CropWatch Sept. 19-26, 2014
Climate Change
- With Climate Change, the 2012 Summer Could be Normal by End of the Century. A report on the science of climate change, its impact, and the importance of acting now to mitigate damage from Thursday's Heurmann Lecture on "Understanding and Assessing Climate Change: Implications for Nebraska"
- View the Heuermann Lecture on the report with authors Donald Wilhite, Robert Oglesby, Deborah Bathke, and Clinton Rowe, all UNL professors.
- Visit the School of Natural Resources site to download the full report, key talking points and discussion questions, and a list of resources for further reading.
Wheat Production
- Should You Add SCO Coverage to Your Crop Insurance for Wheat? How will SCO work with your existing crop insurance to provide the best risk coverage and what factors should you be considering for your farm?
- Sept. 30 Wheat Insurance Deadline and the 2015 Projected Price for Wheat. The projected price for wheat came in at $6.41, about 10% below last year's, which should lead to significantly cheaper RP coverage.
Corn Production
Handling and Storing Corn and Soybeans. Discussion on this year's crop, stored grain quality, and key management actions for growers. (ISU Article)- Stalk and Crown Rot Diseases Likely in Many Fields. Start sampling in corn fields now using the "push" or "pinch" tests to identify stalk rot damage and prioritize fields to harvest first to avoid yield loss.
- 2014 Forecasted Corn Yields Based on Sept. 12 Hybrid-Maize Model Simulations. Median forecasted yields at 25 irrigated and dryland sites have changed little since the Aug. 30 forecast and are still predicted to be above average at most of the 25 Corn Belt sites studied.
- Nebraska Corn Board Partners with UNL for Distinctive $2 Million Presidential Chair. The Nebraska Corn Checkoff Presidential Chair, funded by a permanent endowment, will lead research and development to create new uses and increase demand for corn.
Weed Management
- Multiple Herbicide-Resistant Weeds and Challenges Ahead. As herbicide resistance builds, more and more "super" plants have been identified with resistance to multiple chemicals. A herbicide chart can aid in identifying chemical groups.
Irrigation Management
- Done Irrigating? Don't Forget To Remove Your Soil Moisture Sensors. Post-irrigation, pre-harvest is the perfect time to pull, clean, and maintain your sensors before storing them away for next year. See these tips for making it easier.
Weather
- Weather Review: Much Variance from Norms, but Good Soil Moisture. From a late frost in Mid May to an early frost in some areas last weekend, this season's oscillating conditions have brought some challenges.
- Nebraska Temperature/Precipitation Summary for Sept. 12-15. A few areas 15-20% below norms last weekend, leading to damaging frosts in some areas.
- 30- and 90-day Forecasts from the Climate Prediction Center
Market Journal
- Sept. 26 segments feature corn and soybean market analysis with Roy Smith, cornstalk grazing with Rick Rasby; soybean nitrogen use with Brian Krienke, late season soybean disease identification with Loren Giesler, and the forecast for the coming week with Al Dutcher. See MarketJournal.unl.edu
- Sept. 19 segments include: John Wilson on soybean cyst nematode; Nebraska Director of Ag Director Greg Ibach on harvest safety; Tamra Jackson-Ziems on corn stalk rots; Al Dutcher with the week's forecast; and Mike Briggs on livestock production.
Crop Reports
- Extension Crop Reports and Photos
- USDA Crop Report: 94% of Corn Dented; 50% Mature (9/22/14)
- USDA: Nebraska Crop Conditions (9/15/14)
Resources
- New Extension Crop Publications. Cash Corn Price and Basis Patterns, Collecting Accurate Yield Monitor Data, Corn Soil-Water Extraction, Sudden Death Syndrome of Soybeans
Farm Safety
Recognize National Farm Safety and Health Week Sept. 21-27 and check out these resources on Who's at Risk on the Farm? by the Central States Center for Agricultural Safety and Health, located at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha.