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Figure 1. A grower’s wheat field in Webster County on May 28. Severe infections of stripe rust were observed this week in Nebraska wheat fields, and leaf rust was identified for the first time this season.

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

Estimated crop water use for Nebraska Panhandle crops for the previous week and the upcoming week.

Leafy spurge spreads aggressively and is difficult to control once established. Several herbicides are labeled for control of this weed, but continued monitoring and retreatments are necessary for best results. Strategies for reducing spread of leafy spurge and scouting for alfalfa weevil, plus insights on selecting and planting warm-season annuals.

Historical crop progress data for Nebraska is available at USDA. (CropWatch file photo) As corn planting nears the finish line in Nebraska, dry edible bean producers are getting started on their planting season.

Tuesday, May 28, 2024 Cattle have long been a cornerstone of agriculture, providing us with milk, meat, and various other products that nourish and sustain our communities. Ensuring the cattle’s health and optimal muscle development is vital when producing high-quality beef. However, various genetic conditions can disrupt muscle metabolism, affecting animals’ well-being and the quality of the meat they produce.Spanish: 

Extension educators share their observations in fields this week in Colfax, Butler and Polk counties.

Heavy rains in late May 2024 flood the fields of the Eastern Nebraska Research, Extension and Education Center. (Photo by Jenny Rees) Extension insights on crop recovery, disease and harvest considerations for flooded wheat and alfalfa fields.

Nebraska will have a brief break from precipitation early next week, but another round of storms is expected to bring rainfall back to the state by Thursday, May 30.

There are four key points to remember during the process of planning and planting perennial grasses: seed cost, seedbed, seeding depth and weed control. Extension educators review the financial and operational considerations of converting cropland to grass pastures.

Thursday, May 23, 2024

In parts of the High Plains Region, recent developing dry conditions are starting to raise concerns that we may see reduced forage production from pasture and rangelands as we move on into the rest of the spring and summer in parts of the High Plains region. The www.weather.gov/gid/NebraskaPrecipitation map shows many parts of the Sandhills and Panhandle regions receiving below average precipitation for the last 30 days.  This time frame is critical for precipitation that drives cool-season forage production on rangeland and pasture.

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Nebraska Extension Weed Management Specialist Amit Jhala offers advice to growers on using labeled adjuvants with pre-emergence herbicides for better results in weed control.

Figure 1. Research plots at Havelock Research Farm in Lincoln, Lancaster County on May 23. (Photos by Stephen Wegulo) Stripe rust observations and severity have increased in Nebraska, and Fusarium head blight was detected at trace levels.

While land, machinery and equipment are the most logical options, any physical asset used on your farm or ranch could be considered in a gift leaseback for family members looking to join the operation. (CAP photo) Continuing a series that highlight ideas and tactics for bringing another family member into the operation, this extension article expands on strategies to transfer wealth by combining gifts with a lease agreement.

Christine Wittich, assistant professor of civil and environmental engineering, has received a five-year, $615,387 Faculty Early Career Development Program award grant from the National Science Foundation to improve the structural engineering of steel grain bins. (Photo by Craig Chandler, University Communication and Marketing) Ultimately, Wittich’s research could lead to different construction standards for bins.

Management of pillbugs is challenging. While some insecticides and planting strategies may help control pillbug populations, producers should carefully weigh the pros and cons of each approach.

Thursday, May 23, 2024

The Nebraska Women in Agriculture program, along with the Nebraska Beef Quality Assurance Program, will host the fourth annual Herd That! Conference on June 10-11, in North Platte. The event will be held at the West Central Research, Extension and Education Center, 402 W. State Farm Road.  

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The North Platte NRD’s Greener Gardens Greenhouse will be one of the stops on the Nebraska Soil and Water Conservation Society annual meeting tour. (Photo by Chabella Guzman) This year’s theme is “Tech Talks — Tech Walks,” focusing on various technologies, with tours planned at a local organic heritage seed farm and North Platte NRD's geothermal greenhouse.

This year's annual field day will include new contests in the Agronomic Olympics, live demos, guest speakers and a four-man golf scramble.

Once silage is exposed to oxygen, its quality can decrease quickly. For best results, don’t expose more than three days’ worth of a pile at a time. Tips on retaining silage condition during feedout, planning the optimal time for grass hay harvest, and controlling grasshopper in rangeland and forages.