Verbal Leases: What Happens If Someone Dies?

At a recent farmland leasing workshop, the question was raised, “I am a landlord with a handshake lease agreement. What happens if I die?” At the time, I gave the simple answer of “the new owners of the land will be subject to the lease.” Although this is technically correct, the situation is more nuanced than it appears. Depending on how the land is owned and passed on, there may be a period of uncertainty regarding who is responsible for the lease after the landowner’s death. Handshake, oral, or verbal lease agreements remain common for leasing agricultural land in Nebraska. When the terms of the lease are not negotiated or written, Nebraska State Statute provides provisions for various scenarios. In the case that the landlord dies during the term of a verbal lease agreement – and no additional verbal provisions related to this scenario were discussed and agreed to – the answer will depend on how the land is owned and passed on

Ber Anena’s Vagina Diaries – A Review: An African Student’s Encounter with the American Health System

This work delves into the disappointment, indifference, and pretense experienced by the narrator when she sorts the American healthcare system. It also addresses the struggles immigrants face, particularly from Africa, as they navigate a healthcare system that often requires them to prove their pain and worthiness of attention. The narrative emphasizes the importance of not generalizing the entire healthcare system based on a single negative experience while acknowledging the profound impact on one\u27s perception of the system. Furthermore, it explores the paradox between the availability of better resources in America compared to the narrator\u27s home country and the mistreatment and challenges still faced by immigrants. The work emphasizes the need for empathy, understanding, and equitable care from medical practitioners, irrespective of patients\u27 backgrounds or identities. The narrative serves as a call to prioritize compassion and inclusivity in the healthcare system to ensure that every patient receives the care they deserve

Impact of Feeding Distillers Grains Compared to New Fractionated Distillers Grains (Solbran) on Feedlot Cattle Performance and Enteric Methane

Summary with Implications This study evaluated feeding wet or dry traditional distillers grains with wet and dry fractionated distillers (Solbran) fed at 40% of diet DM compared to a corn control diet on enteric methane emissions and performance. Compared to the control, there was no difference in carbon dioxide production, but there was an increase in methane production in the steers fed fractionated distillers compared to conventional distillers. Feeding steers traditional or fractionated distillers grains increased consumption, increased gain, but improved conversions only for steers fed WDGS, while steers fed the other distillers grains had worse or the same feed conversions as steers fed the control corn diet. The ethanol plant processing methods increased the intake of steers fed fractionated distillers grains but did not affect gain or feed efficiency. In terms of moisture content, steers fed wet distillers grains had lower intake, but similar gain to steers fed dry distillers grains. This resulted in better feed efficiency for the steers fed wet distillers grains

Staff Attitude, Library Policies and Service Delivery in University Libraries in Ogun State, Nigeria

University library services aim to meet the information needs of the university community, fostering learning and research. Quality service, particularly in tangible aspects and reliability, leads to user satisfaction. Staff attitude significantly impacts library service utilization, as does library policy, which guides library operations. The study adopted survey research design. The study population comprised 80,247 university library users in Ogun State, Nigeria. A sample size of 1,513 was determined using the Krejcie and Morgan (1970) method. Universities were stratified into federal, state, and private categories, and respondents were purposively selected. The findings indicate high-quality service delivery in university libraries in Ogun State, Nigeria, in terms of tangibles (Mean = 3.23, SD = 0.77) and reliability (Mean = 3.20, SD = 0.82). Respondents agreed that staff attitude and library policies were positive (Mean = 2.89, SD = 0.93; Mean = 3.10, SD = 0.88respectively). Staff attitude and library policies significantly influenced service delivery (R2= 0.253, β= 0.503, t = 18.411, p\u3c0.05; R2= 0.322, β= 0.568, t = 21.822, p\u3c0.05, respectively). In conclusion, staff attitude and library policies significantly impact service delivery in university libraries in Ogun State, Nigeria. Recommendations include hiring qualified staff with a user-centric approach, continuous user needs assessment, and fostering a positive disposition. Additionally, staff attitude and library policies should be actively utilized for enhancing library services

STRATEGIES FOR ENHANCING THE ABILITY OF RURAL FARMERS TO DEAL WITH CHALLENGES OF CLIMATE CHANGE THROUGH ADULT EDUCATION PROGRAMME IN SOUTH EAST, NIGERIA

Agriculture has become the main stay of the economy of developing countries in the world especially south-east, Nigeria. Rural farmers in South-east, Nigeria have suffered significant losses due to extreme weather events and natural disasters attributed to climate change such as severe flooding, drought, decease and pest attack etc. The responses and reactions of rural farmers to these extreme weather events and natural disasters has suggested that there is a lack knowledge of climate change. This study therefore is aimed at developing strategies that could help enhance the ability of rural farmers to cope and deal with the effects of climate change. Descriptive survey design was considered for the study. The population of the study comprises of 449, 632 registered rural farmers in south east, Nigeria. Again, Enugu and Ebonyi State were chosen as sample states with 510 registered rural farmers from the two states considered for the study while questionnaire and Focus Group Discussion (FGD) schedule were used as instrument for data collection. Data collected was analyzed using descriptive statistics and mean to answer the research questions. Findings of the study revealed that rural farmers in South East, Nigeria lack adequate knowledge of climate change etc. The study recommended that effective strategies should be developed by stakeholders to help farmers deal with climate change. Again, extension agents and other stakeholders should inculcate the right type of skills and attitudes in rural famers to enhance their ability to cope and deal with climate chang

Strategies Affecting Performance and Profitability of May-Born Steers

Summary with Implications This study compared the performance and economic outcomes of differing backgrounding and feedlot systems in May-born yearling steers. We hypothesized reduced supplementation with adequate forage availability while backgrounding weaned steers will yield a similar carcass with greater profitability. It was hypothesized yearling steers backgrounded on pasture before finishing in feedlot would have a more valuable carcass that is more profitable than steers that enter the feedlot immediately. Weaned steer calves were backgrounded with ad libitum hay and 4 lb/d supplement in drylot or on pasture with 1 lb/d supplement. As yearlings, half of each backgrounding group immediately entered the feedlot or were allowed to develop on pasture before entering the feedlot. In summary, producers with pasture available for weaned and yearling steers can risk a slow rate of gain for greater body weight at slaughter and a greater return on investment

Effects of Replacing Wet Corn Distillers Grains with a PureField Distillers Grains® at 15% and 30% (DM basis) in Feedlot Diets

Summary with Implications A 2×2 +1 factorial experiment was performed to evaluate the effects of replacing wet corn distillers grain (WCDGS) with PureField distillers grains, a proprietary blend of wet distillers grains plus wheat middlings (Purefield LLC, Kansas, United States) at 15% or 30% of the diet (DM basis), on finishing performance and carcass characteristics. The inclusion of either byproduct resulted in improved steer performance, and carcass characteristics when compared to the treatment without the byproduct inclusion. No interactions between byproduct and inclusion level were observed for steer performance or carcass characteristics. A tendency for higher average daily gains was observed in cattle fed wet corn distillers grains when compared to PureField distillers grains. Because of a numerically lower DMI in the PureField DG fed cattle, no differences resulted in feed efficiency. PureField DG is a suitable alternative to replace corn distillers grains in feedlot finishing diets without affecting cattle performance

Understanding Market Outlooks

As 2024 has concluded, many industry analysts will reflect on the market trends and forces that shaped 2024 to make improved decision making in 2025. This is a pivotal time to evaluate the factors influencing commodity markets and plan for the future. Market outlooks play a vital role in this process, offering agricultural producers and industry stakeholders valuable insights into price trends, production forecasts, and market dynamics. By analyzing data from government agencies, universities, and private firms, these outlooks help users anticipate and navigate market fluctuations, whether through short-term forecasts or long-term projections spanning decades. With advances in technology and greater accessibility, market outlooks have become indispensable tools for risk management, strategic planning, and marketing. In this article, we review a few features of market outlooks, explore key features of market outlooks, and then provide some practical tips for using them to manage risk effectively

Impact of Constant versus Variable Inclusions of Modified Distillers Grains plus Solubles on Feedlot Cattle Performance and Carcass Characteristics

Summary with Implications A finishing trial was conducted to evaluate the effects of varying dietary inclusion of modified distillers grains plus solubles compared to a constant inclusion throughout the entire feeding period on finishing cattle performance. Treatments were arranged as a 2 × 2 + 1 factorial with two inclusions of modified distillers grains plus solubles (10% and 25%) that were constant or varying in dietary inclusion, and a corn control (0% modified distillers grains plus solubles). Increasing the inclusion of distillers grains from 0 to 25% increased both DMI and ADG when fed at a constant inclusion of 10 or 25%. When inclusion varied around 10 (0 to 20%) or 25% (15 to 35%) inclusion, only ADG tended to increase and to a lesser degree. Varying the inclusion of distillers grains in the diet due to supply disruptions or incorrect loading may lessen the improvements in animal performance compared to including distillers at a constant rate in the diet every day

Impact of Pre- and Post-breeding Supplementation on Performance of May-born Heifers

Summary with Implications This 3-year study compared growth, reproductive performance, and economics of May-born yearling heifers that either received 2.00 lb/ heifer/ per d of a dried distillers grain supplement from pre-breeding (July) through breeding (August) or no supplement. Supplementation was offered approximately 24 days before breeding, averaging 55 days total. Heifer body weight was unaffected by supplementation. Supplementation increased average daily gain until pregnancy diagnosis, but no differences were noted after pregnancy diagnosis. Providing dried distillers grain increased the percentage of heifers that were cycling before breeding; however, no differences in pregnancy rates, percent that gave birth in the first 21 days, calving date, or calf body weight at birth were observed. Heifers without supplementation had a $17.38 greater net return than supplemented heifers. This study implies providing dried distillers grain during the pre-breeding and breeding period increases pre-breeding attainment of puberty and average daily gains with no impact to other reproductive measures or body weight gains