As planting is critical for everything else that happens during the growing season, the dry conditions have led to a variety of questions this spring regarding soil conditions, planting depth, irrigation and herbicides.
Ag Tech
The new Fertilizer Recommendation Support Tool, which provides critical phosphorus and potassium soil test values, will soon include a research-based phosphorus or potassium rate response information to assist farmers in selecting the minimum fertilizer rate expected to produce maximal crop yield..
A significant advancement in soil testing, a new web-based fertilizer decision support tool will potentially save farmers millions of dollars annually while reducing excess nutrient losses to the environment.
Research Updates
Coal char is applied to a cattle pen for research. After a snowfall, coal ash-applied pens dried quicker than the control pens, which was beneficial for cattle health.
A byproduct of processing sugarbeets, coal char has the potential to optimize soil nutrients and increase crop yields. In this article, UNL researchers share results of a study on incorporating coal char amendments into corn and dry bean cropland.
Extension insights on the year-to-year variability in corn yield response to irrigation and nitrogen (N) fertilizer rates throughout seven years of the TAPS sprinkler irrigated corn competition.
Soil Management Extension Educator Katja Koehler-Cole shares important information that may help producers target an optimum cover crop termination date.
Forage Production
Though the startup costs can seem daunting, drones can help producers save time and reduce costs on numerous tasks involved in managing livestock.
This week, extension educators weigh in on the pros and cons of drone use for livestock producers, and considerations for drought-damaged pastures and controlling winter annual weeds in alfalfa.
This webinar on pasture lease considerations features discussion by Anastasia Meyer, extension agricultural economist, UNL Center for Agricultural Profitability; and Aaron Berger, livestock systems educator, Nebraska Extension.
This Center for Agricultural Profitability webinar reviews lease provisions that producers should have in pasture leases, as well as information about beef cow share agreements.
Next week's forecast includes a risk of severe weather on Monday, followed by cooler temperatures that may lead to a frost Friday and Saturday for the majority of the state.
Ag Youth
Nebraska Extension Educator John Thomas (right) discusses a tractor's engine with a student before the driving exam. (Photo by Chabella Guzman)
This annual event provides the training and testing necessary for Nebraska youth who require certification to perform duties on a farm, including a Hands-on Safety Day, and tractor and equipment safety training.
Crop Reports & AgNews
Historical crop progress data for Nebraska is available at USDA.
Oat planting continues to surge ahead of average pace this year, and winter wheat crop conditions showed slight improvement following recent precipitation.
Numerous Nebraska businesses have received assistance from USDA's Rural Energy for America Program so far this year to establish clean energy facilities and increase domestic fertilizer production. Learn more about these initiatives below.
Three Nebraska businesses are among the award recipients of USDA's renewable energy program, which helps fund projects that will lower energy costs, generate new income and create jobs for the ag industry.
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack (from left) talks to UNO Chancellor Joanne Li, UNL Chancellor Rodney D. Bennett, and Mike Boehm, vice chancellor for UNL's Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources, on March 28. (Photo by Ryan Soderlin, University of Nebraska Omaha)
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack visited Nebraska in late March to discuss the future of agriculture with farmers, ag industry stakeholders, and University of Nebraska administrators and students.
The April 16 Data Users' Meeting will include USDA updates followed by an open forum session with questions and comments.
Free to the public with a virtual attendance option, the Data Users' Meeting is held to share recent and pending statistical program changes with the public and to solicit input on programs important to agriculture.
Farm Management
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.
There are two dates left in April for producers who are interested in receiving free legal and financial services — April 25 in Norfolk and April 26 in Greeley.
With a warmer start to the 2024 growing season, more nitrogen could be available in the soil. To estimate the amount of fertilizer N to apply this year, extension educators review how to conduct a late spring soil nitrate test.
The Cover Crops Field Day is free to attend, scheduled for 1-3 p.m. April 30 in Concord. (Photo by Katja Koehler-Cole)
Attendees of the Cover Crops Field Day will learn about the N equivalence of cover crops, identifying species and understanding growth stages, and ways to incorporate cover crops to mitigate nitrate leaching in cornfields.
With recent warm weather, army cutworms have been spotted in southern Sioux County and central Lincoln County. Producers should begin scouting for this pest to mitigate crop damage, particularly in winter wheat and alfalfa.
