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Tuesday, July 9, 2024

The 2024 Nebraska Grazing Conference will be Aug. 6 and 7 at the Younes Conference Center in Kearney, Nebraska.  This year’s conference features speakers highlighting soil health and grasslands as well as a session on public wildlife and private rangelands.

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The North Platte River runs through Fremont Canyon on its way to the Fremont Power Plant and Alcova Reservoir. (Photo by Chabella Guzman) Extension educators share a brief irrigation update as an oncoming heat wave is expected to increase stress on Nebraska crops.

Though the farm finance and ag law clinics are offered monthly at sites across Nebraska, remote sessions are another option — call the number below to arrange a one-on-one meeting via phone or virtual platform. There are three dates in late July for free legal and financial clinics, sponsored by Legal Aid of Nebraska.

Historical crop progress data for Nebraska is available at USDA. Despite the onset of summer heat, the condition of most Nebraska crops in 2024 continues to be well above last year's progress. Harvest for winter wheat and oats is also advancing above average pace.

Monday, July 8, 2024

Corn harvested after the kernel reaches maturation as earlage, snaplage or high-moisture corn are alternatives to harvesting dry corn for use as cattle feed. 

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Monday, July 8, 2024

As the middle of the grazing season approaches now is a good time to look at weather conditions over the past couple of months and the forecasts for the rest of the grazing season to gain some insight into the forage supply for the rest of the year. At this point most native cool-season range grasses have reached their peak standing forage and won’t put on more growth unless conditions are favorable this fall. Most warm-season grasses are in the middle of their rapid growth stage currently. Current moisture conditions as well as continued precipitation are important for warm-season growth.

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Getting maximum weed control from cover crops without affecting row crop yield is a matter of termination timing. Learn more in this episode of N Field.

For producers planting annual forages on cropland, note that the current sign-up period for annual forage insurance ends July 15 for annual forages planted from Aug. 1, 2024 through July 31, 2025. UNL ag finance experts discuss changes to the Annual Forage Insurance Program (AFIP) and tips for how to integrate annual forage insurance coverage into your program.

Stormy skies continue for Nebraska next week, with most of the state expected to receive about an inch or more in rainfall by July 10.

Wheat grows at the agriculture fields at 84th and Havelock. (Photo by Craig Chandler/University Communication) When Nebraska farmers see a seed bag marked with the blue tag from NCIA, they have the assurance that the seed has received unbiased third-party quality assurance, meeting the standards for germination, purity and variety identity.

The spearmint plots at PREEC in Scottsbluff were harvested on Oct. 9, 2023, by UNL students Kasun Lakmini, left, Piumi Ishara, and Sujani De Silva. (Photo by Chabella Guzman) UNL researchers are investigating the crop's ability to produce favorable yields in the Panhandle's semi-arid climate, with continued focus on determining an optimum fertilizer and application rate for mint production.

Historical crop acreage reports for Nebraska are available at USDA. Most Nebraska crop plantings are slightly higher this year, with dry edible pea acreage at a nearly 30% increase over 2023.

Historical grain stocks data for Nebraska is available at USDA. Most Nebraska grain stocks are currently higher than 2023, with wheat leading at a 42% increase.

Historical U.S. crop acreage reports are available at USDA. Nationwide, acreage planted for corn is down 3% from last year and soybean acreage is up 3%.

A bumblebee gathers pollen at a Rocky Mountain Bee plant in the southern Panhandle of Nebraska. (Photo by Chabella Guzman) This year's conference will feature presentations by Nebraska Extension and NRCS on pollinators and other beneficial insects, specialty crops and backyard farming, and animal husbandry, plus discussions on mental health and wellness.