Latest Issue

Corn & Soybean Production

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

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?

Corn leaves showing signs of nitrogen deficiency — Figure 1. Corn at V10 growth stage displaying symptoms of N deficiency (inverted V-shaped yellowing starting at the tip of lower leaves). Corn can display these symptoms when N supply is insufficient, possibly due to multiple reasons, including losses.

Nitrogen Fertilizer Stabilizers in Corn

Understanding how the three types of nitrogen stabilizers work can be helpful in deciding whether to add one to your spring application. Short- and long-term studies in Nebraska offer insight into how they performed across multiple years. Now, if you only knew how many inches of rain you'd get the first six weeks after application.

Wheat Production

Figure 1. A typical wheat field in Nebraska early in the growing season.

It's Time to Scout for Wheat Diseases

With the predicted return to more normal temperatures, it's time to get into wheat fields and start scouting. Stripe rust has already been reported in southeastern Kansas and is expected to move northward. Included is a table of fungicide efficacy ratings for disease management in wheat.

Weed Management

How Temperature and Rain Can Affect Burndown Herbicides

Finding a good time for burndown herbicide applications has been a little tricky this spring, given the below-normal temperatures the first half of April and intermittent snow and rain, all of which can decrease herbicide efficacy. Checking the forecast can help identify an optimal window for application.

Cover Crops

Q&A on Grazing Cereal Rye after an Anhydrous Application

This week a CropWatch reader asked: Can you safely graze cover crop rye this spring after anhydrous has been applied? That depends on several factors, write three extension specialists in agronomy and beef production.

Cover crop field with mixed-species plantings — Later season field of cover crops in southeastern Nebraska. (Photo by Paul Jasa)

Timing of Cover Crop Termination and Related Factors

Should the cold spring delay cover crop termination? Growers walk a fine line between growing cover crops long enough to get the biomass they want without reducing yield in the following grain crop. This discussion from an agronomist, entomologist and weed scientist looks at various factors to consider.

Pesticide Safety

2018 map of agricultural pesticide container recylcing sites

Why and Where to Recycle Your Ag Pesticide Containers

After applying ag chemicals to your field, rinse and recycle the plastic containers at one of 18 sites across the state. This is the 27th year for the Nebraska program, which in 2017 collected 89,000 pounds of containers.

Lucas Burch wears gloves and safety glasses while triple rinsing a pesticide container.

How-to's for Prepping Pesticide Containers for Recycling

Properly rinsing and recycling pesticide containers saves money, protects you and the environment, and meets federal and state regulations for pesticide use. Here's how to safely prep your containers for recycling.

Ag News & Crop Reports

Some intermittent warmer days, wheat is greening up, tillering, and growing nicely in this southeast Nebraska field. (Photo by Paul Jasa)

Wheat Condition 55% Good to Excellent

Wheat condition was rated 12% excellent, 43% good, 38% fair, 6% poor, and 1% very poor in Monday's USDA crop condition report. It included corn planting, at 1%, for the first time in 2018.

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Joins National Ag Research Initiative

The University of Nebraska–Lincoln has joined 15 other public and private universities in FedByScience, an effort to boost federal investment in agricultural research. The effort tells stories in which scientific discoveries and innovations have improved the way food is produced and distributed.

Market Journal: Consider Selling New & Old Crop Now - May

Also on this week's Market Journal: An overview of policy changes in the new farm bill, ethanol production, blizzard impacts on cow-calf production, and the forecast for the coming week.

Farm Management

The Three Types of "Yes" in Negotiations

If you walk into a negotiation pushing only your agenda and looking for your "Yes," you may miss out on crucial details and not end up where you think you should be. Getting to a well understood "Yes" is critical to good negotiations.