Latest Updates from cropwatch.unl.edu

With harvest quickly wrapping up around the state, now is the perfect time to think about how you can minimize diseases next growing season. Reviewing diseases and the level they were present in your fields can help you select more disease-resistant corn hybrids and soybean varieties for the upcoming season.

As the 2020 growing season comes to an end, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) will contact producers nationwide to gather final year-end crop production numbers and the amount of grain and oilseeds stored on their farms. At the same time, NASS will survey grain facility operators to determine year-end off-farm grain and oilseed stocks.

The Panhandle Research, Extension and Education Center is hosting a virtual field day, the “Panhandle Agricultural Research and Technology Tour – Plus” (PARTT Plus) on December 1 and 2 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day.

Last year, Nebraska legalized industrial hemp, however, there are no herbicides available for use in hemp. Therefore, during the 2020 season we conducted five studies (four field studies at Mead and one in a greenhouse in Lincoln) to test hemp tolerance to various herbicides that are commonly used in corn and soybean.

Based on November 1 conditions, Nebraska's 2020 corn crop is forecast at a record 1.82 billion bushels, up 2% from last year's production. Soybean production is forecast at 299 million bushels, up 5% from last year. Sorghum production is forecast at 12.4 million bushels, up 3% from last year. And sugarbeet production is forecast at 1.48 million tons, up 38% from last year.

The wild fires that took place late this summer and early fall, located in Colorado and Wyoming, are almost completely controlled, but they still might affect agriculture throughout Nebraska during the next growing season and for years to come.

Interest and concern about micronutrient needs of soybean is common among farmers and agronomists in southeast Nebraska due to higher yields than in previous decades and the increased availability of micronutrient fertilizers in both liquid and dry formulations. Nine micronutrients are needed in small amounts by soybeans.

As Nebraska just legalized industrial hemp in 2019, during the 2020 season we have conducted a total of five studies (four field studies at Mead and one in a greenhouse in Lincoln) to test hemp tolerance to various herbicides that are commonly used in corn and soybean. This is the third article (in a series of five), that outlines the results of a study that tested hemp tolerance to herbicides applied early-POST to about one foot tall industrial hemp.

In a stark contrast to 2019, this year’s growing season was drastically drier which meant that participants in the Testing Ag Performance Solutions (TAPS) program had to focus more attention on their irrigation and nitrogen management decisions this year.

Solar electric generation, often called photovoltaic (PV) and center pivot irrigation appear to be good partners. Yet the seasonality of irrigation compared to annual production of solar PV can be detrimental to the economics of the system. Certain combinations of policy and electric rate schedule show much better returns than others. The difference is predominately caused by electric rate schedules (electricity cost) and net metering policy. Solar PV for irrigation systems not on load control rate schedules and with net metering have greatest economic return with shorter payback times and higher net present value. Conversely solar PV for irrigation systems on load control rates and without net metering have poorer economic returns.

Solar electric generation, often called photovoltaic (PV) and center pivot irrigation appear to be good partners. Irrigation is a major electrical cost for farms. Solar production peaks in the summer months which corresponds to irrigation pumping.

Herbicide options in dry beans are limited compared to other common row crops in Nebraska (NE), such as corn or soybean. With the increasing prevalence of Acetolactate synthase (ALS)-inhibitor- and Glyphosate-resistant Palmer amaranth and kochia in NE dry bean acres, dry bean growers have few herbicide options for controlling weeds within dry bean crops.

Herbicides work by interfering with specific, essential biochemical pathways in plants. There are dozens of ‘target sites’ to which herbicides can bind to disrupt plant growth, each referred to as a site of action. To reach the site of action, all herbicides must first be absorbed into a plant and then move through the plant to reach the target.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service has released the results of its 2019 Certified Organic Survey. Certified organic operations in Nebraska sold a total of $185 million in organic products in 2019, up 92% compared to 2016. The number of certified organic operations in Nebraska totaled 238, up 47% from 2016.

Corn harvest was 76%, soybean harvested was 97% and sorghum harvest was 82%, each well ahead of last year and the average. Winter wheat planted was 98%, but condition was rated 43% good to excellent according to the USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service.

Interest and concern about micronutrient needs of soybean is common among farmers and agronomists in southeast Nebraska due to higher yields than in previous decades and the increased availability of micronutrient fertilizers in both liquid and dry formulations. Nine micronutrients are needed in small amounts by soybeans.

There are several ways seeds of Palmer amaranth can be introduced into your fields. Manure is one of them. This article provides some valuable answers on 1) reducing Palmer amaranth seed in feed, 2) reducing Palmer amaranth seed in manure; and 3) field application of contaminated manure.