Monday Extension Report, October 19, 2009

Range Monitoring Workshop

October 19, 2009; 1-4 pm CT

Meet at the Extension office, 132 South Hall Street. We’ll travel to a site just out of town, where we’ll  learn to identify the important range plants that affect forage production, learn how to estimate the pounds of forage per acre and adjust your stocking rates accordingly.  Want more forage?  Proper stocking rates and season of use will help build vigor and the health of the range. SanDRIS is an easy grazing index that will be discussed.

Fall Watering

I also want to remind you to make sure your trees and lawn, as well as your alfalfa fields have adequate moisture before the ground freezes. I know you’ve probably already drained your irrigations systems, but if you have the opportunity a last irrigation may be in order. In a couple of places that I checked, top soil moisture wasn’t as good as I expected. One good way to tell if your lawn and trees need irrigated or not is to get a 12 inch long screwdriver and stick it in the ground. If you can get it in clear to the handle, then you’re either really strong, or you’ve probably have adequate moisture. If you can’t stick it in very far, then it would be a good idea to give it one last irrigation, especially your evergreen trees.

Small Wind Turbines

Several of you have asked me about small wind turbines for supplying electricity for your home or ranch. I just received a note from John Hay, UNL Extension Educator for energy, asking me to make sure that everyone was aware that there are now several programs available to help offset the costs for small wind turbines.

John writes, “There is a lot of interest in renewable energy. One way Nebraskans can invest in renewable energy is with a small wind turbine.

A small wind turbine is a smaller system based upon a specific energy load, such as a farm, house, or center pivot. These are different than large wind turbines which are usually built in groups, are owned by a utility or community, and are meant to put all their electricity out to the grid.

Small wind turbines can be an excellent source of energy and electricity. They can provide access to electricity in areas that are remote and scarce. They are one way to become involved in the ever-growing green movement.

Costs of small wind turbines vary. The cost of the system depends on the size of the turbine and height and type of tower and can vary from $1,000 to over $50,000 per system. Size and height of turbines will also influence the amount of energy produced.

A tall tower for a small turbine making it higher than obstacles such as buildings and trees will greatly improve the energy output over a short tower or one placed close to obstacles.

However, the cost of these systems can be reduced. Recently several national and state programs have become available, such as a 30 percent federal tax credit and Nebraska’s net metering bill. For farms and rural businesses, there is the USDA Rural Development Grant.

For more information about turbines, their uses, costs and grants for system production visit John’s web site bioenergy.unl.edu.

As always, you can call the extension office at 402-376-1850, or visit us online at cherry.unl.edu for more information.