Crop Updates from Across Nebraska - UNL CropWatch, May 20, 2011

Crop Updates from Across Nebraska - UNL CropWatch, May 20, 2011

 Eroded, residue-covered field Eroded field 
Figures 1 and 2. Hard rains in eastern Nebraska Thursday night, Friday, and again on Saturday led to soil erosion, even in residue covered, terraced fields. These fields are in Saunders County. (Photos by Keith Glewen)

May 20, 2011

ETgage

Figure 3. Gary Zoubek, Hall County: I placed a couple ETgages out and they dropped 0.50 inch for the past week, so not much crop ET at all (May 20 report).  (See CropWatch Weather for Nebraska rain reports and Water.unl.edu for information on using ETgages.)

Gary Zoubek, Extension Educator in York County We've made pretty good progress planting and have had a little replanting of corn and soybeans in the York area. We had some replanting as a result of hail and a little due to the cold weather. The wind and heavy rains have caused some issues and any replanting will now be on the back burner since we've received between 2.75 and 3 inches of rain the past week, with more forecast. Added May 22:  On Saturday we received some good sized hail in this area.

Randall Saner, Extension Educator in Lincoln-McPherson Counties: We have almost 90% of the corn planted and some has emerged. The weather has delayed soybean planting in our area and only about 10% is in the ground.

Mark Hinz, Extension Educator in Hall County: Approximately 75-80% of the corn here has been planted and about 35-50% of the soybeans. We had a slight frost scare the other night, but so far it looks like we will come out of it okay as most of the soybeans have not yet emerged. Some corn was in the V0 to V1 growth stage and got nipped a little, but since the growing point is well below the soil surface, it is already improving with the limited sunlight we’re getting and the winds are sloughing off the frost-affected necrotic plant tissues.

Jim Schneider, UNL Extension Educator in Hamilton County:  We're about 95% complete with corn planting. I'd estimate soybeans at 80-85% complete. Planting was full-speed ahead until rains and cold temperatures brought it to a halt May 11. This week we had a few days of field activity but rain again stopped planting Tuesday evening.

Doug Anderson, Extension Educator in Keith, Arthur, and Perkins Counties: We have some concern with disease in the wheat, and some tan spot has been noted. Planting has come to a complete halt with the slow drizzling rain. So far everything is soaking in, but this will keep planters out of the field for four or five days at a minimum. Corn is 75% planted, but beans haven’t gone in yet.

Karen DeBoer, Extension Educator in Cheyenne County: Planting progress has been slowed by wet weather, however, progress on irrigated corn acres has been good. Summer crops like millet and sunflowers will be planted as soil dries out, hopefully, around May 23.

Seedlings-wet field

Figure 4. Aftter a cool spring and delayed emergence, crops in eastern Nebraska were just catching up before a series of rain storms swepth across the state from Thursday evening to Saturday night. Some fields were left in standing water. (Photo by Keith Glewen)

Corn seedling

Figure 5. Corn development has been slowed in some areas due to cool soil temperatures. (Photo by Gary Hergert)

Brandy VanDeWalle, Extension Educator in Fillmore County: We received over 4 inches of rain within the last 24 hours (Thursday night-Friday) in southern Fillmore County causing some fields to flood.

Keith Glewen, Extension Educator in Saunders County: Southeast Saunders County looks like a war zone. Based on soil erosion, one could easily make the argument for the need to go back to a "grass based" agriculture. No-till and tile outlet terraces were not enough to stop the force of nature.

With replanting of corn a concern for some growers, I'm estimating we have 90% of that crop planted and 60% of the soybeans. Storms on the evenings of May 12 and May 19 provided more than 5 inches of rain in some areas. This has caused significant damage to corn and soybean fields, resulting in replanting. Dampening off of soybeans also has been noted. Many fields in flooded/drowned out areas are likely to be replanted to beans in May and early June.

Gary Hergert, Extension Soils Specialist at the Panhandle REC in Scottsbluff:  Most of the Panhandle received 1 to 2 inches of rain May 10-12. This
greatly benefitted dryland wheat which currently ranges from flag leaf/boot/head emergence (irrigated, mid-September planting) to late jointing/early boot (dryland, delayed emergence). Even though it’s been, cool, there have been sufficient growing degree days for cool season crops to develop near long-term average phenology.

Due to wet weather there were limited planting windows for sugar beets and corn. Beet planting is now 100% complete. Early April planted beets were replanted due to freeze damage. Later planting started April 24 and continued through early May. Those beets are up and at the cotyledon stage. Even with wet, cool weather, enough drying has occurred that many
fields are crusting so many fields have been rotary hoed.

Some corn was planted in late April, but most planting started in early May. Corn on irrigated fields is nearing completion and producers are just starting to plant dryland. Soil temperatures have barely been above 50°F for any time, so development has been slow (Figure 5). Looking at the 10-day forecast, development will continue to be slow and most seeds will probably take 14 to 18 days to emerge. Soil temps have been just warm enough to allow development and seedlings are still showing good vigor.
 

 

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A field of corn.