News

Niobrara National Scenic River is inviting artists to submit original works for an open art show commemorating the river’s 35th anniversary in May 2026. Artists may submit up to two pieces in any medium.

Because of the members of the Sandhills Prairie Refuge Association, they were able to repair fences that keep the rare Blandings turtle off the highway, fund a Student Conservation Intern for the summer, purchase interpretive panels for the CCC Fire Tower Trail, host a refuge staff appreciation lunch, host refuge hikes, and complete many other projects benefiting our refuges.

As the United States approaches its historic 250th anniversary, the Nebraska State Fair 1868 Foundation is proud to launch a landmark campaign: 250 for 250. This special initiative is paired with a permanent installation on the fairgrounds and invites community leaders to celebrate America’s semiquincentennial while investing in your State Fair.

Each year, May is Bird Month in Nebraska. The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission and partner organizations celebrate with a variety of activities across the state throughout the month.

June Buffalo Bridge Hike The Sandhills Prairie Refuge Association (SPRA) is excited to host a community guided hike on Saturday, June 6, 2026, at the Fort Niobrara National Wildlife Refuge. The “June Hike to Buffalo Bridge” offers a unique opportunity for residents and visitors to explore the Wilderness Access Foot Trail and witness the stunning beauty of the Niobrara National Scenic River.

Students in Valentine’s FFA Heart City Beef program were making their usual rounds when something didn’t feel right. Calf number two, a young steer they’d named “Keith,” wasn’t up and moving like he should be. Lethargic and unable to rise, the little calf quickly turned a routine check into a moment of concern ~ and a real-life lesson in action.

Whether it is the possibility of drought or loss of pasture because of wildfire, some producers are considering using irrigated annual forages to bolster their grazing or hay supplies. For spring or cool-season annual forages, we are in the planting period of late March to early April.

Lincoln, NE, April 20, 2026 — Wildfires and other disasters can force agricultural producers to sell livestock earlier or in greater numbers than planned. These decisions can create unexpected tax consequences, which will be explained in an upcoming webinar from the Center for Agricultural Profitability at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Lincoln, NE - April 24, 2026 ~ The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) will begin accepting applications on Monday, April 27, for the Emergency Conservation Program (ECP) in several Nebraska counties impacted by March wildfires.

The recent discovery that the screwworm fly has invaded southern Mexico and infected cattle (not yet at the U.S. border) has resulted in considerable misinformation from some official sources as well as a new generation of ranchers born after its prior eradication from the U.S.