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Assessing whether rainfall is sufficient to recharge soil moisture to adequate levels is not an easy task. This article covers key aspects of soil-water relations and how recent rainfall in Nebraska may affect available soil moisture for future irrigation decisions.

The frequent rainfall events in late April and early May in southeast Nebraska may have set the stage for a potential 2024 Fusarium outbreak. This article outlines fungicide application timing and other management considerations.

In addition to highlighting the importance and achievements of women in the ag industry, the International Year of the Woman Farmer initiative will support ongoing UN efforts to address gender equity, food security and poverty. The worldwide observance will call attention to the vital role that women play in global food and agricultural production, as well as raise awareness of the unique challenges they face in the ag industry.

The worst compaction happens on the first pass across the field, so controlling traffic will help minimize compaction as a whole. Insights on how wet field conditions affect compaction and ways to mitigate compaction when field work can't be delayed.

A new herbicide, KHNP0090, has been developed by Bayer CropScience for application on dicamba-tolerant soybeans and cotton. The public has until June 3, 2024 to make comments on the registration of a new Bayer CropScience dicamba product for dicamba-tolerant soybeans and cotton.

The public is invited to hear insights from numerous innovative companies on revolutionary new and emerging technologies for the ag industry at the next Heuermann Lecture, which is free to attend and will be livestreamed.

For more information or assistance with completing a USDA NASS survey, visit the respondent portal. Producers are encouraged to provide information on planted and harvested acreage, including acreage for biotech crops, and grain stocks, to aid NASS in determining the national supply of commodities for the 2024 crop year.

Though delaying small grain harvest can produce higher yields, it also decreases crude protein content. Producers should consider the animal being fed and feeding method before harvesting to get the most out of these crops. With the first harvest of 2024 beginning soon, producers should take this time to perform equipment maintenance and strategize the timing of alfalfa and small grains harvest based on operational needs.

Historical crop production reports for Nebraska are available at USDA. Nebraska's hay stocks are currently up 79% from last year.

Historical crop progress data for Nebraska is available at USDA. With drier weather last week, Nebraska farmers began to close the gap on planting delays, but corn and soybean remain 15-18% behind last year's progress for this time of year.

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

A glance at this week's crop water estimates and tips for Nebraska producers as they prepare for the 2024 irrigation season.

Friday, May 10, 2024

The time for turn out to our primary summer pastures is very near.  A couple of important questions are what date to turn out, and which pastures should be first?

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Crimping rye at a mild angle using a roller crimper. (CropWatch file photo) This short program will include a roller crimper demo, discussion on what conditions must be met to be successful with this termination method, and insights from farmers on their experiences with crimping.

The National Center for Resilient and Regenerative Precision Agriculture at Nebraska Innovation Campus will be a $160 million USDA laboratory, enabling USDA ARS to perform research on wheat, barley, sorghum, forage and bioenergy grasses, and other crops. Research on how these plants respond to emerging pests and pathogens under a full range of environmental conditions will empower scientists to make cutting-edge discoveries with the goal of developing climate-resilient crops for the U.S. agriculture industry. (Nebraska Today image) The state-of-the-art research center will enhance USDA ARS studies on the impact of emerging pests and pathogens on crops with the goal of developing climate-resilient crops for the U.S. agriculture industry.

This webinar reviews the pros and cons of adding an annual forage into crop rotations, with insights from Mary Drewnoski, extension beef systems specialist, Jay Parsons, extension farm and ranch management specialist, and Daren Redfearn, extension crop residue specialist. (USDA NRCS photo) This webinar highlights the economics and production benefits of incorporating annual forage systems into crop rotations for producers interested in diversifying their operation.

Figure 1. Probability of one inch of precipitation early next week. There is more rain expected for Nebraska next week, but it's likely to be followed by an extended dry period.

Aaron Young, a survey geologist with the Conservation and Survey Division, performs maintenance on a water well. (Courtesy photo) Below-average precipitation and an increased need for irrigation have led to groundwater level declines of more than 20 feet at some locations in Nebraska.

Figure 1. A grower’s wheat field in Lancaster County in southeast Nebraska with low levels of disease on May 8. (Photos by Stephen Wegulo) The appearance of wheat disease has increased in Nebraska, with new observations of stripe rust in several counties and low levels of barley yellow dwarf and leaf spot diseases.

For pastures with noxious weed thistles like this musk thistle, now is the time for spring herbicide applications, while the plants are still in the short rosette to bolted growth stages prior to flowering. (Photo by Gary Stone) Insights on pasture rental rates, selecting summer forage based on needs for your operation, and control options for noxious weed thistles in pastures.

Three Nebraska Extension NebGuides have been updated to include information about the new UNL Nitrogen Tool, designed to increase efficiency of nitrogen use in crop production. The updated publications provide information about UNL's newly developed web-based nitrogen (N) recommendation tool for corn grain, adapted from extension's previous N recommendation equation.