Latest Updates from cropwatch.unl.edu

Content for the upcoming Corn and Soybean Production Clinics will be tailored to each location, to better represent the diversity of crop production concerns across the state. See a "growing season" all in one place, with hands-on interaction and field demos that will address corn and soybean production concerns for growers across Nebraska.

Historical crop progress data for Nebraska is available at USDA. As of July 30, most Nebraska crops were in 50%-60% good to excellent condition.

Results of a UNL study evaluating the impact of cereal rye and hairy vetch cover crop termination times on their decomposition and nitrogen release.

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

Despite rain forecast for the week, crops need more water right now — Nebraska Extension Educator Gary Stone weighs in on what producers can expect during this critical growth stage.

Glennis McClure, an extension educator and farm and ranch management analyst with the Center for Agricultural Profitability, will facilitate the workshops, which are free to attend and include Q&A sessions for participants. (USDA/Flickr photo) Ag finance professionals will guide participants through the process of creating customized crop budgets for owned and rented farms, determining costs on a per-farm or field basis and more.

The workshops are free to attend, but registration is required by calling the host county’s extension office (numbers below). (Center for Ag Profitability image) The workshops will cover current Nebraska cash rental rates and land values, best practices for agricultural leases, and other contract considerations, including farm succession and transition planning insights.

This new webinar features Jim Jansen, UNL extension agricultural economist, and Shannon Sand, UNL extension agricultural economist. Center for Ag Profitability experts discuss findings from the newly published final edition of the 2023 Nebraska Farm Real Estate Market Survey report, including average reported land values and cash rental rates for different classes and types of ag land across the state.

A few areas of Nebraska received much-needed rainfall this week, but there wasn't enough precipitation to improve Nebraska's statewide drought status.

Taking advantage of summer heat and abundant sunlight, warm-season cover crops can accumulate impressive amounts of biomass, cover bare ground quickly, suppress weeds, reduce erosion and improve soil health.

Learn about current on-farm research efforts by a central Nebraska producer that aim to identify the impact of nitrogen rates on net return.

Hail damage can wound plants, but will this damage increase the amount of disease you will see in the field? Nebraska Extension specialists share insights on whether a fungicide could benefit your damaged crop.

Nebraska Extension and Cargill RegenConnect® are sponsoring the Aug. 22 field day at the Eastern Nebraska Research, Extension and Education Center near Mead, Nebraska. Nebraska Extension educators and specialists will share the latest research on soil health methods, including cover crops, interseeding and biochar, and answer questions from attendees on their production concerns related to soil management.

Aphids cause the greatest amount of injury while they are feeding within the whorl prior to tassel emergence. Treatment may be needed if pollination is no more than half complete and more than half of the corn tassels are covered with aphids.

The 2023 International Millets Conference theme is “Promoting Millets through Interdisciplinary Research: New Varieties and New Markets for a Better Tomorrow.” This year's conference will feature presentations from High Plains millets producers, representatives from state government and the U.S. millets industries, millets breeders and agronomists, grain handlers and processors, marketers and millets product developers.

As replanting severely hailed corn or soybeans fields are likely not good options at this point in the growing season, producers may want to consider planting forage by first contacting their insurance company to discuss options. Extension educators review warm- and cool-season grass production during periods of extreme heat, preparing for corn silage harvest and forage options for corn and soybean fields with severe hail damage.

Nebraska Extension Plant Pathologist Dylan Mangel (second from right) discusses soybean diseases during the 2022 Soybean Management Field Days. (Photo courtesy Department of Agronomy and Horticulture) Hosted at four sites across central and eastern Nebraska, the field days will provide research-based information to enhance soybean profitability, addressing both local and global issues significant to farmers.

Historical crop progress data for Nebraska is available at USDA. Harvest for winter wheat and oats continue well behind average pace in Nebraska at 43% and 39% complete, respectively.

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

Nebraska Extension Educator Gary Stone weighs in on managing plant stress and water use during the higher temperatures expected this week.

Founder of Sentinel Fertigation, Jackson Stansell is the keynote speaker at the South Central Agricultural Laboratory (SCAL) field day set for Tuesday, Aug. 1. The 2023 SCAL Field Day is free to attend and will feature presentations on fertigation, nutrient and irrigation technology, and new research and strategies on controlling disease, insects and weeds in corn and soybean.