Sept. 19, 2003, updated Oct. 1, 2003

Producers are cleaning combines and bins in preparation for corn harvest. (IANR Photo by Brett Hampton)

Nebraska wheat production up 72% from 2002

Oat production in 2003 totaled 6.6 million bushels, nearly three times the 2002 production and the highest since 1996. Planted acreage, at 220,000 acres, was up 26% from 2002 while harvested grain acreage, at 90,000 acres, was up 64% from a year ago. Yield was a record high 73 bushels per acre, up 30 bushels per acre from last year and 2 bushels above the previous high set in 1996.

Barley production totaled 200,000 bushels, down 7% from last year's crop.

Freezing slows the metabolism in all plants. This stress sometimes permits nitrates to accumulate in plants that are still growing, especially grasses like oats, millet, and sudangrass. This build-up usually isn't hazardous to grazing animals, but green chop or hay cut right after a freeze can be more dangerous.

Alfalfa reacts two ways to a hard freeze. Nitrate levels can increase, but rarely to hazardous levels. Freezing also causes alfalfa to be more likely to cause bloat for a few days after the frost. Several days later, after the plants begin to wilt or grow again, alfalfa becomes less likely to cause bloat. Wait to graze alfalfa until well after a hard freeze. Frost causes important changes in forages so manage them carefully.

Alfalfa needs subsoil moisture now to provide for top yields next year. During the peak water use period in summer it can be impossible to irrigate enough to keep up with alfalfa's water demand unless a water reserve is available in the deeper portion of the root and soil profile. Irrigating in October and November until soils freeze can protect plants and improve yields.

There are several advantages to irrigating now:

1. irrigation is not needed for other crops;
2. evaporation from irrigation is lower than is typical in summer, permitting very high irrigation efficiency; and
3. depending on the soil type, the water may be stored in the soil profile and take advantage of alfalfa's special ability to use water at lower depths. Most irrigated alfalfa never gets much water below 4 feet, but alfalfa can develop roots down 8 feet or more. You waste some of alfalfa's ability to collect and use water by not building deeper reserves.

The reserve water will keep your alfalfa growing rapidly during next summer's heat and allow you to irrigate on a more timely basis. And, you won't need to worry much about winter survival or getting water immediately on your alfalfa after each harvest because you'll have a water reserve.

Drought stress during the growing season coupled with recent rains in parts of the state pose ideal growing conditions for molds which can produce aflatoxin and possibly fumonisin, said Michael Carlson, University of Nebraska diagnostic toxicologist/analytical chemist in veterinary and biomedical sciences.

Testing is the only way to determine aflatoxin and fumonisin levels in grain, Carlson said.

"However, detection of these mycotoxins in grain specimens can be challenging because mycotoxins are not evenly distributed in fields," he said. A representative sample of the grain must be collected and presented for analysis.

"Collect small amounts of grain from the entire batch of grain that the sample is to represent," he said. "This is most easily accomplished as the grain is moving, for example, when offloading from truck to bin."

Tests for mycotoxins in grains are available at various commercial, university or government-approved laboratories in Nebraska. Contact a local grain elevator, extension educator or feed laboratory for more information.

Corn growers need to be especially watchful in areas where mold and mycotoxin contaminations occurred last year, he said.

Once the grain is harvested, the grain moisture should be reduced to less than 15 percent within 48 hours. Moisture levels above 15 percent will favor continued development of the mold in the grain and can increase mycotoxin contamination levels during storage. Temperature also will affect grain mold development, with storage temperatures below 40 degrees likely to reduce the potential for mold growth in storage.

Other advice for storing grain:

• Maintain good air circulation in storage bins.
• Minimize mechanical damage during harvest and postharvest handling.
• Minimize insect damage during storage.
• Clean storage bins thoroughly each season to remove last year's grain mold problems.

Federal Food and Drug Administration tolerances for aflatoxin in foods and feeds are: 0.5 parts per billion for milk; 20 parts per billion for food or feed intended for humans, immature animals or dairy animals; 100 parts per billion for mature breeding cattle, swine and poultry; 200 parts per billion for finishing swine weighing over 100 pound and 300 parts per billion for finishing beef.

The FDA tolerances for fumonisins are: 5 parts per million for horses, 10 parts per million for swine and 50 parts per million for cattle.

The FDA does not allow blending of aflatoxin-contaminated feed to lower its aflatoxin concentration below regulatory limits. However, it will tolerate such blending if the corn is intended as feed for finishing beef cattle or finishing swine weighing more than 100 pounds, said Ken Jackson at the Nebraska Department of Agriculture.

The blending policy also does not object to blending corn with aflatoxin levels above 300 parts per billion and corn with little or no aflatoxin if the corn is intended for beef finishing feed.

The producer or user is required to test the finished blend to verify the aflatoxin levels in the blended corn do not exceed 300 parts per billion for finishing beef cattle or 200 parts per billion for finishing swine weighing more than 100 pounds. Test results should be kept for at least a year, Jackson said.

Shippers and sellers also must provide a label or invoice stating the level of aflatoxin in the blend, designate on the invoice or label what livestock species can be fed the product and have some assurance that the buyer is aware of the level and will use it accordingly, he said.

Grain handlers should use caution and wear dust masks when moving or processing grains, Carlson said. It is recommended that workers wear a respirator when working in silos or other enclosed areas containing grain.

Breathing grain molds can cause acute allergic reactions or chronic allergic response. Mold can cause serious disease in people with lowered immune systems. Symptoms in humans include: suppression of the immune system, reproductive dysfunction, cancer and death. Animals symptoms include: feed refusal, short-term illness, reproductive dysfunction and death.

Wheat is harvested with little disturbance to the growing soybean crop. Two 10-inch rows of wheat were planted between two rows of seed corn planted on 30-inch centers. Wheat was seeded between the corn rows in late September after the seed corn was harvested. The beans were seeded in late May on top of the old corn rows (thus in 30-inch rows). A tractor with narrow tracks was used to seed soybeans, and the wheat was cut about knee high to avoid clipping off the tops of the beans. The 20-inch spaces between the wheat rows where the soybeans were planted allowed more sunlight to penetrate to the beans and the narrow tracks didn’t disrupt the wheat canopy. (USDA-ARS photos)

Relay cropping is essentially a special version of double cropping, where the second crop is planted into the first crop before harvest, rather than waiting until after harvest as in true double-cropping. In this way, both crops share a portion of the growing season, increasing solar radiation and heat available to each.

The rotation of corn grown for seed and soybean seems to be well suited to relay cropping because seed corn is harvested in mid-September (earlier than full-season field corn) and the remaining residue is not excessive. A winter annual crop, such as winter wheat, could be inserted into the seed corn-soybean rotation to use the solar energy and heat units available between corn harvest in September and soybean planting in May. However, winter wheat is not harvested until mid-July -- far after the optimum time to plant soybean.

Hence the need to relay crop the winter wheat and soybean in this seed corn-winter wheat-soybean crop sequence. For successful relay cropping, several things would usually be necessary in Nebraska: center-pivot irrigation, glyphosate-tolerant soybeans, and a means of seeding soybeans into wheat at heading (about 30 days before wheat harvest).

System pros and cons

Relay cropping has advantages and disadvantages compared to standard cropping practices. Advantages include the potential to reduce nitrate leaching (wheat acts as a scavenger crop), increase carbon sequestration, and increase income for producers. Unfortunately, a relay system is not without risk. The soybean planting process will likely stress the wheat crop and reduce yield from what would be expected of a non-disturbed crop. Likewise, wheat harvest may stress the soybean crop. The hope is that the two crops will result in greater income (and profit) than either single crop grown without disturbance.

Lastly, relay cropping requires a greater level of management. Wheat must be planted during the soybean and corn harvest season and planting soybean into a standing crop is a new process to most farmers. Also, pest management and control practices must account for more crops being grown in close sequence. The system may not allow time for herbicide carry-over levels to decline and may increase the potential for insect and disease infestations if these pests have more than one host in the crop sequence.

Current relay cropping research

A team of USDA-ARS researchers at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln is conducting a relay cropping trial in cooperation with several producers in south central Nebraska. This evaluation was started in 2002 with 150 acres in cooperation with one farmer, and was expanded to about 1,500 acres with four cooperating farmers in 2003. First year results with the seed corn-wheat-soybean rotation showed that the wheat crop yielded 68 bushels per acre and removed 130 lb nitrogen per acre from the soil (about 90 lb nitrogen per acre in grain) that could have leached beneath the root zone. The wheat produced about 2 tons of residue per acre, which will help build soil organic matter content and control erosion. In addition profit increased by about $100 per acre. This was even after accounting for a 15% reduction in soybean yields (which averaged 55 bushels per acre).

Wheat yields in 2003 ranged from 55 to 75 bushels per acre. In many areas, the yield monitor showed yields may have exceeded 90 bushels per acre. Producers observed that the isolation areas around the perimeter of seed fields (about 90 feet wide) sometimes yielded up to 20% more than in the bulk field where seed corn was previously grown. These isolation areas were planted to wheat, soybean, or sorghum the previous year. Reasons for greater wheat yields in the border areas are unknown, but could hold the key to enhanced production and profitability from rela -cropping. Possible explanations may include herbicide carryover after seed corn, nitrogen immobilization by the corn residue, seedbed and planting differences, different levels of residual nitrogen (nitrate-N) in the bulk field compared with the border area, and disease interactions. Producers noted that plants in the border areas were more vigorous in the early growth stages and more erect at harvest.

Table 1. N, P, and K removal in grain of corn, soybean, and wheat all at 60 bu/acre yield. Crop N P2O5 K2O ---------- lb/acre ---------- Corn 44 21 14 Soybean 213 51 63 Wheat 77 32 29 Table 2. Typical N, P, and K concentrations in grain of corn, soybean, and whea.t Crop N P K ---------- lb/acre ---------- Corn 1.30 0.27 0.35 Soybean 5.90 0.62 1.45 Wheat 2.15 0.39 0.67 Table 3. Critical soil nitrate, P and K levels above which the University of Nebraska recommends no fertilizer application for each crop. Crop Nitrate to 3 ft soil Bray P to 6 in K to 6 in ---------- ppm ---------- Corn 25 15 125 Soybean — 10 125 Wheat 15 25 125

Nutrient management

Judicious nutrient management is critical to help reduce environmental effects of excess crop nutrients in the soil and maximize profit. Nutrient management is an important component of the relay cropping system. Each crop has different requirements although it may not be convenient or economical to apply nutrients to each crop. Excess nitrate can leach into groundwater while phosphorus can be carried in runoff to surface water where excess levels can enhance algae growth, and in turn reduce oxygen for fish and other aquatic organisms. For the same yield level (60 bushels per acre), each crop removes a different amount of each nutrient in grain (Table 1). Soybean removes the greatest amounts of all three nutrients since concentrations of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium are much greater than with the other crops (Table 2). Nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium applications are recommended when the soil test levels fall below the critical level (Table 3). Potassium is usually very high in Nebraska soils and only a few soils would require more. Nitrogen is not normally applied to soybean. All three crops would require adding phosphorus if the soil test level falls below the critical level. The recommended amount of phosphorus applied for each crop is lower than the crop removal since soil provides some of the phosphorus needed for each crop.

Corn hybrids

It may be possible to use short-season corn hybrids instead of seed corn in this relay cropping system. The challenge is to harvest corn early enough (by mid-September) to allow timely planting of wheat or similar winter annual crops. Other challenges of using corn hybrids include residue management, the mechanics of planting wheat into the large quantity of residue produced by hybrid corn, and the possibility that short-season hybrids would produce less grain than full season hybrids, complicating the economics of the relay system.

Winter cover crop after soybean

Soybean fields typically lay idle after harvest until corn is planted in mid to late April. This could be an opportune time to grow a winter cover crop if there are economic or environmental reasons to do so. Soybean is a good scavenger crop for residual soil nitrogen, so the risk of nitrate leaching would probably not provide a strong environmental incentive; however, a winter cover crop would protect soil susceptible to erosion with the limited residue remaining after a soybean crop. Producers with livestock might find the production of triticale (a cross between wheat and rye) a worthwhile alternative for grazing or green-chop.

Further research

The USDA-ARS team is conducting further studies on various components of the relay cropping system. In one study at the Management System Evaluation Area (MSEA) site southwest of Shelton, they are evaluating the yield potential of short season hybrids. Use of short-season hybrids may allow producers without seed corn contracts to try the corn-winter wheat-soybean relay cropping system by permitting timely planting of the winter annual crop. Another study was initiated to assess the ramifications of terminating full-season corn hybrid growth before physiological maturity with glyphosate to allow early harvest so that a cover crop can be planted earlier and again permit timely planting of the winter annual crop.

Producers cooperating in the relay cropping research project this year are:

Paul Gangwish, Shelton;

Curtis Rohrich, Wood River;

David Brown, Wood River, and

Gary Urwiller, Ravenna.

Scientists from the USDA-ARS working on this project, their areas of specialty, and how to contact them:

Jim Schepers, general concept information; 113 Keim Hall, UNL, Lincoln, NE 68583; (402) 472-1513; email: jschepers1@unl.edu;

Bahman Eghball, nutrient and manure management, 121 Keim Hall, Lincoln, NE 68583; (402) 472-0741; email: beghball1@unl.edu;

Dennis Francis, general information and crop sensors; 113 Keim Hall, Lincoln, NE 68583; (402) 472-8494; email: dfrancis1@unl.edu;

John Shanahan, crop stress detection; 110 Keim Hall, Lincoln, NE 68583; (402) 472-1511; email: jshanahan1@unl.edu and

Wally Wilhelm, plant physiology, 117 Keim Hall, Lincoln, NE 68583; (402) 472-1512; email: wwhilhelm1@unl.edu.

1. Start with a small trial so you can learn the ins and outs of the system with minimal risk. If it performs well in your operation, the number of acres can be expanded the second year.

2. If you’re wondering what wheat seed to buy for a trial, Stephen Baenziger, UNL wheat breeder, says several would work well, including: Wesley and Millennium. (The latter probably would crowd out the soybeans with its height, but it would allow a higher combine cut if needed.) Cougar, which looks a lot like the old Thunderbird, also would work, mainly because it is very erect and would allow more light to enter the lower canopy.

3. When planting wheat, don’t forget to follow the recommended wheat planting dates to avoid Hessian Fly problems (see the Aug. 22 CropWatch for recommended planting dates across the state).

4. The crop insurance deadline for winter wheat is Sept. 30, 2003. Talk with your crop insurance specialist regarding your plans, the planting deadline for insurance purposes, and the penalty for planting after the deadline.

5. Keep records throughout the trial year so you can make adjustments in future years.

6. Compare notes and talk with other producers using relay-cropping. To this end, the team of USDA-ARS researchers has invited individuals to share information about their relay cropping experiences with the team. They will compile an electronic and hard copy of this information. To share information, contact one of the USDA-ARS specialists listed in "Relay cropping offers economic benefits . . ." (above)

A field of niger thistle near Scottsbluff. (IANR photo)

First, let me state that it is not because it is a thistle – the niger thistle (Guitzotia abyssinica) is really more closely related to safflower or sunflower and like these crops is high in oil. The reason it hasn’t been grown in the United States is because no varieties were adapted to cultivated production and many types required hand harvesting.

University of Nebraska research conducted at the Panhandle Research and Extension Center for more than five years has led to the development of a population with modest adaptation to Nebraska. Production of more than 1,500 pounds per acre now appears to be within reach in the Nebraska Panhandle under irrigation and even higher yields might be possible if planted further east where there is a longer growing season and more heat units. At a local price of $30 per hundred weight it soon may become something for producers to sing about along with the birds.

In western Nebraska the niger thistle is planted when soil temperatures are above 50^oF, usually around May 30. Plants range from 2 to 5 feet in height, depending on growing conditions, and like the sunflower, the flower head produces the seed which could be sold to local bird seed processors.

While this new crop offers many potential benefits, it also has many limitations, including a shortage of labeled herbicides for weed control and a tendency to attract flea beetles, which need to be controlled soon after emergence. It also is occasionally attacked by stem-boring pests. This crop is more responsive at pH’s under 7.0 and like most agronomic crops, does best in deep fertile soils. Mechanical harvesting is possible if frost occurs as a defoliant. Harvest, which usually occurs approximately two weeks after the first killing frost, requires considerably more effort than with wheat or soybeans. If all goes well, seed increases of nigerseed are planned for the 2004 crop year and commercial production for early adopters could begin as early as 2005.

Nigerseed is native to Africa, from Ethiopia to Malawi, and was probably domesticated in Ethiopia. Early introductions of nigersseed to India were followed by the development of sizeable commercial production; neighboring Pakistan also cultivates the crop. An important oil crop in Ethiopia and parts of India, it provides more than 50% of Ethiopia’s edible oil.

The research to develop a cultivated variety was partially funded through a Nebraska Department of Agriculture Nebraska Department of Ag Value Added Grant.

First, be sure to store sound, clean, dry grain. It may be advisable to screen out broken grains, trash and fines to increase the quality of the final storage product. Also, eliminating trash will enhance fumigation, should this procedure be required later.

Since stored grain insects can invade new grain from infested harvesting and handling equipment (combines, augers, etc.), cleanup is essential. Carefully remove all traces of old grain from combines, truck beds, grain carts, augers, and any other equipment used for harvesting, transporting, and handling grain. Even small amounts of moldy or insect-infested grain left in equipment can contaminate a bin of new grain. Then clean grain bins thoroughly, disposing of spilled, cracked and broken grain and grain flour, along with the insects feeding on such material. A simple broom and a vacuum cleaner are essential pieces of equipment in cleaning grain bins.

“How clean is clean enough?” is a question many producers ask. A good rule of thumb to follow when cleaning bins and equipment is: If you can tell what was stored or handled last season by looking in the auger, bin, or combine, it is not clean enough to prevent re-contamination of the new crop.

Meticulously cleaning grain bins and harvet equipment can help provide a fresh start for pest-free storage. (IANR Photo)

Around the bins, be sure to remove old equipment, junk and clutter to reduce attractiveness to insects and rodents. Make sure that the bin is insect and rodent-proofed by plugging holes, sealing bins, caulking and making general repairs. Grain spilled near the bin attracts insects and draws mice and rats. Clean up and dispose of any spilled grain several weeks prior to harvest. If rats have tunneled under foundations, use baits or traps to reduce or eliminate them. Tall weeds can harbor insects and provide cover for rodents. Mow around the bin site to remove tall grass and weeds to reduce the potential for insect and rodent infestation. If necessary, re-grade the site so that water readily drains away from bin foundations. You can’t always wait for the soil to dry before loading or unloading grain from bin sites so make certain that travel lanes have enough rock or gravel to bear the weight of heavy trucks and grain carts.

Landscaping should be maintained well away from grain storage facilities. Leave a 4-foot wide strip of bare gravel around the perimeter of storage bins. If you buy old crop grain for storage with newly harvested grain, watch for insects in the incoming grain. If infested grain is purchased for livestock feed, store it away from the new crop and feed it as soon as possible. Grain stocks may be rotated or moved and a grain protectant applied at the time of turning.

Stored grain insects cannot live on extremely dry grain (less than 10%), however it is impractical to reduce grain moisture much below minimum moisture levels necessary for long-term storage. Insect activity and reproduction are favored, however, by high grain moisture (14% or more), especially when condensation and molds occur and fermentation raises temperature in the grain mass. A bin of 19% moisture corn with a starting temperature of 75^oF can lose a full market grade in about five days if the aeration system shuts down, allowing the grain to heat and deteriorate. Electrical system maintenance before harvest can prevent costly downtime. Spoilage and internal heating allow insects to remain active even in winter. Proper aeration can manipulate grain temperature. Since insects are “cold-blooded”, they are not active much below 55^oF, and grain cooling can be particularly important in reducing insect reproduction. Condensation of moisture in the grain mass is prevented by slow cooling and gradual reduction of the gradient between the grain mass temperature and the outside (ambient) temperature.

Wiring for fans and other electrical components should be inspected for corrosion and cracked, frayed, or broken insulation. Exposed wiring should be run through waterproof, dust-tight conduit. Avoid kinking the conduit and make sure all connections are secure.

Mice often nest in control boxes where they are protected from predators. They can strip insulation from wires for nest material and their urine sometimes causes corrosion on relays and other electrical components. If rodent damage is found, clean and repair or replace damaged wiring, relays, and other electrical equipment and seal over knock-outs and other openings that may permit rodent entry.

Fans, heaters, transitions, and ducts should be checked for corrosion and other damage. Remove any accumulated dust and dirt that may reduce operating efficiency and be sure all connections are tight to prevent air leaks that can reduce operating efficiency.

Once empty bins have been thoroughly cleaned, a residual treatment may be applied to bin surfaces to protect incoming grain from insect infestation. Follow label instructions carefully. The following materials can be used to treat bin surfaces:

• silicon dioxide (Cringe, Insecto),
• silica gel + pyrethrins (Prescription treatment/Tri-Die Silica & Pyrethrum Dust),
• cyfluthrin (Storcide),
• cyfluthrin (Tempo SC Ultra Premise Spray),
• malathion (Prentox 50), or
• diatomaceous earth (Agrisolutions dei).

For bins with false floors which are inaccessible for cleaning, chloropicrin, a bin “clean-out” fumigant, is legal to use, prior to binning the grain. Other fumigants that could be used on empty bins would be magnesium phosphide and methyl bromide. Caution! Fumigants are dangerous, restricted-use pesticides and may require gas monitoring devices and respirator protection for the applicator. It is highly recommended that fumigation be done by a commercial pesticide applicator who has been trained and EPA/NDA-certified in safe fumigant handling and application techniques. Refer to current labels for specific details and instructions.

Grazing corn saves money — money you spend to harvest, dry, store, transport, handle, process, and feed the grain is all left up to the animals to do for you. All that plus no daily yardage fees or manure handling. This method will require some changes in management, however. Cross-fencing with electric fence is needed to minimize trampling, so train animals to respect an electric fence before turning them out. Then limit animals to no more than a two-day supply of fresh feed at a time. Driving over a strip of corn before placing the fence in the strip makes it easy to set up and helps cattle see where the fence is. Also, animals not adapted to grain feeding may need a few days to slowly get used to it to avoid problems like acidosis.

Determining how much grain to feed and how much of the field to make available requires observation and adjustment. Yearlings should clean up the grain but eat only a little stalk. Dry cows should be forced to clean up almost everything. Adjust area size each time you move fence, based on corn supply and cattle. Cows need no protein; steer gains should range between two and two and one-half pounds per day with one pound of protein supplement daily.

Stalks should be grazed as soon as . . . possible after harvest since the nutrient value declines with exposure, especially rain.

Most years stalks should be grazed as soon as possible after harvest. The nutrient value of stalks declines the longer they are exposed to weathering. Grazing stalks right after harvest will put more condition on cows and faster gains on young stock.

Be sure to check fields for excess grain before grazing. Dryland fields with small ears may have more grain loss than usual this year. Too much corn can cause acidosis and founder. Adapt cattle to a higher grain ration before grazing if a problem is expected.

Grazing management

Strip grazing -- when animals are given only one or two weeks of stalks at a time -- uses the stalks most efficiently. This permits a higher stocking rate and provides a more uniform diet. However, if heavy snow or mud occurs before you graze all areas, some good quality feed can be lost. Leaving cattle in the same entire field for a couple months or longer is more common than strip grazing. Whole-field grazing permits fast early gains, but more supplements are needed late in the season after all grain has disappeared.

Be sure to provide salt, calcium, phosphorus, and vitamin A free choice at all times. And once all the grain is gone, cows need about half a pound per day of an all-natural protein to meet nutrient needs.

Baling corn or milo stalks for winter feed

With hay supplies short and prices high in many areas, feeding hay all winter may not be a particularly attractive option.

One alternative might be to use corn and milo stalks cut and then rolled or packed into bales just like other hay crops. Haying some of your crop residues instead of grazing them often will increase the number of cow-days of feed from them by three or four fold. This can really help stretch hay supplies.

Make stalk hay as soon after combining as possible to minimize nutrient loss. Weathering after combining can really lower the energy value of stalk hay. This may mean cutting while stalks are still partially green, especially milo stubble, so be sure to let it dry long enough before baling for safe preservation.

Stalk hay will have fair nutrient value, but supplements will likely be needed. Average stalk hay could have 4-7% protein with TDN somewhere in the 50s, depending on the percent leaf and husk in the bales. Before feeding, have a laboratory test a sample for protein and energy, and if the field was moisture stressed, have it tested for nitrates.

Spraying weeds now does little good unless soils have good moisture. On moist soils, herbicides like Tordon, Grazon, Redeem, and Transline work well in the fall, but on dry sites spray just reduces some seed production and makes pastures a bit more attractive. Shredding would actually work better to reduce weed seeds if it’s not already too late.

Two other approaches are more important for long-term weed control. First, do more rotational grazing next year to improve the health, vigor, and density of your grass. Healthy, competitive grass stands are essential to reduce weed populations economically.

Second, target herbicide applications for when they will do the most good. Early to mid-June usually is most effective, especially with herbicides like Grazon, Curtail, 2,4-D, and Banvel. Most perennial weeds, and many annuals, are sensitive to chemicals in June. Weed control, along with good grazing, will hasten the thickening of your grass stands so herbicides won’t be needed as often in the future.

With a host of marketing and risk management alternatives available and the ever-changing fundamental supply and demand conditions, farmers and ranchers need to evaluate how various marketing tools and decisions will perform given current and expected prices.

These price outlook meetings will help update producers and agribusiness managers on current and projected supply and demand conditions expected to affect prices and marketing decisions for the new crop year, as well as price outlook and risk management strategies for livestock production in turbulent times.

Presenters will include Lynn Lutgen, extension grain marketing specialist; Darrell Mark, extension agribusiness management and marketing specialist; and Dillon Feuz, extension livestock marketing specialist.

The programs are free and sponsored by the University of Nebraska Cooperative Extension and Department of Agricultural Economics. For further information, contact your local county Extension office.

The schedule of remaining programs in the series follows:

Sept. 22, 9:00 a.m. – Ag Auditorium, Hamilton County Fairgrounds, Aurora

Sept. 22, 1:00 p.m. – Merrick County Fairgrounds 4-H Building, Central City

Sept. 23, 7:00 p.m. – Saline Center Hall*, rural Saline County

Sept. 24, 1:30 p.m. – Lancaster County Extension Office, Lincoln

*Driving directions for Saline Center Hall: From Wilber -- travel 11 miles west of Wilber on Highway 41 to the intersection with Highway 15. Turn north on Highway 15 and travel 3 miles. From Dorchester -- Beginning 3 miles west of Dorchester at the intersection of Highway 6 and Highway 15, travel 9 miles south on Highway 15. Saline Center Hall is on the east side of Highway 15.

Alliance - Oct. 2

Grand Island - Oct. 7

Beatrice - Oct. 9

North Platte - Oct. 14

Norfolk - Oct. 16

Ainsworth - Oct. 17

Lexington - Oct. 21

The contact for the Farm Mediation program at the Nebraska Department of Agriculture is Marian Beethe (402-471-6890) or marianjb@agr.state.ne.us.

Keith Glewen, Extension Educator in Saunders County: High moisture dryland corn yields have been reported at 75-130 bushels per acre. Recent heavy rains will have a positive impact on maturity group 3 soybeans and less impact on earlier maturing beans. There has been more interest in seeding wheat this fall than in previous years. Dryland corn and soybean yields will be highly variable this year, depending on location of the field and area within the field.

Gary Zoubek, Extension Educator in York County: Finally, we’ve received an area-wide measurable rainfall event. The York area received 3-6 inches of rain last week and not much ran off! It will be of some benefit to the late season corn and soybeans as well as the pasture and alfalfa. Hopefully it’s only the start of more to come! Producers are harvesting some of the seed corn and pulling gated pipe.

Del Hemsath, Extension Educator in Dakota, Dixon and Thurston counties: These counties received 4 to 7 inches of rain from September 16 to 19. Most of the rain came a little too late for the dryland corn as the crop had already been determined. The later maturing soybeans as well as soybeans which still have green stems will benefit greatly. A majority of the beans are dropping leaves and a few fields are close to harvest. Corn silage was being harvested from fields as a salvage operation for some and as a planned crop for others. That process will be delayed for about a week. The irrigated corn and soybeans look great and should have excellent yields. Pastures were grubbed down to the ground in some areas so they will benefit from the rain and gain some water in the soil bank for next year.

Corn condition rated 16% very poor, 14% poor, 22% fair, 33% good, and 15% excellent, above last year but below average. Irrigated fields rated 76% good and excellent while dryland fields rated 10%. This compares to 53% and 5%, respectively, a year ago. Eighty-nine percent of the fields had reached the dent stage, behind last year at 93% and average at 95%. Twenty-five percent of the acreage was mature, behind last year and average at 47%. The first fields were being harvested with 2% picked to date, behind last year at 7% and average at 6%.

Soybean condition rated 19% very poor, 24% poor, 30% fair, 22% good, and 5% excellent, above last year but below average. Sixty-five percent of the acreage had turned color, behind last year at 82% and average at 76%. Nineteen percent of the crop had dropped leaves, behind 40% of a year ago and 35% average.

Sorghum condition declined and rated 22% very poor, 33% poor, 33% fair, 12% good, and 0% excellent, above last year but below average. Heads had turned color on 63% of the acreage, behind last year at 78% and average at 85%. The crop was mature on 12% of the acreage, behind 33% last year and 32% average.

Dry bean condition rated 6% very poor, 12% poor, 29% fair, 43% good, and 10% excellent. Eighty-eight percent of the acreage had turned color, ahead of last year at 72% but behind average at 90%. Sixty-two percent had dropped leaves, ahead of last year at 46% but behind average at 71%. Harvest had progressed to 20% complete, behind 24% last year and 33% average.

Wheat planting progressed to 31% sown, ahead of last year at 27% and average at 30%.

Proso millet harvest advanced to 36 percent complete, the same as last year.

Alfalfa condition rated 19% very poor, 22% poor, 37% fair, 19% good, and 3% excellent, above last year but below average. Third cutting activities were nearing completion with 96% harvested, close to last year at 95% and average at 97%. Fourth cutting activities continued where growth permitted with 24% harvested, behind 40% last year and 31% average.

Soybean production is forecast at 181 million bushels, the second highest of record, and 3% above last year. Yield, at 39 bushels per acre, would be just above the 38.5 bushels of 2002.

Sorghum production is forecast at 27 million bushels, 80% above last year. Yield, at 53 bushels per acre, is expected to be 3 bushels higher than last year.

Sugarbeet production of 907 thousand tons is up 19% from 2002. Yield, at 20.7 tons per acre, would be the highest in 13 years.

National yield estimates

U.S. corn production is forecast at 9.94 billion bushels, based on September 1 conditions, 10% above 2002. Yields are expected to average 138.5 bushels per acre, up 8.5 bushels from 2002. If realized, both production and yield would be the second largest on record.

Soybean production is forecast at 2.64 billion bushels, 3% below 2002 and the lowest production since 1996. Yields are expected to average 36.4 bushels per acre, 1.4 bushels below 2002.

Sorghum production is forecast at 410 million bushels, up 11% from last year. Yield, at 51.0 bushels per acre, is expected to be up 0.3 bushel from last year.

Sugarbeet production is forecast at 30.7 million tons, 11% above last year’s production. Yield, at 22.8 tons per acre, would be the highest in three years.

Congratulations to the following winners of this year’s prize drawing:

Dan Javins, Kearney, a complete set of currently published NebGuides, valued at over $80.

Don Pass, Scotia, a copy of NU’s Nutrient Management for Agronomic Crops in Nebraska (a $25 value).

Dorothy Miriovsky, Brainard, a copy of NU’s Nutrient Management for Agronomic Crops in Nebraska (a $25 value).

Brandon Naylor, Lexington, a copy of NU’s Integrated Turfgrass Management for the Northern Great Plains (a $25 value).

Lynn Neujahr, Waverly, a copy of NU’s Integrated Turfgrass Management for the Northern Great Plains (a $25 value).

Prizes will be mailed to the winners at the addresses they provided.

The screening and selection of the Nebraska Grain Sorghum Producer’s recipient will be done by a special Scholarship Committee appointed by the Nebraska Grain Sorghum Producers Association. The committee will select one winner and one alternate winner. Notification will be made by May 1, 2004 in time for spring commencement ceremonies, if appropriate. The proceeds of the scholarship may be applied to the winning candidate's tuition or other educational expenses.

Deadline for applying for the 2004 Nebraska Grain Sorghum Producers Association Scholarship is February 1, 2004. Application forms are currently available and can be obtained by contacting the NeGSPA office at P.O. Box 94982, Lincoln, Nebraska 68509; 402/471-3552.

National Grain Sorghum Producers Scholarship

Additionally, the National Grain Sorghum Producers offers “The Sorghum Challenge”, which includes a $750 scholarship and a trip to Washington, DC. Application deadline is May 31, 2004. Application forms are currently available and may be obtained by contacting the National Grain Sorghum Foundation, Attn: Jeff Dahlberg, P.O. Box 5309, Lubbock, TX 79408. Inquires may be directed to Dr. Dahlberg, NPS Research Director, at jaff@sorghumgrowers.com or 806-749-3478.

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