World Lion Day

Date When Celebrated : This holiday is always enjoyed on August 10

Today comes in with a roar, as we celebrate the "King of the Jungle". Also known as "King of the Beasts", we're obviously talking about lions, as today is World Lion Day. The key goal of this very special day, is a global effort to promote the protection of lions and their shrinking habitat.

As the "King of the Jungle", one might think that lions are invincible. Hunting and encroachment of civilization into their habitat, is negatively impacting their numbers. Surprisingly, lions are at risk of becoming extinct. Lions are important to the balance of nature. They help keep the population of herbivores under control.

World Lion Day was created for three reasons:

To raise awareness of the plight of lions in the wild and in captivity.

To encourage the protection of lions and their shrinking habitat.

To educate people of the danger that lions pose to people. Lion tamers aside, you don't ever want to come face to face with a lion.

Lions are social creatures. They group together in a family called a "pride". A single adult male is the head of the pride. Females, sometimes many generations of lionesses, remain in the pride they were born in. Occasionally, a lioness will leave the pride, to form a new pride with a young adult male. Young male cubs remain in the pride until they become adults.

Did You Know? While we talk about lions as the "King of the Jungle, and movies often have them cast in a jungle environment, lions do not live in jungles. Rather, they live in grasslands and plains near jungle areas. A lion we love to hate: Scar from Lion King

Today's Quote: " An optimist is someone who gets treed by a lion, but enjoys the scenery." - - Walter

Winchell

How can seed enhancement effect the viability of and vigor of seeds?

CONTINUED FROM PAGE B2 commonly found marketed above a dollar per seed. Because of this, seed enhancement could be well worth the cost if it successfully improves the % germination or vigor.

After the seed was soaked for a predetermined time in different humic acid solutions, they were dried and placed in a germination chamber where they remained for 7 days under optimal germination conditions. Daily germination counts were taken. After 7 days, samples were collected, and seedling vigor measurements were performed.

Initial findings suggest that humic substances did not have a significant effect on seedling germination however humic acid did have a significant effect on root growth.

To read more about the research findings and the entire blog, visit: https://sustainable-secure-food-blog. com/2023/05/22/how-can-seed-enhancement-effect-theviability-of-and-vigor-of-seeds/

Flowers and shrubs

Keep deadheading flowers and they will keep blooming for much longer, instead of producing seeds early in the season.

To trap aphids, put some water and oil in a yellow dish and set it in the garden; they love the color yellow and when they land on the water, the oil will prevent them from escaping. Plant garlic or parsley under rose plants to keep aphids away.

Pinch off the tendrils of sweet peas to improve their flowering capacity.

Bury fuchsias in the winter to protect them from the frost. Use toilet paper rolls to plant sweet peas, runner beans, or garden peas as they need a good root run.

To deepen the color of your blue hydrangea, simply grow the plant with iron nails around its base. This alters the pH balance of the soil, which then changes the color of the flower itself.

Do not deadhead hydrangea as they give protection for next year’s buds. Prune when the danger of frost is past.

When repotting or moving prickly plants or conifers, cut the bottom off an old compost bag to form a tube which you can then place over the plant. Tie the top and bottom with string. This will condense any awkward branches and also protect your arms.

A circle of twigs 20” (50 cm) high provides a better support for border plants than a single stake, and is less obtrusive.

Do not clear away old vegetation for foliage around plants

Flowers and shrubs

CONTINUED FROM PAGE B5 in borders, as this gives protection in severe weather.

When planting up summer annuals in pots or backets, plant up half a dozen extra pots in ordinary flower pots and nurture them in the same way. As the summer progresses and bare areas appear where plants have either died or perennials haven’t survived the winter, simply position the pots in the gaps and fill the borders instantly.

To help when repotting plants into larger pots, place the current pot into the larger pot and push compost firmly into the gap between the two. Gently remove the inner pot to leave the correct size hole into which the plant can be dropped.

To prevent slugs getting to plants in containers, smear the outside of the container with petroleum jelly or WD40.

When planting grown container plants, disturb the roots as little as possible so that they continue to benefit from the compost they are grown in. Water as usual after planting.

When planting new climbers and ramblers for the spring, plant them about a foot from the supporting wall and lead them to the wall via a cane. This will give the roots room to develop properly and help to give years of healthy growth.

Use old tights or stockings cut into strips to tie up plants, rather than twine, which can slice into stems.

Do not remove dead leaves from plants damaged by frost as they are nature’s way of protecting new young shoots.

Never move or plant anything if the ground is frozen. Wait until the soil warms up.

To kill grass or weeds growing around low carpeting plants, make up a mixture of grass weed killer as directed on the container. Add a squirt of liquid dish soap. Put on a pair of strong rubber gloves and then a knitted mitten or thick sock. Squeeze out the excess and then touch the weeds or grass. The slimy solution will stick to the weeds and not destroy the plants.

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Why did the student eat his homework? Because his teacher told him it was a piece of cake.

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What’s the difference between a hippo and a zippo? One’s pretty heavy and the other’s a little lighter.

Reddig Equipment and Repair

National Vinyl Record Day

Date When Celebrated : This holiday is always observed on August 12

Today is National Vinyl Record Day. It's a day to celebrate this classic music format, and remember the terrific music and times of yesterday. Dust off your old vinyl 33 1/3 and 45 RPM records. Pull your phonograph, HiFi, stereo, or turntable out of the attic or garage. Grab a beer or a glass of wine, and savor the music and memories from your youth with a few friends. The nostalgic trip down Memory Lane is certain to make you feel great. Caution: It will also make you wonder "where did all the years go!?"

Records on a round disc have been around since Emile Berliner invented them in the 1800's. Those early versions were made a variety of materials, including shellac. Around 1960, the vinyl record was first produced. Known as the Golden Age of vinyl records, the 1960's and 1970's saw a tremendous cultural revolution occurring at the same time. Rock and Roll music exploded onto the scene, and it was recorded on vinyl records. Like any other technology, it was destined to be outdated. Cassette tapes, and for a short while Eight Track tapes, provided competition for vinyl records in the 1970s and 1980s. Compact Disc (CD) records hit the music world in 1982, with much improved sound quality. Like cassette tapes, it's smaller, more compact size and durability allowed them to easily fit into automobile music systems and could be carried around with music players and boom boxes. In the late1990s, music downloads from the internet were put into I-pods and cell phones. Early in the 21st century, vinyl records and phonographs saw a surprisingly popular revival. Never destined to replace the newer and better music technology, the vinyl revival record offered a pleasant nostalgic trip down memory lane.

Did You Know? While black vinyl records have always been the dominant color, over the decades vinyl records were made of many colors. The black color proved to provide the superior quality.

Excavators

Cat 320CLU thumb, coupler, 14,000 hours. $69,900

Cat 312D Call For Price

2015 Cat 312E hyd wedge coupler, 50% undercarriage, clean, tight. 15,500 hours. Call

2013 Cat 305E, 4700 hours, cab, air, heat, front blade, hyd thumb, auxiliary hyds, 2 speed, clean. Call

1989 Cat EL 200B Call

2004 Deere 200CLC, pin grabber Q/C, progressive link thumb. 12,000 hours $49,500 before going thru the shop

Deere 160LC

Please Call

Deere 130G Call For Price

Deere 50D thumb, coupler, blade, open ROPS, 8000 hours. $39,900

Deere 50D enclosed cab. Call For Price

2012 Hitachi ZX120-3, wedge coupler, progressive link thumb, 36” bucket, backup camera, average undercarriage, 6007 hours. Good looking mid-model machine Call

Kobelco SK27SR-5 mini excavator, 1700 hours, ROPS, front blade, hydraulic thumb, 50% rubber tracks, 5500 lb. weight. Call

2016 Kobelco SK35SR-6E, 863 hours, ROPS, front blade, hydraulic thumb, 50% tracks, 8500 lbs. Call

2017 Bobcat E85 compact excavator Call

2015 Cat 303.5E mini excavator, open ROPS, front blade, hydraulic thumb to be installed, auxiliary hydraulics, pin grabber coupler, 3600 hours Call

Attachments

Compaction • Hydraulic Breaker • Buckets

• Skidsteer forks •

John Deere 4000 Series H, winch, includes all controls for each, mounting plate, drive shaft $14,000

Henke snow plow off Cat 621B loader, ACS coupler, hyd angle snowblade with float, hyd snowgate. $7500

690E log loader For parts

Timberjack 2520 feller/buncher, parts machine Call

Towtem clam bucket $31,500 Several slide booms for parts available

Graders

LOADERS

2012 Cat 924K high lift machine, hydraulic quick coupler, 12,000 hours. $74,500

Skidsteer

2020 Deere 332G manual quick coupler, 2 speed, wheel machine (new tires), enclosed cab, heat, A/C, comes with 84” bucket. 4600 hours. $46,000

Deere 324G 1200 hours. Good tires $48,000

Deere 323E enclosed cab, heat/AC, tracks in good condition. Forks sold separately. $35,000

Ingersoll

Miscellaneous

Your vinyl records could be worth money, big money. Don't toss those old vinyl records, that have been gathering dust in your basement or attic. And, don't put them in a garage sale until you've checked their value. It could be worth less than $5.00, or it could be worth much, much more. The most expensive vinyl record ever sold was not Ringo Starr's personal copy of the Beatles White Album (Serial #0000001) which sold for $790,000. The highest price ever paid for a vinyl record was Wu-Tang Clan's Once Upon a Time in Shaolin. Only one copy was ever made and it sold for $2 million!!

Grasshopper management

By Samantha Daniel, UNL

Last year’s drought conditions and results from adult grasshopper surveys indicated the potential for grasshopper outbreaks this year, however, precipitation and temperature can impact the severity of outbreaks. Keeping an eye on fields this summer can help mitigate economic loss from grasshopper feeding.

Because grasshoppers tend to thrive in dry, hot conditions while outbreaks can be severely limited by cool, wet spring weather, producers in eastern Nebraska might see an increase in outbreaks this summer, while western Nebraska grasshopper populations may be reduced. It is still recommended that producers throughout the state scout their fields and select proper treatment protocols when needed.

One of the best ways to scout for grasshoppers is to use the square foot method. Randomly select an area several feet away and visualize a one square-foot area around that spot. Walk toward this spot and count the number of grasshoppers you see in or jumping out of this area. Repeat this procedure 18 times and divide the total number of grasshoppers by two. This will give you the number of grasshoppers per square yard. Economic thresholds for grasshoppers range from 8 to 40 grasshoppers per square yard, depending on a variety of factors. Keep in mind that control is easiest before grasshoppers reach the adult stage.

Grasshoppers may be controlled by applying insecticides as sprays or baits. The insecticides currently registered for use on rangeland are dimilin, malathion, and carbaryl. Rates for these products are listed on the labels. If larger grasshoppers are targeted, the higher-labeled rates should be used. Other insecticides are labeled for control of grasshoppers in forages, grasses, alfalfa, and other crops.

Iconic American Restaurants Day

Date When Celebrated: This holiday is always observed on August 24

Today celebrates the many great restaurants in this country, and the outstanding staff that works hard to make your dining experience pleasurable.

There probably isn’t a better example of a great iconic American restaurant than Howard Johnson’s. The Howard Johnson restaurant chain has been around for over 90 years. At it’s peak, there were over 1,000 company and franchise stores in the U.S. and Canada. Today, just a single restaurant located in Lake George, NY. is proudly the “Last One Standing”. During the peak years in the 1940s through the 1970s, traveller’s sought out the easily recognized orange roof. They had no doubt they would receive high quality food at reasonable prices. Travellers and local residents alike, thronged to HOJO’s ice cream fountain bar with lines out the door during summer months, to choose among the famous “28 flavors”.

Without a doubt the list of great American restaurants is endless. Large, national chains like McDonald’s, Red Lobster, Outback Steakhouse, Applebee’s, and Chili’s readily come to mind. But, there’s also the countless one location restaurants in your local community. Go outside of your town, and no one has ever heard of that great breakfast shop, sidewalk cafe, or Italian restaurant on Main Street that you frequent regularly.

It’s going to be a wonderful experience celebrating Iconic American Restaurants Day. Grab the family or a few friends, and head off to your favorite restaurants for breakfast, lunch AND dinner. While you’re there enjoying a fabulous meal, make sure to show your appreciation to the waiter, busboy, chef and manger. After all, it’s their day, too!

History and Origin of Iconic American Restaurants Day

This special holiday was created in 2020 by Bob Matthews, from Rochester, NY, and creator of HolidayInsights.com. After visiting the “Last One Standing” Howard Johnson’s Restaurant in Lake George, NY, Matthews felt it important to celebrate great American restaurants and the employees who make them great. A second, and equally important goal of today, is to capture the memories of America’s most iconic restaurant, as well as other great American restaurants that have come and gone. During the Pandemic of 2020, restaurants struggled to survive and their employees were significantly impacted. Amazingly, up to now, there were no special holidays recognizing great restaurants and the staff.

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“Kissing is just pushing your lips against the sweet end of 66 feet of intestines.” – Drew Carey

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Q: Why did Tigger put his head in the toilet?

A: He was looking for Pooh.

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The first minute of the day officially starts at 12:00 midnight.

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Tommy Bolt is the only professional golfer to have been fined for passing gas (1959).

Thank You

Master Gardener

By Debbie Post, Nebraska Extension Master Gardener

Deadheading is a gardening term that defines the process of removing faded or dead flowers from plants helping to promote new growth, a healthier plant, and improved reflowering blooms. It is a simple process, as the bloom fades, pinch or cut the stem below the spent flower and just above the first set of full, healthy leaves.

When are you encouraged not to deadhead? At the end of your desired growing season, heads can be left on to spread seed for the next year.

The best time to water is early morning, avoiding the mid-day issue of the sun baking the soil and losing most of your water to evaporation. Try to water directly to the root of your plants versus on the surface of the plant leaves, which leads to scorched leaves as well as rot or fungal infections. Drip systems or soaker hoses are recommended for deeper watering. This encourages stronger root growth - two to three inches per week is optimal.

Mulching does an important job in your garden - shades your plant’s roots on hot days, stops weeds from taking root, and prevents moisture from evaporating. Plants that are mulched require 25-50 percent less water if they are mulched. Organic mulch like wood bark, leaves, or grass clippings are recommended as they will compost back into your soil after a year or two. Be careful not to get your mulch too deep, two to three inches is best.

Balewagons & Retrievers

Fresh herbs make any dish better, not only the fragrance and flavor they provide but because most herbs are extremely easy to grow and maintain and then even dry for long-term winter use. You can start several inside containers using these best beginner herbs. To start - sage, parsley, oregano, basil, chives, rosemary, and cilantro. All are available in seed packets at your local store and will turn your palette into wanting more!

Haying Equipment

Tractor

Miscellaneous Equipment

Water before 10 a.m. or between 4 to 6 p.m. avoiding late evening, which makes your grass more prone to disease. It’s important to have at least one inch of water a week for a healthy lawn. After your spring fertilizing, it’s recommended to do one more application six to eight weeks following that and then again in the fall to prepare for winter. Use the one-third rule when mowing, don’t remove more than one-third of your grass blade length to ensure the best growth.

pumpkin and watermelon should have stems left on and trimmed to the length recommended in the fair book and 4-H publication. Kale and chard should be exhibited with stems in a jar of cold water, as well as herbs like basil, oregano, parsley and thyme. To stem or not depends on the crop!!

Freshness and quality are keys to a successful fair exhibit. Take the time to carefully harvest your produce, choosing items that are in prime condition, of marketable size and uniform shape. Use a soft brush or damp cloth to clean your produce, but avoid excessive scrubbing. Follow the cleaning instructions for each exhibit. Produce should be correctly trimmed per the pointers in the manual. A little extra time taken to properly prepare your exhibit will reap good rankings at the fair!

What class are your vegetables in? Grab your fair book, and determine which classes your produce entries reside in. For instance, peppers have six classes; squash have ten; tomatoes have seven. This helps speed up the check-in process and also insures your entry will be judged in the appropriate class. This week we’ve covered a few tips to help you enter produce at the fair. For additional information, contact your local Nebraska Extension office. Here’s to purple ribbons at the fair!

By Laurie Zitterkopf, Nebraska Extension Master Gardener

Have you tried growing sweet potatoes in your garden? We’re giving it a second try. Why? Because we like eating them, and a tuberous root started to sprout before I cooked it. Early spring is the time to start sweet potatoes from plants called “slips.’ Order slips or make your own. Slips can be started by taking a disease-free, fullygrown sweet potato from last year’s crop or the supermarket, mine came from the supermarket.

Very often, what grows in a garden are those fruits and vegetables we enjoy eating. Though, sometimes, our gardens may exceed our appetites. Record what you are growing in your garden and what do you have too much of, next year decrease the amount and plant a different crop in that space. Have you tried growing sweet potatoes? Sweet potatoes grow well in large containers.

By Elaine Pile,

Nebraska Extension Master Gardener County fairs are just around the comer, and we hope you will have items to enter! Consider entering your garden and crop bounty in the open horticulture, floriculture and field crops classes at your county fair. Your entries are judged on the following criteria: freedom from injury, quality, condition, uniformity and fair preparation. This information can be found in 4-H manuals and in your county fair book. Contact your local Nebraska Extension office for these publications. See you at the fair!!

Did you know numbers matter? A common mistake made when exhibiting produce at the fair is having the incorrect number of items in your exhibit. For instance, if you are entering carrots, regardless of their class, you should have 5 carrots. However, if you are entering cucumbers, the number needed for exhibit varies according to class. Slicing requires two and pickling requires five. If the incorrect numbers are exhibited, ribbon ranking may be lowered. So, numbers DO matter!!

To stem or not to stem, that is the question! Tomatoes should be exhibited at the fair without stems and should be displayed blossom end up. Vine crops such as squash,

A big issue for sweet potatoes is rodents. Voles and other small critters enjoy the taste of sweet potatoes. I planted mine in the ground this year. Hopefully, the gofers don’t get all of them. Just the other day, I watched as two of my flowers were pulled underground. A better option for me would be to plant my sweet potatoes in containers, which provide an effective physical exclusion from these pests. There is always next year.

Sweet potatoes need plenty of room as these vining plants prefer to spread. Space sweet potatoes 12 inches apart and three feet between rows. Keep on top of weeds. Once established, sweet potatoes require little care. Their vines will cover the ground and hold back the weeds. Ensure even irrigation; however, don’t keep the root zone constantly wet. Do not water during the last four weeks before harvest to protect the developing roots from splitting.

Ideally, wait until after the first frost to harvest sweet potatoes- this concentrates the sugars. Once frost hits, harvest immediately to keep any decay from spreading aboveground to below ground. Cure your sweet potato roots - a three-step process; dry on the ground, cure for 10 to 14 days with a temp of 85 degrees Fahrenheit and