Latest Updates from cropwatch.unl.edu

Pea variety trials were conducted at three dryland sites in the Panhandle and southwest Nebraska — Box Butte County (19 varieties), Cheyenne County (19 varieties) and Perkins County (25 varieties) — plus two irrigated trials in Scottsbluff and Cheyenne County.

USDA/Flickr (Public Domain)

Course participants will work through the financial statements of a case study farm, watching pre-recorded videos, completing assignments and participating in video chats to learn more about how big changes to their operation will affect their bottom line.

Find out which team won this year's Innovative Youth Corn Challenge and learn more about the research competitors conducted in their projects — plus, registration now open for the 2022 competition.

A new study led by Daren Redfearn, professor of agronomy and horticulture and forage systems specialist, is exploring whether a targeted restoration of perennial grasses amid cropland could bring about a variety of benefits. (Photo by Craig Chandler, University Communication) The project will focus how a targeted restoration of perennial grasses amid cropland could bring about a variety of benefits, ranging from reduction in water and fertilizer use to expansion of wildlife habitat to encouragement of new bioenergy industry.

USDA/Flickr (Public Domain) An in-depth analysis of the factors driving fertilizer prices in 2022, as well as recommendations for managing input costs.

USDA/Flickr (Public Domain)

Curtis Mahnken, extension economist, Center for Farm Financial Management, University of Minnesota, was the featured speaker during the recent "Developing Your Business Plan with AgPlan" webinar.

USDA/Flickr (Public Domain)

In 2021, over 100 Nebraska On-Farm Research Network projects were conducted on cover crops, row spacing, planting population, starter fertilizer, drones, sensors and models for nitrogen management, and variable-rate seeding technology.

Figure 1. John Thomas rides a horse at 4-H Horse Camp several years ago in Fort Robinson, Nebraska. Like many of his extension colleagues, Thomas is heavily involved in 4-H, helping other educators and leaders with presentations and projects for 4-H members. There can be no doubt — John Thomas is a multi-talented multi-tasker. Learn more about his winding road to extension in this installment of Digging into Extension.

The fourth annual Silage for Beef Cattle Conference is free for producers to attend in-person at the Eastern Nebraska Research and Extension Center in Ithaca, Nebraska, or virtually. The fourth annual Silage for Beef Cattle Conference will highlight small grain production concerns such as agronomic management for silage, harvest timing, fermentation analysis, inoculants, ROI and more.

Cody Creech, dryland cropping systems specialist and research supervisor at HPAL, discusses a research project during the 2020 HPAL update. This year, Creech's presentation will focus on wheat production and management. (CropWatch file photo)

Participants will learn more about native prairie and the potential ways it can benefit a farm's viability while restoring landscapes while connecting with other growers and resource providers.

A spring pasture mix of oats and ryegrass. (Photo by Jerry Volesky) Extension educators discuss considerations for spring annual forages in Nebraska, and optimum timing for cereal grain crop harvest for silage.

Now through April, USDA NASS will survey Nebraska farmers and ranchers about agroforestry practices they may use on their land, including windbreaks, silvopasture, riparian forest buffers, alley cropping, forest farming and multi-story cropping.