November 3, 2017

Corn Production

Figure 1. It's likely that a combination of factors this year led to weakened corn ear shanks, large ears, and stalk and ear rots which together may have contributed to increased ear dropping. — Figure 1. It's likely that a combination of factors this year likely led to weakened corn ear shanks, large ears, and stalk and ear rots which together may have contributed to increased ear dropping.

Potential Reasons for Weakened Ear Shanks and Ear Loss

While sustained high winds for several days in late October was likely the final catalyst, a number of factors may have led up to increased ear drop in corn. This article looks at potential factors throughout the season that may have eventually led to a challenging harvest.

Weather

Table of freeze dates and average freeze dates for 2017

Growing Season Officially Over for Nebraska

On Oct. 28, the last of Nebraska's Mesonet weather stations recorded a hard freeze of 28°F, effectively bringing the state's growing season to an end. A table shows dates for 28°F and 32°F freezes as well as average dates for these thresholds for 63 sites.

How windy was it? A look at Nebraska gusts Oct. 23-27

As evidenced by field after field of broken corn stalks and ears lying on the ground, the Nebraska plains were swept by winds of 30-50 mph, often over a sustained period, Oct. 23-27. Two tables show the peak gusts as well as how many hours in a given day two sites experienced high winds.

Pesticide Safety

Dressed in personal protective gear and cleaning a sprayer

Winter Pesticide Storage

Check out these recommendations for storing away pesticides and your sprayer to avoid product loss and equipment damage over winter.

Research

aerial view of East Campus — The Department of Biological Systems Engineering on the university's East Campus is home to three newly funded USDA grants advancing the development application of new ag technologies. Chase Hall, home to BSE, is shown on the right with the Nebraska Tractor Test Laboratory and testing track in the background

Engineering Research Focusing on Next Generation of Ag Technologies

The next generation of agricultural technologies and systems is the focus of three USDA-funded research projects in the Biological Systems Engineering Department at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. The projects were announced Oct. 17 by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture’s (NIFA) Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI).

Crop Reports

Corn Harvest at 45% Lags Average; Soybeans 89% Done

At 45%, Nebraska's corn harvest still lags last year (66%) and the five-year average (67%) will be slowed further in areas where high winds last week downed cornstalks and ears. Soybean harvest, however, is 89% done and near short- and longer term averages. Dry edible bean harvest was 96% done, but sorghum harvest was 47% done, well behind average.

Corn harvest in the Nebraska Panhandle, Oct. 30, 2017. (Photo by Gary Stone)

Harvest Progress in the Panhandle

Corn harvest in the Panhandle has been progressing for several weeks now. Yields have been 80-100 bushels per acre on dryland and 160–220 bushels per acre irrigated. Dry bean harvest is almost done, but regular sugar beet harvest has slowed due to the wide fluctuation in temperatures.

Weed Management

Figure 1. The new dicamba and Enlist herbicides require specific nozzle types for application. Check the product label before spraying to ensure you have the correct nozzle. (Photos by Bob Klein)

University & Sprayer Co. Experts to Address Dicamba and Enlist Application

Learn how to achieve maximum performance while avoiding injury to conventional and non-Xtend soybeans at a Nov. 15 Sprayer Clinic. The clinic, which will be held at the University of Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture in Curtis, will focus on application of the new dicamba and Enlist herbicides.