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To receive 2024 weekly crop water use reports via text message, subscribe on the PHREC AgLab site.

Nebraska Extension Educator Gary Stone reviews crop water use during the 2023 irrigation season and highlights a new feature for receiving 2024 reports via text.

Rural Nebraskans are increasingly pessimistic about their current and future well-being, according to the 2023 Nebraska Rural Poll.

Over the past 28 years, the Rural Poll has asked respondents about their current well-being and outlook on their future. This year, 27% of respondents indicated they are worse off than they were five years ago, up from 21% last year and 11% in 2021. This is the highest level since 2009, when 28% believed they were worse off.

Learn how to accurately identify Sudden Death Syndrome in soybeans and select appropriate control options for your operation.

Information on how to deal with the aftermath of severe thunderstorms with hail and tornadoes, from handling insurance to managing recovery crop.

New research is being conducting in the Nebraska Panhandle on ways to increase production of millets, an ideal dryland crop with short growth duration with exceptional nutrition, particularly for gluten-sensitive and diabetic individuals.

Though August began with drought-relieving rainfall in Nebraska, it ended in a record-setting heat wave that took a toll on crops and livestock across almost all of the state.

Nebraska has three chances at precipitation throughout the next week, which falls in line with the latest CPC forecast that favors above average temperatures and precipitation for most of the remainder of the month.

The UNL Agronomy and Horticulture fall seminar series features a new lineup of experts presenting research and insights on fertigation techniques and pest management to the latest advances in plant genetics and soil health concepts.

Trading crop residue bales for manure may seem like it should be a simple decision, but there are many factors that weigh into that decision, both financial and logistical in nature. Insights on how to initiate a fair trade of crop residue and manure between producers with respect to costs and logistics of the transaction for both parties.

The Nebraska East Campus Visitors Center is featuring a new collection of photography captured by 4-H members from across the state.

• • Hunter Maly, 11, Neligh, Antelope County 4-H
• Miranda Bracht, 18, West Point, Burt County 4-H
• Isabelle Reichman, 15, Chappell, Deuel County 4-H
• Ashley Easterday, 16, Eustis, Frontier County 4-H
• Ludick Botha, 12, Oxford, Furnas County 4-H
• Caleb Oltman, 16, Beatrice, Gage County 4-H
• Kash Hanneman, 12, Aurora, Hamilton County 4-H
• Brody Medina, 15, Cheyenne, Kimball-Banner County 4-H
• Khloe Stutzman, 13, North Platte, Lincoln County 4-H
• Tessa Hansen, 16, Stapleton, Logan County 4-H
• Matthew Alderson, 16, Osmond, Pierce County 4-H
• Harper Scott, 9, Gordon, Sheridan County 4-H
• Tinsley Neidhardt, 12, Albion, Boone County 4-H
• Ayvrie Waldron, 15, Alliance, Box Butte County 4-H
• Kristin Holcomb, 15, Arapahoe, Furnas County 4-H
• Rylan Dietz, 13, Hampton, Hamilton County 4-H
• Logan Deike, 13, Omaha, Jefferson County 4-H
• Sydney Kruse, 12, Lincoln, Lancaster County 4-H
• Elizabeth Hilkemann, 10, Firth, Lancaster County 4-H
• Morgan Gabel, 14, Lincoln, Lancaster County 4-H
• Jayden Adams, 15, Brock, Nemaha County 4-H
• Karis Kersting, 10, Creston, Platte County 4-H
• Elizabeth Soden, 11, Ceresco, Saunders County 4-H
• Sophie Hansen, 9, Arlington, Washington County 4-H

“This exhibition showcases the talent and creativity of Nebraska youth,” said Liz Hamm, 4-H photography superintendent at the Nebraska State Fair. The photographs in the exhibition were selected from hundreds of entries at the 2023 Nebraska State Fair. The chosen photos demonstrate various aspects of creativity and mastery of the medium, including solid technical execution, bold composition, and vivid color.

The purpose of the 4-H photography project is to help young people establish basic to advanced knowledge of and abilities in using photographic equipment, lighting, and composition to capture images, express feelings, and communicate ideas. Participants work through three project levels, progressing from basic to advanced photography skills and techniques.

The exhibition is on display through August 2024. The East Campus Visitors Center, located at Holdrege Street and Dairy Store Drive, is open to the public from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.

The forecasted yield potential this season is 7% below the historical average for both rainfed and irrigated corn, similar to predictions in September 2022.

Historical crop production reports for Nebraska are available at USDA. While predictions have decreased slightly, grain sorghum is still on track for a remarkable production year in Nebraska, with bushels forecast at 191% above last year.

U.S. soybean acreage is down 4% from last year, and corn acreage is up 7%. View Nebraska's planted acreage in this report. According to NASS's Sept. 12 report, U.S. soybean production is down 3% in 2023, while corn production is up 10%.

Nebraska 4-H, in collaboration with the University of Nebraska–Lincoln Department of Animal Science, offered the sixth year of the Nebraska 4-H Fed Steer Challenge in 2023.

The Fed Steer Challenge cultivates the next generation of leaders in the Nebraska cattle industry by providing youth opportunities. This challenge enhances the educational value of traditional 4-H beef projects and provides affordable options to reward production merit and market animal carcass value; accurate and complete record-keeping practices; industry and research knowledge; and producer engagement with the 4-H member.

The youth selected, purchased, exhibited, harvested, and analyzed carcass data on a steer while networking with industry professionals. Additionally, working as a learning cohort, they participated in monthly educational opportunities led by industry professionals and Animal Science faculty. Alongside these youth, large crowds at the Nebraska State Fair receive instruction from a commercial cattle buyer about sorting and evaluating steers.

The 2023 Nebraska participants included:

• Lilee Chevalier, 17, Bennet, Lancaster County 4-H
• Leah Christen, 17, Steinauer, Pawnee County 4-H
• Rachel Hale, 16, Fullerton, Nance County 4-H
• Joseph Fickenscher 18, Axtell, Kearney County 4-H
• Eldon Haack, 15, Upland, Franklin County 4-H
• Demi Lapaseotes, 16, Bridgeport, Morrill County 4-H
• Nickolas Rohr, 17, Eustis, Frontier County 4-H
• Logan Schmidt, 14, Deshler, Nuckolls/Thayer 4-H
• Karina Smydra, 14, Saint Paul, Howard County 4-H
• Karli Wagner, 17, Arthur, Arthur County 4-H

Top placings in the live animal portion:

1. Logan Schmidt

Top placings in the growth performance portion:

1. Karli Wagner
2. Logan Schmidt
3. Eldon Haack

Top placings in the carcass merit portion:

1. Joseph Fickenscher
2. Logan Schmidt
3. Karli Wagner

Top placings in the record book portion:

1. Nickolas Rohr
2. Karina Smydra
3. Leah Christen

Top placings in the industry interview portion:

1. Leah Christen
2. Karli Wagner
3. Nickolas Rohr

Overall award winners:

1. Karli Wagner
2. Leah Christen
3. Nickolas Rohr
4. Logan Schmidt
5. Karina Smydra

The winners of each award category receive cash prizes and the overall winners each will win a cash award sponsored by CoBank through the Nebraska 4-H Foundation, as well as a $500 scholarship to Nebraska’s College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources. To learn more about the fed steer challenge, visit 4h.unl.edu/fed-steer-challenge

Nathan Mueller, Nebraska Extension water and integrated cropping systems educator, speaks to participants during the 2023 4Rs Nutrient Stewardship Field Day. Throughout the field day, educators shared insights and conducted live demos on optimizing management of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, including via sensor-based fertigation.

A summary of the nitrogen (N) decisions made in each 2023 TAPS competition and some conclusions derived from the decisions.

In week seven of this series, let’s explore number six of the 7 C’s—“controversy with civility.”

This group value in the social change model recognizes that in any group effort, differences in opinion are likely, and those differences must be shared openly but calmly. Civility is respect for others, willingness to hear each other’s views, and holding back on criticism. This is easiest if you have already identified a common purpose to work towards.

A total of 164 counties have been documented as infested with soybean gall midge as of Aug. 9, with two new counties located in Kansas and six counties in Iowa. With soybean gall midge emergence dates and locations advancing in the state, Nebraska Extension educators stress the importance of scouting and building a profile to inform future treatments as research continues on management options.

Aaron Hird, USDA NRCS state soil health specialist, demonstrates the outcome of different soil health practices with a rainfall simulation to Nebraska Soil Health School attendees at UNL’s Haskell Ag Lab on Aug. 2. During its inaugural year, the Nebraska Soil Health School educated more than 200 producers and ag industry stakeholders on the latest research and practices for healthy soils to increase crop productivity.

Cattle grazing cereal rye cover crop near Tecumseh. (CropWatch file photo) Tips on selecting and planting cover crops, managing nitrate risks while grazing annuals, and preparing hay samples for testing.