Feed aggregator

Don't let loose smut catch you off guard — learn how this common wheat disease spreads, the best ways to avoid it and options for growers once a loose smut infection has been identified.

Nebraska Extension Weed Management Specialist Amit Jhala shares details about Maverick, a new corn herbicide that provides broad spectrum weed control.

UNL faculty members are currently developing a new online organic ag course, organic producer guide and organic website to help Nebraskans who want to transition to organic agriculture.

With unsubstantial rainfall and high summer temperatures setting in, drought continues to intensify in eastern Nebraska, setting records for exceptional drought status in some areas.

Saturday, July 1, 2023

If planting in July, warm season annual grasses are good options for forage production. They can be used to produce hay, silage, green chop, or grazing both during the summer or winter. However, if the desired use is winter grazing and the need is for high quality forage, then delaying planting until late July/early August and using cool-season winter sensitive species like oats may be a better fit. This article provides information on species selection and some key management considerations based on desired use.

Spanish: 

Drought conditions in Nebraska on June 27, 2023. (Source: U.S. Drought Monitor) UNL experts share recommendations for producers who are considering using non-irrigated drought-stressed corn as forage.

Saturday, July 1, 2023

The 24th annual University of Nebraska–Lincoln Gudmundsen Sandhills Laboratory (GSL) Open House will be held on Wednesday, August 23, 2023. This year’s Open House will be a hybrid format with our traditional in-person event held at GSL along with being live streamed online as a webinar.

Spanish: 

Saturday, July 1, 2023

The University of Nebraska is hosting an open house at the Barta Brothers Ranch on July 25th from 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. The Barta Brothers Ranch is a 6,000-acre property donated to the University of Nebraska by Clifford and James Barta in 1996. The ranch has housed a variety of research projects over the years including studies on Sandhills’ biocomplexity and a 20-year-long grazing systems production survey. One of the newest research projects, commonly referred to as CAM (collaborative adaptive management), will be the primary focus of the open house.

Spanish: 

Saturday, July 1, 2023

Though the stress of calving season is behind us, cattle producers have to stay vigilant, because things like nursing calf pneumonia and pinkeye can take a lot of the fun out of baseball games and county fairs. Let’s take a quick look at summer/nursing-calf pneumonia.

Spanish: 

Measuring the amount of heat between an upper and lower threshold to which an insect has been exposed, degree-days models can provide a high level of precision in predicting western bean cutworm peak flight.

Figure 1. A wheat field day at the High Plains Ag Lab near Sidney in Cheyenne County on June 14. (Photos by Stephen Wegulo) Eastern Nebraska wheat fields weren't significantly impacted by disease this growing season; however, due to abundant rainfall, western Nebraska and Panhandle growers have observed moderate levels of Fusarium head blight and severe levels of tan spot.

Recreational water sport enthusiasts particularly enjoy floating the Niobrara River on the stretch near Valentine, Nebraska, where it has been designated a national scenic river. The final installment of the Nebraska Rivers series focuses on the "crown jewel" of Nebraska, the Niobrara River, as well as the White River and Hat Creek.

Options for producers facing short alfalfa stands from drought stress and encroaching bluegrass, plus water needs for livestock during summer.

Several local organic farmers who utilize flame weeding will share their experiences with the technique during the workshop Aug. 15 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.

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. Nebraskans can attend one of the three dates scheduled for free, in-person farm and ag law clinics in July or call to arrange a virtual/phone appointment.

4-H members from across Nebraska converged in Lincoln for the inaugural Premier Communication Event. The youth had the opportunity to participate in state-level contests, including Illustrated Presentations, Prepared Speeches, Impromptu Speeches, Radio Public Service Announcements, and Video Communications. 

44 presenters participated in the Illustrated Presentations Contest, and the top seniors were:

1. Ava Stewart, Cedar County
2. Aubree Siffring, Butler County
3. Emily Brehl, Clay County
4. Libby Macklin, Webster County
5. Tucker Robinson, Fillmore County

Intermediate division winners were:

1. Mallory Beethe, Sarpy County
2. Andrea Bettenhausen, Lancaster County
3. Maggie White, Gage County
4. Ella Jessen, Knox County
5. Devon Rasmussen, Gage County

92 young people participated in the Prepared Speech Contest. The top five presenters in the senior division included:

1. Hope Roscoe, Burt County
2. Lilee Chevalier, Lancaster County
3. Sophia Burns, Dawson County
4. Ella Brennemann, Frontier County
5. Grace Brennemann, Frontier County

Top presenters in the intermediate division included:

1. Lena Gropp, Saline County
2. Brooklyn Reiman, Dawson County
3. Lorelai Rickertsen, Dawson County
4. Luke Olsen, Kimball County
5. Griffin Owens, Dawson County

35 members participated in the Impromptu Speech Contest. The top five in the senior division were: 

1. Kara Brockman, Gosper County
2. Grace Brenneman, Frontier County
3. Lilee Chevalier, Lancaster County
4. Adrian Svitak, Hall County
5. Kathryn Vance, Scotts Bluff County

The top five intermediate division winners included:

1. Nathan Brhel, Clay County
2. Grace Finnegan, Boyd County
3. Mallory Beethe, Sarpy County
4. Amarita Payne, Lancaster County
5. Ayla Foster, Box Butte County

76 Radio Public Service Announcements were submitted to the state contest. Those in the senior division recognized with top awards included:

1. Campbell Snodgrass, Cuming County
2. Alex Berghorst, Custer County
3. Alexa Brodd, Dodge County
4. Marshall Bratetic, Knox County
5. Jonah Splichal, Scotts Bluff County

Award winners in the intermediate division were:

1. Owens Griffin, Dawson County
2. McKenna Stewart, Polk County
3. Harley Hedrick, York County
4. Cassidy Reiman, Dawson County
5. Alexa Stewart, Polk County

Nine entries were submitted for the Video Communications Contest. Senior division winners included: 

1. Josiah Pitterson, Dodge County
2. Emily Brhel, Clay County
3. Ariana Pitterson, Dodge County
4. Ashley Bauer, Buffalo County
5. Jordan Wagner, Scotts Bluff County

Intermediate division winners included:

1. Nathan Brhel, Clay County
2. Kirstyn Beberniss, Garden County
3. Mallory Beethe, Sarpy County

While new in 2023, the Premier Communication Event is intended to be an annual event held each June at the Univerisity of Nebraska–Lincoln. Participants showcase their communication skills and knowledge developed through other 4-H projects, explore issues related to the communication industry, discover college and career opportunities, and meet other 4-H youth from across the state. To learn more, visit 4h.unl.edu/pce.

4-H members from across Nebraska convened in Lincoln on June 21 and 22 to take part in the annual Premier Animal Science Event. Youth competed as individuals and teams in state-level 4-H contests, including Poultry Judging, Meats Judging, Livestock Skillathon, Livestock Quiz Bowl, and Livestock Judging contests. 

64 youths participated in the Poultry Judging Contest. Gold medals were awarded to:

• Team: Saunders County - Anne Nygren, Hannah Strizek, Joseph Ondracek, and Tony Ondracek
• Intermediate Individual: Rachel Spawn, Platte County
• Senior Individual: Noah Jelinek, Lancaster County

68 young people participated in the Meats Judging Contest. Top awards winners included:

• Team: Dawson County - Parker Walahoski, Barton Beattie, and Preston Beattie
• Intermediate Individual: Paige Walahoski, Dawson County
• Senior Individual: Parker Walahoski, Dawson County

27 teams competed in the Livestock Skillathon Contest. Gold medals were awarded to:

• Senior Team: Dawson County - Bart Beattie, Jacie Wolfinger, Jaelin Wolfinger, Parker Walahoski, and Spencer Walahoski
• Intermediate Team: Buffalo County - Graden Forbes, Arabella Rolfsmeye, Kaitlyn Meints, and Laurynn Andrews

13 teams competed in Livestock Quiz Bowl, with top awards going to:

• Senior Team: Buffalo County - Gracie Wagoner, Justine Pope, Mason Janda, and Skyler Summers
• Intermediate Team: Boone/Nance County - Kahnen Pelster, Katernia Maricle, Dorothy Smith, and Emilyn Kurz

190 4-H members participated in the Livestock Judging Contest. Gold medal award winners included:

• Senior Team: Buffalo County - Justine Pope, Jaylea Pope, and Mason Janda
• Senior Individual: Justine Pope, Buffalo County
• Intermediate Team: Lincoln County - Allyson Kemp, Cauy Robinson, and Arian Gilmore
• Intermediate Individual: Allyson Kemp, Lincoln County

The highest-ranking eligible poultry judging, meats judging, quiz bowl, and skillathon teams now have the opportunity to participate in the National 4-H Contests. The top three senior livestock judging teams can participate in one of three national competitions, including the National 4-H Livestock Judging Contest, the American Royal 4-H Livestock Judging Contest, or the National Western Roundup. 

The Premier Animal Science Event, also known as PASE, is a two-day event held each June at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. Participants explore issues related to the animal industry, discover college and career opportunities, and test their livestock skills and knowledge. To learn more, visit 4h.unl.edu/pase.

Participants will learn how to identify soybean gall midge larvae and recognize plant injury, and learn about ongoing research for control options.

Historical crop progress data for Nebraska is available at USDA. (CropWatch file photo by Gary Stone) Dry edible bean planting was 98% complete in Nebraska as of June 25, bringing an end to planting season for 2023.

The crop water use report is updated weekly. Visit PHREC AgLab for more information.

Recent rainfall and hailstorms will impact the next few weeks of crop water use in the Nebraska Panhandle.