Latest Updates from cropwatch.unl.edu

Options for producers facing short alfalfa stands from drought stress and encroaching bluegrass, plus water needs for livestock during summer.

Several local organic farmers who utilize flame weeding will share their experiences with the technique during the workshop Aug. 15 at the Eastern Nebraska Research, Extension and Education Center. Attendees will learn how to do proper flaming to control over 10 major Midwestern weeds in seven agronomic crops — field corn, sweet corn, popcorn, soybean, sorghum, sunflower and wheat.

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 July or call to arrange a virtual/phone appointment.

Participants will learn how to identify soybean gall midge larvae and recognize plant injury, and learn about ongoing research for control options.

Historical crop progress data for Nebraska is available at USDA. (CropWatch file photo by Gary Stone) Dry edible bean planting was 98% complete in Nebraska as of June 25, bringing an end to planting season for 2023.

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

Recent rainfall and hailstorms will impact the next few weeks of crop water use in the Nebraska Panhandle.

Corn leaf rolling is the primary symptom of drought, and yield loss estimates are assumed when drought stress occurs for four consecutive days or more. (Photo courtesy Iowa State University Extension and Outreach) Research insights on yield loss from drought stress during vegetative, silking and grain fill growth stages of corn.

The annual forage plan of insurance gives growers an opportunity to obtain crop insurance for protection against low precipitation. During this webinar, specialists will share insights on how growers can integrate annual forage insurance coverage into their programs. During the free webinar, UNL specialists will discuss planting dates, seeding mix, expected forage production and timing of forage availability for various scenarios.

Because of their high center of gravity, tractors are more susceptible to rolling or turning over. Always hitch loads at the drawbar, never higher. Use front weights to increase tractor stability. Tractor overturns are the leading cause of fatal injuries on U.S. farms, resulting in an average of about 130 deaths each year.

This new webinar features guest speaker Paul Stoddard, a senior lecturer in the Department of Agricultural and Consumer Economics at the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign. University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign's Paul Stoddard offers actionable steps to empower you to build a better financial future for your farm and your family throughout this free webinar.

Find more information and resources about mental health and wellness on Nebraska Extension's Rural Wellness site. In this webinar, producers can learn how to better identify common stressors, recognize stress symptoms and manage stress.

Figure 1. A grower’s wheat field with severe symptoms of the wheat streak mosaic disease complex in Kimball County on June 15. Severe symptoms of the wheat streak mosaic disease complex were observed in a field in Kimball County, Nebraska on June 15.

Nebraska Extension Weed Management Specialist Amit Jhala shares details about the new corn herbicide Resicore XL, including proper use and how it differs from the original Resicore formula.

It's important for Nebraska growers to apply pre-emergence residual herbicides in soybean — find out why in this new episode of N Field Observations.

There are two reliable methods for overcoming the challenges of lower uniformity and nitrogen application rates when using the center pivot's end gun — using a variable rate injection pump, and, for systems with computer panels, slowing the pivot down when the end gun turns on. The key to knowing the correct setting for a chemigation pump is to first determine how many acres per hour the pivot will cover at the desired irrigation application depth or rate.

FSA encourages producers to complete the ERP Phase Two application, PARP application and acreage reporting for July 15 during the same office visit. FSA has partnered with nine organizations to provide educational and technical assistance to agricultural producers and provide assistance in completing an ERP Phase Two application by the new deadline.

Historical potato stock reports for Nebraska are available at USDA. Nebraska growers, dealers and processors held 300,000 cwt of potatoes in storage on June 1, which represented 3% of 2022 production.

Historical crop progress data for Nebraska is available at USDA. Crop conditions for corn and soybean fell for the second week in Nebraska, while winter wheat and oats experienced a slight uptick in condition since early June.

You can harvest seeding year alfalfa as early as 40 days after emergence, but if you can wait until 60 days, you'll benefit from increased root development, which helps avoid issues from soil compaction and surface soil dryness. Tips on planting forages into wheat and rye stubble, how to get the most from your first-year alfalfa and controlling yucca plants on rangeland in western and central Nebraska.

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

Nebraska Extension Educator Gary Stone shares his expectations for rising crop water use in the coming days.