June 9, 2017

Corn field — With warm conditions and rapid corn growth this week, these yellow leaves are reminders of the twisted whorls at emergence. (Photo by Roger Elmore) See Crop Reports for more photos.

Storm Recovery

Corn plant injured by hail — Figure 1. Corn plant exhibiting abnormal growth (wrapped or tied leaves) after being damaged by hail. (Photo by Justin McMechan)

Crop Hail Damage Resources

Check out these resources from Nebraska Extension and CropWatch on assessing hail damage to crops. View a seven-day time lapse video of how corn hailed at the V4 growth stage recovers.

Soybean Production

Soybean seedling damage due to PPO-inhibitor herbicide

PPO-Inhibiting Herbicides and Soybean Seedling Injuries

Cool, wet soil conditions in late April and May may have enhanced the potential for soybean injury from PPO-inhibiting herbicides. The author describes plant injury symptoms to look for when scouting young soybean seedlings.

Conditions Favor Early Season Soybean Diseases Again This Year

Cool, wet conditions in May may be contributing to soybean seedling injury from disease. Scouting is recommended to identify diseases and differentiate injury from that caused by herbicides when determining potential stand loss.

Irrigation Management

Is Your Irrigation System Ready for the Season?

Now is a good time to do a quick evaluation of the pumping plant, well, and center pivot to ensure they are in good working order before you have to rely on them during the heat of the summer. Here are a few quick checks you can do to help ensure a successful irrigation season.

Value of Using Sensors to Manage Irrigation and Tips for Proper Installation

With planting wrapping up across the state, now is an excellent time to install soil water sensors and ETgages. Timely installation is important to gaining the true benefits of sensors: reduced irrigation costs, less nutrient leaching, and reduced chances of overwatering leading to anaerobic soil conditions. Find information on water and economic savings and tips for installing soil moisture sensors and ETgages.

Weather

Warmer Days Help GDD Levels Catch Up; but Rains Still Limited

Above normal temperatures since June 1 have reduced accumulated GDD deficits from late April and May. Preliminary analysis suggests that GDD deficits (corn base) have been eliminated across southern Nebraska and reduced across northern Nebraska. See current GDD table.

Wheat Production

Figure 1. A Wheat Field Day in a grower’s field in Washington County on June 6.

Wheat Disease Update: Stripe Rust, Leaf Rust, Wheat Streak Mosaic at High Levels

A survey of fields in south central, southeast, and northeast Nebraska shows wheat diseases increasing in severity and occurrence. Stripe rust and leaf rust have developed to severe levels in fields plant with susceptible varieties that weren't sprayed to protect the flag leaf.

Bernd Friebe, KSU Wheat Genetics Researcher

Kansas State University Researchers Identify New Gene to Resist Wheat Streak Mosaic Virus

The new gene, the third known to provide resistance, is the first that can do so at outdoor temperatures of 75° Fahrenheit and higher.

Nebraska's Winter Wheat Crop Down 34% from 2016

Nebraska's 2017 winter wheat crop is forecast at 46.5 million bushels, down 34% from last year's crop, according to USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service. Nationally, winter wheat production is up less than 1%.

Corn Production

Iowa Releases New Publication on Use of the Late Spring Soil Nitrate Test

Following heavy spring rains, farmers may be interested in testing for soil nitrogen availability. This article notes a new publication from Iowa State University on using the Late Spring Soil Nitrate Test (LSNT) as well as other options for assessing soil nitrate.

Nebraska Extension Field Days & Events

Christenson Bldg at Eastern Nebaska Research and Extension Center — A precision agriculture class looks up as an unmanned aerial vechicle captures the scene at the Christenson Building at the Eastern Nebraska Research and Extension Center.

New Eastern Nebraska Research & Extension Center Open House June 29

The University of Nebraska Eastern Nebraska Research and Extension Center (ENREC), representing 53 counties and multiple research and extension facilities, will be hosting its first open house Thursday, June 29 at the former ARDC near Mead.

Dipak Santra speaking to crowd — Figure 1. Nebraska Extension Specialist Dipak Santra describes field pea variety trials at the High Plains Ag Lab Field Day in 2016. This year's event will include similar field tours of research trials.rs June 21.

UNL High Plains Ag Lab to Host Field Day June 21

The University of Nebraska-Lincoln High Plains Ag Lab Field Day June 21 will highlight UNL research on dryland crops, especially field pea, winter wheat, and forages.

UNL-TAPS competition participants — Figure 1. Water use efficiency in corn production is one dimension of the UNL-TAPS competition being conducted out of the West Central REC.

View Corn Contest Plots at UNL-TAPS Field Tour June 27

Learn from some of the most successful corn growers in Nebraska at a June 27 UNL-TAPS field tour and project update at the West Central Research and Extension Center at North Platte.

Cover Crop and Annual Forage Field Day June 29 near Sidney

A June 29 field day, Incorporating Cover Crops and Annual Forages into Cropping Systems, will be held at the University of Nebraska High Plains Ag Lab near Sidney. University specialists and researchers will discuss what they're finding from their research and lead guided tours of field trials. RSVP by June 19

More IANR & Nebraska Extension Events This June

Weed Management, Cover Crops Field Day June 28 at the South Central Ag Lab near Clay Center. View the latest weed management technologies and cover crop demonstrations.
Field Pea Field Days
June 15 - Webster County | June 19 - North Platte | June 20 - Perkins County | June 21 - Sidney | June 22 - Scottsbluff
Winter Wheat Field Days
June 19 - North Platte | June 20 - Perkins County | June 21, 8 a.m. - Sidney | June 21, 3 p.m. - Box Butte County (Irrigated) | June 21, 5 p.m. - Box Butte County (Rainfed) | June 22 - Kimball County (Rainfed)