00

1429

5.w

ww

.fore

stry

imag

es.o

rg

Nexthatch date isMarch 12!

March 2003 NEBLINEThe Page 2

Horticulture

Some annuals, such as verbenas, snapdragons and petunias, take70 to 90 days to bloom. They should be started indoors in earlyspring.

Buy some new perennials for your flower border. Spring is a goodtime to renew and add variety to your landscape.

Complete the pruning of shrubs, ornamental trees before growthstarts, except for spring flowering shrubs. Prune those whichbloom in spring as soon as they finish flowering.

Start transplants indoors for tomatoes, peppers and eggplant.

Do not plow your garden when the soil is wet. It will form clodswhich are difficult to break up and interfere with cultivation duringthe summer.

Plan your vegetable garden on a sheet of paper to utilize the spacemost efficiently. Remember to rotate the vegetables in the garden toreduce insect and disease problems.

Buy a notebook and use it to keep all your gardening information.List what you plant in the garden. Include the name of seedcompanies, plant name, variety, planting date and harvest date.During the growing season keep notes on how well the plant does.If the variety is susceptible to disease, record what was used totreat any problems. All this information will be helpful in planningfuture gardens.

Pick a permanent spot for herbs in the garden.

If you have not done it already, check stored tools and outdoorfurniture for signs of rust. Remove any surface rust with steelwool and paint with rust-inhibitive paint.

Turn the compost pile.

Place birdhouses built this winter outdoors this month. Birds willbegin looking for nesting sites soon. (MJF)

GardenGuide

Things to do this month

It is time once again toannounce the All-AmericaSelections (AAS) Winners. TheAll-America Selections are plantsthat have proven durable anddisease resistant throughout adiverse variety of climates, soilsand other growing conditionsacross the United States. Aftergathering the data from varioustest gardens throughout thecountry, candidates are evalu-ated, and those meeting thehighest criteria are given theAAS endorsement as provenwinners. Many go on to becomefavorites with gardeners every-where, and are always a pleasureto grow. So, without furtherfanfare, let�s look at the winnersfor 2003:

Ornamental Millet�Purple Majesty�

�Purple Majesty� ornamentalmillet is a versatile plant, withuse as an accent plant for the

garden and as a food source formany birds. As a tall focal pointin the garden, this annual willreach 3 to 5 feet tall. The 8 to 12inch flower spikes can be usedin floral arrangements. �PurpleMajesty� is an ideal plant forthose dry, hot and exposed areasof the garden. As the seed spikesage, they can be left on the plantfor the birds to forage, they canbe added to bird feeders or theycan be added to outdoor ediblewildlife arrangements.

Carnation �Can CanScarlet�

This is one of the mostfragrant garden carnations. Thespicy fragrance will almost fill aroom when the double, 2 inchblooms are cut and used in abouquet. �Can Can Scarlet� isheat tolerant, producing flowersthroughout the growing seasoninto the fall. This variety isperfect for a cut flower garden,the grey-green foliage contrasts

with the bright scarlet blooms.Mature plants will reach 12 to 14inches tall.

Rudbeckia hirta�Prairie Sun�

This robust rudbeckia hasdistinctive 5 inch blooms. Thelight green central cone blendsbeautifully with the golden-yellow petals, which are tippedprimrose yellow. The plantsmature to 3 feet tall and make astrong statement in any full-sungarden. Easy to grow andmaintain, �Prairie Sun� is amemorable plant in any peren-nial, annual or cut flowergarden. Flower stems aresufficiently long for quality cutflowers. �Prairie Sun� plantsbecome a forceful focal point inany large container.

Petunia �Merlin BlueMorn�

�Merlin Blue Morn� is awonderfully versatile petunia,adaptable to baskets, containeror the garden. As with allpetunias, it performs its bestwhen placed in full-sun. Thecenters of the flowers are coolwhite, slowly deepening in blueuntil dark blue is on the outer-most edges. Individual bloomsize is 2 to 3 inches across.Growth height is 15 to 20inches, with spread to 30 inches.

Agastache Foeniculum�Golden Jubilee�

Good for full sun or partialshade, �Golden Jubilee� is a newchoice for the herb garden orperennial border. Reaching 20inches in height and up to 15inches in spread, this agastachehas lavender colored flowerspikes which contrast nicely

2003 All-America Selections

All-America Selections is a non-profit organization which has tested andintroduced significantly improved new flowers and vegetables grown from seedand bedding plants for 67 years. AAS tests are conducted at trial grounds acrossNorth America with official AAS Judges supervising the trials. Listed below arethe 2003 AAS Winners. For information visit www.all-americaselections.org.

with the golden, mint-scentedfoliage. Flowering from mid-tolate-summer, these plants willstand up to summer heat andwill offer a wonderful focalpoint in the border or bed.

Petunia �Blue Wave�

�Blue Wave� has deep blueflowers. This petunia is ideal forcontainer, baskets or as agroundcover. The individualblooms are 2 inches across ontrailing branches. The branchesspread 3 to 4 feet across, andplant height is 4 to 7 inches.Low maintenance, this petuniadoes not require pinching tocontinue performing throughoutthe season.

Vinca �Jaio Dark Red�

�Jaio Dark Red� is a vividlyred vinca sporting white centers.Blooms are large in size, up to 2inches across. The plants haveexcellent branching habits,grows to 15 inches in heightwith a spread to 20 inches. Theleaves are healthy green andbothered by few diseases orpests. This vinca performs bestin sunny locations and can standthe rigors of summer heat anddryness.

Dianthus �CoronaCherry Magic�

Randomly colored andpatterned, �Corona CherryMagic� will often have solidlyred flowers, lavender-purpleflowers, or a blend of bothcolors on the same plant. Forfull sun, this dianthus willperform throughout the growingseason. Blooms are 2 inchesacross. Plants grow 9 inches talland 10 inches across.

Gaillardia Pulchella�Sundance Bicolor�

�Sundance Bicolor� is abicolor gaillardia with sunnyyellow and brick-mahogany reddouble blooms. Bloomingprolifically, it produces wellthroughout the growing season.For planting in full sun, thisannual gaillardia will respondwell to average soil fertility andmoisture, and will tolerate drierconditions. Because it spreads to15 inches, it will do well incontainers and baskets as well asout in the garden.

Eustoma �ForeverWhite�

see ALL-AMERICAN on page 11

EnvironmentalFocus

March 2003 NEBLINEThe Page 3

Termites live in the soil andfeed on wood. Their soft bodiesalso need an ample moisturesource in the soil. It shouldcome as no surprise that a highpercentage of termite infesta-tions get started from wood-soilcontact, where wood touches oris imbedded in the soil. Thus,homeowners should be awareactions they take can influencetermite infestations positively ornegatively.

Termites are attracted tohomes with moisture problemsfrom leaky gutters and down-spouts, or where water collectsnext to the foundation in lowareas. Fix leaky gutters andmake sure downspouts carrywater away from the house.

Dead roots of trees or shrubsare prime termite food. If shrubsor trees have been planted nextto the house and later removed,these roots can serve as a bridgefor termites to cross, even if thehouse has had a barrier treat-ment. It is best to avoid plantinglarge trees or shrubs close to thehouse so roots can�t grow nextto the foundation.

Termites feed on woodmulch. You may not want to

Carpenter ants are social insectsthat live in colonies, primarily inwood. They use their mouthparts liketiny wood chisels to hollow outwood to build their nests. Becausethey tunnel in wood and forage forfood and water inside the home, theyare pests. But to the astute home-owner, carpenter ants can also be anindicator of moisture problems orrotting wood that needs attention.

IdentificationThere are two carpenter ants

found in Nebraska. Black carpenterants are large, blackants. Adults vary inlength from 1/4 to 1/2inch for a majorworker and the queenis even larger. There isanother carpenter ant inNebraska that is asmaller ant, about 1/4-inch. We call it the�red� carpenter ant todistinguish it from theblack carpenter ant, butit is really two-toned.The thorax is reddishbrown, the head andabdomen are darker.

Folks start bringingwinged carpenter antsto the extension officein the late winter andthroughout the springand summer. Thesewinged ants are queensand kings. If the colonies are inoutdoor locations, the mated queensfly off to start new colonies. Whenthere are winged carpenter ants in thehouse, it indicates that there isprobably a colony in the structuresomewhere. Folks also see carpenterants inside the home when there is acolony outdoors and foragingworkers enter the house, looking forfood. Carpenter ants forage on a

Installing nesting boxes forbirds is an easy way to helpcreate habitat in your yard.Many species of birds require acavity in which they build theirnest, lay eggs and raise theiryoung. Some species, likewoodpeckers, can excavate theirown nesting cavities in thetrunks of decaying trees. Otherswill take advantage of abandonedwoodpecker holes, or naturalcavities created by brokenbranches. Other species requirethe tall meadow and prairievegetation to weave and hidetheir nests.

Human impact on thelandscape has resulted in theremoval of many dead and dyingtrees (called snags) and themowing over of much of ournatural grassland areas. As aresult, many bird species havefewer natural places to raisetheir young.

Providing habitat by pre-serving and restoring the naturalplant communities is the bestway to provide for nesting birds.You can also install a nesting box

spread wood bark or chips nextto the house. How far awayfrom the house? We don�t yethave a recommendation, becauseno research on this has beendone, but it makes sense to becareful. A recent study in Ohioshowed that there were fewertermites and other insects inmulch from softwoods (likecedar, cypress, redwood, pine)suggesting that the resins inthese woods may make them not

Landscaping, Home MaintenanceHelps Prevent Termites

Do you have an ongoing termite problemthat is giving you a major headache? Are you a

new homeowner and want to know more abouthow to inspect your own home? Get answers at athree-hour workshop, �Everything HomeownersNeed to Know about Termites and Termite Con-trol.� It will be held at the Lancaster ExtensionEducation Center, 444 Cherrycreek Road on

Thursday, May 22 from 6:30�9:30 p.m. Cost is $20.Barb Ogg, Dennis Ferraro and Clyde Ogg will discuss termitebiology and behavior, home inspection tips, differencesbetween bait and barrier treatments and why termite treat-ments cost so much. Call 441-7180 for more information.

wide variety of food items and cansometimes be a nuisance in the kitchen.When you see wingless foraging ants,there is no way to know for sure if thecolony is outdoors or indoors. Moreinvestigation is needed.

Nesting SitesCarpenter ants normally build their

nests outdoors in hollow trees, logs,posts, landscaping timbers. Unliketermites, they do not feed on wood, butmerely use it as a place in which to builda nest. They prefer moist or partiallydecayed wood, frequently entering

existing cavities or voidareas through cracks andcrevices.

Occupied galleries arekept immaculately clean.Ants push sawdust out ofthe nest to keep it clean sopiles of sawdust underneaththe nest are a sign of acolony. This sawdust is notalways visible, becausecolonies can be hidden inwall voids.

Carpenter ants nestinside our house structurewhen wood is very moist orpreviously damaged bywater or termites. A colonydevelops best in wood withmoisture content above 12 to15%. This requires the woodto be wet by rain, leaks,condensation or highcontinuous relative humidity.

Typical interior nest locations include:� Wood affected by water seepage from

plugged drain gutters, damaged flash-ing, wood shingle roofs, poorly fitted ordamaged siding, improper pitch ofporch floors, between the roof andceiling of flat deck porches, hollowporch posts and columns or leakingdoor and window frames;

� Areas around plumbing in kitchens andbathrooms where water leaks have

to provide a place for birds toraise their young. Here are somehelpful tips to guide you throughthe process of buying or buildingyour nesting box, installing it andmaintaining it.� Install your birdhouse BEFORE

the nesting season begins. Mid-to late-winter (late February) isbest for most areas.

� Boxes built of untreated woodare best.

� Your box should NOT have aperch�perches are unneces-sary and allow predatorsaccess to eggs and nestlings.

� Hang your box from a polewith a predator guard�hanging boxes in trees allowspredators easier access andcan harm the tree.

� The box should have drainageholes in the bottom, ventilationholes toward the top (but notin the roof, or water will leakin) and a hinged side to alloweasy access for cleaning andmonitoring.

� You can score the inside walls

Install Nest Boxes for Birds Now

Carpenter Ants: Indicator of Moisture Problems

occurred, soaking the surroundingwood;

� Wood in contact with soil, such asporch supports, siding and stair risers;

� Wood in areas of poor ventilation orcondensation such as cellars, crawlspaces, attics or under porches;

� Wood scraps in dirt-filled slab porches;� Voids under bathtubs or hot tubs;� Hollow wooden doors, hollow ceiling

beams, hollow shower and curtainrods;

� Sill plates and floor joists;� Voids under attic insulation or under

insulation in crawl spaces;� Voids above windows, doors and bay

windows;

ManagementThe key to successfully managing

carpenter ants is find the colony. Inspectthe structure thoroughly, both inside andout. Carefully examine the areas listedabove for signs of carpenter ants. Conicalpiles of shredded wood debris are anexcellent indicator of a nest site.

Eliminating a carpenter ant colonycan be difficult for the homeowner�especially when the colony is hiddeninside a wall. Because of the associationbetween moisture and carpenter ants,eliminating the source of the moisturemay help control the colony. Replacing

damp or decaying wood will oftenget rid of the colony making the useof insecticides unnecessary. Othertips to prevent carpenter antsinclude;� Repair plumbing or roof leakspromptly and replace damagedwood;

� Make sure there is proper clearancebetween soil and structural wood;

� Provide good ventilation under thehouse and in the attic;

� Drain water away from the struc-ture;

� Remove stumps, logs and wooddebris near the house;

� Store firewood away from thehouse;

� Trim back any tree or shrub limbstouching the structure;

� If possible, treat carpenter antcolonies within 100 feet of thehouse;

� Keep exposed wood in good condi-tion, with all cracks, knot holes,checks or joints properly sealedwith wood putty and all surfacespainted.

Insecticide TreatmentsUsing liquid �ant sprays� is not

effective because most ants are in thecolony and will be unaffected by thetreatment. Generally the treatmentinside wall voids involves using aninsecticidal dust that the ants crawlthrough and contaminate the colony.This is often best left to the pestcontrol professional because theyhave the equipment and expertise todo treatments properly.

If you see ants and are unsurewhether they are carpenter ants, youcan get a free identification bybringing several intact specimens tothe Lancaster County Extensionoffice between 8 a.m.�4:30 p.m.weekdays.Source: Carpenter Ants, Roger Gold, Texas A&MUniversity. (BPO)

as good a food source ashardwoods. Whether thisoutcome will continue afterweathering breaks down andleaches the resins in the mulch,remains to be studied.

If you need to sink a postinto the ground, surround it withconcrete to protect it fromtermites. Or, use pressure-treated wood that will withstandtermites, carpenter ants anddecay for decades. (BPO)

see NEST BOXES on page 11

Carpenter ant nest in cellulose insulationinside exterior wall below window

PH

OT

OS

/Jim

Kal

isch

, UN

L E

ntom

olog

y

Black carpenter ant

Black carpenter queen

Red carpenter ant

Termite ControlWorkshop May 22

March 2003 NEBLINEThe Page 4

Farm Views

Latest U.S. Drought Monitor MapAs of March 6, Lancaster County is in severe drought conditions.

For the most recent map, visitwww.drought.unl.edu/dm

The following is excerptedfrom a new Lancaster CountyExtension educational resource�Answers to Questions AboutLiming Acid Soils.� The com-plete version is available onlineat: lancaster.unl.edu/ag/factsheets/303-03.pdf.

Question: My soil testreport shows a number for pHand another number forbuffer pH. What does pHmeasure and what is thedifference between pH andbuffer pH?

Answer: pH is a measure ofthe acidity or alkalinity of a soil.When the soil solution (the waterin the soil) contains equalnumbers of hydrogen ions (H+)ions as hydroxyl (OH-) ions, thesoil is neutral and the pH of thesoil is 7.0. When there are moreH+ than OH- ions, the soil isacidic, and when there are moreOH- ions than H+ ions, the soil isalkaline. The scale is logarithmic.That is to say a soil with a pH of6.0 is 10 times more acidic thana soil with a pH of 7.0. A soilwith a pH of 5.0 is 10 timesmore acidic than a soil with a pHof 6.0 and 100 times more acidicthan a soil with a pH of 7.0.

There are many differenttypes of pasture leases, but thetwo most common are rentingby the acre and renting by theanimal unit month (AUM). Whenrenting by the acre, an agree-ment is struck between land-owner and tenant as to the rentalrate per acre and the length oftime animals can graze. Most peracre rental agreements are forfive or six months of grazing.When renting by the AUM, thetenant pays only for the animalunits in the pasture and the timethey are actually grazing thepasture. Whatever type of leaseis chosen, it�s best to get leasesin writing to avoid possiblefuture misunderstandings.

Renting by the acre for agiven grazing period, whiledefinitely the easiest lease tomanage in terms of knowing theyearly rental payment, can havea negative side as well. Naturally,the tendency for the tenant isalways to try to �get theirmoney�s worth,� which in a dryyear, may result in over-grazing.Over-grazed forage plants can�tstore sufficient energy tomaintain a healthy root system.Weakened plants are moresubject to winter injury andsurviving plants are slower togreen up in the spring. An over-grazed pasture, therefore, issusceptible to invasion by weedsand unpalatable grasses. Dr.Bruce Anderson recently stated,�Many pastures were weakenedby last year�s drought and maysuffer lowered production. Evenif there is normal precipitationthis year, forage production won�tbe normal. If renting by the acre,both landowner and tenant shouldconsider the lower productivityand adjust rental rate andstocking rate accordingly.�

Renting by the animal unitmonth requires more recordkeeping and a higher level of

Prescribed PastureBurning School April 4

Pasture management through prescribed burning is an acceptedpractice in eastern Nebraska. Burning can reduce the number ofvolunteer eastern red cedar trees, change the mix of cool andwarm-season grass species and reduce the thatch buildup andthicken the stand in CRP lands. A prescribed burning school is setfor Friday, April 4 at the Lancaster Extension Education Center, 444Cherrycreek Road, Lincoln. The formal workshop will run from 9to 11:30 a.m. Weather permitting, a hands-on pasture burn will beconducted in the afternoon. (TD)

Soil acidity can be thoughtof as two types: active or soilsolution acidity and reserve orexchangeable acidity. The activeacidity of a soil is measureddirectly by a pH meter in the lab.

Reserve acidity depends onseveral factors, such as amountand type of clay, amount oforganic matter and solublealuminum concentration in thesoil. Therefore, two soils canhave the same measured pH, butwill require different amounts oflime to change the pH value andcorrect it back to a more neutralpH.

A chemical test using abuffer, is performed in thelaboratory to determine theamount of calcium carbonateequivalent (CCE) necessary toraise the soil pH to a desiredlevel. This buffer solution reactswith the soil to neutralize boththe active and reserve acidity.The change in the pH of thebuffer can be measured andcorrelated to the amount of limeneeded per acre to obtain thesame results in the field. This isreported on the soil test report asbuffer pH. A rule of thumb forbuffer pH values is, for every0.1 point below pH 7.0, it takes

about 1,000 pounds of ag lime(60% CCE) to bring the topseven inches of soil (about twomillion pounds of soil) up to ameasured pH value of 6.5 (6.5 isconsidered the ideal pH for mostcrops).

For example a soil with abuffer pH of 6.3 would require(7.0 - 6.3) = 0.7. Multiply 0.7 by1,000 pounds per tenth = 7,000pounds of ag lime per acre tobring the pH value up to 6.5. Ifthe lime is incorporated deeperthan seven inches, largeramounts of lime are required toneutralize the acidity becauseyou are affecting a greater massof soil.

Question: Are theredifferences in lime quality?

Answer: There are differ-ences in lime quality due to thechemistry and particle sizedistribution of the product used.The ag lime that is commonlyavailable in eastern Nebraska is amixture of calcium carbonateand magnesium carbonate plusimpurities. Both calcium carbon-ate and magnesium carbonateare effective in neutralizing pH.

Limestone is not verysoluble and, therefore, needs to

trust between the two parties,but it is this author�s opinion itcan be the best way to rentpastures, especially in a dry year.If forage production is less thannormal, the tenant does not havean incentive to run as manyanimals on the pasture or he/shemay elect to move the entireherd off the pasture earlier thannormal and reduce the rentowed. Rather than an incentiveto over-graze, the tenant has anincentive to stop grazing thepasture when the grass getsshort and rate of gain dimin-ishes. This will help preserve thelong-term productivity of thepasture, which in the long run,is an advantage to the land-owner. See the chart below foranimal unit months for varioustypes and sizes of animal.

The University of NebraskaAgricultural Economics Depart-

Consider Drought When Preparing Pasture Leases

LIVESTOCK INVENTORY AU VALUE1

Cattle:1,000 lb. beef cow/calf pair 1.001,100 lb. beef cow/calf pair 1.071,200 lb. beef cow/calf pair 1.131,300 lb. beef cow/calf pair 1.191,400 lb. beef cow/calf pair 1.25Calves by themselves over 3 months 0.30Weaned calves to yearling 0.60Yearling cattle (600-800 lb.) 0.752-year old dry cattle (800-1000 lb.) 0.85Mature bulls 1.30Dairy cows 1.30

Sheep:Mature ewes with lambs 0.20Weaned lambs to yearlings 0.12Mature rams 0.25

Goats:Mature doe with kids 0.17Weaned kid to yearling 0.10Mature buck 0.22

Mature horse: 1.50

1. From: �Determining Pasture Rental Rates� Publication R-1092,North Dakota State University.

ment conducts a real estatesurvey each spring. The resultsof the study are published in anextension circular �Real EstateMarket Developments� (about60 pages). Average real estateprices and rental rates aresummarized and published in theCornhusker Economics newslet-ter (4 pages). These publicationscan be accessed on theLancaster County Extension -Agriculture and Acreage Website at lancaster.unl.edu/ag.Scroll down and find the�Answers to Frequently-AskedQuestions� section and then lookfor the heading �InformationAbout Farm Leases/Cash Rents/Real Estate Markets.� Thenewsletter article (summary) islinked to �Land Prices and CashRent Survey� and the largerpublication is linked to �FarmReal Estate Market 01-02.� (TD)

have a small particle size todissolve into the soil solutionquickly enough to be consideredeffective. NebGuide G84-714indicates limestone held on aneight-mesh screen (the size ofgravel) is less than 10% effec-tive, whereas that passing aneight-mesh screen and held on a60-mesh screen (like coarse tofine sand) is about 40% effec-tive, and that passing through a60-mesh screen (like grittyflour) is 100% effective.

Lime is tested and theneutralizing effectiveness isexpressed as calcium carbonateequivalent (CCE). Most labs willrecommend lime requirement aspounds per acre of CCE. Limesuppliers in Nebraska mustregister with the State Depart-ment of Ag and the minimumCCE value must be specified.Most ag lime in Nebraska runsbetween 60-65% CCE. There-fore, if a lab recommends 3,000pounds of CCE to raise the pHto 6.5, and a lime source having60% CCE is used, it would take:3,000 ÷ 0.60 = 5,000 pounds ofthat particular lime to meet therecommendation.

Question: Could I apply

less than the recommendedamount of lime and still dosome good?

Answer: University ofNebraska lime recommendationsare for the amount of limerequired to bring the top seveninches of soil up to a pH of 6.5.Less lime will not bring the pHlevel up as much but will preventit from going lower for a timeand may raise it some (depend-ing on the amount applied). Ananalogy would be the decision tofill the gas tank on the pickupwhich might take $25 or only toput $10 worth of gas in the tank.Either decision will help you getdown the road, but you won�tgo as far on $10. Rememberalso, operators charge by theacre to spread lime. If, forexample, one applies one-third ofthe recommended amount butthen must do it three times asoften, the total cost will behigher than if it were applied inone operation.

Basically, there is no wayaround the laws of chemistry. Ittakes a given amount of lime toneutralize the active and reserveacidity in the soil and bring themeasured pH up to an acceptablelevel. (TD)

Answers to Questions About Liming Acid Soils

Pesticide Collection March 17A pesticide disposal collection will be held Monday, March 17,

8 a.m.�Noon at the Farmers Cooperative Company fertilizer planton North 148th Street, Waverly. All types of pesticides will beaccepted except those in pressurized cylinders. Items such as oil,antifreeze, paint, varnish, thinners, cleaners and solvents are notaccepted. No appointment is needed and there is no charge forturning in less than 1,000 pounds of pesticides. Pesticides should bebrought in their original containers with label intact, if possible.Remember to protect yourself and your surroundings when han-dling waste pesticides. For more information, contact the NDA at(402) 471-2394, NU�s Pesticide Education office at (402) 472-1632, or visit online at http://pested.unl.edu/pat.

Animal Unit Values of VariousTypes and Sizes of Grazing Animal

March 2003 NEBLINEThe Page 5

UrbanAgriculture

March 299 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Agriculture Research & Development CenterResearch & Education Building near Mead, NE

�Helping Acreage Owners ManageTheir Rural Living Environment�

� Managing your acreage resources moreeffectively

� The numerous University of Nebraskaresources available to you, includingpublications, videos, world wide web

� Designing the layout of the acreage formaximum function

� Domestic wells and water quality

� Septic and lagoon solid waste systems &their management

� And much more

Learn about...

Advanced registration $25 per person,$45 per couple

Farmers selltheir productsdirectly to con-sumers by severalmeans. Thecommonly usedmethods are salesfrom the farm-house (or otherfarm building);pick-your-ownoperations;roadside standsand markets;public farmers�markets located inor near urbanareas; house-to-house delivery andsales from a truck or othervehicle parked along roadsides,parking lots or similar placeswith potential consumer traffic(sometimes referred to as�tailgating�).

Pick-Your-OwnWhile pick-your-own

marketing (referred to as PYO)offers the greatest potentialsavings to both farmers andconsumers, there are somedisadvantages to PYO market-ing. Since most consumers arenot experienced with harvestingagricultural produce, they oftencan require close supervision fortheir own protection (and theprotection of the farmer�ssurrounding crops and property)and to ensure that they pay foreverything they harvest. Mostfarmers tend to establish rela-tively rigid rules regardingminimum volumes, parking,inspection of containers andminimum age for childrenaccompanying adults into thefields or orchards. Somefarmers may even facilitatesupervision and crowd controlthrough check-in stations,designated parking areas,checkout areas between fieldsand vehicles, supervised playareas for children and transpor-tation from check-in or parkingareas to fields. While suchmeasures may mitigate logisticalheadaches, they add to farmers�costs of operation and theseadded costs must be recoveredthrough higher product prices.

Even so, consumer pricesfor pick-your-own produce areusually the lowest among alldirect-marketing methods.Consumers also benefit in beingable to select produce that is, intheir judgment, the �freshest�and �best quality� in the fields.However, since consumersharvest the produce, they bearmuch of the harvesting andmarketing cost. Economically,they should consider their added�costs� in terms of time andtransportation, as well as theinconvenience involved in thismethod. Realistically though,they tend to overlook these�costs� in the name of entertain-ment.

A few products do not lendthemselves to the pick-your-ownmethod because some experi-ence, skill or strength is requiredto determine optimum maturityand harvest the produce. Pickingout ripe watermelon or mature

sweet corn, for example,requires a fair amount ofexpertise; harvesting apples andpeaches from fully mature, non-dwarf trees requires bothstrength and skill to move andclimb ladders.

Roadside Stands andMarkets

Roadside stands are on-farmretail outlets for farm producethat contain facilities to displayand protect farm produce. Someroadside markets have veryelaborate facilities, includingrefrigerated coolers for storingproduce as well as refrigerateddisplay cases. Others are simplerand are more often referred to as�stands.� Roadside marketsgenerally stay open longerseasons than stands and offer awider array of products, includ-ing nonfood items, for consumerconvenience. These featureshelp spread the facility�s over-head costs. To ensure a consis-tent supply of produce, opera-tors of such markets frequentlypurchase some of their productsfrom other farmers (local orregional), as well as fromconventional wholesale outlets.

Roadside stands are gener-ally located next to a public roadto maximize the exposure fromdrive-by traffic. Signage on theroadside frequently emphasizesfavorable prices or specials.Farmer-operators can chargeless to consumers while enhanc-ing their own income becausethey often eliminate or reduceconventional marketing costs ofintermediary firms. These costsmay include transportation fromthe farm to shipping points,shipping containers, and assem-bler and wholesaler handlingcharges. They may also save byusing family labor, even if theyalso use hired labor.

Operators of retail farmoutlets do have additionaloperating costs not incurred byfarmers selling to conventionalwholesale buyers. Such costsinclude the fixed and variablecosts of their physical facilities(such as interest, taxes, depre-ciation, repairs, parking lots,utilities and insurance), labor foroperating the stand, consumer-friendly packaging materials,advertising and promotionexpenses and other items thatmay be required to satisfyconsumer demand. The extentof such additional costs is

closely related tohow large andelaborate the facilitiesare, the amount ofcustomer trafficgenerated and thesales volume.However, larger,higher-volumemarkets may gaineconomies of scalethat lead to lowerper-unit costs forlabor and other items.

Farmers�Markets

Farmers� mar-kets are designated locationswhere farmers can sell theirproducts directly to consumers.These markets are usuallylocated within or near urbancenters and may be owned andmaintained by farmers� coopera-tive associations or by local orstate governments. Facilitiesmay range from an open lot(where farmers park theirvehicles and display products) toenclosed buildings with displaycounters, lights and refrigera-tion. Regardless of the owner-ship structure, farmers usuallypay a fee for the space occupiedto cover maintenance andadvertising costs. Some marketsare open daily, but most are openonly on specified days.

Prices for products atfarmers� markets tend to belower than prices for similaritems in grocery stores. Con-sumers also have access to awide selection, since they canlook at produce from a numberof growers. This concentrationof farmer-marketers in proximityto urban areas can attract largenumbers of customers. Somelarge, specialized farm operatorswho sell most of their produc-tion through conventional outletsuse this method of directmarketing to dispose of producethat does not meet the require-ments of conventional wholesaleoutlets. Such products include

Overview of Direct MarketingMethods for Produce

There are many ways producers can direct market theirproducts.

undersized or oversized fruit andfruit too ripe to withstand therigors of the conventionalmarketing system.

House-to-HouseDelivery

This is the most expensive(and least used) method of directmarketing for farmers. Farmersusing this method perform all themarketing services of theconventional marketing systemplus delivering items to theconsumer�s door. This methodwas relatively important in yearspast, especially for productssuch as milk, butter and eggs,which were purchased regularlyand could be delivered on aconsistent schedule. Today, thismethod should be attemptedwith caution and probably onlyin high-income areas.

PeddlingThis is a direct marketing

option in which producers selland deliver to retail stores,institutions, restaurants, etc.Operators might also sell fromthe backs of their trucks, takeorders and deliver or sell door-to-door where permissible.Advantages of peddling includelow overhead cost, easy entryinto the peddling business whena product surplus exists andeasy exit from the businesswhen product supply is short.Disadvantages might includelegal restrictions and requiredlicensing, as well as the possibleconveyance of a �fly-by-night�image.

Rent-a-TreeAlso called plot arrange-

ments, this option allows theconsumer to make a contractwith a grower for the yield of acertain tree or row in the field.Generally, the growers do all thecultural operations to producethe product and supply theequipment for harvesting. Therenters have the use of the treeor plot for the duration of the

contract and do the harvesting.This is relatively new in theUnited States, but has beensuccessful for many years insome European countries. Theprimary advantage of the rent-a-tree arrangement is reducedharvest labor expense. However,increased effort in identifyingindividual trees or areas and inmodifying cultural practices tosatisfy customers may prove tobe the disadvantages.

Self-Serve SellingThis method has proved

successful for some smalloperators when sales volumedoes not warrant full-time salespersonnel. With self-serveselling, operators stock the salesoutlets with available productsand consumers serve themselvesand leave payment in a cash box.Self-serve selling results inreduced labor requirements butincreases the risk of pilferageand theft. Gift baskets and mail-order gift baskets and mail orderare popular options for productsthat can be packaged attractivelyand have limited perishability.Such products might includecitrus fruits, herbs, holly andflowers. Gift baskets and mailorder products offer opportuni-ties to increase sales, butsuccess is limited to specialtyproducts and is usually seasonal.

Community-SupportedAgriculture

In the last decade or so,direct marketing in agriculturehas evolved and grown dramati-cally. The growth of commu-nity-supported agriculture (CSA)is one of the newest innovations.Members of a CSA enterprisebuy a share of the farm�sproduce, paying in advance fordelivery of fresh, usuallyorganic, produce during thegrowing season. At some CSA�s,members donate time and sweatto the enterprise as well, pitchingin to help with planting, weedingand harvesting. (DJ)

Call Lancaster County Extension for brochure & registration form 441-7180or visit online at lancaster.unl.edu

March 2003 NEBLINEThe Page 6

Food &Fitness

Alice Henneman, RD, LMNT, Extension Educator

For an easy breakfast or brunch, this recipe may be egg-exactlyfor you. Eggs are a low-cost source of high quality protein. They�reback in style since a study published in the Journal of the AmericanMedical Association (April 1999) showed eating an egg a day wasOK for healthy people and didn�t raise the risk of heart attacks.

For more free egg recipes, egg decorating tips or informationrelated to eggs and food safety, please contact Mary Torell, PublicInformation Officer, Nebraska Department of Agriculture, Poultry& Egg Division at mtorell2@unl.edu or call 472-0752.

Easter Bunny Bundles

2 eggs2 tablespoons low fat milk1/2 teaspoon margarineSalt and pepper1 pita pocketOptional Toppings: grated cheese, chopped tomato,

chopped green peppers

In a small bowl, beat eggs with milk. Melt margarine in askillet over medium heat. Pour in egg mixture and as eggsbegin to cook, move it around the pan with a spatula, untilit�s firm, but still moist. Salt and pepper to taste. Cut pitabread in half and fill each half with cooked egg. Add toppingsand serve warm.

(Serves 2)

Attend aFREE class onHealthy Cookingwith Spices &Herbs on Thurs-day, March 20,7�8:30 p.m. Whencutting back onfat, sugar and salt,you can add zingto your foodswith spices and

herbs! Alice Henneman, extension educator and registereddietitian, will show you how to prepare delicious and nutri-tious foods using spices and herbs.

This class will be held as part of BryanLGH MedicalCenter�s Wellness series at the Plaza Conference Center,Bryan LGH Medical Center East, 1600 S. 48 St., Lincoln.To register for this program, call BryanLGH at 481-8886.

for Limited Resource Families

Barbara RixstineEditor, Connect

Cleaning the Kitchen Cupboard:Can This Food Be Saved? (Part 2)

This is part 2 of tips to helpyou decide whether to toss, moveor try to save kitchen cupboardfoods.

Spices and Herbs� 1 year for herbs or ground

spices.� 2 years for whole spices.� Storage Tip #1: Air, light,

moisture and heat speed flavorand color loss of herbs andspices. Store in a tightlycovered container in a darkplace away from sunlight,such as inside a cupboard ordrawer. For open spice rackstorage, choose a site awayfrom light, heat and moisture(avoid storage near the stove,dishwasher, microwave,refrigerator, sink or a heatingvent). Never sprinkle directlyfrom the container into asteaming pot.

� Storage Tip #2: Refrigeratepaprika, chili powder and redpepper for best color retention,especially in summer or hotterclimates.

Give Spices and Herbsthe �Sniff� Test: As a check tosee if a GROUND SPICE ispotent, smell it. If its aroma isimmediate, strong and spicy, itshould still add flavor to yourfoods. For a WHOLE spice,such as a clove or cinnamonstick � break, crush or scrapethe spice before you smell it.DO NOT smell PEPPER orCHILI POWDER as they canirritate your nose. For HERBS,crush a small amount in yourhand and smell it. If the aromais still fresh and pleasant, it canstill flavor foods.

Brown Sugar

� 4 months to 6 months formaximum flavor.

� Storage Tip: It�s VERYimportant to store brown sugarin an airtight container to retainits moisture and prevent it frombecoming hard. Either store it inits original plastic bag, tightlyclosed, or transfer to an airtightcontainer or a heavy moisture-proof plastic bag, such as afreezer bag.

To Soften Brown Sugar:OVEN METHOD � heat thebrown sugar in a 250 degrees Foven for a few minutes. Watch itcarefully and as soon as it issoft, measure the amount youneed. MICROWAVE METHOD� place brown sugar in amicrowave-safe container andcover loosely with a clean,white, wet (but not drippingwet) paper towel. Microwave onhigh and check about every 30seconds. Warning using eithermethod: sugar will be very hot.When the sugar cools, it willbecome hard again

White GranulatedSugar

� 2 years� Storage Tip: Store sugar in an

airtight container or a heavymoisture-proof plastic bag,such as a freezer bag. Properlystored sugar keeps indefinitely.

To Soften Hardened WhiteSugar: When white granulatedsugar absorbs moisture, itbecomes hard. Here are somepossible suggestions for break-ing up hard sugar: Put hardsugar in a sturdy food-quality

bag and pound it with a hammer,meat pounder or flat side of ameat mallet; smash smallerpieces with a mortar and pestleor break up in a spice grinder.

Vegetable Oil� 1 month to 1 year; 6 months to

2 years unopened. Times varyaccording to type of oil,method of processing, etc.Some of the oils that may havea shorter storage life includewalnut, sesame, hazelnut andalmond oils.

� Storage Tip #1: Store in atightly closed container in acool, dark place.

� Storage Tip #2: Oil that hasbeen stored too long will gorancid and develop an undesir-able taste and odor. If youhaven�t used an oil for a while,smell it before using it in arecipe.

� Storage Tip #3: You canprolong the life of oils bystoring them in the refrigerator.Some, such as olive oil, maybecome cloudy in the refrig-erator but usually clear aftersitting at room temperature towarm up.

Vinegar� 2 years unopened, 1 year

opened. White vinegar willmaintain unchanged longerthan other types of vinegar,according to the VinegarInstitute(www.versatilevinegar.org).The storage life of vinegar is�almost indefinite� because ofits acidic nature, according tothe Vinegar Institute.

� Storage Tip: Keep vinegartightly covered.

This article is reprinted from University ofNebraska Cooperative Extension �Connect,�February 2003.

Grocery shopping, foodpreparation, even eating inAmerica means changing somelifelong habits for many newresidents of Lincoln and Omaha.

Newcomers can learnhealthy food management on alimited budget through Univer-sity of Nebraska CooperativeExtension�s Nutrition EducationProgram (NEP), said CarrieSchneider-Miller, extensioneducator in Douglas/Sarpycounties. They are eager tolearn, she said.

�They want to be healthierthemselves and they want theirkids to be healthier,� Schneider-Miller said.

Schneider-Miller works

Have a healthy, happy Easterwith these tips from MaryTorell, Public InformationOfficer, Nebraska Department ofAgriculture, Poultry & EggDivision.� Inspect the eggs before

purchasing them, making surethey are not dirty or cracked.Dangerous bacteria may entera cracked egg. For perfecthard-cooked eggs for Easteregg dyeing, keep in mind thefresher the egg, the harder it isto peel. Try to buy your eggs aweek or two in advance andrefrigerate them.

� Make sure you wash yourhands thoroughly with hot

largely with Omaha�s Hispanicpopulation, as well as some ofthe estimated 4,000 Sudanesewho recently have immigrated tothe city.

Maureen Burson, extensioneducator in Lancaster County,coordinates NEP for refugeesfrom Russia, Bosnia, Kuwait,Iran and Iraq.

�They come here notknowing how Americans shopor how to obtain food assis-tance,� Burson said. �We hookthem up with these choices.�

NEP is a no-charge, feder-ally funded program that teachesoverall nutrition and food safety.Topics include the Food GuidePyramid, food money manage-ment, meal planning, foodsafety, healthy snacking, andfeeding infants and children.

Schneider-Miller said manyNEP participants are accustomedto daily market shopping be-cause of the scarcity of storablefoods in their homelands.

Newcomers Learn Food ShoppingManagement, Healthy Nutrition

soapy water and rinse thembefore handling the eggs whencooking, cooling, dyeing andhiding them. After hardcooking eggs, dye them andreturn them to the refrigerator.If eggs are to be eaten, use afood-safe coloring. Countingthe TOTAL COMBINED timeeggs are being dyed and thetime they are out during anEaster egg hunt, they shouldnot be out of refrigeration overTWO HOURS.

� Store dyed eggs in a cleancontainer.

� If you�re having an Easter egg

Easter Egg Safety

see EGG SAFETY on page 11

see NEWCOMERS on page 11

Extension Assistant Mary Abbott (center) teaches Sudanese womentips on how to feed their families.

The Lancaster County Weed Control Authority Web site atwww.ci.lincoln.ne.us/cnty/weedsprovides very useful information about the Authority�sprogram and activities and about weed control and manage-ment. The site is continually being updated. In 2002, the sitereceived more than 37,000 hits.

Via the Web site, you can:➜ Contact the Weed Control Authority.➜ Make a weed complaint.➜ Make a real-time search of current weed inspections.➜ Look at a map of noxious weed locations in the county.➜ See the latest listing of possible weed special assess-

ments.➜ Study noxious weed and weed abatement laws and

regulations.➜ Learn about noxious weed identification.➜ Read about the County Noxious Weed and City Weed

Abatement Programs.➜ See plans and reports.➜ Check on noxious weed controls.➜ Learn about managing natural areas in an urban setting.➜ Test your knowledge about Nebraska weeds.➜ Link to other weed control Web sites:

� Nebraska Weed Control Association: www.neweed.org� North American Weed Management Association:

www.nawma.org� Federal Noxious Weed Program: www.aphis.usda.gov/

ppq/weeds

Lancaster County Weed Control Web site

Even though 2002was a very dry year, moreacres of noxious weedswere found and the acresof weed abatementviolations was about thesame as 2001.

The most significantchange during the yearwas the drop in purpleloosestrife violationsfound. There were 482violations found in 2001as compared to 143purple loosestrife viola-tions found in 2002.

InspectionActivity

There were 7,601inspections made of 3,763sites on 28,503 acresduring the year. Therewere 3,364 violationsfound on 6,980 acres.Violations dropped 376from last year but acresof violations increased by983.

Lancaster CountyNoxious Weed ControlProgram

We found 1,502infestations on 5,870acres. The number ofinfestations founddecreased by 576 but theacres increased by 1,033. There were 344 less purpleloosestrife infestations found. This was due to the excellentresponse from homeowners that removed their ornamentalplantings of lythrum. The number of infestations found bynoxious weed is shown below. Of these sites, 1,083 werecontrolled by landowners. The Authority controlled 55 sitesand 36 were contract controlled and owners billed $9,931.We assessed 12 properties for nonpayment.

City of Lincoln Weed Abatement ProgramThe City of Lincoln�s Weed Abatement Program requires

landowners to maintain weeds and worthless vegetation at

Weed AwarenessPrepared by the Lancaster County Weed Control Authority

Annual Report � 2002 in Reviewless than six inches ontheir properties and onone half of the adjacentstreets and alleys. Therewas a continuingemphasis on obtainingvoluntary compliance oflandowners. Afternotification, 93 percentof owners cut theirovergrowth. This wasaccomplished with a 10percent reduction inlegal notifications issuedfrom 66 percent downto 56 percent. Afternotifying 13 differententities by letter orphone, 32 of the 33violations on publicproperty were takencare of. The east side of84th Street was not cut.The adjacent landowneris outside the City limitsand not subject to theCity ordinance. Therewere 101 propertiesforce-cut and ownersbilled $14,087, proper-ties were assessed fornonpayment.

Weed AwarenessA high voluntary

compliance with thenoxious weed controlact and the weedabatement ordinance is

dependent on landowner awareness and acceptance. Severalapproaches were used to improve the public awareness.This began with a Weed Awareness Special insert to the AprilLancaster County Cooperative Extension Service Neblinewith a circulation of nearly 11,000. The Authority Web siteat www.ci.lincoln.ne.us/cnty/weeds was maintained andupdated. Over 1,000 special mailings were made to multipleviolators, leafy spurge owners, homeowner associations,CRP contracts, nurseries and garden centers, public landmanagers and others. An exhibit was prepared and displayedin the lobby of Lancaster Extension Education Center, at theNebraska State Fair and other locations.

The Lancaster County WeedControl Authority staff assistslandowners in the job of controllingnoxious weeds. Many landowners areaccomplishing control without anyassistance or contact from theAuthority. The Authority carries out astrong information and awarenessprogram along with an extensiveinspection program to encouragevoluntary compliance of the Ne-braska Noxious Weed Control Act.

The WeedControl

Authority

Maps of noxious weed locations are available on theAuthority Web site. A county map is displayed with thenoxious weed locations. You may zoom into an area ofinterest. As you zoom in, an aerial photo background withownership lines becomes visible. You also can see sym-bols representing the approximate location of a noxiousweed site. You then may find 2002 information on the siteby clicking on a symbol.

Current WeedInspections SearchYou may now access informa-

tion on the Web site about anyactive inspection made by theauthority.

All inspections are shown forsites with infestations not yet undercontrol. You may search forindividual sites by entering theaddress of the parcel, the parcel IDnumber or the owner�s name. Youmay also look at all the inspectionsfor a weed problem: musk thistle,plumeless thistle, Canada thistle,leafy spurge purple loosestrife orweed abatement in Lincoln.

Map of Noxious Weed Locations

The Authority has also providedthe inspection and administration ofthe City of Lincoln�s �Weed Abate-ment Program� since entering into aninterlocal agreement with the City.

The County Commissioners serveas the Lancaster County WeedControl Authority. Russell Shultzserves as the superintendent andsupervises a seasonal staff of sixweed inspectors with the assistanceof Chief Inspector, Barb Frazier andLinda Spilker, account clerk.

Contact InfoLancaster County Weed ControlAuthority444 Cherrycreek Road,Building �B�Lincoln, NE 68528-1507441-7817

Weed AwarenessSeven plants have

been designated as�noxious weeds�Nebraska. Five of

these can be found inLancaster County:

Plumeless Thistle(12 reported infestations in 2002)

Canada Thistle(12 reported infestations in 2002)

Purple Loosestrife(143 reported infestations in 2002)

Leafy Spurge(307 reported infestations in 2002)

Musk Thistle(1,040 reported infestations in 2002)

The University of Nebraska Cooperative Extension has updated its �Guide forWeed Management in Nebraska� (EC03-130) for 2003. The 148-page publication isavailable online at www.ianr.unl.edu/pubs/fieldcrops/ec130.htm or you may purchasea copy for $3 at the UNL Cooperative Extension in Lancaster County office.

The guide features several new sections as well as the latest research-basedupdates to the existing information on weed control and herbicide efficacy for arange of Nebraska crops and cropping practices.

Most weeds owe their beginning toseed in the soil. The soil acts as a seedstorage reservoir and a growth mediumfor weedy plants.

The number of seeds in the soil isvariable and may range from two seedsper pound of surface soil in grassland to140 seeds per pound of surface soil incropland. In western Nebraska anaverage cropland soil contained 114seeds per pound of surface soil. On aper acre basis, the seed content ap-proached 200 million seeds per acre.

In grasslands, a majority of theweed seed is located within one inch ofthe soil surface, while in cultivated soil,the majority of the seed is located in theupper six inches of soil.

Loss of Seed From the SoilSeeds are lost from the soil due to

feeding by rodents and insects, decay orgermination. The length of weed seedsurvival depends on the species, depthof burial and tillage. Seeds from someweeds may only survive a year when

buried in the soil, while others willremain viable for 30 years or more. Assoils are cultivated, seeds are exposed tolight and moved closer to the soilsurface, stimulating germination. Ifweed seed production is prevented,weed seed can be lost from the soil at arate of 25 percent per year in cultivatedsoil and 12 percent per year in undis-turbed soil. The quickest way toreduce seed numbers is to practiceshallow tillage and prevent weedsfrom producing seed.

In experiments conducted acrossNebraska, weed seed decline was exam-ined in continuous corn where atrazinewas combined with cultivation for fiveconsecutive years. After five years ofpreventing weeds from producing seed,the weed seed density was reduced 95percent. During the sixth year, weedcontrol efforts stopped and the weedseed density began to rapidly increase.Weed control must be continuallypracticed to prevent an increase ofweed seed content in the soil.

Where Do Weeds Come From?

�Guide for Weed Management inNebraska� Updated for 2003

When noxious weeds bloomsdepends whether you are in easternNebraska or western Nebraska or if thegrowing season is warmer or coolerthan normal. Plants will bloom earlier ineastern Nebraska and earlier if thegrowing season is warmer. The conceptof growing degree days was developedto predict the dates for growth stagesfor crops. Growing degree days can alsobe applied to other plants.

Growing DegreeDays

The concept ofgrowing degree days(GDD) resulted fromobservations that plantgrowth and developmentare more closely relatedto an accumulation oftemperature above acertain base than timealone. The base tempera-ture is a threshold belowwhich growth does nottake place. A basetemperature of 40º F iscommonly used for cool-season crops and 50º Ffor warm-season crops.

GDD for a particularday are obtained bysubtracting the appropri-ate base temperaturefrom the average dailytemperature. Thus, on a

day with temperature averaging 60º F,the GDD for a cool-season plant such asnoxious weeds would be 60 - 40 = 20.For a warm-season crop such as beans,GDD would be 60 - 50 = 10.

GDD and Stages of Growthof Nebraska Noxious Weeds

The Weed Control Superintendentsin counties having an official NebraskaWeather Station were asked to record

When Will Weeds Bloom?

Introduction of Weed SeedInto the Soil

Seed is introduced to the soilthrough several avenues, with the chiefsource being the production of seedby weeds allowed to mature. Weedseed can also enter a field from outsidesources, with the primary seed dispersalmethods being wind, water, animals andman.

Man also introduces weed seed intocropland. As crop seed is planted, weedseed is often a contaminant. As a farmercombines his crops and moves fromfield to field, he may contaminate theentire farm with numerous weed seeds.

Many weed seeds pass through thedigestive tracts of animals and remainviable. When manure is used to fertilizecropland, weed seeds are systematicallyintroduced across fields.

Reference: NebGuide (G86-807-A) �Where Do WeedsCome From?� online at www.ianr.unl.edu/pubs/weeds/g807.htm

the dates that 50 percent of the muskthistle, Canada thistle, plumeless thistleand leafy spurge reached their keystages of growth. These observationswere made in 1995, 1996 and 1997. Theobserved dates that 50 percent of thenoxious weeds reached each of itsgrowth stages was matched up with 40ºF GDD data from the weather stationsarriving at an average GDD required toreach each growth stage. Following isthe average GDD required to reach the

key growth stages foreach of the observednoxious weeds and thedate that this would occurin Lincoln in an averageyear.

GDD by Stage ofGrowth andLincoln DateThis information can

be used to project thedates the noxious weedswould reach each of itsgrowth stages in a normalyear or a year that variedfrom normal by trackingthe accumulated GDD forthat year. GrowingDegree Day informationis available at Crop WatchWeather atcropwatch.unl.edu/weather.htm

Another available resource is �Weeds of Nebraska and the Great Plains,� published by theNebraska Department of Agriculture. For more information please contact: Nebraska Departmentof Agriculture, PO Box 94756, Lincoln, NE 68509 or call 471-2394.

Weed AwarenessTo successfully fight weeds,

you need to know as much aspossible about each weed. Thenyou need to develop a strategy tomanage that weed.

Musk thistle (Carduusnutans) is usually thought of as abiennial, germinating one year,usually in the fall, overwinteringand flowering the next year.When there is a long enoughcool period in the spring, somemusk thistle plants will act asannuals by germinating in thespring and flowering in earlysummer. Musk thistle spreadsonly by seed. One seed head canproduce over 1,000 seeds. Theseeds can remain viable in thesoil for ten years. The key tomanaging musk thistle is toprevent all plants from going toseed.

The acres of musk thistlefound by inspections the pasteight years have fluctuated fromabout 4,300 acres to about 6,500acres. The number of infesta-tions found has remained moreconstant from about 1,500 to2,000. This would indicate thatthe noxious weed infestations

Leafy spurge (Euphorbiaesula) is a perennial plant rangingin size from six to 36 inches inheight. A native of Europe andAsia, leafy spurge emerges earlyin the spring and gets a headstart on other vegetation in arace for space, sunlight, nutri-ents and water. Prolific seedproduction and an extensive rootsystem give the plant a hugecompetitive advantage and makeconsistent, long-term controldifficult.

Monitoring of areaswith known or potentialleafy spurge infestations iscritical; adequate control ispossible if managementprocedures are implementedin the early stages ofinfestation, before the rootsystem gets fully estab-lished. You can rarelyachieve 100 percent eradi-cation of spurge, butinfestations can be reduced tomanageable levels with the useof herbicides.

StrategyThe control of well-estab-

lished leafy spurge stands mustbe considered a long-termmanagement program. A land-owner must develop a persistentannual program that will preventthe spread of larger stands,eliminate smaller infestations andprevent the spread of leafyspurge to uninfested areas. Theextensive leafy spurge rootsystem allows the plant toregrow from depths of 15 feet

occur in the same sitesyear after year but size ofthe infestations varyconsiderably due toclimatic conditions. Goodmoisture conditions in thefall, like we received in thefall of 2002, favor thegermination of musk thistleseeds near the soil surfaceat these sites. These plantswill flower the next springif the plants are notcontrolled that fall or thenext spring.

Control Steps1) Scout the areas with past

infestations in late Septemberand early October for seedlingsand rosettes. A seed bank hasbuilt up in the soil at these sites.These seeds will remain viablefor eight or more years waitingfor the right conditions togerminate.

2) It is most effective totreat the entire area withherbicides in order to control allthe small seedlings and rosettesand seedlings that have notemerged. Spot control of thesesites usually results in a lot ofescapes since not all the plantsare observed and some plants

germinate later.3) Use 2,4-D as a contact

herbicide along with a herbicidethat will add to the effectivenessof killing the plants present butalso have residual that will killlater germinating plants. Some ofthe herbicides that will provideresidual control are Escort

(www.dupont.com/ag/vm/products/escort.html), Tordon22K, Vanquish, Banvel and Telar(www.dupont.com/ag/vm/literature/h87276.pdf).

4) Scout these fall treatedareas in March and April forescapes and new plants.

5) Provide control prior tobolting of the flower stem inMay. Use 2,4-D along with aresidual herbicide.

6) Scout these areas weeklyand provide needed follow-upcontrol until July. Be alert to themusk thistle plants acting asannuals due to a cool spring.

Remember, the best ap-proach to control musk thistle isto scout and treat areas withpast infestations (these areashave built up a seed bank in thesoil) in the fall and spring.Provide treatment in the springprior to bolting and always scouttreated areas for escaped plants.Only one plant going to seed cancontribute thousands of seeds tothe seed bank.

Mechanical Control

Severing the root ofmusk thistle a couple ofinches below the soil surfacewill kill the plant. The entireroot does not have to beremoved.

Hand cutting or mowinghas to be done at weeklyintervals to be effective.

Fire has not proven toprovide effective control. Theplants survive prescribedburning, but can be easily

found and controlled by othermeans after the burn.

Biological ControlMusk thistle head weevil

(Rhinocyllus conicus) is anintroduced biocontrol specieswide spread in LancasterCounty. They are reducing thenumber of viable seeds beingproduced, but do not providecomplete control by themselves.You can learn more about

Musk Thistle Management Strategy

or more for several years. Nosingle treatment will eradicatethis weed. A consistent annualtreatment program can providelong-term control. Once you haveachieved a high level of control,remaining isolated patches canbe spot-treated, resulting in aless costly control program.

This plant spreads byunderground roots and there isalways a fringe area of youngerplants that do not bloom. There

are also roots underground thatextend laterally beyond theyounger plants. A 15-footperimeter should be treatedaround leafy spurge patches tocontrol seedlings and spreadingroots. Treated patches should bewatched carefully for anyregrowth and/or seedlings andretreated.

Chemical ControlCurrently, the three most

effective herbicides are Tordon22K, Plateau and Glyphosate(Roundup and others)

Before using any herbicide,always read and follow label

directions. Check label forpermitted uses on your site.

Tordon (picloram)Tordon has been an effec-

tive herbicide for controllingleafy spurge. Tordon applied attwo quarts per acre duringflowering or fall regrowth cangive 75 percent or more leafyspurge control the first yearafter treatment. A less expensiveoption for leafy spurge control is

repeated annual treatmentsof Tordon at one to twopints per acre plus 2,4-D atone quart (four pound pergallon concentrate) appliedin June, during flowering,can be quite effective.Tordon is a restricted usepesticide requiring anapplication license to apply.Note label precautions.

Plateau (imazapic)Plateau applied in the fall at

eight to 12 ounces per acre canprovide up to 90 percent leafyspurge control one year aftertreatment. The label recom-mends application from late-August to mid-October, but priorto a killing frost. Plateau shouldbe applied with a methylatedseed oil, (MSO), at one quart peracre. The addition of 28 percentUAN liquid fertilizer to Plateauplus the MSO has occasionallyincreased long-term leafy spurgecontrol. Plateau is safe to usearound a variety of trees, manywildflowers and legumes.

Glyphosate (e.g. Roundup)Glyphosate (e.g. Roundup)

applied at a rate of one quart peracre from mid-July to mid-September can result in 80�90percent control of leafy spurge.Note that glyphosate is a nonse-lective herbicide and it will killgrasses and other desirableplants. A follow-up treatmentwith 2,4-D at one pint (fourpound per gallon concentrate)the following year (mid-June tomid-July) is necessary toprevent seedling reinfestation.

Mechanical andGrazing

Tillage, digging,mowing and grazingwill control the topgrowth but does notkill the roots.

BiologicalControl

Two Aphthonaflea beetle specieshave been released inLancaster County.When their numbersget large enough, theywill be redistributed to

Leafy Spurge Management Strategy

biological control by visitingCornell University Web site atwww.nysaes.cornell.edu/ent/biocontrol/weedfeeders/wdfdrtoc.html

PreventionInfestations occur where

there is a seed bank in the soiland the conditions are right forgermination and survival.Healthy vegetation providescompetition and minimizes thesurvival of musk thistle seedlings.

Care should be taken not tospread seeds from infested sitesor to use forage or seeds that arecontaminated with noxious weedseeds. Equipment should becleaned before leaving an infestedsite if it is possibly contami-nated. Only weed-free certifiedforage and seed should be used.

Reference: You can find much moreinformation on musk thistle by looking at TheNature Conservancy Element StewardshipAbstract for Carduus nutans at: http://tncweeds.ucdavis.edu/esadocs/documnts/cardnut.pdf

Spot TreatmentsFor hand sprayers used for spot treatments, add 1-1/2

tablespoons of herbicide per gallon of water for each one quartper acre required broadcast. Apply to 1,000 square feet. Applica-tion amounts are dependent upon spray pressure, walkingspeed during treatment, and tip size. For powered handgunapplications, mix broadcast rate in 100 gallons of water.

NOTE: Wettable powder herbicide rates would be deter-mined by the same procedure; however, since volume or densityof wettable powder herbicides varies, the calculated rate per1,000 square feet, should be carefully measured by weighing ona precision scale.

Rate Per Acre to 1,000 Square Feet1. Known facts and assumptions:

� 1 acre = 43,560 sq. ft.� 2 pounds = 32 oz.; 1 pint = 16 oz.; 1 quart = 32 oz.� 1 ounce = 2 tablespoons = 6 teaspoons� Herbicide rate per acre from bulletin or label� Hand sprayers apply about 1 gallon per 1,000 sq. ft.

2. Convert herbicide rate per acre to ounces:� For example, 2 quart per acre = 64 oz.

3. Convert 64 ounces per acre to ounces per 1,000 sq. ft.� 64/43 = 1.50 oz. or three tablespoons per 1,000 sq. ft.

4. Add three tablespoons of the product to one gallon ofwater and apply uniformly to 1,000 sq. ft.

other infestations. Flea beetlestypically take several years toimpact leafy spurge infestations,but the payoff can be well worththe wait. It is important tounderstand that flea beetles donot eliminate leafy spurge. Whenflea beetles work, they establisha natural balance with the weed,reducing it to a non-impact plantand tolerable member of theplant community.

Reference: TEAM and Leafy Spurge hasdeveloped a comprehensive, easy-to-readmanuals on using herbicides and biologicalcontrol. These manuals, �Herbicide Controlof Leafy Spurge� and �Biological Control ofLeafy Spurge,� can be found atwww.team.ars.usda.gov by clicking onBrochures, Reports & Publications.

Flea beetles have been released in LancasterCounty to help control leafy spurge.

Leafy spurge extend roots deep into thegrown as well as laterally.

Musk thistle rosette

Weed Awareness

2003 Weed Control PlanThe mission of the Lancaster County

Weed Control Authority is: The educationof the public concerning noxious weedsand to exercise the necessary authority toobtain effective control of noxious weedscounty-wide and the education of thepublic concerning weed abatement and toexercise the necessary authority to cutand clear overgrown weeds and worth-less vegetation in the City of Lincoln.

The 2003 plan is directed at preven-tion of new weed problems, managingexisting weed problems and makinglandowners and the public more aware ofthe need and benefits of controllingnoxious weeds and the prevention ofaccidental or intended introduction ofhighly invasive plants.

PreventionEfforts will be implemented to detect

new occurrences of noxious weeds orplant species with noxious weed poten-tial. Sericea lespedeza, Johnsongrass andSpotted and Diffuse Knapweeds will betarget in this effort. Inspectors will betrained to identify and monitor presenceof these weeds. Others will be alerted andencouraged to report any findings ofthese weeds. Immediate response will bemade to new outbreaks of noxious weedsor potential noxious weeds. It is alsoimportant to control the spread ofnoxious weeds to new sites. Articleinspections and quarantines will be usedas needed to control dissemination.Weed-free forage inspections will bemade upon request.

ManagementPlans are to encourage voluntary

compliance of required noxious weedcontrol county-wide weed and abatementin the City of Lincoln by making inspec-tions of 3,300 sites.� 700 musk thistle sites will be inspected

There is proposed legislation incongress to require the Secretary ofInterior to establish a program toprovide assistance through states toeligible weed management entities tocontrol or eradicate harmful, non-native weeds on public and privateland. Noxious Weed Control Act of2003 (S.144) was introduced inSenate. Harmful Invasive WeedControl Act (H.R.119) was introducedin House.

This legislation would:� Provide assistance to weed manage-

ment entities such as the LancasterCounty Weed Control Authority incarrying out weed managementprojects.

� Coordinate the projects with existingweed management entities across alljurisdictional boundaries.

� Stimulate the formation of new weedmanagement entities, that organizelocally affected stakeholders tocontrol or eradicate weeds.

during the spring-summer season. Thiswill include inspections of private lands,Union Pacific and BNSF railroads, ofthe Bluff Road and 48th Street landfills,of all complaints, all observed infesta-tions and make an end of the seasondrive of the 1,400 miles of countyroads to observe undetected infestationson roadsides and adjacent properties.

� 400 Leafy spurge sites will be in-spected, including 200 county roadsidesites. Monitor the two biologicalinsectaries and make redistribution tonew sites.

� 200 Problem musk thistle sites and the

� Leverage additional funds.� Promote healthy, diverse and desirable

plant communities, which in turnpromote optimal (or biological potential)production of the land.

This act requires the secretary todetermine the amount of federal fundsallocated to a state or tribe on the basisof: (1) the severity of the weed problem;(2) the extent to which the federal fundswill be used to leverage non-federal fundsto address the problem; and (3) theprogress the state or tribe has made inaddressing weed problems.

This act also requires states to selectprojects for funding on a competitivebasis, taking into consideration: (1) theseriousness of the weed problem; (2) thelikelihood that the project will prevent orresolve the problem or increase knowl-edge about resolving similar problems;(3) the extent to which the payment willleverage non-federal funds to address theproblem; (4) the extent the entity hasmade progress in addressing weed

Noxious Weed Control Act of 2003

Lancaster County WeedControl office will providenoxious weed inspection of acrop or article upon request, acomplaint or when an infestationof noxious weeds in a crop,forage or article comes to theattention of a noxious weedinspector. The purpose of suchinspections is to prevent thedissemination of noxious weedsby the movement of an infestedcrop or article from said pre-mises.

ResultsCrop and article inspections

will result in a crop, forage and/or article being:1) certified as noxious weed

free; or2) infested with noxious weeds

and quarantined; or3) release of quarantined crop

once it has been effectivelytreated to prevent the dissemi-nation of noxious weeds.

Landowners that sell forageor mulch may find it would be totheir benefit to have the noxiousweed-free certification. Purchas-ers may find it desirable topurchase forage or mulch thatwill not infest their property withnoxious weeds. The State RoadsDepartment requires noxiousweed-free mulch on theirroadside plantings.

The North AmericanWeed ManagementAssociation (NAWMA)in cooperation withCentral CommunityCollege, Hastings,Nebraska just initiateda North AmericanProgram For CertifiedManager of InvasivePlants. The program seeksto recognize professionalismand encourage professionaldevelopment among all practitio-ners of the component skills ofinvasive weed management. The certification as a (CMIP) isa voluntary, examination-based program with continuingeducation requirements which provides recognition ofprofessional and technical competency. There has been someinterest by states and others to utilize the program as arequirement for employment, training, etc.

This program was approved for implementation by theNAWMA board July 29, 2002. The program standards andapplication form have been finalized and may be seen atwww.nawma.org/. A person must meet the education andexperience requirements listed in the standards and be acurrent member of NAWMA. An application form must becompleted and submitted along with the fee. The firstexamination will be given during the NAWMA�s AnnualConference and Trade Show in Park City, Utah September9�11, 2003. Individuals interested in receiving this certifica-tion should become a member of NAWMA, if not already amember, complete and submit their application and reviewthe suggested study materials in preparation for theexamination.

problems; (5) the extent the projectwill provide a comprehensive approachto weed control or eradication, (6) theextent the project will reduce the totalpopulation of harmful, non-nativeweeds within the State, and (7) theextent the project uses the principles ofintegrated vegetation management.

SituationThe Nebraska Noxious Weed

Control Act does not currently providethe state with the authority to handlefederal pass-through grant funds tocounties. The Nebraska Weed ControlAssociation is working with theAgricultural Committee of the Ne-braska Unicameral amend the currentlaw to have the authorities in place toutilize allocation of federal funds fromthe federal Noxious Weed Control Act.States that do not have these authori-ties in place will not be able to utilizethis federal funding.

landfill sites will be inspected in the fall.� 100 previously found purple loosestrife

sites will be inspected.Inspections will be made on 1,900

sites for violations of City Weed Abate-ment Program. Notifications and neededfollow-up will be made on all inspections.

AwarenessSeveral education efforts will be

made to make the public aware ofnoxious weeds and City Weed Abatement.� Publish this Weed Awareness Special

insert into the Lancaster CountyCooperative Extension Nebline with a

circulation of nearly 11,000.� Maintaining and updating Internet

Homepage at www.ci.lincoln.ne.us/cnty/weeds.

� Special mailings to multiple violators,leafy spurge owners, owners ofproblem infestations, homeownerassociations, public land managers andAdopt-a-Clean Road volunteers.

� Prepare and display exhibit in lobby ofLancaster Extension Education Centerand Nebraska State Fair.

Treatments

Any infested article, includ-ing harvested crops, capable ofdisseminating noxious weeds,needs to be treated before it ismoved from the premises and,preferably, before it is movedfrom the location at which theyinitially became infested. Allharvesting equipment and otherinfested equipment should haveall loose material removed bysweeping, use of forced air,forced water or other methods,as recommended by the manu-facturer.� Grain and seed should be

cleaned and the screeningsproperly disposed.

� There are no known acceptabletreatments for soil, sod,nursery stock, hay, straw andother material of a similarnature.

North AmericanWeed-Free

Certification ProgramA voluntary certification

program has been implementedby the North American WeedManagement Association andcooperating states. Nebraskaparticipates in this program. Ifgrower ships or plans to shipforage or mulch to these states,

Crop, Forage and ArticleInspection Program

North American CertificationProgram for Managers of

Invasive Plantsit may be desirable to obtain acertification. Inspections aremade to assure that none of thenoxious weeds for all thewestern states and Canada arenot present.

Required CertifiedForage and Mulch

Federal public land manage-ment agencies are now requiringthat any forage or mulchbrought onto their lands becertified noxious weed free.Some state agencies are nowrequiring this certification. Asprivate landowners learn aboutthe threat of the spread ofnoxious weeds, they are insistingon the weed-free certification.

How is ForageCertified?

An individual may request acertification inspection from theweed control office. Theinspector will make an inspec-tion prior to cutting or harvest. A�Certificate of Inspection� formis issued to the producer if thefield meets the requirements ofthe regional standards. Thiscertificate will allow the move-ment of the forage into restrictedareas in the western states.

FamilyLivingLines from Lynn

Lynn BushFCE Council Chair

As I look out my windowand see blowing snow, I wonderif my calendar is correct. IsMarch 20 reallythe first day ofspring?

Today Idon�t mindhaving to stayinside. I had a�domestic impulse.� I have mybread machine going (home-made bread the lazy way), andapple pie in the oven and I�vecleaned three cupboards. My

family is hoping this becomesthe normal routine. However,I�m sure it�s just a passingfancy. At least I hope so, I�mtoo old for this much energy.

I�m sure the weather willchange for the better once weget through state wrestling andbasketball tournaments. Badweather and state tournamentsseem to go hand-in-hand.

The January Family Com-munity Education (FCE) Councilmeeting brought a larger thanusual group of attendees.Everyone seemed to enjoy theirmeal at the Ville Grille. They alsohad fun making pincushions atthe Back Porch.

CHARACTER COUNTS! Corner

March 2003 NEBLINEThe Page 7

H FCE News HFamily Community Education (FCE) Council Meeting March 24

The FCE Council meeting will be Monday, March 24 at 1 p.m. at the Lancaster ExtensionEducation Center. The program will be �How the Consumer Can Recognize Frauds and Steps toTake� by Jessica Fuchs from the Attorney General�s office.

All FCE members are invited to attend. Please call Pam at 441-7180 to register by Friday,March 21. (LB)

FCE Training Lesson March 25The April Family and Community Education leader training lesson, �Drinking Water: Don�t

Take It for Granted,� will be presented by Lorene Bartos, extension educator, Tuesday March 25,1 p.m.

Water is second to oxygen as being essential for life. People can survive days, weeks or evenlonger without food, but only about four days without water. The goals of this program is tounderstand more about the sources of drinking water, encourage Nebraska residents to not takedrinking water as a given commodity and encourage Nebraskans to become active in protectionof their private or community drinking water.

Non-FCE members interested in attending should preregister by calling Pam at 441-7180 aweek before the lesson, so materials can be prepared. (LB)

FCE ScholarshipA $300 scholarship provided by the Lancaster County FCE Council is available for a graduate

of a high school in Lancaster County or a permanent resident of Lancaster County majoring infamily and consumer science or a health occupation. This is open to full-time students beginningtheir sophomore, junior or senior year of college in the fall of 2003 or who have completed twoquarters of study in a vocational school. Applications are due April 1 in the extension office. (LB)

by Lorene Bartos, Extension Educator

Beltline and 49�ers FCEclubs have been busy planningthe March Council meeting. Itwill be Monday, March 24, 1p.m. Jessica Fuchs from theAttorney General�s office willspeak on fraud.

Tune Out Violence pledgesheets should be turned in at theMarch Council meeting.

As you�re looking throughyour seed catalogs and planningyour �best ever� garden, don�tforget to support your FCECouncil and attend the MarchCouncil meeting. Everyone iswelcome.

Character is a moral sense, the capacity to expressintegrity, virtue and goodness. It is what you are when noone is watching. Individuals with character are those whocan bring themselves to do what is right even when the costis high, they have moral courage. The most powerful andlasting lessons about character aretaught by making tough decisions.If we look for true success,we should take the neces-sary steps to build charac-ter into our lives. Finally,remember good charactersprings from the heart. (BR)

Pre-washing steps will help achieve the best laundryresults. Clean out all pockets (turn them inside out, if possible)to remove crumbs, food and other items that may causestaining. Unroll shirt sleeves and pant cuffs and unbuttoncollars and cuffs for efficient cleaning. To help preventclothes from tangling and snagging, close all zippers andfasten hooks and other closures. Mend tears immediately tohelp cut down on extensive repairs later on.

Kenneth Boulding, aneconomist, philosopher andgeneral systems theorist, wrotehuman betterment is the endtoward which we individuallyand collectively should strive.Betterment is an increase in the�ultimate good,� which is goodin itself. Four great virtues makeup this ultimate good:1) Economic adequacy �

�riches� in contrast topoverty; nourishment ratherthan starvation; adequatehousing, clothing, health careand other essentials of life;

2) Justice � in contrast toinjustice; equality rather thaninequality in access to work,education and health;

3) Freedom � in contrast tocoercion and confinement;and

4) Peacefulness � in contrastto warfare and strife.Boulding proposed these greatvirtues may be considereduniversal values. All thecultures he has examinedappear to share these values.

In the same vein, research-ers who study the qualities ofstrong families around the worldnote how remarkably similarthese families are from culture toculture. Strong families tend to

If you know of someonewho is feeling distress becauseof separation caused by therecent deployment of troops,you can help. Here�s how:� Offer help with everyday tasks

like child care, transportation,household repairs, financialforms or other things thefamily may need. It may bedifficult for a person whoneeds help to bring up thesubject.

� Fixing a meal and taking it to afamily would be helpful to theparent who is working andjuggling schedules to getchildren to their activities.

� Offer a listening ear instead oftrying to cheer the person up.Often well meaning friends saythings like, �Things will befine� or �You�ll be backtogether in no time.� Eventhough such words are meantto be reassuring, the personwho is distressed may feel you

Child Care ProvidersConference

Saturday, April 26 � 8 a.m.�4 p.m.Lancaster Extension Education Center�Your Game Plan for a Winning Team� is the theme of this

year�s conference. Speakers include Jody Isernhagen, UNL;Pam Dolberg, Family Service; Pat Enevoldson, SoutheastCommunity College; Sharon Cheney, Humorist and more.

Cost is $10. For a conference flyer call the extensionoffice 441-7180 or Family Service, 441-7949.

Preregistration is due April 15. In-service hours will be givenfor this conference. Plan now to attend. (LB)

don�t understand.� Instead of asking, �How are

you?� when you greet theperson, wait until you�vechatted a few minutes. Thenpause and ask, �How arethings going?� When you askthe question right away, theperson may not know if youreally want an answer. Be sureyou have time to listen beforeyou ask the question.

� Continue to make personalcontact because the first timeyou reach out, the person maynot be ready to accept your help.Continue to be available and letthe person know you care.

� Sometimes a physical gesture,like a hug or an arm around theshoulder, may say more thanany words.

Just remembering those athome and those who are servingtheir country in any way helpsmake the time apart easier tohandle. (LB)

Deployment � HelpThose Left Behind

share six broad qualities orstrengths:1) Appreciation and affection

for each other;2) Commitment to the well-

being of the family and thegrowth of each individualfamily member;

3) Positive communicationamong family members;

4) Enjoyable time together ��quality time and in greatquantities�;

5) Sense of spiritual well-being within the family andconnection to the greatergood in the world; and

6) Ability to cope with stressand crisis � preventing

Creating a Strong Family � Universal Values,Family Strengths and the Quest for a Peaceful World

difficulty when possible anddealing creatively with it whennecessary.

The above illustrationcombines Boulding�s universalvalues with the Family StrengthModel. From a global perspec-tive, the ultimate good and thestrengths that create humanhappiness in our most intimateinstitution, the family, areremarkably similar.

If the values we share as ahuman family are so closelyaligned, we must be able to finda way to build a peaceful worldtogether.

Source: John DeFrain, UNL ExtensionSpecialist (LB)

NEBLINEThe

4-H & Youth

March 2003 Page 8

Kiwanis KarnivalKarnival time is here! The Kiwanis Karnival is a free

family event sponsored by Lincoln Center Kiwanis. It isscheduled for Saturday, April 5, 7�9 p.m. at the LancasterEvent Center, 84th & Havelock, in the Exhibit Hall. All 4-Hfamilies are invited to attend this fun and free activity.

4-H clubs or families are needed to provide carnival-type game booths for the evening.

Each booth will have an area 4' x 6' to use. Prizes areprovided. If your club or family would like to provide abooth, call the extension office to register by March 28.

There will be bingo for the adults and treats for all.Plan now to attend this fun, family activity. For moreinformation, call Lorene at 441-7180. (LB)

Recycle Ink JetCartridges and Help

4-H CWF

The Lancaster CountyCitizenship Washington Focus(CWF) group is collectingcomputer printer ink jet car-tridges as part of a �ChildrenHelping Children� recyclingprogram. CWF will receive $3per cartridge and the emptycartridges are diverted from thelandfill.

Help CWF and the environ-ment by saving all ink jetcartridges from home and work.Empty cartridges can bedropped off at the extensionoffice or the Lancaster EventCenter. Your help is greatlyappreciated! (DK)

The Lancaster County Checkmates 4-H chess club invitesall Nebraska 4-H�ers to a chess tournament! The CheckmatesTournament is also open to 4-H friends age 18 and under. It isnonrated, so no United States Chess Federation membershipis required.

This is a four-round, Swiss system chess tournament.Players who notate their games will be eligible for special

drawings.

Registration InformationDue to limited space, preregistration is encouraged.

Preregistration deadline is April 25. Entry fees: 4-H members:$2/Non-4-H members: $3. Payment should be made at time ofcheck in. On-site registration will depend upon availability ofspace. On-site entry fees for those not preregistered: 4-Hmembers: $3/Non-4-H members: $4.

For more information, contact James Walla, Checkmatesleader, at 476-2094 or e-mail jgwbohemian@yahoo.com.

Registration form and rules are available at theextension office or online lancaster.unl.edu/4-H.

4-H ChessTournament

Saturday, May 3Lancaster Extension Education Center

444 Cherrycreek Road, Lincoln8:30�9:30 a.m. On-site registration*9:00�9:30 a.m. Check in9:45 a.m. Opening announcements10:00 a.m. 1st round11:30 a.m. 2nd round12:30 p.m. Lunch1:30 p.m. 3rd round3:00 p.m. 4th round4:15 p.m. Awards

*A $1 late registration fee will be added on May 3

Dine Out for CWF at Don & Millie�son Second Sunday of Each MonthOn the second Sunday of each month, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Don & Millie�s will host

Dine Out for 4-H Citizen Washington Focus (CWF). When people indicate they are eating for4-H, Don & Millie�s will donate 20 percent of the profits of those meals. Don & Millie�s islocated at 5200 S. 56th Street, near the Edgewood Shopping Center. You and your family cansupport CWF by dining out at Don & Millie�s during these times and telling them you areeating for 4-H. Mark your calendars with these dates: April 13, May 11, June 8, July 13, Aug10 and Sep. 14. Thanks to Don & Millie�s and to those who �Dine Out for CWF�!

Upcoming Beef Progress ShowsUNL Block & Bridle Big Red Beef Show � Saturday, March 22, 9 a.m., PlatteCounty Fairground, Columbus. Check in: Friday, March 21, 5�9 p.m. or Saturday, 6�7:30a.m. Contact: Genna Frenzen, (402) 325-7347 or (308) 550-0924.

York County Cattlemen Beef Progress Show � Saturday, March 29, 9 a.m., YorkCounty Fairgrounds, York. Registration & Weigh In: Friday, March 28, 5�8 p.m. Entry fee: $20per head/$10 for York County residents. Contact Gerald Peterson, (402) 362-5508.

Burt County Beef Preview � Saturday, April 5, City Park, Oakland. Entry fee: $20 peranimal if entered by March 29/$25 per animal after March 29. Contact Chris Fleischman, (402)456-7457 or Todd Cull, (402) 685-5422.

Northeast Nebraska Spring Fling Steer & Heifer Show � Sunday, April 6, 2003starting at 9:30 a.m. Madison County Fairgrounds, Madison. Check In: April 5, 7� 9 p.m. &April 6, 7� 8:30 a.m. Entry fee: $15 per head. Contact Shelly Palmer, (402) 649-0216; BudPalmer, (402) 750-0859 or Mark or Deb May, (402) 371-4610.

Blue Valley Beef Revue � Saturday, April 19, Jefferson County Fair GroundsFairbury. Entries will be accepted for show until 9 a.m. Contact Robert Strizke, (402) 729-3487or Mick Hynek, (402) 729-5910. Additional information on Web site: www.Jefferson.unl.edu.

Saline County Beef Classic � Sunday, May 4, Tuxedo Park, Crete. Check In andShowmanship: May 3. Contact Eric Stehlik, (402) 821-2151 or estehlik2@unl.edu. More informa-tion to follow.

Webster County Beef Progress Show � Saturday, May 17, Webster County Fair-grounds, Bladen. Contact Tim or Gwen Meline, (402) 746-3437. Additional information to follow.

Wayne Area Chamber of Commerce Annual Steer & Heifer Show � Saturday,June 14, 1 p.m., Wayne County Fairgrounds, Wayne. Entry times: 8:30�10:30 a.m. day ofshow. Entry fee: $15 per head. Contact: William J Claybaugh, (402) 585-4867 or Vicki Meyer(402) 375-2240 or Mark Sorensen, (402) 375-1130.

Southeast Community College Beef Classic � Saturday, June 21, 8 a.m., GageCounty Fairgrounds, Beatrice. Check in: Friday, June 20, 7�9 p.m. Entry fee: $15 per head.Contact Michael Tyrrell, (800) 233-5027 ext. 254 or Alan Rumbaugh, (402) 223-3847.

Southeast District 4-HYouth Council Accepting

NominationsThe Southeast District 4-H

Youth Council is acceptingnominations through April 1st.The Council membership isnoncompetitive and open toanyone who is 14 years or olderin the Southeast District).

The Southeast District 4-HYouth Council supports South-east District 4-H programs suchas speech contest, as well asprovides counsel on 4-H issues.The Council meets on a quar-terly basis on a Saturday orSunday afternoon.

For more information or tosubmit nominations, pleasecontact Janet Fox at 472-9582.

ORSE BITS

Horse Leader Training Information

The 4-H Horse Club Leader Training was held Feb.10 at the Lancaster Event Center. If no one was availableto represent your club at the training, please call Ellen at441-7180 and set up a time to pick up the information thatwas presented. (EK)

What if you and your 4-Hclub could take part in a great,creative presentation that wouldtravel to you? What if you couldlearn something that will im-prove your future and have funat the same time? The Nebraska4-H Kick Ash Road Show willdo just that! 4-H clubs canrequest the 4-H Kick Ash RoadShow to come and visit theirclub meeting to discuss theeffects of tobacco use. Clubsare encouraged to invite non-members to attend the Kick AshRoad Show.

Clubs will also be shownhow to effectively influencelocal-level public policy anddevelop anti-tobacco ActionPlans that can be implemented intheir communities. Participatingclubs will have the opportunityto seek a mini-grant of $300 toimplement their Kick Ash ActionPlan.

Road Show dates are Marchthrough June 6. If you areinterested in having the Kick AshRoad Show come to yourmeeting, call Kirsten King, 4-HProject Coordinator for Ne-braska Kicks Ash Campaign,at 472-2805 or e-mailkking2@unlserve.unl.edu.

Bring the 4-H KickAsh Road Show ToYour Club Meeting

March 2003 NEBLINEThe Page 9

4-H & Youth

A �Heart of 4-H Award� is awarded to a Lancaster County 4-H volunteereach month! Nominate your favorite 4-H volunteer or leader by submitting thefollowing form (also available online at lancaster.unl.edu).

I, ________________________________ , nominate _________________________________

for a �Heart of 4-H Award� because_____________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________ .

I can be reached at (phone) ____________________ or (e-mail) _______________________ .

Return form to: UNL Cooperative Extension in Lancaster County, 444 Cherrycreek Rd,Suite A, Lincoln, NE 68528.

Nominate Your Favorite 4-H Volunteer!

MARCH

Ken MajorsLancaster County 4-H

and 4-H Council are proudto announce Ken Majors asthe winner of the March�Heart of 4-H Award� inrecognition of outstandingvolunteer service.

Ken has been involvedwith the Rabbits �R� Usand Star City RabbitRaisers clubs for approxi-mately five years, and he isan active member of theRabbit VIPS Committee.He helps at various rabbitand poultry clinics andworkshops. In addition, hejudges rabbits and poultryat 4-H shows in approximately 10 counties each year. Ken willhelp at the Spring Rabbit Clinic on March 20 and judge duringthe Spring Rabbit Show on March 22.

Terri Bramhall, a member of the Rabbit VIPS committee,nominated Ken, saying, �Even though Ken has no kids in 4-H,he is always there for the rabbit 4-H�ers. He always comes toVIP meetings and is willing to do anything.�

Ken got his start in 4-H in the 1950s, when he belonged toa Nemaha County 4-H club for nine years and exhibited beef,dairy and swine.

A member of the Nebraska Tower of the Plains RabbitClub, American Polish Rabbit Club, American Rabbit BreedersAssociation and the Nebraska Poultry Association, Ken says helikes being a 4-H volunteer because, �I feel whatever I can doto help youth develop a responsibility and love for animals �no matter what animal � is very gratifying and rewarding.�He says he also enjoys, �Seeing youth grow and develop intofine characters and become responsible adults.�

Ken is a math resource person and computer lab supervi-sor for the District OR-1 Bennet/Palmyra Schools. He and hiswife, Ruth, live near Hickman and have a daughter, BethMisegadis and husband Clif who live in Lincoln, and a son,Wade, who lives in Grand Lake, Colorado. Ken and Ruth enjoyspending time with their four granddaughters and traveling toGrand Lake often.

Ken says something most people don�t know about him isthat he�s overcome being a very shy and quiet person.

Congratulations to Ken Majors. Volunteers like him areindeed, the heart of 4-H!

CAMP DATES AGEBiotechnology June 4�6 10�12Culinology� June 16�20 9�12Golf Course Management June 16�20 9�12Foreign Languages June 18�20 7�10Movie-Making July 13�19 10�12Music June 15�21 9�12Paper-Making June 16�20 9�12Textile Design June 18�20 9�12Theatre July 13�19 9�12Unicameral Youth June 22�25 8�11

Youth won�t want to miss Nebraska 4-H�s Get a�NU� Life career exploration camps to be heldthis summer at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln!Participants will have opportunities to get to knowfaculty and youth from throughout the state,explore the UNL campus, check out a particularcareer field, have fun and much more!

Early bird registration deadlinewith discounted entry feesis April 1. Final registrationdeadline is May 1. For moredetailed camp descriptions,registration form or more infor-mation, visit online at http://4h.unl.edu or pick up a brochureat the extension office.

4-H Theme Night at Saltdogs June 20Lancaster 4-H Council is sponsoring �Dis-

cover 4-H, Discover You� theme night at theLincoln Saltdogs baseball home game on Friday,June 20! �4-H Centennial� theme night at theSaltdogs last year was attended by more than

1,000 4-H�ers and family members! Ticketinformation will be published in upcoming NEBLINES.

The 2003 Lancaster County Fair Books will be mailed theFIRST WEEK OF APRIL to 4-H families and past Open Classexhibitors. They will also be available at the extension office,local banks, libraries, and surrounding towns and villages.

The 4-H & FFA version will be online at lancaster.unl.edu/4Hand the Open Class version will be online at

www.lancastereventcenter.com/fair.html .

Static ExhibitChanges

Please carefully reviewthe 2003 Lancaster CountyFair book when you receiveyour copy. This year changeshave been made to severalstatic exhibit classes.

Major changes will befound in the new Sewing forFun project. Youth enrolled inthis project MUST use thenew packet available from ouroffice. In this project severalclasses have been deleted, aswell as new classes intro-duced.

Please note the State Fairwill no longer exhibit 4-Hentry level projects.

If you have questions,contact Tracy via e-mail attkulm1@unl.edu or call441-7180.

FCS ContestReplaced with Life

Challenge Event

A statewide Life ChallengeEvent will replace the Familyand The Consumer Science(FCS) Contest. This event willfeature challenges, placingquestions and workshops.Coinciding with the PASEContest, this event will be heldJune 30�July 1, on EastCampus, Lincoln. It is foryouth age 12 and older. Watchupcoming NEBLINE issues formore information.

New this Year �Livestock AuctionWe are excited to announce

that there will be a 2003Lancaster County Fair LivestockAuction! We are in the processof looking for Lancaster CountyBoosters. If you are willing orknow of anyone willing to helpsupport the livestock auction,please call Deanna at 441-7180.

Second Year BucketCalf Project

4-H�ers who exhibited abucket calf last year are noweligible to bring that calf back tothe fair for the new second yearbucket calf project. The partici-pants will be judged on theiranimals, record books andinterview. Call Deanna at441-7180 for more information.

Sheep StyleReview????

Did you know there isanother type of style reviewin our county, open to all4-H�ers? It is called the sheeplead show. The purpose ofthis class is to present astylish and becoming pictureto lend an air of elegance andprestige. In addition, it bringsout the value of wool in sheepand the value in wool apparel.

An entrant must be anactive 4-H or FFA memberthat owns an outfit made of atleast 50 percent wool. Youthare also required to lead abreeding sheep that is beingshowed at the fair (yes, youcan borrow one) and mustwrite a one page narrative.

What a perfect time todecide to participate � wooloutfits are on sale right now!If you would like moreinformation on this activity,call Deanna at 441-7180.

JULY 30�AUGUST 3

2003

LANCASTER COUNTY FAIR

LANCASTER COUNTY FAIR NEWS

Do you want to learn some new and exciting things?Do you like making projects and meeting new people?Plan to attend one or more of the workshops at the 2003Clover College!

Look in next month�s NEBLINE for more a full list ofworkshops, information and registration forms. Somepossible workshop topics include sewing, table setting,outdoor education and nutrition. You may sign up for asmany or as few of the workshops as you like.

Most workshops will consist of one to four sessionswith each session lasting two hours. A small fee will berequired for most workshops. Call Tracy if you have anyquestions or may be interested in presenting a workshop.

Open to 4-H and non-4-H youth ages 5-16

Clover CollegeJune 24�27

March 2003 NEBLINEThe

Community &Home Living

Page 10

EXTENSION HIGHLIGHTS

Gladys Jeurink Recognized for25 Years of Master Gardener Service

The Knights of Ak-Sar-BenFoundation and the NebraskaAssociation of Fair Managerswelcome nominations for the48th Annual Nebraska PioneerFarm Awards. The programhonors farm families in Ne-braska whose land has beenowned by members of the samefamily for 100 years or more.

To date, nearly 6,000families in 93 Nebraska countieshave been honored at variouscounty fairs. Honorees receivean engraved plaque and gatepost

marker as permanent recognitionof this milestone.

The awards will be pre-sented at the 2003 LancasterCounty Fair.

Nomination forms areavailable at the extension office,444 Cherrycreek Road or theLancaster Event Center office,84th & Havelock. Forms mustbe returned to either office byMay 1.

For more information,contact Deanna Karmazin at441-7180. (DK)

Nebraska PioneerFarm Awards

On Feb. 26, GladysJeurink was recognized forher 25 years of volunteerservice to the LancasterCounty Master GardenerProgram. Gladys has edu-cated hundreds of peopleabout gardening and volun-teers over 60 hours eachyear. She has given manyeducational talks, gardentours and answered thou-sands of horticulture ques-tions. We appreciate herdedication and support to theUniversity of NebraskaCooperative Extension inLancaster County MasterGardener Volunteer Program.

The purpose of theMaster Gardener program isto support Lancaster CountyCooperative Extension�s educational programs in the areas ofhorticulture, composting, integrated pest management, yardwaste reduction and 4-H horticulture projects for LancasterCounty residents. They assist with dissemination of unbiased,research-based information to the general public of LancasterCounty.

If you would like more information about the MasterGardener Volunteer Program, please call 441-7180 to receivean informational brochure. (MJF)

Gladys Jeurink has been avolunteer Master Gardener inLancaster County for 25 years.

Identity theft has become aproblem anyone may have todeal with. Identity theft occurswhen thieves steal personalidentification, such as SocialSecurity, bank account andcredit card numbers and usethem as their own.

Thieves obtain the informa-tion easily by sorting through aperson�s trash, accessing publicrecords, overhearing numbersgiven in a phone conversation orstealing from mailboxes. Theyuse the information to opencredit card accounts, makewithdrawals from ATM�s, makecharges on credit cards andmake down payments ordeposits on a car or house.

To reduce the risk ofidentity theft and the problemsthat can result, take the follow-ing precautions.� Don�t carry Social Security

card, birth certificate orpassport in a purse or wallet,except when needed.

� Don�t print Social Security or

The University of NebraskaCooperative Extension inLancaster County has beenworking together with theAgriculture Leadership Educa-tion and Communication Depart-ment in the Neighbors WorkingTogether (NWT) project.Neighbors Working Togethercreates a supportive networkfacilitating leadership andcollaboration across 13 neigh-borhoods adjacent to bothcampuses of the University ofNebraska. The project works tostrengthen relationships betweenthe university and those neigh-borhoods through improvedcommunications and coop-eration.

This month theNEBLINE begins a seriesof articles spotlightingthe various NWTneighborhoods. Thesearticles will provide ourreaders an opportunityto better know each oneof the 13 neighborhoodsand to be inspired bytheir projects andefforts to create a bettercommunity.

North BottomsNeighborhood

North Bottomswas originally settled by Ger-mans from Russia who came tothe area attracted by theBurlington Railroad. The neigh-borhood itself was shaped bythese people, who built smallhouses on long, narrow lots inan imitation of Old Worldmodels. One feature the emi-grants brought with them fromRussia was the �summerkitchen,� which is a separate,smaller building situated close tothe kitchen door of the mainresidence. In Russia, the sum-mer kitchen was built to preventfires, since the homes in Russia

driver�s license numbers onchecks.

� Photocopy both the front andback of all credit cards andkeep in a safe location.

� Sign all credit cards as soon asthey arrive.

� Don�t leave credit card bills,credit card and ATM transac-tion receipts, store receipts,bank account statements out inthe open. Dispose of paperswith account numbers onthem, mailings indicating pre-approval or offering credit bytearing them in small pieces orshredding them before puttingin the trash or recycling.

� Don�t give out credit card orSocial Security numbers overthe phone or Internet, unlessyou make the call or know it isdefinitely a reputable company.

� Keep credit/debit receipts andcheck them against themonthly statement.

� If a credit card is stolenimmediately notify the creditcard company. If the missing

card is reported to the issuerbefore it is used by someoneelse, the cardholder owesnothing. If charges are run upbefore the card is reported, thecardholder may be liable for$50.

� If a person suspects someoneelse is using his or her SocialSecurity number it is importantto contact the Social SecurityAdministration office at(800) 269-0271.

� When a Social Security numberis requested, ask the followingquestions before giving thenumber: Why is the numberneeded? How will the numberbe used? What law requires Igive you this number? Whatare the consequences forrefusing to give the number?

Taking precautions canreduce the risk of identity theft,but should it happen, promptlyreporting the crime can minimizethe consequences. (LB)

Protect Your Credit and Identity

often had thatch roofs.Today North Bottoms is

home to a number of studentsfrom the University, as well asfamilies from a wide variety ofbackgrounds. While the neigh-borhood is no longer an isolatedethnic enclave, its �village�character is still very apparentdue to the clear physical bound-aries of the neighbor-hood.

The area is hemmed in bynatural and human-made bor-ders, including Salt Creek to theNorth and I-180 to the west.The State Fairgrounds and UNLcampus lie to the east and south.

The neighborhood hasdiversified points of interest.Hayward Park, Oak Lake Park,BMX Dirt Bike Trail and theRifle Range offer severalrecreational activities. The StateFair Park, Bob Devaney SportsCenter, UNL City Campus, theHistoric Haymarket andLincoln�s professional baseballpark are all within walking

Spotlight on a Neighborhood:North Bottoms

distance. The history of theNorth Bottoms can be visited inthe historic summer kitchen andmuseum in a restored building at1136 New Hampshire. Themuseum displays Germans fromRussia household items andartifacts from Hayward Elemen-tary School.

Manynew

projectsare being

accom-plished in

NorthBottoms by

the neighbor-hood associa-

tion under the direction of EdCaudill. A new basketball courtwas constructed during the pastsummer and plans are in theworks to install street lights inthe parking lot. A soccer field isbeing built at Hayward Park anda future bike trail from theSaltdogs ball park under Inter-state-180 and into Hayward Parkis being planned.

For more detailed informa-tion on North Bottoms visitonline atwww.neighborhoodsinc.org/heart/neighborhoods/northbottoms.htm. (WF)

Nebraska Agricultural Youth InstituteJuly 13�17, 2003

The Nebraska Agricultural Youth Institute (NAYI) is afour-day event that brings together high school juniors andseniors from across the state to help build leadership skills,explore new aspects of agriculture and encourage youngpeople to become more involved with and remain in agricul-ture.

The Institute takes place at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln�s Kauffmann Hall in conjunction with the NebraskaUnion. All meals, lodging and activities are sponsored by theNebraska Department of Agriculture (NDA).

Deadline for applica-tions is April 15. Applica-tions are available at theLancaster County Exten-sion office or by callingAustin Benes at the NDAat 471-4876.

March 2003 NEBLINEThe Page 11

Miscellaneous

➤ Each American farmer feeds 130 or more people➤ Agriculture is America’s #1 export➤ New technology means farmers are more environmentally

friendly than ever before.

Fact is, we should all take pride in American agriculture! Theindustry is providing every American—as well as millionsmore around the world—with theessentials of life, food, fiber, evenclothing.

CelebrateNational Ag Day

March 21, 2003Learn more atww.agday.org

Did You Know?

hunt, consider hiding placescarefully. Avoid areas wherethe eggs might come intocontact with pets, wildanimals, birds, reptiles, insectsor lawn chemicals. Refrigerateeggs after the hunt; as long asthe eggs are NOT out ofrefrigeration over TWO hours(including the time spent dyingthem), they�ll be safe to eat.Plan to eat your Easter eggswithin one week. Make sureyou find all the eggs you�vehidden to eliminate the chancesof animals eating spoiled eggs.

� Consider making one batch ofeggs for hunting and one batchfor eating to remove some ofthe safety concerns.

The PerfectHard-Cooked Egg

Whether hard- or soft-cooked, this method is incor-rectly called boiled eggs.Although the cooking watermust come to a boil, eggsshould not be boiled becausehigh temperatures make themtough and rubbery. Place eggs

in a single layer in a saucepan.Add enough water to come atleast one-inch above the eggs.Cover and quickly bring just to aboil. Remove pan from heat andlet eggs stand 15 minutes.Immediately run cold water overthe eggs until cool. It will helpeliminate a green ring that canoccur if eggs are left in the hotwater too long.

For more information,contact Mary Torell at 472-0752or e-mail mtorell2@unl.edu.

EGG SAFETYcontinued from page 6

Through NEP they learn to shopweekly using a grocery list andhow to properly store andprepare their purchases. �Theyalso learn to refrigerate eggs,thaw food in the refrigeratorrather than the counter, and themeaning of expiration dates,�she said.

�Many newcomers wholearned to cook by followingfamily traditions now learn tofollow recipes, while others havediscovered low-fat alternativesto frying foods,� said Burson,who also collaborates with theEnglish Language Learner (ELL)program in Lincoln PublicSchools. ELL teaches childrenhealthy habits such as washingtheir hands before eating andunderstanding how much sugarsome popular cold cerealscontain, Burson said.

�NEP has been very benefi-cial to the ELL population atPark Middle School becausestudents see nutrition in action,�said Jolene Schlemmer, a familyand consumer science teacherworking with ELL students atPark.

NEP participants, most ofwhom are women, receive acertificate and cookbook withnutrient information when theycomplete the program.

In Lancaster, Douglas andSarpy counties in 2000�2001,there were 3,109 NEP partici-pants who care for 11,468family members.

NEWCOMERScontinued from page 6

and break like dead, dry twigs itcould mean the tree has died. Onthe other hand, if the twigs bendand don�t break with a snap, thetree may still be alive. Second,use your fingernail to scrapebark from a small twig or branch.If the tissue under the bark isgreen and moist, the tree maystill be alive. To be absolutelysure the tree is not dead, waituntil the next spring to see if itsprouts a new crop of leaves.

Watering DuringDrought

During times of drought,the best thing for trees andplants is water. Homeownersshould consider wateringvaluable shade trees (pine orhardwood) and other landscapeplants to lessen the stress fromdrought and heat. Thoroughlywater the ground area beneaththe branches in the evening orearly morning. About one tofour inches of water should beapplied; a light sprinkling has novalue. To measure the amountof water applied, place a raingauge or a tall straight sided canin the sprinkler pattern. Whenthere is one to four inches ofwater in the gauge or can, thetree should be adequatelywatered. Without rainfall,watering should be done aboutevery 14 days. (DJ)

DROUGHTcontinued from page 1

Consistently bloomingthroughout the season, �ForeverWhite� is a new eustoma, orlisianthus, that will perform wellthroughout the growing season.Good for hot, dry conditions,plant is better in sunny locations.If you forget to water it, it willtolerate drought. Reaching aheight of 12 inches, this is also afine plant for container garden-ing as well as the flower border,with its neat branching habit.

Melon �Angel�

�Angel� is a new melonwhich has a crisp and refreshingtexture and good sweet flavor.The interior of this melon iswhite, with netted exterior thatturns to a light, cream-yellowand weighs in at about 2 to 3pounds when mature. Resistantto Fusarium wilt, strains 0 and2, the vines reach out about 6feet and fruits mature in 60 daysfrom started plants.

Summer Squash�Papaya Pear�

Quick to grow to harvestfrom seed, �Papaya Pear� willreach maturity in about 40 daysfrom seed, a great plus forcooler growing areas. Pearshaped and golden, this squashis best when harvested at 3inches in length and to continueproductivity. Smaller in size andmore compact than othersquashes, the vines are good forsmall garden areas and a goodcandidate for container garden-ing. (MJF)

ALL-AMERICANcontinued from page 2

❖ ❖ ❖

❖ ❖ ❖of the box, which will assistthe baby birds in reaching theexit hole when they are readyto leave the nest.

� Don�t use insecticides in youryard�birds rely on insects tofeed their young (and thechemicals are harmful to thebirds themselves).

� Keep your cat indoors�domestic cats kill millions ofbirds every year.

� Try to identify invasive exoticbirds like European starlingsand English sparrows whichout-compete and kill nativebirds and remove their nestsfrom your nesting box if youdiscover them.

� Each species of bird hasdifferent nesting habitats andrequires a slightly differentnesting box and mountinglocation. See resources.

� Purchase professionallymanufactured nest boxes.

Source: Reprinted with permission fromNational Wildlife Federation (www.nwf.org)

Resources: The following publications areavailable at the Lancaster County Extensionoffice or online at http://lancaster.unl.edu.� Build a Nest Box to Attract Birds (free andavailable at lancaster.unl.edu)� Shelves, Houses and Feeders for Birds andMammals (RP338 - $4)

NEST BOXEScontinued from page 3

West Nile Virus Update�West Nile encephalitis, a mosquito-transmitted disease, was

first documented in North America during the summer of 1999,when an outbreak occurred in New York City. Since that time,cases of West Nile Virus (WNV) infection have been confirmed innortheastern, north central, southern and western regions of theUnited States and the virus is expected to spread throughout NorthAmerica. As of December 2002, there were 3,949 confirmedhuman cases of WNV, including 254 fatalities.� (Information fromUSDA Regional Pest Management Centers, National Pest Alert,�West Nile Virus in North America.�)

With the return of spring comes the threat of West Nile Virus.For information about WNV, mosquito control recommendationsand state resources visit www.ncpmc.org/newsalerts/westnilevirus.html or call our office at 441-7180 and requestpublication �West Nile Virus � Getting Prepared (G1464).

UNL Cooperative Extension in Lancaster County�s �Cook ItQuick� Web pages have recently been named �Web Site of theDay� by two different Web sites: foodsiteoftheday.com andrefdesk.com ! Refdesk bases its selections on authority of thesource, accuracy, objectivity, timeliness and ease of use.

Cook It Quick helps you prepare healthy foods in a hurry byoffering tips, solutions, fast facts and food safety information.People can also sign up for e-mail updates.

Visit Cook It Quick at lancaster.unl.edu/food/ciq.htm

�Cook It Quick� Web SiteNamed �Site of the Day�

College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources (CASNR) WeekApril 6-12, East Campus � check out the fun!!

April 11, 9 a.m.�11 p.m. � Junior/Sophomore Visit Day

A GROWINGDEMAND

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, world population willincrease from 6.2 billion to an estimated 7.5 billion people by2020 � more than 20 percent growth. Increased demand forfood and fiber will require well educated men and women.

At Nebraska, you can prepare for a career that extends wellbeyond traditional agricultural production. Choose fromagribusiness management, economics, commodity handling,marketing, food science, processing, distribution, retailing,banking, veterinary and biomedical science, andenvironmental and wildlife studies � and more.

Call us toll-free at

1-800-742-8800 ext. 2541or visit our campus

Page 12March 2003 NEBLINEThe

Extension CalendarAll programs and events will be held at the Lancaster Extension Education Center unless otherwise noted.

In order to best serve our subscribers, this form will appear inevery issue of THE NEBLINE. You can use this form to:

1. Change your address or order a subscription (please print)2. Submit general comments and/or story ideas

❏ Order subscription (free�however, there is an annual$5 mailing and handling fee for zip codes other than683�, 684�, 685�, 68003, 68017, and 68065)

❏ Change of Address

Gary C. Bergman, Extension Educator�Unit Leader,gbergman1@unl.edu

Mary Abbott, Extension Assistant, mabbott3@unl.eduLorene Bartos, Extension Educator, lbartos1@unl.eduMaureen Burson, Extension Educator, mburson1@unl.eduTom Dorn, Extension Educator, tdorn1@unl.eduSoni Cochran, Extension Associate, scochran2@unl.eduWilliam Freitas, Graduate Assistant, wfreitas2@unl.eduMary Jane Frogge, Extension Associate, mmcreynolds1@unl.eduArlene Hanna, Extension Associate, ahanna1@unl.eduAlice Henneman, Extension Educator, ahenneman1@unl.eduDon Janssen, Extension Educator, djanssen2@unl.eduDeanna Karmazin, Extension Associate, dkarmazin2@unl.eduEllen Kraft, Extension Associate, ekraft1@unl.eduTracy Kulm, Extension Associate, tkulm1@unl.eduVicki Jedlicka, Publication & Media Assistant, vjedlicka2@unl.eduMardel Meinke, Extension Associate, mmeinke2@unl.eduBarb Ogg, Extension Educator, bogg1@unl.eduAndrea Ohlrich, Extension Assistant, aohlrich2@unl.eduBoshra Rida, Americorps*VISTA, brida2@unl.eduZainab Rida, Extension Assistant, zrida2@unl.eduKendra Schmit, Extension Assistant, kschmit2@unl.eduDavid Smith, Extension Technologist, dsmith9@unl.eduJim Wies, Extension Assistant, jwies1@unl.eduDana Willeford, Extension Assistant, dwilleford2@unl.eduKaren Wobig, Extension Assistant, kwobig2@unl.edu

EBLINENNebraska Cooperative Extension Newsletter

Lancaster County

The

Return to:University of Nebraska Cooperative Extension in Lancaster County444 Cherrycreek Road, Suite A � Lincoln, Nebraska 68528-1507

Comments ____________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

Story Idea(s) __________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

Name _______________________________________________

Address _____________________________________________

City _________________________ Zip _________________

EBLINENFEEDBACK

THE NEBLINE is published monthly by:University of Nebraska Cooperative Extension in Lancaster County

Main Office444 Cherrycreek Road, Suite A, Lincoln, NE, 68528-1507

Satellite OfficeLancaster Event Center

84th and Havelock, 4100 N. 84th St., Lincoln, NE 68529

Phone: 441-7180Web site: lancaster.unl.edu

Fax: 441-7148 � TDD: 441-7180NUFACTS Information Center: 441-7188

Composting Hotline: 441-7139

All programs and events listed in this newsletter will be held(unless noted otherwise) at:

Lancaster Extension Education Center444 Cherrycreek Rd. (event rooms posted), Lincoln

Lobby Phone: 441-7170

THE NEBLINE articles may be reprinted without special permission if the source isacknowledged as �University of Nebraska Cooperative Extension in Lancaster CountyNEBLINE.� If the article contains a byline, please include the author�s name and title.

Use of commercial and trade names does not imply approval or constitute endorsementby the University of Nebraska Cooperative Extension in Lancaster County.

MARCH13 4-H Rabbit VIPS Committee Meeting, Lancaster Event Center . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 p.m.14 Extension Board Meeting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 a.m.14�16 4-H State Horse Bowl, Public Speaking and Demonstration Contests16 4-H Speech Contest, State Capitol . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1:30 p.m.17 Unwanted Pesticide Disposal, Waverly Farmers Cooperative

Fertilizer Plant on North 148th Street, Waverly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 a.m.� 12 Noon18 Computerized Farm Financial Recordkeeping Workshop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 a.m.19 Hunting Workshop: Spring Turkey [reservations required, call 332-4543] . .6�9 p.m.20 4-H Rabbit Clinic, Lancaster Event Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6:15 p.m.20 Healthy Cooking with Spices & Herbs, BryanLGH Wellness Center East . . 7�8:30 p.m.21 earth wellness festival, Southeast Community College [for 5th graders]21 National Ag Day21�23 4-H State Leader�s Forum, Halsey, NE22 4-H Rabbit Show, Lancaster Event Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 a.m. (7:30 registration)24 Family Community Education (FCE) Council Meeting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 p.m.25 Family Community Education (FCE) Leader Training . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 p.m.26 Nitrogen Certification Training . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6:30 a.m.29 Acreage Owners Expo, ARDC near Mead, NE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 a.m.�3 p.m.

APRIL1 County Fair 4-H Market Beef Identifications Due1 4-H Council Meeting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 p.m.4 Prescribed Pasture Burning School . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9�11:30 a.m.5 Kiwanis Karnival, Lancaster Event Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 p.m.8 4-H Citizen Washington Focus (CWF) Meeting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 p.m.10 4-H Rabbit VIPS Committee Meeting, Lancaster Event Center . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 p.m.11 Lancaster Extension Board Meeting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 a.m.13 Dine Out for 4-H Citizen Washington Focus (CWF),

Don & Millie�s, 5200 S. 56th Street . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 a.m.�4 p.m.13 4-H Teen Council Meeting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 p.m.14 4-H Horse VIPS Committee Meeting, Lancaster Event Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 p.m.15 4-H Leader Training . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9:30 a.m. & 7 p.m.26 Child Care Providers Conference . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 a.m.� 4 p.m.

Take Advantage of Early Bird4-H Camp Fees � Save 10%It�s not too early to start planning for summer camp! In fact, by registering before

March 15, you can save 10 percent on Nebraska 4-H Camp fees! 4-H Camps are opento all youth ages 5�19. This year, there are 36 camping programs to choose from withactivities such as backpacking, fishing, mountain biking, rappelling, dancing, canoeingand arts & crafts.

Camps range from one to five days and are located at one of three Nebraska 4-Hcamp facilities. The following camps are offered at the Eastern Nebraska 4-H Center inSchramm Park near Gretna:

June 3�5 Discovery Camp � Elementary Ages 8�10June 6�7 Take a Friend, Make a Friend Ages 8�10June 8�12 Boldy Bound Ages 11�14June 9�12 Biking Bound Ages 11�14June 14 Kids-N-Critters Ages 5�7 w/chaperoneJune 15�18 Niobrara Canoe Trip Ages 15�18June 20�22 Junior Leader Weekend Ages 15�18June 29�July 2 Discovery Camp � Middle School Ages 11�14July 7�9 Splash Bash Ages 8�10July 10�13 Discovery Camp � Middle School Ages 11�14July 14�17 Outdoor Skills Ages 11�14July 18 Kids-N-Water Ages 5�7July 29�31 Dismal River Trip Ages 15�19

Many parents combine their child�s campexperience with a vacation for them and theirfamilies. It�s a win-win summertime getaway forthe entire family!

Camp fees range from $18 (Kids-N-Critters/Kids-N-Water) to $250 (Niobrara Canoe Trip).For detailed camp descriptions, registrationforms and more information, visit online athttp://4h.unl.edu or pick up a camppamphlet at Lancaster County Extension,444 Cherrycreek Road, Lincoln.

Families are invited to a free Open Houseat the Eastern Nebraska 4-H Center onSunday, May 4 from 1- 4 p.m. This is a terrificopportunity to tour the facilities and gain ataste of various fun-filled camp activities. Inaddition, a representative from the RaptorRecovery Center will give families an up-close and personal look at some ofNebraska�s most majestic creatures. Araptor is a bird of prey, which includeseagles, owls, hawks and falcons. Reservations oneweek before the event are appreciated � contact Kelly Krambeck at(402) 332-4496 or e-mail 4hcampea@unl.edu.