April 13, 2018

Corn and Soybean Production

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

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.

Cold Germination Test for Corn and Soybeans

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.

Soil moisture sensor only partially installed due to dry ground

Determining Beginning Soil Moisture for Planning Decisions

Soil moisture sensors installed now can provide valuable information for dryland producers who want to determine existing soil moisture level and adjust cropping or planting plans accordingly. The authors installed and will be monitoring soil moisture readings at six sites in south central Nebraska.

Western bean cutworm larvae on an ear of corn

Efficacy of Foliar Insecticide Treatments for Western Bean Cutworm in Corn

Researchers report on three years of field research in west central Nebraska where 4-14 insecticide treatments were tested under irrigated conditions.

KSU Assesses Yield Potential of Drought-Tolerant Corn

Research by Kansas State University on yield potential of drought-tolerant corn showed yields varied but often were equal to their non-DT counterparts. The advantage of the DT hybrids became more evident when the water stress increased to the point of leaves rolling most days.

Weed Management

Pulse width modulation sprayer — Figure 1. The Capstan PinPoint® pulse-width modulation (PWM) sprayer used for this research is shown at the Palmer amaranth field site located near Beaver City. (Photos by Thomas Butts)

Precise Spray Droplet Sizes for Optimizing Herbicide Applications

Achieving the most effective and consistent spray droplet size helps provide for precision application of pesticides, which saves input costs and reduces off-target movement. University researchers using a pulse-width modulation sprayer studied the best droplet size for effective weed control with six herbicides used in Nebraska crop production.

Planning Ahead for Winter Wheat: Review Corn and Soybean Herbicide Programs

If you're considering planting winter wheat next fall, be sure to review the corn and soybean herbicide programs you plan to use this spring to avoid rotation restrictions that would limit your cropping options.

Soil Nutrient Management

Figure 1. Nebraska soybean field with patches of iron chlorosis caused by a deficiency of iron. (Photo by Rodrigo Werle)

What's New with Micronutrients?

Micronutrients are in the spotlight these days with new biological products coming to market. This update looks at micronutrient research updates, including which nutrients are likely to enhance profit and how results can differ among different soil tests.

Figure 1. Coal combustion residue is being mixed into manure for land application. Studies at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln are addressing organic N and opportunities for improving N efficiency in the soil. (Photo by Bijesh Maharjan)

Improving the Efficiency of Applied Organic N

University of Nebraska research is offering new insights into plant use efficiency of organic N resources such as livestock manure, municipal bio-solids, and others. The studies continue through 2018 and are expected to influence changes in university recommendations.

Soil Health Nexus Looks to Better Understand your Soil Health Challenges

The Soil Health Nexus is conducting a short survey to better understand your soil health challenges. Which benefits of soil health are most important to you? What practices do you use to improve soil health? Water quality? Sharing your insights can help them develop information resources to better meet your needs.

Weather

NOAA US precipitation forecast for April 11-18

Spring Still Elusive as Cold then Rains to Quickly Follow Warm-up

With the first half of April as much as 20 degrees below normal temperatures, growers are wondering when a long-term warm-up is in sight. See what climatologist Al Dutcher forecasts for the second half of April in this week's story.

Farm Famlilies

person doing finances on a calculator — Figure 1. To take care of your family and your livelihood amid a barrage of stressors, learn how to identify and manage stressors.

Building Family Resiliency Starts with You

Just as important as creating a weather resilient and financially resilient farm is creating a resilient farm family. As farmers and ranchers face stress, it's important to identify and manage the common stressors and model coping strategies for their families.

Sugarbeet Production

Violet root rot, a rhizoctonia crocorum fungus, in soil

The First Identified Root Pathogen: Rhizoctonia

This is the second article in a series on distinct sugar beet root rot diseases caused by the genus Rhizoctonia. This week Rhizoctonia solani and Rhizoctonia solani are featured.

Farm Management

Excel Pro Tip: Conditional Formatting

This series — Excel Pro Tips — covers some of the best formulas, tables, conditional formatting, and other processes to help users manage their record keeping more efficiently. This week it looks at conditional formatting,which can change the formatting of cells to provide fast visual cues to potential discrepancies.

Ag Updates

Snowpack that feed North Platte River water system — Figure 1. Snowpack on the Snowy Mountain Range that feeds the North Plate River system (archive photo). The US Bureau of Reclamation monitors snowpack to estimate the amount of water in the North Platte Basin likely to be available this growing season. (Photo by Gary Stone)

North Platte River Water System Update

North Platte River water operations and deliveries are expected to be normal for 2018, with no allocations expected, and an expected demand of 1.1 million acre-feet.

Market Journal on WASDE, Soil Sensors, Genetic Improvements in Sorghum

In one of this week's segments on Market Journal David Holding, assistant professor of plant molecular genetics, provides an overview of new gene editing technology being used to enhance the nutritional value of sorghum and improve the digestibility of proteins.

Team Registration Open for Youth Crop Scouting Contest

Teams of youth interested in learning crop scouting and competing for cash prizes are encouraged to enter the 5th annual Crop Scouting Competition for Nebraska Youth. Teams are encouraged to form and register now for the July 26 event so they can start studies and preparations to compete.