Radio Spot reads as follows:
Hey everyone, this is Amber Sides with the Sandhills Cattle Association with your weekly update of the Sandhills Cattle News!
Our next publication will be published on April 23rd, so if you have not sent us your ads, please do so ASAP!
We just wanted to give a big thank you to the Valentine Chamber of Commerce for coming down last week to celebrate the opening of the Prairie Plaza with a ribbon cutting! Keep a lookout for next week’s newspaper as there will be pictures and insight into all the individual businesses here within the building!
In other news, the Beef UNL team recently published an article about the invasive plants found in Nebraska, and I thought it would be worth sharing with everyone. The article talks about the Absinth Wormwood, a Nebraska Invasive Plants Watch List priority spreading rapidly and impacting Nebraska grasslands. Infestations of the absinth wormwood have been traced back to contaminated hay brought in from out of state following the 2012 drought.
Absinth wormwood is a broadleaf perennial that grows in a clump of multiple 2 to 5 foot tall, branched stems that are woody at the base. Supported by a large taproot, each fall, the plant dies back to the ground and initiates growth in the spring from new buds at the soil surface. The plant has a sage odor and appearance with light to olive green leaves covered with silky hairs giving a silver appearance.
Absinth wormwood is found primarily in disturbed areas such as areas of heavy feeding, overgrazed pastures, hay lots, calving lots, and corrals. Absinth wormwood establishes quickly in both dry and moist soils. The plant has no grazing value and can be toxic to livestock forced to consume it.
Proper grazing management helps to maintain a healthy and vigorous grassland and reduces the likelihood of undesirable plant invasions. Prevent introducing invasive plants by verifying the source of hay and other materials brought on to your ranch. Feeding hay in dry lot settings can help condense weed seed spread.
If you have any questions or concerns about this plant species or any other invasive plant species, you can contact the county weed superintendent or the Extension office to assist you.
As many of you may know, recently, the Upper Loup NRD had a slip within their Upper Loup Scoop newsletter. For those of you that are unaware, the article was concerning Earth Day and reducing our water reliance. The last bullet point read, "Have meatless meals a few times a week. It takes about 1,800 pounds of water to produce one pound of beef." In response to this target on the beef industry, Liz wrote a very compelling letter to the Upper Loup NRD on behalf of our producers and members. If you're interested in reading her article, it will be published in the upcoming newsletter, or you can find it on our website. We have received a response from representatives at the Upper Loup NRD, who have been extremely apologetic as well as ensuring that they will have better oversight of the articles that are published. We are happy to continue working with the NRD and believe in their overall mission to better the environment.
Until next time, this is Amber Sides with the Sandhills Cattle Association with your weekly update of the Sandhills Cattle News!
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