Latest Updates from cropwatch.unl.edu

Housing, insurance and vehicles can provide another form of compensation for returning farm or ranch family members. However, it's best for all family members in the operation to get non-monetary compensation in writing before any official employment begins. The first in a series of Center for Agricultural Profitability articles that will highlight ideas and tactics for bringing another family member into the operation.

(From left) James Schnable, Rebecca Roston and Toshihiro Obata hold young sorghum plants outside of the Bioscience Greenhouses on City Campus. The researchers are part of a $1.8 million grant from the National Science Foundation to try to boost the cold tolerance of sorghum, and eventually corn and other crops, by harnessing the power of the plant’s circadian rhythms. (Photo by Craig Chandler, University Communication and Marketing) Researchers are examining the way sorghum uses fats and chemicals for defense against low temperatures, and comparing it to the cold tolerance characteristics of foxtail millet to find answers.

Nebraska Dry Bean Growers Association President Dan Hinman (left) leads a raffle with help from Lesli Howell, NDBGA office manager/Bean Bag editor. Attendees of the event heard from the Nebraska Department of Ag about ongoing initiatives to expand the dry bean export market, and learned more about the 2024 weather outlook.

Rajib Saha (left), Richard L. and Carol S. McNeel associate professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering, and Niaz Bahar Chowdhury, doctoral student. (Photo by Craig Chandler, University Communication and Marketing) Scientists involved in the study are investigating the creation of new hybrids and utilizing beneficial fungus to mitigate temperature stress in corn.

The 2024 TAPS program will include sprinkler corn and continuous corn competitions in North Platte, Nebraska, the sorghum competition in Grant, Nebraska, and a new soybean competition near Mead, Nebraska. The March 21 Kickoff Event is open to the public and will usher in the 2024 TAPS Competition, which features a new soybean contest at ENREEC for contestants.

Quicken is an easy program for people unfamiliar with accounting terms to use, making it a good place to start when changing from a hand-kept cash accounting system to computerized records. Nebraska Extension’s new virtual Quicken course will teach participants how to use the features of the program in a self-paced setting. The course will lead users through hands-on sessions to develop a simple set of financial records and reports using Quicken, with exercises based on a case farm to walk through practical applications.

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 a free, in-person farm and ag law clinic in Fairbury or Norfolk in March, or call to arrange a virtual/phone appointment.

Historical farmland data for Nebraska is available at USDA. Nebraska lost 100 farms and ranches throughout 2023.

Historical potato stocks data for Nebraska is available at USDA. Nebraska had 4.40 million cwt of potatoes in storage on Feb. 1, which represents 40% of 2023 production.

Historical crop values for Nebraska are available at USDA. While the overall value of Nebraska's 2023 crops is down 11% from 2022, the state's winter wheat production value is up 16%.

Historical crop progress data for Nebraska is available at USDA. As of Feb. 25, winter wheat condition and soil moisture supplies rated slightly below January totals.

See Nebraska's county level estimates for 2023 row crops here. County-level estimates for 2023 row crops in Nebraska are now available on USDA NASS's Quickstats database.

Free to attend, the Annual Results Update meetings will provide Nebraskans the opportunity to hear on-farm research insights from the producers who conducted projects throughout 2023, as well as connect with Nebraska Extension educators. The Nebraska On-Farm Research Network's final 2024 Results Update meetings will take place on Feb. 27 in York, and Feb. 28 in Kearney.

Drought adds another layer of complication to the process of establishing fair pasture rental rates. Landowners renting pasture in severe drought-impacted regions might consider pricing leases based on grazing animal unit months or rent per head per month of grazing, rather than flat rates per acre or cow-calf pair. Extension educators share considerations for establishing pasture rental rates and selecting alfalfa seed for winter survival traits.

A cow's energy requirements increase about 30% and protein needs nearly double after calving. Because of this, it's important to use your best quality forages with any needed supplements to provide adequate nutrition. Tips on meeting nutrient requirements of cows after calving season and improving pasture production by frost seeding or interseeding legumes.

Prospective Planting survey results will be published in the Prospective Plantings and quarterly Grain Stocks reports to be released on March 28, 2024. NASS will mail the survey questionnaire in late February, asking producers to provide information about the types of crops and amount of acreage they intend to plant in 2024.

To use the new Pay My Loan feature for direct loans, producers must establish a USDA customer account and a USDA Level 2 eAuthentication account or a Login.gov account. See more details below. To better assist producers during seasons of limited free time, such as planting and harvest, farm loan payments can now be made at the borrower’s convenience, on their schedule.

Jill O’Donnell, director of the Clayton Yeutter Institute on International Trade and Finance, recently offered insight on how to boost ag innovation with gene editing technologies.

Nebraska Extension Educator Amy Timmerman shares insights to help Nebraska producers decide whether drones would be a beneficial precision ag investment for their operations.

Except for a short-lived cold front next week beginning on Wednesday, Nebraska is expected to have mild weather for the rest of February.