Latest Updates from cropwatch.unl.edu

The bustling harvest season means more machinery sharing space on the roadways. All drivers should remember to use and pay attention for signals, be patient, and give one another ample space to prevent accidents. With Harvest '24 underway, safety on the roads is a top priority — farmers should ensure equipment is well-maintained, visible, and used with caution, while drivers need to stay patient and give farm machinery ample space.

Remember that fires can still occur despite taking every available precaution, so keep a fire extinguisher in the combine cab and don't forget your cell phone at home. With drought conditions increasing in Nebraska, farmers are encouraged to review these fire prevention measures and remain alert to ensure a safe harvest season.

Historical crop progress data for Nebraska is available at USDA. Drought has intensified in Nebraska, causing increased topsoil and subsoil moisture shortages as growers reach the final stretch of winter wheat planting.

Nebraska Extension Weed Management Specialist Amit Jhala discusses the three basic principles that producers should adopt for maximum control of this persistent weed.

UNL researchers have developed a metamodel to enhance the Global Yield Gap Atlas, a worldwide database that can aid producers in improving yields by providing high-quality agronomic data on 13 major food crops across 70 countries and six continents. (Photo by Craig Chandler, University Communication and Marketing) The research team is generating precise estimates of crop yield potential worldwide, helping farmers, scientists and policymakers identify opportunities to improve agricultural productivity. 

The Boots to Business Reboot for Farmers and Ranchers is part of the Boots to Business initiative, which supports veterans transitioning into entrepreneurship. This free online training is designed to help veterans explore business ownership in the agricultural sector. It provides insights into how to start and grow a farming or ranching enterprise, covering topics such as business planning, financing and marketing.

Calculating building costs can provide a starting point or guide to begin negotiations — it is also essential to understand what a user or the renter is willing to pay. The article discusses how to determine fair rent for farm buildings by evaluating both fixed and variable costs, such as depreciation, property taxes, insurance, and repair expenses, as well as building size, condition, location and risk.

A dry August in Nebraska led to a return of drought for numerous regions, particularly in the northwest and southeast, where 2-category degradations were observed.

Harvest efforts will benefit from the warm, dry weather ahead, but there's also a heightened risk of wildfire and worsening drought through the beginning of October.

Sole proprietor farming businesses use IRS Schedule F, Profit or Loss from Farming to report income and expenses of the farming business. Schedule F can be used by partnerships, corporations, trusts and estates to report farming activities. The workshop will cover basic tax information on filing a Schedule F, used by farmers and ranchers to report income and expenses of the business.

The Beginning Farmer and Rancher workshops offer valuable insight for individuals who are preparing to take over a family farm or ranch, or start a new venture in agriculture. (Photo by Chabella Guzman) This workshop is perfect for young farmers, ranchers and anyone interested in understanding their role in family operations.

A Panhandle grower undercuts and windrows a field of dry beans so they can dry down and be combined. (Photo by Gary Stone, Nebraska Extension) Dy bean harvest was at 46% complete by Sept. 22, and harvest of corn, soybean and sorghum continues near average pace.

In Nebraska, hay prices fluctuate throughout the year due to several factors, including weather, supply and demand, and quality. For easy access to current hay prices, bookmark the link to CropWatch's hay markets page below. Insights on controlling pasture thistles during fall with herbicide applications, hay price fluctuations due to factors like drought and market conditions, and addressing the impact of dry weather on pasture health, alfalfa harvest timing, and forage production.

A sugarbeet field in the spring of 2024 with Palmer amaranth. Where Goltix has been applied, there is a clear line of weed suppression. (Photo by Chabella Guzman) A six-year collaboration between Nebraska Extension and Western Sugar Cooperative led to FDA approval of the herbicide Goltrix in sugarbeets for the first time in 2024, and growers reported promising results throughout the growing season.

Jennifer Clarke (left), professor of statistics and food science and technology, and director of UNL’s Quantitative Life Sciences Initiative, joins a strategic planning discussion during the National Agricultural Producers Data Cooperative conference Aug. 9. (Photo by Emma Saathoff, IANR Media) The USDA-funded initiative was formed to create a cyber-ecosystem that can securely manage and share agricultural data on a national scale, aiming to support farmers and agricultural stakeholders across the country.

Life insurance can be a key tool for farm and ranch businesses to provide tax-free death benefits at the death of the insured if the policy is structured correctly. (CAP photo) This article highlights the importance of life insurance for farmers and ranchers in estate planning to cover debt, ensuring liabilities are paid off upon death.

Carolina Córdova, Ph.D. (center) leads a demo for attendees of the 2024 Soil Health Field Day at Ithaca, Nebraska. (Photo by Abygail Warm, UNL communication specialist) The research team has developed a groundbreaking protocol for measuring soil organic carbon changes, enhancing carbon sequestration strategies and improving climate models through standardized long-term monitoring in agricultural systems.

A crowd gathers around the USDA NRCS live rainfall simulator which demonstrates the outcome of different soil health practices, led by Nathan Meuller, USDA NRCS state soil health specialist, at the WCREEC Water, Crops and Soil Health Field Day on Sept. 5. (Photo by Bijesh Maharjan) The Nebraska Soil Health School successfully hosted its second annual series of programs across the state, educating over 600 stakeholders on region-specific soil health practices through collaboration, feedback integration, and targeted expert presentations.

Farm families can use life insurance as part of estate and transition planning to ensure financial security and smooth business succession for future generations. Life insurance can be a valuable tool in estate and transition planning for farm families, offering tax-free death benefits if structured properly. This article outlines the types of life insurance and their roles in debt coverage, estate equalization and income replacement.

In planting green scenarios, the timing of cover crop termination is critical for avoiding impacts to crop yield while maintaining optimal weed control.