Feed aggregator

Commodity and specialty crop producers have until July 22 to complete applications for assistance through the Emergency Relief Program.

Nebraska corn stocks are up 3% from 2021, and soybeans stored are up 53%, according to USDA NASS.

Dry edible bean acreage is up 17% in Nebraska, while corn acreage is down 2% and soybean acreage remains unchanged from 2021.

The forecast for July includes chances of precipitation across the state beginning this weekend, followed by a return to temperatures in the 90s and 100s until mid-July.

Farm and Ranch Management Analyst Glennis McClure discusses how custom operators can input data from the 2022 Nebraska Custom Rates Report into the Agricultural Budget Calculator to figure charges that will be competitive in the marketplace.

Figure 1. Thermal infrared sensors mounted on the center pivot irrigation system for monitoring canopy temperature. Results of a research project on optimizing irrigation methods by utilizing thermal and multispectral center pivot sensors to gather crop data.

Friday, July 1, 2022

The 2022 Nebraska Grazing Conference will be held August 9 and 10 at the Younes Conference Center in Kearney, NE with a program bridging grazing lands conservation and management.

Spanish: 

An important, yet often overlooked, way to determine when to cut grass hay is what quality of hay is needed on the operation. Extension educators discuss some often overlooked factors for determining a grass hay cut date, and share recommendations on timing irrigation for more effective control of bluegrass in alfalfa.

Winter wheat harvest in Nebraska has begun, with 66% of the crop reported to be in fair to excellent condition.

A Flame Weeding Workshop will be held Aug. 17 at the Eastern Nebraska Research, Extension and Education Center. Attendees will learn how to do proper flaming to control over 10 major Midwestern weeds in seven agronomic crops — field corn, sweet corn, popcorn, soybean, sorghum, sunflower and wheat.

Producers in numerous Nebraska counties will be eligible for emergency credit to recover from intense drought during the growing season.

Friday, July 1, 2022

In recent years, a modern technology, “virtual fencing,” has emerged into the market and has been gaining growing interest from the livestock producers, particularly in the cattle sector. Virtual fencing technology has been studied in some European countries and Australia where grazing beef and dairy cows are predominant. More research is currently being conducted in the USA to better understand how virtual fencing might fit within cow-calf and yearling operations as a tool for grazing management.

Spanish: 

Brad Ramsdale, professor of agronomy at the Nebraska College for Technical Agriculture, discusses plant and weed identification with a group of youth at a previous Youth Agronomy Field Day. (Photo by Kathy Burr) Nebraska youth will spend the day immersed in activities to learn more about weed identification, plant growth stages, insect management, using ag tech for irrigation management, and more.

Friday, July 1, 2022

Feedlot managers understand that heat stress reduces intake.  This effect is more marked in cattle that are closer to their finishing weight, and during the first heat event of the season as cattle are not acclimated to heat yet. 

Spanish: 

Friday, July 1, 2022

This planting season, early dry conditions followed by late wet conditions in some areas have caused some fields to be designated prevented planting acres. To go along with this, high feed and forage prices and less than ideal pasture conditions due to previous years’ drought are allowing the opportunity for producers to think outside the box. After all, an influx of prevented plant acres provides freedom to produce annual cover crops to counter-balance current forage prices.

Spanish: 

Friday, July 1, 2022

When a beef animal is harvested, the value of the carcass and the resulting cuts are determined based on the grades of the carcass. Quality grading and yield grading is monitored by the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service (USDA AMS). Unlike inspection, which monitors food safety and is mandatory for meat products being sold in the United States, grading is a voluntary program and is used to determine the marketability of the product.

Spanish: 

Friday, July 1, 2022

Quality is a prediction of the expected palatability of a carcass. Quality grade is based off animal maturity and marbling. In addition to these factors, other characteristics such as color, texture and firmness of the final product are considered by those making purchasing decisions. Differences in these characteristics can be impacted by several different things and often tie back to the life of the animal. It is often noted that the combination of genetics and environment can impact the phenotype, or physical characteristics, of an animal.

Spanish: