University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension, Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources

May 12, 2006

Field updates

Douglas Anderson, Extension Educator in Keith, Arthur and Perkins counties: Lots of field work and planting is underway, but nothing has emerged yet. Some hay is going down. The wheat crop is progressing as well as can be expected with limited moisture. We still need moisture, but those fields that were summer fallowed will have an advantage.

Jennifer Nixon, Extension Educator in Sioux County: We have had good spring moisture in the form of snow and rain. Most pastures are cool season grasses and have gotten off to a great start for spring/summer production. Cattle have been moving from winter pasture and calving yards to spring grazing a little earlier than usual this year. We had ideal weather for calving and lower than usual calf losses from weather.

Steve Pritchard, Extension Educator in Boone and Nance counties: Cold and windy describes the weather the past week. Corn planting should be winding down by next week. Corn is emerging slowly. Soybean planting is progressing slowly. A few pivots are running on newly planted corn fields. Alfalfa is close to taking the first cutting. Alfalfa weevil activity is showing up in the top stem leaves. Producers need to be scouting fields and checking weevil counts to help in making a decision on whether to control weevils or cut the field early. (See related story.)A little moisture would be gladly appreciated in the area. Nance County did receive about 0.5 inch of precipitation this past week.

John Wilson, Extension Educator in Burt County: Planters are going fast and furious. We're probably 75-80% done with corn and 20-25% done with soybeans, but that is increasing rapidly each day we don't get rain. Actually, we could use some rain. We're not severely short right now, but we missed the last couple of systems that moved through so we haven't had significant rainfall for about two weeks.

Andy Christiansen, Extension Educator in Hamilton County: Wet weather in April delayed planting, although most corn did get planted by May 5. We haven't had any real moisture in May. The surface is very dry, but subsoil moisture is good. We should complete planting by Monday.

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Copyright 2006 by the University of Nebraska Board of Regents. All rights reserved.
Published by University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension in the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources Cooperating with the counties and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
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