April 27, 2018

Winter Wheat

Winter Wheat Progress Across the State

Winter wheat in the Nebraska Panhandle continues to be rated above average with most of the wheat rated good to excellent. Winter wheat in the west central, south central, and eastern areas is more varied, as described in this wheat progress and condition report.

Winter Wheat Nitrogen Applications

Spring is the ideal time to apply nitrogen (N) to winter wheat to ensure top yields. Adequate N levels promote tillering, large head size, and are the primary factor determining the protein level of the grain at harvest. There are a few things to consider to optimize N applied to wheat.

Map of 2018 Winter Wheat Field Day Sites in Nebraska

2018 Winter Wheat Field Days at 11 Sites

Winter wheat field days will be held at 11 sites in Nebraska this summer, starting May 30 in Jefferson County and ending June 22 in Box Butte County. Each site will feature 25-50 released and experimental wheat varieties from companies selling wheat seed in Nebraska .

Cover Crops

Figure 1. Seasonal ecology of wheat stem maggot (Allen 1933) overlaid on 2017 field issues. Arrows indicate likely source of infestation started with adult movement in the spring.

Wheat Stem Maggot Adult Monitoring: A Pest of Cover Crop-to-Corn Transitions

This article looks at wheat stem maggots in cover crops-to-corn transitions, including their biology, risk for damage to early season corn, and what to look for this spring.

Cereal rye in corn stubble — Figure 1. Cereal rye planted as a cover crop in many fields is slow-growing this spring. Combining a cover crop termination and PRE application may be a valuable time-saver this year, if used correctly.

Q&A on Terminating Cereal Rye, Applying a PRE

A grower asked: My cereal rye cover crop is only 3 to 5 inches tall going into planting season. Can I combine two field operations in one by applying glyphosate to terminate cereal rye and tank-mixing it with a residual herbicide for early season weed control?

Q&A: Which Dicamba Product Should I Use to Kill Broadleaf Cover Crops or Burndown Weeds Before Xtend Soybean?

With a delayed or compressed planting season, this week several growers asked whether they could immediately plant soybeans after a dicamba application. See how Extension Weed Scientist Amit Jhala replied.

Soybean Production

Aerial image of field showing differences between 15-inch and 30-inch row spacings — Figure 1. TerrAvion aerial imagery taken on Aug 4, 2017 at Chase County site showing less vigor and higher thermal stress in 30-inch row soybeans than in 15-inch row soybeans.

How Row Spacng Affects Irrigated Soybean in Southwest Nebraska

While continuous corn is the most common cropping sequence in southwest Nebraska, adding soybeans to a rotation could help break pest cycles. On-farm research comparing 15- and 30-inch soybean row spacing found increased yields of 4-12 bu/ac with an average 7 bu/ac increase with 15-inch rows.

Ag Technology

Using Drones for Early Season Stand Assessment, Weed Scouting

A new Nebraska Extension NebGuide, Getting Started with Drones in Agriculture, covers how to integrate drones into crop management systems. It addresses drone types and sensor options, outlines a workflow for a drone-mapping project, and shares case studies of how farmers are using drones. Two examples — taking stand counts and scouting for weeds — are also described.

Pesticide Safety

Know Your AEZ and Stop Spraying When Someone is In It

EPA's new Application Exclusion Zone requirement was designed to protect people from pesticides being applied either on the ground or aerially, either alone or with another product such as fertilizer. This story and video show how to meet the requirement.

Body Exposure Points and Personal Protective Equipment

Proper PPE Prevents Pesticide Exposure

Besides using common sense, perhaps an applicator’s most important protection is wearing the appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE). Here's an illustrated guide as to what to wear and exposure risk for various body areas.

Soil Fertility

Figure 1. Corn plant leaves exhibiting zinc deficiency (left) and iron chlorosis symptoms.

Newly Revised NebGuide: Micronutrient Management in Nebraska

A new NebGuide, Micronutrient Management in Nebraska, addresses issues of micronutrient fertilizer use with a focus on zinc and iron; other sections include micronutrient availability in soils, plant sampling, iron chlorosis, and micronutrient toxicities.

Forage Production

Life cycle of the black grass bug in western Nebraska

Scouting Recommended in Wheatgrass for Black Grass Bugs

In western Nebraska when wheatgrass, especially crested wheatgrass, starts growing, it’s time to begin monitoring for black grass bugs. Feeding damage caused by these insects can substantially reduce wheatgrass forage production.

Crop Reports & AgNews

Photo of crop scout training in a previous year — Industry representatives and corn and soybean growers wanting to learn how to better manage corn and soybean pests are encouraged to attend a May 9 field crop scout training offered by Nebraska Extension.