Wet soil compaction

Addressing Harvest Ruts and Erosion Gullies

April 11, 2019
With the wet spring, producers need to evaluate soil moisture conditions before heading to their fields to clean up flood debris and fill in ruts, rills, and gullies.

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Important dates for prevented planting for corn and soybean

Flood Damage and Prevented Planting

April 10, 2019
This year some farms may qualify for crop insurance prevented planting payments due to flood damage. Here are planting dates for RMA coverage, as well as some unknowns and considerations as you assess the damage to your property.

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Take Time to Evaluate Alfalfa Before Row-Crop Planting Season

April 1, 2019
In a rush to get into corn and soybean fields this spring, don't take your alfalfa for granted. Evaluate your stands and consider whether changes are needed for top production potential this year.

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Three soybean plants demonstrating how plant architecture responds to planting population.

Variable Seeding Rate for Soybean

January 23, 2019
Discussion of findings from on-farm soybean research to identify uniform field management zones and the optimum seeding rate within each zone. This is from one of the presentations to be made at the Nebraska Crop Management Conference Jan. 28-29 in Kearney.

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Figure 1. Field of early-planted corn that burned up due to drought conditions during the early season in 2017. (Photo by Strahinja Stepanovic)
Figure 1. Field of early-planted corn that burned up due to drought conditions during the early season in 2017. (Photo by Strahinja Stepanovic)

Impact of Hybrid Selection, Planting Date, and Seeding Rates on Dryland Corn in Western Nebraska

December 14, 2018
Results from a one-year study in western Nebraska to evaluate the effects of planting date on dryland corn and whether seeding rate recommendations should be reconsidered for late planting dates.

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Soybean fields in planting date study at UNL's East Campus
Planting date studies conducted on UNL's East Campus showed yield decreases of 1/4 bu/ac (2003) and 5/8 bu/ac (2004) for each day after May 1 that soybean were planted.

Amplifying Positive Impacts of Early Soybean Planting

April 19, 2018
The benefits of planting soybean near May 1 are well documented. Now, what are the next steps growers can take to further expand on these benefits? Are different maturity groups warranted? What groups are typically being used in irrigated and rainfed environments in Nebraska?

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Figure 1. Planting into cold soil (below 50°F) when cold conditions are expected for the next 48 hours can lead to germination problems and seedlings not emerging or not emerging well. 1a. Corn seedling that started leafing out below ground and now has twisted leaves which will delay or negate normal plant development.. Figures 1b-c. Unemerged seedlings attempting to leaf out belowground. None of the seedlings shown should be counted as a productive plant.
Figure 1. Planting into cold soil (below 50°F) when cold conditions are expected for the next 48 hours can lead to germination problems and seedlings not emerging or not emerging well. 1a. Corn seedling that started leafing out below ground and now has twisted leaves which will delay or negate normal plant development.. Figures 1b-c. Unemerged seedlings attempting to leaf out belowground. None of the seedlings shown should be counted as a productive plant.

Cold Soil Temperature and Corn Planting Windows

April 12, 2018
With stormy conditions back in the picture, many growers may be concerned about planting corn into cold, wet soils? By checking weather forecasts and soil temperature at planting (in the field and online) and the cold tolerance of seed, growers can identify 48-hour windows of opportunity for planting.

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Cold germination test of seed

Cold Germination Test for Corn and Soybeans

April 10, 2018
A cold germination test is used to evaluate the emergence of a seed lot in cold wet soils. Developed to simulate adverse field conditions, it is the most widely used vigor test for corn and soybean.

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