Latest Updates from cropwatch.unl.edu

A recently released app called CliGrow, developed by the High Plains Regional Climate Center, helps producers estimate crop maturity using a field’s historical climate data.

Mostly good news to report again this week. We saw upgrading of exceptional drought (D4) to extreme drought across York, Seward, Fillmore, Saline, and Polk counties.

Tractor planting pintos for a dry edible bean study in Box Butte County. Photo by Gary Stone. One of the research studies, called “Variable Rate of Nitrogen in Irrigated Corn,” has several Nebraska farms in its study, including one in Sheridan County. The entire study is driven by technology using GPS guidance and precision variable application equipment.

University of Nebraska–Lincoln scientist James Schnable and international colleagues have created the first complete map of the corn genome, a landmark achievement that can enable major long-term advances in crop health, resilience and productivity.

Corn and soybean progress continues near the five year average, soil moisture remains consistent and the winter wheat harvest continues but well behind last year and the five year average.

Several severe hailstorms have hit portions of Nebraska in the past month. The timing of the storms, development stage of the crop, individual field damage, and crop insurance are all important factors in decision-making. Nebraska Extension educators and specialists share replant recommendations for soybean producers recently affected by hailstorm damage.

Hail damage to corn in the North Platte Valley area in the Panhandle of Nebraska after a late June hailstorm. (Photos by Gary Stone) For producers with crop damage from recent hailstorms, the timing of storms, development stage of the crop, individual field damage, subsoil moisture and crop insurance all are important factors to consider when deciding the next course of action.

James Schnable, UNL agronomy professor, discusses the long-term agricultural impacts from a recent international research collaboration that successfully identified the complete set of genetic components for corn.

Hail on July 8 took corn down to the stalk in some areas of Nebraska. (Photo by Gary Stone) Before planting forages in fields where your crop was destroyed by hail, take a moment to review these financial management and cropping system considerations.

Beginning July 31, the Sunset Seminar series will give producers across the state a chance to see the results of image-based nitrogen management research conducted by Nebraska farmers in 2023. Free to attend, the Sunset Seminars will provide growers and agronomists a look at results from several Nebraska producers who have trialed Sentinel Fertigation's new N-Time™ software this growing season.

With numerous fields affected by recent hailstorms, Nebraska Extension reviews the immediate and long-term impacts of hail damage to crops to assist producers with decision-making for the remainder of the growing season.

While numerous precipitation events have decreased statewide drought nearly 33% and brought timely rains for rainfed crops, some producers may still face lower yields this year due to acute, continued dryness, particularly in the York area.

NU Horizon Genetics now supplies UNL-developed small-grain seed varieties. (IANR News image) NU Horizon Genetics will promote, market and commercialize the certified seed of wheat, barley and triticale varieties developed by UNL, including the recently released irrigated wheat variety Epoch.

Historical crop production reports for Nebraska are available at USDA. Based on July 1 conditions, Nebraska's winter wheat and oat production are up more than 20% from last year.

Figure 1. Tan spot on a wheat leaf. (Photos by Stephen Wegulo) This article summarizes strategies that can be used between now and planting winter wheat this fall to minimize losses due to diseases during next year’s growing season.

Plant scientists Fatiha Bentata of Morocco and Intissar Zarrouk of Tunisia screened these wheat samples for resistance to root rot caused by the Fusarium fungus as part of greenhouse research at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln last fall. The scientists, visiting the university through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Scientific Exchanges Program, analyzed 13 wheat varieties grown in Nebraska for disease resistance. At left are non-inoculated control plants. At right is a soil mix inoculated with isolates of the Fusarium fungus. (Photo courtesy IANR Media) UNL researchers involved in a new international collaboration with Morocco hope to boost wheat disease research and strengthen prevention strategies against fungus-enabled wheat diseases.

When planted in early July, sorghum-sudangrasses can produce three to four tons by early to mid-September. (Photo by Troy Walz/UNL Beef) UNL Beef provides information on forage species selection and key management considerations based on desired use.