Latest Updates from cropwatch.unl.edu

In the latest episode, FarmBits chats with Carlos Pizolotto, a Brazilian plant pathologist who is researching predictive models to prevent and control disease outbreaks in agriculture.

Robert Koch of the University of Minnesota speaks to the FarmBits team about the soybean pest management research being conducted in his lab, using remote sensing for scouting and sampling fields for soybean aphids.

Approximately $123 million in automatic financial assistance has been made available for qualifying Farm Loan Program (FLP) direct loan borrowers who meet certain criteria. The new relief funds will begin dispersement in April, and all producers with open FLP loans will receive a letter that details eligibility, and information about qualifying for assistance and how to apply.

Weekly USDA NASS crop condition reports are set to begin April 3 for the 2023 growing season. Very little change was recorded in winter wheat condition and soil moisture across Nebraska at the end of March, with only 22% of wheat in good-excellent condition.

FieldWatch covers all registered commercial apiary sites, vineyards, orchards, fruit and vegetable grow sites, nursery and Christmas tree production sites, and certified organic and transitional organic crops. To add your site onto FieldWatch, visit the link below. As the growing season quickly approaches, producers are reminded to use FieldWatch and DriftWatch to protect specialty crop acreage and apiaries, which number in the thousands across Nebraska.

A 2022 East Campus Discovery Days and Farmers Market attendee learns to lasso at the UNL Rodeo Club exhibit. The annual event, held on the University of Nebraska–Lincoln’s East Campus for three Saturdays each summer, offers locally grown and produced foods and crafts, educational activities from UNL departments, food trucks and live music. (Photo by Jordan Opp, University Communication and Marketing) In addition to giving local growers a chance to connect with the public as business owners and agvocates, Discovery Days also showcases the ag research, teaching and extension taking place across IANR.

Two bills in the 2023 legislative session have the potential to impact Nebraska ag in significant ways — LB 591 would change the deadline for oral cropland lease termination notice from Sept. 1 to Jan. 1, and LB 662 would enhance protection for livestock owners from nuisance lawsuits. (Photo credit: Nebraska Unicameral Information Office) UNL Agricultural Law and Water Specialist Dave Aiken reviews the details of two bills in the 2023 legislative session dealing with farmland leases and livestock nuisance lawsuits.

Research has shown that small businesses who highly engage in strategic planning activities realize 60% higher gross returns than those who do not highly engage. (Photo courtesy Center for Ag Profitability) UNL Farm and Ranch Management Specialist Jay Parsons discusses the impacts of sound strategic planning and decision-making in today’s ag industry.

Daran Rudnick, UNL associate professor and irrigation management specialist, provides a brief background on the TAPS program, how the competition works and why it’s had such a positive impact on Nebraska producers.

Individuals who complete the survey will help Nebraska Extension understand what training courses and materials will best benefit agricultural producers in the future.

With intense drought conditions last year, it may be prudent to reduce stocking rates and delay turnout this spring, to help grasses in their recovery process. With spring on the horizon, it's time to put 2023 grazing plans in place and be on the lookout for signs of grass tetany.

For successful double cropping, small grains like triticale should be planted now through early April, grazed from the third week of May to early June, and then followed by a summer annual grass. Strategies and tips for successfully double cropping annual forages this year, and a breakdown on what fall dormancy means for alfalfa growth during the next growing season.

Interseeded cover crops was just one of many topics discussed at the Eastern Nebraska Soil Health Conference in February. (Photo by Jenny Rees) Topics of this year's soil health conference ranged from diversified crop rotations to interseeding cover crops to livestock integration and featured emerging soil health methods like new cover crop species, biochar as a soil health amendment and the perennial grain Kernza.

As it aggressively scavenges nitrogen in the soil, alfalfa can greatly reduce nitrate contamination of groundwater with no negative implications for future crops if planted in rotations.. This UNL research study provides insights on the rotation of annual crops with alfalfa as a highly effective means of reducing nitrate-nitrogen contamination in groundwater.

For safety training, Nebraska teens will have two locations to choose from — North Platte and Grand Island — and eight locations where they can take the final tractor driving test to receive certification. See testing sites and registration information below. Two training locations and eight testing locations will be available to Nebraska teens seeking tractor and equipment safety certification.

Nielsen will wrap up 45 years of contributing to University of Nebraska research initiatives with his departure from the university on March 31.

A review of the impacts cercospora leaf spot has had on sugarbeet production in Nebraska since the early 1900s.

A native of Mitchell, Nebraska and graduate of UNL, Guzman began her duties at PREEC on March 13.

Led by Allan Vyhnalek and Jim Jansen, the March 23 workshop will be geared toward eastern Nebraska producers, and the March 24 workshop will feature examples more relevant to central and western Nebraska producers. The free workshops will offer updated leasing information, new 2023 Nebraska land values and cash rental rates, and address numerous concerns related to land management.

This graph demonstrates the increase in crop yield over time at the Knorr-Holden plot, which has been continuously planted with corn since 1912, and treated with beef cattle manure since 1942. (Graph courtesy UNL Water) UNL researchers share their results after 77 years of applying manure to soil at the Knorr-Holden plot, the oldest experimental irrigated corn plot in North America.