Latest Updates from cropwatch.unl.edu

A 2022 East Campus Discovery Days and Farmers Market attendee learns to lasso at the UNL Rodeo Club exhibit. The annual event, held on the University of Nebraska–Lincoln’s East Campus for three Saturdays each summer, offers locally grown and produced foods and crafts, educational activities from UNL departments, food trucks and live music. (Photo by Jordan Opp, University Communication and Marketing) In addition to giving local growers a chance to connect with the public as business owners and agvocates, Discovery Days also showcases the ag research, teaching and extension taking place across IANR.

Two bills in the 2023 legislative session have the potential to impact Nebraska ag in significant ways — LB 591 would change the deadline for oral cropland lease termination notice from Sept. 1 to Jan. 1, and LB 662 would enhance protection for livestock owners from nuisance lawsuits. (Photo credit: Nebraska Unicameral Information Office) UNL Agricultural Law and Water Specialist Dave Aiken reviews the details of two bills in the 2023 legislative session dealing with farmland leases and livestock nuisance lawsuits.

Research has shown that small businesses who highly engage in strategic planning activities realize 60% higher gross returns than those who do not highly engage. (Photo courtesy Center for Ag Profitability) UNL Farm and Ranch Management Specialist Jay Parsons discusses the impacts of sound strategic planning and decision-making in today’s ag industry.

Daran Rudnick, UNL associate professor and irrigation management specialist, provides a brief background on the TAPS program, how the competition works and why it’s had such a positive impact on Nebraska producers.

Individuals who complete the survey will help Nebraska Extension understand what training courses and materials will best benefit agricultural producers in the future.

With intense drought conditions last year, it may be prudent to reduce stocking rates and delay turnout this spring, to help grasses in their recovery process. With spring on the horizon, it's time to put 2023 grazing plans in place and be on the lookout for signs of grass tetany.

For successful double cropping, small grains like triticale should be planted now through early April, grazed from the third week of May to early June, and then followed by a summer annual grass. Strategies and tips for successfully double cropping annual forages this year, and a breakdown on what fall dormancy means for alfalfa growth during the next growing season.

Interseeded cover crops was just one of many topics discussed at the Eastern Nebraska Soil Health Conference in February. (Photo by Jenny Rees) Topics of this year's soil health conference ranged from diversified crop rotations to interseeding cover crops to livestock integration and featured emerging soil health methods like new cover crop species, biochar as a soil health amendment and the perennial grain Kernza.

As it aggressively scavenges nitrogen in the soil, alfalfa can greatly reduce nitrate contamination of groundwater with no negative implications for future crops if planted in rotations.. This UNL research study provides insights on the rotation of annual crops with alfalfa as a highly effective means of reducing nitrate-nitrogen contamination in groundwater.

For safety training, Nebraska teens will have two locations to choose from — North Platte and Grand Island — and eight locations where they can take the final tractor driving test to receive certification. See testing sites and registration information below. Two training locations and eight testing locations will be available to Nebraska teens seeking tractor and equipment safety certification.

Nielsen will wrap up 45 years of contributing to University of Nebraska research initiatives with his departure from the university on March 31.

A review of the impacts cercospora leaf spot has had on sugarbeet production in Nebraska since the early 1900s.

A native of Mitchell, Nebraska and graduate of UNL, Guzman began her duties at PREEC on March 13.

Led by Allan Vyhnalek and Jim Jansen, the March 23 workshop will be geared toward eastern Nebraska producers, and the March 24 workshop will feature examples more relevant to central and western Nebraska producers. The free workshops will offer updated leasing information, new 2023 Nebraska land values and cash rental rates, and address numerous concerns related to land management.

This graph demonstrates the increase in crop yield over time at the Knorr-Holden plot, which has been continuously planted with corn since 1912, and treated with beef cattle manure since 1942. (Graph courtesy UNL Water) UNL researchers share their results after 77 years of applying manure to soil at the Knorr-Holden plot, the oldest experimental irrigated corn plot in North America.

In the latest episode, FarmBits investigates livestock sensors for poultry, which track bird health, barn temperature, food consumption and more to deliver producers real-time insights on their flock.

The FarmBits team interviews UNL master's student Kaitlyn Dozler to learn more about how virtual fencing can minimize the labor and time commitments required for rotational grazing.

Fertilization of smooth bromegrass pastures should begin soon, by late March through April Tips on choosing winter survival traits in alfalfa without compromising yield, and timing and application rates for fertilizing cool-season grass pastures.

The value of manure depends upon several factors that must be assessed, including its type, how and where it's applied, the amount of nutrients needed in the field for the next crop and the cost of fertilizer. Nebraska Extension Animal Manure Management Educator Leslie Johnson walks through the steps of calculating manure value.

Currently, only a third of farm families successfully transition management to the next generation. In this article, Nebraska Extension Educator Allan Vynhalek shares advice on how to incorporate the next generation of leaders into an operation before succession to ensure their prosperity in the years to come. (Photo courtesy Center for Agricultural Profitability) Nebraska Extension Educator Allan Vyhnalek shares strategies that can help farm families improve their collaborate skills and prepare the next generation for leadership.