2016 Corn Yield Forecasts: Approach and Interpretation of Results
June 30, 2016
The Yield Forecasting Center will be providing in-season corn yield forecasts every two weeks starting in mid-July to aid growers and the ag industry in making management, logistics, and marketing decisions through the season. The Center consists of a core team at UNL in collaboration with agronomists and extension educators from universities throughout the Corn Belt.
Scout Field Borders for Grasshoppers
June 30, 2016
Populations of immature grasshoppers are being reported in areas bordering crop fields in several parts of eastern Nebraska. If these grasshopper species are one of the four major species that are likely to infest cropland, control may be warranted. Check here are scouting guide and treatment thresholds and recommendations.
Using Degree-Days to Predict Western Bean Cutworm Flights
June 24, 2016
Accumulated degree-days offer a proven means for estimating when to scout for insects, including the western bean cutworm. Here's how to estimate insect growth and recommended dates to start scouting for WBC at 14 Nebraska sites.
Impacts of Extreme Heat Stress and Increased Soil Temperature on Plant Growth and Development
June 21, 2016
Both corn and soybean are susceptible to extreme heat (and water) stress during early vegetative stages as well as later critical growth stages (pollination for corn and flowering for soybean). Extreme heat stress can reduce plant photosynthetic and transpiration efficiencies and negatively impact plant root development, which collectively can negatively impact yield. The author recommends that during an extended heat wave (air temperature equal to or greater than 90 F for 7-10 days), applying 0.25-0.40 inch of water can be very beneficial.
Nitrogen Rescue Treatments in Corn
June 17, 2016
When corn is yellow and struggling to get nitrogen, a rescue treatment may be advisable. Research in neighboring states found a rescue treatment could increase yields by an average 34 bu/ac.
First Generation European Corn Borer Scouting & Treatment
June 14, 2016
Growers are noting shot-hole feeding from European corn borer in non-Bt corn. Nebraska Extension offers several resources to monitor moth activity and determine when treatment is necessary.
Predicting Stalk Borer Development in Corn
June 13, 2016
Based on accumulated degree days, scouting should be underway across the state for common stalk borer in corn.
UNL Corn Yield Model Verifies as Reliable Larger Scale Predictor
June 13, 2016
Collecting basic agricultural data from a mere 45 sites can provide enough predictive power to reasonably estimate crop yields within a 10-state swath of the U.S. Corn Belt, says a new study led by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. The study compared actual corn production from 2011 through 2014 against best-case projections from the UNL Hybrid-Maize model that accounts for weather, soil properties and planting practices.