Nebraska Extension and USDA Partners Set April Wildfire Recovery Informational Meetings for Farmers and Ranchers

Mar 31, 2026

By Geitner Simmons

Nebraska Extension and two federal partner agencies will hold informational meetings on wildfire recovery April 8-10 in western Nebraska to help farmers and ranchers learn about available resources and address local needs. The program will include information on wildfire disaster relief programs and technical assistance, grazing and cropping options, recovery resources, mental health support and next steps.

Three meetings are scheduled from 3:30 to 6 p.m. (local time). A meal will be served at 6 p.m. by Hot Meals USA to encourage group conversation and idea sharing.

The meeting will be on April 8 at the Arthur Veterans Memorial Hall; April 9 at the Brady Community Center; and April 10 at the Oshkosh City Auditorium.

The meetings will include presentations by Nebraska Extension professionals and representatives from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) and Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).

Specific topics will include:

FSA disaster assistance programs.
NRCS disaster recovery and technical assistance.
Range and pasture recovery.
Extension resources.
Farmer/rancher fire experiences.
Mental health resources.
Support moving forward.
Next steps.

The meetings will focus on information sharing, learning from one another, and discussing the best steps in moving forward.

As part of the outreach effort, Nebraska Extension has wildfire recovery information online at https://disaster.unl.edu/. Nebraska FSA wildfire resources are linked at fsa.usda.gov/ne in the Spotlights section.

Source : unl.edu

Video: Winter Canola Trial in Mississippi | Can It Work for Double Cropping? | Pioneer Agronomy

Can winter canola open new opportunities for growers in the Mid-South? In this agronomy update from Noxubee County, Mississippi, Pioneer agronomist Gus Eifling shares an early look at a first-year winter canola trial and what farmers are learning from the field.

Planted in late October on 30-inch rows, the crop is now entering the bloom stage and progressing quickly. In this video, we walk through current field conditions, fertility management, and how timing could make this crop a valuable option for double-cropping soybeans or cotton.

If harvest timing lines up with early May, growers may be able to transition directly into another crop during ideal planting windows. Ongoing field trials will help determine whether canola could become a viable rotational option for the region.

Watch for:

How winter canola is performing in its first season in this Mississippi field

Why growers chose 30-inch rows for this trial

What the crop looks like as it moves from bolting into bloom

Fertility strategy, including nitrogen and sulfur applications

How canola harvest timing could enable double-cropping with soybeans or cotton

Upcoming trials comparing soybeans after canola vs. traditional planting

As more growers look for ways to maximize acres and diversify rotations, experiments like this help determine what new crops might fit into existing systems.