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Soybean Production
Management
Weed Control
Ag Programs/Resources/Updates
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“In most cases when deciding whether or not to sign up for Revenue Assurance, farmers will be looking at the difference in premiums, which they have to get from their insurance agents,” Selley said.
Revenue Assurance has subsidized premiums similar to Crop Revenue Coverage, another multiple peril crop insurance program, but offers a whole farm unit option with significant premium discounts, Selley said. The whole farm unit of Revenue Assurance allows farmers to combine their acres planted to all insurable spring crops in a county into one unit.
“This way, indemnities are paid out only if the whole farm shows a loss, resulting in premium discounts up to 50%,” Selley said. For example, if there was a bad soybean crop, but a good corn crop, the good corn crop could offset the soybean crop loss and the whole farm would not show a loss.
With Crop Revenue Coverage, some fields can contribute more revenue than expected and offset the shortfall on other fields, which keeps the net revenue shortfall from exceeding the deductible.
“In some ways it’s similar to a family deductible for health insurance coverage where medical costs for an individual are not reimbursed unless they exceed the family deductible or they exceed the deductible when combined with the expenses for other family members,” he said.
However, producers accustomed to receiving payments for losses on individual fields or farms will need to rethink why they have crop insurance if they consider the whole farm option, said Doug Jose, a farm management specialist at the university.
“This option works well where the producer has identified a minimum revenue that he or she would like to realize in the worst of years,” Jose said. “In effect, the producer is self-insuring any losses on individual fields and buying insurance to cover only those losses that affect the entire enterprise or farm.” When each field is insured separately, premiums are more expensive, Selley said.
In addition to whole farm units, Revenue Assurance also is available in enterprise units. An enterprise unit combines all acreage of an insured crop in the county. Revenue Assurance discounts using the enterprise unit depend on the acreage and number of sections involved, Jose said.
Revenue Assurance is available in Nebraska for corn, soybeans and wheat. Crop Revenue Coverage is available for corn, soybeans, wheat and grain sorghum.
Regardless of what policies or coverage levels farmers prefer, they should discuss their needs with their insurance agent, Jose said.
Sandi Alswager
IANR Newswriter
Smaller soybean seeds in 2004 offer savings potential
Soybean seed weights are lower again this year, continuing a trend toward growers getting more soybean seeds per pound than they once did.
Figure 1 shows the change with seed from University of Nebraska soybean variety performance trials for the last nine years. In 2003 soybean seeds from these trials weighed about 3,400 seeds per pound, while in the two previous years seeds weighed 3,000 to 3,200 seeds per pound. Seed weights in the UNL trials in 2000 were similar to those in 2003. This trend is typical for commercial seed producers, especially following drought years. Seed imported from eastern states is also likely to be smaller than that produced in Nebraska in 2003.
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To garner this savings, growers will need to carefully estimate their seed needs and calibrate their planters and drills for the smaller seed. (CropWatch will feature more details on adjusting planters and drills for this year’s soybean seed in an upcoming issue.)
Growers will want to review the seed weight listed on the bag to calibrate their planters correctly and avoid overplanting. Soybeans planted too thick will be tall, spindly, and more prone to lodging. This could reduce yields. We recommend planting soybeans at 150,000 live seeds per acre regardless of whether the field is irrigated or dryland, in wide rows or narrow rows, no-till or tilled, or if the seed is large or small. We’ve seen consistent results with different varieties across a wide range of planting practices and environments in Nebraska with this seeding rate. However, if seed-soil contact is less than ideal for seed, you may need to increase seeding rates accordingly. A stand of 100,000 to 120,000 plants in the field at harvest is ideal.
Make sure to adjust this recommendation based on the germination rate of the seed you plant. If the seed weight and germination is not listed on the seed tag, contact the seed dealer for further information. Fortunately, seed quality and germination rates for this year’s seed are excellent.
Possible causes for the trend
Several factors may be contributing to the trend toward reduced soybean seed size. Certainly, the recent dry summers could have an impact. Soybean seed weight is determined in August when conditions are often at their driest. (This is even more typical in seed production further east where there is less irrigation and seed size may be even smaller -- with some companies estimating 4,000 soybean seeds per pound this year.) At first glance, this is the most likely explanation; however, the linear trend is similar for both dryland and irrigated experiments in Nebraska (Figure 1). I expected little or no trend over years with irrigation since we are able to optimize seed size with proper late-season irrigation. Are we perhaps reducing seed size and thus yield potential by shutting off the water too early in the fall?
Another factor to consider might be whether the varieties being planted now are inherently smaller than they were seven to nine years ago. A longer term, more focused analysis of the data is necessary to answer these questions. Please let me know if you have any insight on these trends.
For more information about seeding rates, consult NU Cooperative Extension NebGuide Soybean Seeding Rates, G99-1395, and “Plan for smaller soybean seed at planting” in the January 2004 Web-only Crop Watch story by Sandi Alswager.
Roger Elmore
Extension Crops Specialist
The seed size is slightly smaller this year than the average for the past seven years, averaging about 3200 seeds per pound compared to an average of 3100 seeds per pound. The smaller seed size will not affect emergence or establishment of the young plants, and in fact, research has shown that the photosynthetic ability of the first leaves on smaller sized soybean seed is higher than it is for larger sized seed. This suggests that the plant can compensate for the reduced amount of stored carbohydrates in the cotyledons when it is first emerging from the soil. Further research has indicated that there is no effect on eventual yield potential for fields planted with smaller seeds versus larger seeds of the same variety.
Generally, smaller soybean seed will have less mechanical damage than larger seed, a fact reflected in the germination of the seed lot.
In some other crops seed size correlates to yield potential but this has not been shown to be the case for soybeans with only slightly smaller than average size.
Larry Prentice, R.S.T.
Soybean seed quality high; germination over 94%
Tests at the Nebraska Crop Improvement Association indicate soybean seed quality and germination are very high this year. In 25 years with NCIA, I have never seen the average germination on soybeans exceed 90%; however, this year the average is above 94% and we haven’t seen the typical midwinter decrease in germination or vigor. In addition, Nebraska has maintained its high mechanical quality and germination standards while some other states were not able to this year. Buyers need to be cognizant of the analysis and test date for the seed they’re buying.
Assistant Manager, Nebraska Crop Improvement Association
Weighing your odds: Soil moisture readings show early deficits
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The Nebraska climate office ran a statistical analysis on the current soil recharge period beginning Oct. 1, 2003. Except for the southeastern corner of the state, precipitation deficits have been recorded since October for most of the state. The most significant departures are in the southwestern corner of the state and in the southern Panhandle. Based on the last 100 years of data, there is less than a 25% chance that the deficits incurred from Oct. 1, 2003 to Feb. 29, 2004 in these regions will be made up by May 1 and less than a 35% chance that they will be made up by June 1.
The picture brightens somewhat as one heads east. For most of west central, north central, south central and central Nebraska, there is a 35-40% chance of eliminating the deficits incurred from Oct. 1, 2003 to Feb. 29, 2004 by May 1. The odds increase to 40-48% that the deficits will be eliminated by June 1. For the eastern third of the state the odds that the deficits will be reduced range from 45-50% by May 1 to 50-55% by June 1. In areas of southeastern Nebraska which have seen a precipitation surplus, there is a 65% chance that profiles will be at least 80% full by May 1 and a 90% chance by June 1.
If normal weather persists from now through the growing season, irrigators across central and western Nebraska should anticipate that 1-1.5 inches of additional moisture will be needed to compensate for the deficits incurred since October. If weather patterns are similar to the driest 30 years out of the last 100 years through June 1, an additional 2 inches of irrigation will be needed, along with normal summer precipitation. If the weather falls into the driest 10 percentile, irrigators may need to apply an additional 4-6 inches of water to compensate for the accumulated precipitation deficits.
In order to completely reduce the deficits incurred from Oct. 1, 2003 to Feb. 29, 2004 by June 1, the western half of the state will need to experience conditions similar to the wettest 30 years out of the last 100 years. Irrigators east of Grand Island will need to see conditions similar to the wettest 40 years out of the last 100 years.
Al Dutcher
Extension State Climatologist
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Fjell suggested that growers take the temperature at a 2-inch depth in various parts of the field and that the temperature not be taken first thing in the morning.
"In fact, the best time to take soil temperature is 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.," he said.
Soil thermometers are often available from farm supply stores and seed dealers.
It's also important that the soil be at the minimum temperature or above for at least two or three consecutive days before planting. The minimum temperature depends on which crop is being planted.
Fjell provided these guidelines for minimum soil temperatures:
Microbes that live in the soil feed on seed, the agronomist said. So once the seed is in the ground, it's a race between if the microbes will have enough time to feed on the seed and damage or destroy it or if the seed germinates and the plant strengthens as it grows.
"But microbes don't start getting active until the soil temperature is around 50o," he said.
For that reason, planting corn fairly early is usually safe. If the seed sits in the soil for a while, microbes likely will not harm it, because under 50o, they aren't active either. And once the soil temperatures reach 50o for long enough periods, the seed will start growing and fend off microbial damage. Other crops are another story, however. If grain sorghum, for example, was planted when the soil temperatures were around 50o, but the seed doesn't germinate until 65o or 70o, that could give soil microbes plenty of time to feast on the sorghum seed.
"The result can be a thin stand," Fjell said. "Another way to help protect the seed is to either buy treated seed or treat it yourself before planting," he said.
Kansas State University
Press Release
To ensure the value of stored grain as we move from winter to spring, it is especially critical to manage grain temperature with aeration. Convection currents occur when grain in different parts of the bin are at different temperatures. Convection currents are most likely to occur during the transition from fall to winter and from winter to spring.
If warm grain is stored in the fall and not cooled sufficiently by aeration, the grain next to the bin wall will radiate heat to the colder air. This leaves a core of warm grain in the middle of the bin with colder grain around the edges. Warm air rises through the grain in the center of the bin and is replaced by denser cold air sinking through the colder grain near the wall. Warm air holds more moisture than colder air. When the warm air contacts cold grain at the top surface, some moisture can condense out of the air resulting in a wet spot in the top center of the bin. This wet grain can heat and become moldy and create an environment where storage insects can become active.
A convection current moving in the opposite direction can occur in the spring. As the ambient air temperature becomes warmer, the grain next to the bin walls will be warmed, but the grain in the middle of the bin will stay cold. Air rises through the warmer grain near the wall while the denser air in the cold grain in the center of the bin sinks to replace it. Moist, springtime air is drawn into the top center of the grain mass to replace this sinking column of air. Some of the moisture in the air will condense as it enters the cold grain. Once again, a wet spot will form at the top center of the bin. If the temperature difference is not corrected quickly with aeration, a hot spot will form in the center of the bin.
Corn held until May should be warmed to about 50oF and dried to 15% moisture or less. Corn held into summer should be warmed to 60oF and dried to 14% moisture.
If the grain was brought down to freezing or below during the winter, it is best to push a warming front through the grain whenever air temperature is only a few degrees higher than the grain temperature. Aerate the bin when humidity is low to avoid the possibility of creating a frost layer that blocks air movement at the bottom of the bin. Once grain temperature is higher than 35oF, push a warming front through whenever the avaerage 24-hour air temperature will be 10 degrees higher than the grain temperature until the desired storage temperature is reached.
To estimate how long in hours it would take to push a cooling or warming front through the grain, divide 15 by the airflow rate in cubic feet per minute per bushel (cfm/bu). For example: it would take about 75 hours to push a warming front through a bin of corn at 0.2 cfm/bu but would only take about 15 hours at 1.0 cfm/bu.
When not running the aeration system, remember to close roof hatches to prevent rain and snow from getting into the bin. Cover the fan whenever it’s not running to prevent problems caused by moist air at the bottom of the bin being drawn up and through the grain.
Tom Dorn
Arrow 2EC is from MANA, an Israeli company and one of the world’s largest manufacturers of generic active ingredients. Arrow contains clethodim and will be marketed to control Roundup-Ready volunteer corn in soybeans.
Define SC from Bayer has been reformulated into a liquid. It has the same active ingredient, flufenacet, as Define DF. The new formulation is easier to handle and allows for better mixing with products like atrazine.
Equip from Bayer contains foramsulfuron (Option) and iodosulfuron for postemergence use for corn less than 12 inches tall. It was available in late 2003 so this will be the first full year for this product. It should provide for increased broadleaf control, especially for 3- 4-inch sunflower, velvetleaf, lambsquarters , and cocklebur.
Expert from Syngenta contains metolachlor, atrazine, and glyphosate. It is labeled for pre-emergence/burndown use in corn and sorghum. It is labeled for post-emergence use in Roundup Ready corn. Typical use rate will be 3 quarts per acre, depending on soil type.
Habitat from BASF contains imazapyr (same active ingredient as in arsenal). It is for use in aquatic environments for submerged, shoreline, and floating weeds.
IntRRo from Monsanto contains alachlor and is labeled for use in soybeans and sorghum. It contains 4 lbs per gallon of alachlor, just like Lasso and Micro-tech, so use rates will be similar.
Journey from BASF is an imazapic (same active ingredient as Plateau) plus glyphosate premix suited for site preparation in CRP, soft residual bare ground applications, seedhead suppression and warm-season roadsides. It is expected to be available in early May.
Me-Too-Lachlor and Me-Too-Lachlor II are generic metolachlor products from Drexel that contains metolachlor and metolachlor + safener respectively. These products are labeled for pre-emergence use in corn and do NOT have an early POST label allowing them to be applied on corn after emergence. Labeled use rates are 1.0-2.0 pints per acre, depending on soil type.
Prowl H20 from BASF is a new encapsulated and water-based formulation of pendimethalin, labeled for use in corn and soybeans. The new formulation produces less odor, staining, and is less volatile. This product contains a higher concentration of active ingredient than Prowl EC so the use rate drops to 1.5 quarts per acre in corn and up to 3 quarts per acre in soybeans, depending on soil type.
Roundup OriginalMAX and Roundup UltraMAX II from Monsanto contain a potassium salt of glyphosate. These products have 4.5 lbs acid equivalent (a.e.) of glyphosate per gallon. This is the same concentration as WeatherMax so use rates of these products will typically be 11 and 22 oz per acre. Roundup OriginalMax may need additional surfactant whereas UltraMax II does not require additional surfactant.
Stalwart C and Stalwart Xtra are generic metolachlor products from Sipcam that contain metolachlor (Stalwart C) and metolachlor + atrazine (Stalwart Xtra). They are labeled for pre-emergence use in corn, but do NOT have an early POST label allowing application on corn after emergence. Labeled use rates for Stalwart C are 1.0-1.67 pints per acre and for Stalwart Xtra, 1.3-2.1 quarts per acre.
Starane from Dow contains fluroxypyr and is registered for use in field corn and grain sorghum. Starane controls large seeded broadleaves like kochia, cocklebur, field bindweed, hemp dogbane, velvetleaf and sunflower.
Touchdown CF from Syngenta also contains a potassium salt of glyphosate. It is formulated to contain 4 lbs acid equivalent of glyphosate plus 0.06 lbs of dicamba per gallon. Touchdown CF is labeled for use in fallow and as a burndown, but it is not labeled for use on Roundup Ready crops. No additional surfactant is required. Registration is expected any time; however, supplies will be limited for 2004.
Touchdown Hi-Tech from Syngenta also contains a potassium salt of glyphosate. This herbicide is formulated with 5 lbs acid equivalent per gallon. It does not contain any surfactants so it must be added before application. Registration is expected at any time.
Touchdown Total from Syngenta contains a potassium salt of glyphosate and is formulated to contain 4.17 lbs acid equivalent of glyphosate per gallon. This will translate into typical use rates of 12 and 24 oz per acre. Touchdown Total uses the same adjuvant system as Touchdown with I.Q. technology.
Note on generic metolachlor products: Currently there is a legal dispute between the original manufacturer of metolachlor, Syngenta, and the generic distributors of metolachlor concerning use rates and activity. Consult the most recent product label for the correct rate.
Rosen’s Inc will market their three new products in Nebraska through Tenkoz. These include: Volley, Priority and Blanket.
“Volley” brands contain the active ingredient acetochlor with or without atrazine. They are labeled for preplant, pre-emergence, and early post-emergence in corn.
Volley contains 6.4 lbs of acetochlor per gallon.
Volley ATZ contains 3 lbs of acetochlor and 2.25 lbs of atrazine per gallon.
Volley ATZ Lite contains 4 lbs of acetochlor and 1.5 lbs of atrazine per gallon.
Priority is labeled for post-emergence for broadleaf weed control in all types of corn. It contains 12.5% carfentrazone (active ingredient in Aim) and 50% halosulfuron (active ingredient in Permit) per gallon.
Blanket (sulfentrazone) is labeled for pre-emergence in soybeans. Blanket contains 75% sulfentrazone (active ingredient in Authority) per pound.
Agriliance has several new products this year. The “Confidence” group of herbicides contains acetochlor with and without atrazine. They are labeled pre- and early post-emergence on corn. Use rates will be similar to Harness and Harness Xtra.
Confidence Xtra contains 4.3 lbs acetochlor + 1.7 lbs atrazine per gallon, which is the same as Harness XTRA.
Confidence contains 7 lbs acetochlor per gallon. This is the same as Harness.
Confidence XTRA 5.6 contains 3.1 lbs acetochlor + 2.5 lbs atrazine which is the same as Harness XTRA 5.6.
Avalanche, which is used for broadleaf control, especially velvetleaf in corn, contains 1.9 lbs carfentrazone (same ingredient as Aim).
Brash contains 2.4-D + Dicamba for use in CRP, fallow, sorghum, pastures, and wheat.
Brady Kappler
Glyphosate, paraquat, and Plateau are the most economical means of controlling downy brome in perennial grasses; however, registration restrictions limit their use. Not all glyphosate labels mention control of downy brome in pastures and rangeland. Check the herbicide label before using.
Applying glyphosate to perennial grasses before a killing frost or after plants green up in the spring will cause injury. AMS or ammonium sulfate should not be used with glyphosate when treating pastures or rangeland. The ammonium sulfate may increase injury to perennial grasses.
Some glyphosate products are labeled for controlling downy brome in dormant pastures and rangeland. These include Glymix MT®, Glyphomax®, Glyphosate®, Gly Star®, Roundup Original II®, Roundup Ultra®, Roundup UltraMax RT®, and Roundup WeatherMax®. Domestic livestock must be removed before application, and pastures cannot be grazed or harvested for hay for eight weeks after treatment. Application should not be made more than once per year.
Suggested glyphosate rates vary with brand names for controlling downy brome and many other annual weeds growing with perennial cool and/or warm season grasses. For instance Gly Star suggests 8 to 16 ounces per acre (3 lb ae/gal), while Roundup Weathermax suggests 8 to 11 oz per acre (4.5 lb ae/gal). Fall applications should be made when good fall growth is present after a hard freeze has killed the top-growth of perennial grasses. Spring applications must be made before perennial grass growth begins again.
Paraquat at 16 ounces per acre will control downy brome in the fall, but will not kill downy brome in the spring if it is well tillered because regrowth occurs from tillers. Paraquat may severely injure some perennial grasses, such as Kentucky bluegrass.
Plateau at 2 to 12 oz per acre can be applied in the fall or early spring in pastures and rangeland. A MSO surfactant should be added at 1 qt per acre if it is not a newly planted stand. Some perennial grass species have different suggested rates because of tolerance to Plateau.
Atrazine at 0.5 to 1 quart per acre can be used to control downy brome in roadsides. Use 1 qt per acre on fine-textured soils and 0.8 qt per acre on coarser textured soils to avoid injury to desirable grasses. Apply atrazine before freeze up in the fall or before perennial grasses green up in the spring. Big bluestem, bluegrama, buffalograss, indiangrass, little bluestem, sideoats grama, and needle-and-thread are more tolerant to atrazine than crested wheatgrass, smooth brome, switchgrass, and western wheatgrass.
Gail WicksProtect your investment: Stored grain management nears critical period
We are experiencing one of the most exciting price rallies the grain market has seen for many years. Compared to the August 2003 lows, Chicago Board of Trade corn prices are up $0.70 and May soybeans are up about $4.00 per bushel. Producers who have not already sold their grain may be tempted to hold it a bit longer to see how high the market will go.
Extension Educator
Lancaster County
Several new herbicides enter ag market
Among this year’s new herbicides, there are no new modes of action but several new premixes, new glyphosate salts and a few more generic products entering the marketplace.
Extension Educator – Weed Science
Controlling downy brome
in pastures and rangeland
Thousands of acres of pastures and rangeland are infested with downy brome. Annual bromes (downy brome, hairy chess, and Japanese brome) have little grazing value after seed heads are formed and may reduce livestock performance. The recent drought years have hindered the growth of perennial grasses and aided the increase of the winter annual bromes. Control of downy brome in pastures and rangeland requires a combination of herbicides and grazing management.
Extension Weeds Specialist
West Central REC
Robert Wilson
Extension Weeds Specialist Panhandle REC
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| 2004 Rangeland Grasshopper Hazard Map |
| (Link to a larger version.) |
If there is an extended period of cool, wet weather in late May and early June as specific grasshopper species are hatching, the population could be greatly reduced. (These species cause the most damage in range and crop land.) Extended rains also would contribute to improved grass growth, making it more likely that pastures could tolerate grasshopper feeding.
While there may be mitigating factors, if dry or drought conditions prevail as predicted and new range growth is limited, the potential impact from grasshopper feeding could be devastating. In light of this serious situation, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Cooperative Extension in cooperation with USDA-APHIS, will be holding a Grasshopper Management Workshop on March 11 at the West Central Research and Extension Center in North Platte. The workshop will begin at 10 a.m. (CST) and continue until 4 p.m. The workshop is free and targeted at aerial applicators, ranchers and land managers who will be involved in making decisions about grasshopper management and control. The workshop will be in-depth and cover grasshopper biology and behavior especially as it relates to grasshopper management and the implementation of the Reduced Agent and Area Treatment (RAATs) program.
In 2003 the RAATs program provided excellent control of grasshopper populations on roughly 500,000 acres of rangeland at much reduced prices ranging from $1.40 to $2.00 per protected acre. As in 2003, there will be a cost-share control program, but the extent of funding from state and federal partners has yet to be finalized. The potential for serious grasshopper problems in 2004 is several times greater than in 2003, so proper implementation of the RAATs program on those acres where control is needed will be critical to Nebraska ranchers.
Gary Hein
Entomologist, Panhandle REC
John Campbell
Entomologist, West Central REC
The Nebraska Soybean and Feed Grains Profitability Project is an on-farm research project designed to provide farm operators with an understanding of how to conduct crop research on their farms using their own machinery. Comparisons are scientifically designed, statistically analyzed and conducted for three years to assure reliable, useful information.
Tom Hoegemeyer, president and research director, Hoegemeyer Hybrids, will be the luncheon speaker. He will address the outlook for genetics and biotechnology for the next 20 years and provide insight into the shift of crop breeding, genetics, and variety development from the non-profit public sector to private companies.
According to Hoegemeyer, biotechnology has been largely taken over by a few multi-national companies in the last 10 years. The array of hybrids, traits, seed treatments, seed size and packaging options are taking most of the profit out of seed companies.
Hoegemeyer will challenge producers to consider the long-term future of crop production with higher-level input traits as well as specific application output traits. He believes production also will be driven by the ability of dominant end users to demand “what they want, when they want it”, as much as by needs of the producer.
A $10 registration fee for those who are not currently NSFGPP members includes a copy of the annual on-farm research report, refreshments and noon luncheon. Pre-registration is encouraged. For more information on the March 11 program, the Nebraska Soybean and Feed Grains Profitability Project, or how to conduct crop-related research on your farm, please call 800-529-8030 or visit the Web site at http://on-farmresearch.unl.edu/
Keith Glewen
Presenters will include: Dale Flowerday, agronomist, Delmar Consulting; Keith Glewen, extension educator; Barb Ogg, extension educator; Brady Kappler, weed science educator; and Jennifer Chaky, plant pathology educator. The program is part of Cooperative Extension’s Crop Management Winter Programs which provide in-depth and detailed information from university specialists and private industry representatives.
Training will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the University’s Agricultural Research and Development Center near Mead. Cost is $65 for those registering before March 9 and $75 for those registering afterward. Fees include lunch, refreshments and a workshop manual. Certified Crop Advisor continuing education credits are available, with four in pest management, one in crop management and one-half in fertility/nutrient management.
For more information or to register, contact Keith Glewen at (402) 624-8000, e-mail kglewen1@unl.edu or visit the ARDC Web site.
A March 18 workshop -- the Nebraska Climate Education and Extension Workshop – will target
how farmers can use and benefit from climate data and information sources. Registration will
begin at 8:30 a.m., with the program to begin at 9 a.m. at the University of Nebraska Extension
Center, College Park, 3180 West Highway 34, Grand Island. University of Nebraska
specialists will target agricultural production and pest management issues in relation to climate
through presentations and demonstrations. Speakers also will be available for question and
answer sessions throughout the workshop.
The workshop is free and open to the public. To register, please contact Steven Hu, Extension
climatologist and program coordinator, by email at qhu2@unl.edu or call (402) 472-6642. You
also can email econnelly1@unl.edu to register.
Registration is not required to view the conference via satellite.
The program will be broadcast over NebSat Channel 103. Those interested in
viewing it should contact their local extension office to see if it is
downlinking the program. The workshop also will be videostreamed live over
the Internet at the Market Journal site, and
archived there for later viewing.
The workshop is sponsored by the Nebraska Climate Education and
Extension Project, which seeks to help Nebraska agricultural producers
better understand and use climate data in their operations.
Program agenda
(Lunch, breaks, and question and answer periods are also included.)
Continuing education credits for the Certified Crop Advisor program have been applied for. The fee covers lunch, refreshment breaks, workshop materials and an instruction manual. For more information or to register, contact Keith Glewen, Extension Educator, at (402) 624-8000, e-mail kglewen1@unl.edu or visit the Web site at http://ardc.unl.edu/training.htm.
Crop Genetic Engineering will be held March 16-17 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. each day in the UNL East Campus Plant Science Hall in Lincoln. Topics include the steps to develop a genetically engineered crop, key differences between developing new traits with genetic engineering technology and conventional methods, the basis for potential problems such as yield drag, allergenicity, or pest resistance in various genetically engineered crops, the limits of genetic engineering, and the differences among various Bt or herbicide resistance events. Both CEU and graduate credits are available for the workshop. This course is being offered by the University of Nebraska Department of Agronomy and Horticulture.
The registration fee is $250 for those registering by March 9 or $300 after that date. Registration includes class materials and resources. In addition to lecture and lab activities during the two-day workshop, an instructional Web site on crop genetics will be made available with the registration materials.
To register for CEU credit or as a non-credit workshop, please visit this Web site http://agronomy.unl.edu/distance_ed/2004spring/register_noncredit.htm.
The number of farms and ranches in the economic sales class $1,000 - $9,999 remained the same in 2003 at 13,100, while operations with sales of $10,000 - $99,999 decreased 4% to 19,000. Farms and ranches with sales of $100,000 - $249,999 declined 1% to 9,100 and operations with sales of $250,000 - $499,999 decreased 2% to 4,300. The number of farms and ranches with sales over $500,000 was unchanged during 2003 at 3,000.
Land in farms and ranches in Nebraska, at 45.9 million acres, was unchanged from the revised 2002 total. The average size of operation increased to 946 acres, up 17 acres from a year earlier.
The authors include Dr. James Stubbendieck, professor of agronomy at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln; Mitch Coffin, Noxious weed Program Manager for the Nebraska Department of Agriculture; and Lori Landholt, Research Technologist for the UNL Department of Agronomy.
Books are available for purchase from NDA for $25 by calling (402) 471-2394. An order form is available online at the Noxious Weed Program Web page.
The Web site and database were jointly developed by the Department of State (DOS), the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).
For a fuller report on this shift in exports and imports and the causes, visit the USDA Web magazine Amber Waves at http://www.ers.usda.gov/Amberwaves/February04/Features/USTradeBalance.htm
The following excerpts are from the article in the February 2004 Amber Waves:
“Only 20 years ago, about half of U.S. exports consisted of major bulk commodities -- grains, oilseeds, cotton, and tobacco. The shares of livestock and horticulture products in total agricultural exports were 10% and 9%. Today, the export share of bulk commodities has fallen to 36%, while livestock products rose to 16% and horticulture products increased to 21%. At the same time that the composition of U.S. agricultural exports was changing, economic developments across the globe led to a decline of U.S. agricultural exports and boosted U.S. agricultural imports.
After payments to stakeholders, the residual income is net farm income, which is forecast to be $47.6 billion, down 13% from 2003 but only slightly below its 10-year average of $48.2 billion. For more information visit the USDA Economic Research Service Web site at http://www.ers.usda.gov/Briefing/FarmIncome/
Applicants must live in the 12-state region which includes Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin.
Past projects represented a variety of topics, including weed and pest management, strategies and changes to reduce off-farm inputs, marketing, improving water and soil quality, sustainable grazing techniques, and recycling farm waste.
Grant proposals are due at the NCR-SARE office in Lincoln by 4:30 p.m. March 24. Funds would be available in early fall. Application forms are available on the NCR-SARE Web site at http://www.sare.org/ncrsare/ or contact the regional office at NCR-SARE, University of Nebraska, 13A Activities Bldg., 1734 N. 34th St., Lincoln, NE 68583-0840; phone: 402-472-7081 or e-mail ncrsare@unl.edu.
Corn and soybean growers to discuss on-farm research March 11
Corn and soybean growers are invited to attend the Nebraska Soybean and Feed Grains Profitability Project (NSFGPP) on-farm research update March 11 at the University of Nebraska Agricultural Research and Development Center near Mead. The program will be held at the Research and Education Building. Producers will receive valuable crop production information from on-farm research projects conducted on Nebraska farms by Nebraska farmers. The programs will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Extension Educator
Dave Varner
Extension Educator
Crop scout training scheduled for March 16
New and experienced crop scouts will benefit from the March 16 UNL Crop Scout Training for Pest Managers. Program topics will include: growth staging of corn and soybean, recognizing fertilizer deficiencies, identifying major pests in corn and soybeans, economic insect thresholds, managing soybean cyst nematode, and weed and disease identification and control. March 18 climate workshop to target ag issues
While farmers can’t control the climate, they can moderate the effects of Nebraska’s roller
coaster weather patterns by learning how to use years of climate data, current information, and
climate forecasts to fine-tune their agricultural management strategies and reduce climate risk.
Program/class reminders
The class, Advanced Weed Identification and Biology, will be held March 9 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 pm. at the Lifelong Learning Center, Norfolk. Registeration is $75. Topics include hands-on identification of grasses and broadleaf weeds found in Nebraska, biology of weeds and their impact, using hands-on techniques to learn how to identify unique characteristics in grasses and broadleaf weeds, and utilizing the biology and morphology of weeds to simplify identification.Ag briefs and updates
Farm numbers down
Nebraska’s number of farms and ranches declined during 2003, continuing a downward trend, according to a Feb. 27 release from USDA’s Nebraska Agricultural Statistics Service. The number of farms and ranches in the state is 48,500, down 900 or 2% from the revised 2002 total.Weeds of the Great Plains
The Nebraska Department of Agriculture recently released an updated version of their ever popular “Weeds of the Great Plains”.
The book is a collaborative effort between the University of Nebraska and Nebraska Department of Agriculture to provide key information to farmers, ranchers, and homeowners, as well as more technical information for botanists. It features detailed narratives of more than 400 plants; line drawings of 266 weeds; large colored photographs and close-ups of weed flowers, seedlings and key identification characteristics; identification methods to distinguish similar species; historical attributes and uses of each plant; and plant habitats and descriptions of growth forms.New on the Web
Seed industry report
The unprecedented growth in U.S. agricultural productivity over the past 70 years owes much to a series of biological innovations embodied in major crop seeds, in particular cotton, corn, soybeans, and wheat. These innovations have resulted from considerable time and money invested in plant breeding research and development. Now, however, the seed sector has changed: seed research and development has moved from being predominately public to predominately private, innovation protection is now pervasive, and the private seed industry has become highly concentrated. An article in the February 2004 Amber Waves Web magazine, sponsored by USDA, examines the extent of this shift in more detail.
Biotechnology site a hub of regulatory information
The new U.S. Regulatory Agencies Unified Biotechnology Web site provides information about the U.S. oversight system for products of modern biotechnology. It includes information on the roles of the regulatory agencies and links to relevant statutes and regulations. The centerpiece of the Web site is a searchable database of all genetically engineered crop plants intended for food or feed that have completed the recommended or required reviews for food, feed, or planting use in the United States.The U.S. trade balance...more than just a number
U.S. agricultural imports may soon exceed exports, giving the United States a trade deficit for the first time since 1959. Although exports continue to rise, imports are increasing at nearly twice the pace. U.S. consumers are buying horticultural products -- vegetables, fruits, juices, nuts, and cut
flowers -- and cheese, bakery products, pasta, candy, vegetable oils, wine, beer, and coffee. Many of these products are not commonly available, are grown off-season to US production, or are more cheaply produced overseas.USDA farm income forecast
The 2004 forecast net value added of $93 billion is down almost $6 billion from 2003’s record level, but is still $3.8 billion higher than the 1994-2003 average. “Net value added” is a measure of the contribution of agricultural production to national and state economies. It is also a measure of the income earned by stakeholders and investors in farming. Farmer/rancher grant applications sought
Innovation often begins with a producer’s idea. To provide financial support for these farm- and ranch-initiated concepts, USDA’s North Central Region Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (NCR-SARE) established a Producer Grant program. This year about $400,000 will be available on a competitive basis. Individuals can receive up to $6,000 and groups of three or more producers can receive up to $18,000.
NCR SARE, which is hosted by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, is currently accepting applications from producers for research, demonstration, or educational projects. The projects must be environmentally sound, socially responsible, likely profitable, and show a potential benefit to other farmers in the North Central Region.
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