Latest Updates from cropwatch.unl.edu

Nebraska Extension Educator Allan Vyhalnek chats with David Endorf of Daylon, and June and Ryan Loseke of Columbus — three Nebraska producers who share their experiences surrounding transition and succession of their operations. Nebraska Extension Educator Allan Vyhnalek interviews two families currently going through the process of transition and succession of their operations.

After intense drought conditions and heavily grazed pastures last year, producers may want to consider strategies like reducing stocking rates, delaying spring turnout and seeded annual forages in their forage plans for 2023. Reviewing the impact of TDN values in hay tests, and considerations for spring and summer forage plans following the severe drought conditions and heavy grazing experienced in 2022.

All Nebraska On-Farm Research results books are free to the public and available as PDF downloads. The nearly 70 on-farm research studies conducted by Nebraska farmers in 2022 addressed fertility and soil management, cover crops, crop protection, equipment and non-traditional products, including biologicals.

Free to attend, the kickoff event will include a tour of Corteva Agriscience and a launch of the 2023 TAPS Competition, where participants will learn about the process of competing throughout the 2023 growing season.

Though Illinois, Iowa, Indiana and South Dakota have received new guidelines for the cutoff date to apply dicamba-based herbicides this year, Nebraska's cutoff date remains June 30. Nebraska's cutoff date of June 30 for application of Engenia, Tavium and XtendiMax in soybean remains unchanged for the 2023 growing season.

County-level estimates for 2022 production of corn, sorghum and soybeans are now available on the USDA NASS site.

Forty percent of winter wheat was in poor condition as of Feb. 26.

The value of Nebraska's crop production is down for all major crops, with deficits ranging from 9% deficit in corn to 22% in winter wheat.

Nebraska growers, dealers and processors held 4.30 million cwt of potatoes in storage on Feb. 1.

The number of Nebraska farms declined by 500 during 2022, while total land in farms and ranches remained unchanged.

Results from 2022 variety trial research conducted on numerous cover crop species at five UNL research stations across Nebraska.

Nebraska Extension Educator Brandy VanDeWalle with her husband Kurt, and daughters McKenzie (far left) and Meredith. The VanDeWalles share a family passion for agriculture — Kurt is an ag teacher in Fillmore County, and their daughters are heavily involved in 4-H and in the process of building their own cattle herd. (Photo courtesy Brandy VanDeWalle)

The planting intentions survey will be mailed this month, and producers can respond via mail or online. NASS will ask producers to provide information online or by mail about the types of crops they intend to plant in 2023, how many acres they intend to plant and the amounts of grain and oilseed stored on their farms.

January ranked as the third-wettest on record for Nebraska, with six storm systems resulting in above-normal precipitation for the entire state.

In a recent Producer Perspectives webinar, Cory Walters, UNL grain marketing specialist, chatted with Nebraska farmers Guy Mills Jr. of Ansley, and John Willoughby of Wood River about their decision-making strategies for the 2023 growing season. Cory Walters, UNL grain marketing specialist, sits down with two Nebraska producers to discuss important elements driving their decision-making and financial management strategies for 2023.

Any corporation with limited liability protection should regularly keep the minutes of its annual meeting to ensure its continued legal status. (Photo courtesy Center for Agricultural Profitability | Jopwell/Pexels)

Cornhusker Economics experts break down the uncertainties many producers face with pre-harvest marketing, and provide context through models based on historical data. (Photo courtesy Center for Agricultural Profitability | Erin Ehnle Brown/realagstock ) Center for Agricultural Profitability experts connect what the industry says and what producers say to improve the disconnect and the decision-making environment associated with hedging.

If your grass, alfalfa or cereal grain feed tests low in magnesium, switching to a high calcium or magnesium mineral will ensure better animal health and milk production. Extension educators review the importance of testing winter hay and monitoring animals for tetany and nitrate poisoning, and factors to consider while calculating pasture lease rates.

In a hay test, Acid Detergent Fiber (ADF) and Neutral Detergent Fiber (NDF) measure the sample’s fiber content, affecting digestibility and forage intake, which help predict animal performance. The series on hay test readings continues with a review of ADF and NDF; reviewing the importance of feeding high quality hay after calving is done.

The FarmBits team interviews Dr. Simerjeet Virk, University of Georgia, about his research on using spray drones for pest management and how farmers can tailor this ag tech for their unique operations.