Latest Updates from cropwatch.unl.edu

Historical acreage reports for Nebraska are available at USDA. In October, USDA NASS will begin surveying Nebraska producers on total acres planted and harvested, and total yield and production of row crops, to calculate county-level estimates.

Nebraska Extension Educator Amy Timmerman explains how to conduct a push test to identify stalk rot before harvesting your corn fields.

Colfax County #2 team members participate in a discussion during the 2023 Regional Youth Crop Scouting Competition. After winning first place in the state competition, the team placed second in regionals. All Nebraska youth participating in the 2023 Regional Youth Crop Scouting Competition earned accolades for exhibiting their knowledge and skills throughout nine separate crop scouting exercises for the contest.

A near-record warm period is expected to close out September, and October will begin with widespread rainfall in Nebraska.

In a dry edible bean plot at the UNL PREEC Mitchell Lab, Maria Alvarado, UNL graduate student, left, Kainyon Tay, head of the legume program in Chile, and Carlos Urrea, UNL dry bean breeder, look for desirable bean plants. (Photo by Chabella Guzman) Continuing international collaborations on dry bean genetic research, UNL's Carlos Urrea hand-selects quality dry bean plants during harvest in Nebraska to send to researchers across the world for cross-breeding.

By the close of the fiscal year on Sept. 30, USDA, through the delivery of FSA programs, will have invested more than $19 billion in America’s agricultural producers with more economic support on the way in fiscal year 2024. This week, FSA will issue more than $581 million in 2021 and 2022 drought and wildfire emergency relief to eligible ranchers, and $1.17 billion in crop disaster assistance.

Partnering with Nebraska On-Farm Research Network, North Platte farmer Cameron Kolling is conducting research this year on interseeding a variety of cover crops in corn.

Soy2023, the Biennial Cellular and Molecular Biology of the Soybean Conference, was held Aug. 10-13 at the Embassy Suites by Hilton in Lincoln, Nebraska. Over 160 scientists from national and international public and private sector institutions gathered to exchange ideas and research outcomes, and to share this information with soybean growers for improved production practices.

The University of Nebraska–Lincoln team working on the MICRA project includes (from left) Taro Mieno, agricultural economics; Daniel Schachtman, agronomy and horticulture; Saleh Taghvaeian, biological systems engineering; and Seunghee Kim, civil engineering. (Photo by Nick Kumpula, Research and Economic Development) The research team will experiment with soil amendments and biochar to measure their impact on soil water-holding capacity to find ways to improve preservation of soil moisture in farm fields.

Historical potato production reports for Nebraska are available at USDA. Nebraska's potato production in 2022 was up 4% from the previous year, and acreage also increased by 5%.

When it comes to stalks residue, grain sorghum stover will retain nutrient grazing value longer than corn, so prioritize grazing corn residue first to achieve optimum nutrition. Extension educators review important factors to consider when entering a land lease agreement, overgrazing pastures in preparation for interseeding legumes, and using drought-stressed crop residue as a feed source.

The Soil Health Exchange is a new discussion forum, designed to give producers and ag stakeholders an avenue for direct communication with some of Nebraska's leading soil health experts for help with their soil health concerns, interpreting test reports and more. The Soil Health Exchange is a new discussion forum designed to give producers and ag stakeholders an avenue for direct communication with some of Nebraska's leading soil health experts for help with soil health concerns, interpreting test reports and more.

Historical crop progress data for Nebraska is available at USDA. Harvest of Nebraska crops was ahead of average pace as of Sept. 24, with the exception of dry edible beans, which remained slightly behind last year's progress.

To see if you qualify for USDA's new Farm Labor Stabilization and Protection Pilot Program, visit USDA. Ag employers can begin applying for a new pilot program that aims to help address workforce needs, promote a safe work environment, and support expansion of lawful migration pathways for workers.

Featured speakers in this webinar include Marcelo Castillo, USDA research economist, Brian Lisonbee, Lisonbee Immigration Law attorney/owner, Lincoln, Nebraska, and Elliott Dennis, UNL assistant professor and livestock economist. For ag producers interested in hiring seasonal labor, this webinar focuses on the state of ag labor and historical use, an overview of visa requirements, procedures, compliance and employer obligations.

Nebraska Extension Educator Chuck Burr highlights some of the best practices to avoid development of iron deficiency chlorosis, and additional steps farmers can take to manage chlorosis once its been scouted in their fields.

Nebraska Extension Educator John Thomas reviews control practices for farmers battling Palmer amaranth and an emergency measure the Environmental Protection Agency is currently considering to provide assistance.

In addition to equipment and operational costs, the number of acres to be harvested, time, the availability of good custom operators in your area, and harvest efficiency all contribute to making an economic decision on hiring custom work. (Center for Ag photo) Nebraska Extension Educator Glennis McClure reviews custom rates in 2022 and explains how to use the Ag Budget Calculator to determine what custom operators may be charging this year.

Nebraska Extension Agricultural Meteorologist Eric Hunt shares his expectations for precipitation throughout the rest of September, and what effect this year's corn maturity timeframe may have on yields.

Spring pea trials at the UNL High Plains Ag Lab near Sidney, Nebraska. (Photo by Chabella Guzman) The 2023 trials included winter and spring peas from ProGene and Meridian Seeds, winter peas from Seed Ranch and spring peas from Valesco Genetics.