Latest Updates from cropwatch.unl.edu

Farmers and ranchers have until May 26 to sign up for the Grassland CRP through their local USDA Service Center.

Nebraska Extension Educator Jessica Groskopf outlines what types of conversations should be had around finances during the transition process in this Center for Agricultural Profitability webinar. One of the hardest things to do is talk about finances — Nebraska Extension Educator and Economist Jessica Groskopf helps farm owners and heir generations begin the discussion to plan a successful transition in this new webinar.

UNL Extension professionals provide insights on timing and volume of herbicide applications for interseeded cover crops that may help producers avoid germination and plant establishment issues.

UNL experts share recommendations for calculating the amount of nitrate-nitrogen in irrigation water and optimal timing of applications to reduce the cost of nitrogen inputs this growing season.

Industry experts shared snowpack/snowmelt runoff estimates for the upper North Platte River basin and updates on UNL irrigation management research and progress of replacing the Goshen/Gering-Ft Laramie tunnels that collapsed in 2019.

This new series by Nebraska Extension Educator Gary Stone highlights the main rivers and their impacts across the Midwest and Northern Plains.

The May webinar will examine the latest average cash rental rates in the state as reported in the recently released Nebraska Farm Real Estate Report and offer insight on adjusting rental rates considering high commodity prices this year. The May 15 webinar is free and will give attendees the opportunity to submit land management questions for the presenters to answer during the presentation.

For maximum season production, the first alfalfa cutting typically requires six to seven inches of water — if soil profiles are currently very dry, spring irrigation should be considered. This week — Strategies for irrigating alfalfa in early season dry soil conditions, grazing to control abundant weed growth due to drought and forming a drought plan.

Historical crop progress data for Nebraska is available at USDA. Corn planting got underway last week in Nebraska, and USDA NASS estimates oat planting is more than 50% completed.

Historical potato stocks data for Nebraska is available at USDA. April 1, 2023 potato stocks were the lowest since 2017, when a record low of 1.7 million cwt was set.

Advanced demonstrations, innovative research and a panel discussion will be just a few of the educational opportunities offered at the second Nebraska Soil Health School on June 27-28 in North Platte. Registration is due June 20 for the second Nebraska Soil Health School to be hosted June 27-28 at the West Central Research, Extension and Education Center in North Platte.

Nebraska drought conditions on March 28, 2023. (Source: National Drought Mitigation Center) March precipitation did little to stymie ongoing drought in Nebraska, with large swaths of the northeast, southwest and Panhandle remaining in extreme and exceptional drought conditions.

To find 2023 loan rates in your county, visit the Farm Service Agency (FSA) website. National loan rates for 2023 crop year wheat, feed grains and oilseeds remained unchanged from 2022 crop year levels.

The root system of a three-week-old corn plant processed through a computer vision pipeline used to automatically measure different root system architecture traits. (Photo courtesy Nebraska Today) The research team hopes to speed the development of new corn varieties that can tolerate changes in extreme weather conditions and management practices as Nebraska farmers adapt to growing water restrictions and ever higher fertilizer prices.

USDA representatives join UNL experts in this webinar to provide an in-depth analysis of the CRP, including eligibility requirements, enrollment procedures and program guidelines. In this webinar, USDA experts highlight what the Conservation Reserve Program is, how it works, and reviews answers to frequently asked questions about the program to give producers a better understanding of their eligibility status and enrollment requirements.

Historical crop progress data for Nebraska is available at USDA. As of April 9, oat planting in Nebraska was well behind last year's pace while winter wheat condition dropped slightly.

Though the farm finance and ag law clinics are offered monthly at sites across Nebraska, remote sessions are another option — call the number below to arrange a one-on-one meeting via phone or virtual platform. Nebraskans can attend one of the three dates scheduled for free, in-person farm and ag law clinics in April or call to arrange a virtual/phone appointment.

Laura Thompson, director of the Nebraska On-Farm Research Network, makes a presentation at the Commodity Classic in Orlando, describing the benefits to producers from sensor-supported field management. The UNL presentations were in collaboration with NASA. (Photo by Nate Thompson) Faculty members Laura Thompson and Laila Puntel discussed how innovative research at UNL, in partnership with Nebraska producers, is increasing ag production efficiency and profitability, and decreasing its environment impacts.

Stapleton farmer Jon Walz's on-farm research in 2021-22 focused on testing two nitrogen efficiency technologies. Because of this research, Walz was able reduce his nitrogen applications without losing yield, and increase profit. (Photo courtesy Nebraska On-Farm Research Network) Studies are getting underway for the 2023 growing season, but there's still time and availability for Nebraska farmers who are interested in conducting on-farm research this year.

The final results of a three-year study on interseeding cover crops in early-season corn and soybean include observations on yield, soil quality and net return.