Latest Updates from cropwatch.unl.edu

The public is invited to attend this conference, where producer input will be sought on the creation of a network of national ag data repositories. (Photo courtesy Nebraska Today) Throughout the conference, leaders from USDA, the Ag Data Coalition, Bayer Crop Science and numerous other industry organizations will discuss and hone ideas for creating a network of national ag data repositories.

Bean plants in the bacterial isolate research study. Panhandle researchers were recently awarded USDA specialty crop block grants to study new copper alternative chemical products on fungal and bacterial diseases of dry beans, cowpeas, chickpeas and dry peas.

Part 2 of the Nebraska Rivers series focuses on the impact of the Elkhorn and Missouri rivers and their impacts in Nebraska. (Photo by Gary Stone) Part 2 of the Nebraska Rivers series focuses on the impact of the Elkhorn and Missouri rivers and their impacts in Nebraska.

This year's competition on Aug. 2 will feature indoor and outdoor events on crop staging, patterns of crop injury, disease, insect and weed seedling identification, pesticide safety, nutrient disorders and herbicide injury.

Grazing wheat or harvesting it early in the boot stage for hay could also open a window of opportunity to plant a summer annual forage into the wheat stubble as a second crop if good moisture conditions are present. (Photo by Troy Walz) Due to current cattle market conditions, and the price and availability of hay, Nebraska Extension Educator Aaron Berger evaluates the value of grazing or haying winter wheat this year.

Spring drought can result in stressed alfalfa from aggressive weed growth, resulting in thinner stands and lower yields. View the options for herbicide control in post-emergent and established alfalfa below. This week — Controlling alfalfa weeds with post-emergent herbicides, scouting for alfalfa weevil, and planning the date and pastures for spring turn-out.

This year's popcorn contest will function similar to the other crop competitions, with participants deciding on crop insurance, seeding rate, irrigation and nitrogen management, fungicide and marketing throughout the year. TAPS introduces its new popcorn competition, which will be held in the same field as the sprinkler irrigated corn competition at West Central Research, Extension and Education Center in North Platte.

Historical crop progress data for Nebraska is available at USDA. As of April 30, corn and soybean planting progressed near average pace, and sorghum planting was just getting underway in Nebraska.

The $1 billion in REAP grant funds will be awarded to eligible applicants quarterly through the end of September 2024. To ensure small projects have a fair opportunity to receive grants, 20% of available funds are being set aside annually for requests of $20,000 or less. The new funds have been designated for agricultural producers and rural small businesses, to assist with financing renewable energy systems or to make energy-efficiency improvements.

Nitrogen management with sensor-based fertigation is one of many topics that will be presented by experts from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Iowa State University during the 2023 4Rs Field Day. This year’s 4Rs Field Day will focus on up-to-date research information and demonstrations on all three major crop nutrients: nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium.

During the one-day course, participants will get the chance to receive hands-on training in the field from Nebraska Extension specialists and educators. This year's course will enhance participants' knowledge of corn and soybean production in Nebraska, including crop growth and development, insect and weed scouting, identification and management, and nutrient deficiencies.

It’s important to plan ahead of time and know your goals when adding cover crops to your operation. In this article, Nebraska Extension evaluates numerous cover crop species and provides guidance on how to choose the species that will best fit your production needs. Concluding their findings of a three-year study of interseeding cover crops into corn and soybean, extension experts share their final analysis and recommendations on early-season interseeded cover crop species for Nebraska producers.

Nebraska Extension Weed Management Specialist Amit Jhala (at far left) will once again lead dscussion on weed management practices in Nebraska during this year's Weed Management Field Day, which is free and open to the public. The free field day will include on-site demonstrations of new technology and new herbicides for corn, soybean, popcorn and sorghum, as well as herbicide-resistant weed control options with various herbicide programs.

Currently, 55 Nebraska counties are eligible to eligible to apply for the 2023 Livestock Forage Disaster Program, and all but five counties are eligible for ELAP assistance. View your county's eligibility status here. The May 4 webinar will provide a comprehensive overview of FSA drought assistance programs, including current designations, eligibility and application requirements, plus information on management strategies and record-keeping for producers during drought.

University research on fertilizing sub-irrigated grazed hay meadows with 70 lbs. of N, 25 lbs. of P and 20 lbs. of S per acre resulted in a 3:1 return on investment. Fertilizing pastures — an in-depth analysis on the economics of applying fertilizer to Nebraska pastures this season.

Historical crop progress data for Nebraska is available at USDA. In comparison to previous years, soybean planting began on time this year, and corn planted was at 10% complete.

The counties highlighted in blue are now eligible to apply for 2023 LFP benefits on small grains, native pasture, improved pasture or forage sorghum due to severe drought status. Producers have until Dec. 1, 2023, to apply for FSA drought assistance loans for grazing losses on small grains, native pasture, improved pasture or forage sorghum.

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 May or call to arrange a virtual/phone appointment.

Historical industrial hemp reports for Nebraska are available at USDA. Industrial hemp acreage in Nebraska was up 15% in 2022, according to USDA NASS.