Latest Updates from cropwatch.unl.edu

Figure 1. Snowpack on the Snowy Mountain Range that feeds the North Plate River system. The US Bureau of Reclamation monitors snowpack to estimate the amount of water in the North Platte Basin likely to be available this growing season. (Photo by Gary Stone) The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation Wyoming Area Office has released their forecast for spring snow melt runoff for the North Platte River drainage. The forecast calls for above average snow melt runoff.

Some of you may be wondering, in this rising wheat market “Why not place a long hedge or purchase a call option?”, while also holding unpriced grain either in the field or in the grain bin. These thoughts are often motivated by our beliefs of where commodity markets are headed. Currently, this could be due to market uncertainty stemming from COVID-19.

The first session is Thursday, April 16, 3 p.m. (central), and features Nathan Kauffman, with the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City, presenting on COVID-19 Economic Developments and U.S. Agriculture.

Some producers are concerned with the condition of their winter wheat fields this spring. At the time of seeding last fall, some areas were dry and under no-till conditions it was difficult if not impossible to seed at the recommended seeding depth.

In the event a key farm operator is unable to operate the farm, Nebraska Extension has developed a Crop Operations Plan to help guide someone new to the operation to adequately and successfully operate the farm for the next couple months.

The truth is for many farmers and ranchers the physical act of social distancing may not be as big of a challenge as it is for our urban counterparts. Yes, it may be easier to stay six feet from the nearest person but that doesn’t mean that farmers and ranchers aren’t having to cope with uncertainty.

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act is working to help alleviate the strain many businesses and individuals have under the current circumstances by providing $376 billion in relief for American workers and small businesses.

Planting soybean early is critical to maximizing yield. This has been found through numerous University and on-farm research studies in Nebraska and surrounding states. Planting is anticipated to begin for many growers in Nebraska the next few weeks. Based on formal research reports showing increased yields, we have recommended early soybean planting beginning mid- to late- April.

New for the 2020 growing season, Nebraska Extension presents “Streaming On-Farm Research,” a series of short live webinars for farmers and ag professionals. These events will occur weekly, on Tuesday evenings at 7:00 p.m. Sessions will be 30 minutes, featuring 15 minutes of presentation, and 15 minutes of Q&A.

Winter wheat development is on schedule across Nebraska. This is a good thing since some level of freeze damage occurs almost every year after the wheat breaks dormancy.

Figure 1. Corn and soybean strip plots at South Central Agricultural Laboratory (SCAL) near Clay Center, Nebraska, 2019. Photo by Osler Ortez. Soybean and corn are the most commonly rotated crops in the Midwest, United States. Rotation benefits are well documented for both crops.

Continuing production in a pandemic situation requires that people in agriculture carefully consider how COVID-19 infections may impact the operations in which they work.

Conducting on-farm research can help provide the reliable answers you need to make decisions for your operation with confidence.

Come and join us from 9:30 a.m. - 3 p.m. on Monday, March 2nd, at the Eastern Nebraska Research and Extension Center (1071 County Road G, Ithaca, NE) for the latest information on this newly emerging soybean pest.

Figure 1. Farmers examining different fertility treatments during 2019 August Field Day near Grant, NE. Based on surveys conducted during seven teaching sessions in 2019/20, 40% of the attendees representing 137,000 acres of irrigated soybean production in western NE reported to chemigate some level of N fertilizer during the soybean reproductive stages (25-50 lbs N /ac most common rate). Main reasons for adoption of this practice is based on the notion that biological fixation and residual soil N are often not able to meet N demand of high yielding soybean (> ~70 bu/ac).

Land application of manure and other organic materials supplies much N to Nebraska’s crop production. In contrast to most other nutrients applied in organic materials, the availability of manure-N and its fertilizer-N substitution value is not well-predicted.

The University of Nebraska-Lincoln will sponsor the first Panhandle Soil Health Workshop in Bridgeport next month. The half-day event will take place on March 3 from 8-11:30 a.m. in the Prairie Winds Community Center.

Farmers who complete their election and enrollment applications now still have the opportunity to change their program selections until the March 16 deadline.