July 19, 2019

Corn and Soybean Production

Pollen on leaves and silks in spite of heat — Corn pollen on and near silks. For each kernel of grain to be produced, one silk needs to be fertilized by one pollen grain. Photo by Jenny Rees.

How Extended High Heat Disrupts Corn Pollination

A lot of factors can affect corn pollination success, including recent and predicted high heat and high humidity. This explains how environmental conditions influence the pollination process and how a cool down later this weekend may be helpful.

Growth stages of corn at rainfed sites in monitored by Corn Yield Forecast Center

2019 Corn Yield Forecasts as of July 15

Corn is still in vegetative stages across much of the Corn Belt. At this point, delayed planting doesn't appear to have affected yields at irrigated sites. Yields for rainfed sites vary considerably, with those on the western edge trending above normal.

Figure 2. Counties documented as infested in 2018 (red) and 2019 (orange).

Soybean Gall Midge Adults Emerge from this Year’s Soybean Fields

A significant number of soybean gall midge adults have been collected from this year’s soybean fields in east-central and northeast Nebraska. Dead and dying plants have been observed near infested sites in both northeast and east central Nebraska.

Long-Term Study Suggests Management Adaptations for Weather Extremes

From droughts to flooding, extreme hydrological phenomena are the costliest hazards in rainfed agriculture. A recent journal article explores how a long-term tillage study in northeast Nebraska can offer insights on successfully adapting to future climate changes by adjusting specific management practices.

The Economic Evaluation of Input Use Prescription Maps: Are You Paying to Make Less Profit?

This Cornhusker Economics article discusses a method of verifying the economic profitability of site-specific prescription maps using an on-farm field experiment and statistical and economic analysis.

Irrigation

Area of the North Platte River canal where the break occurred July 17. — Figure 1. Area where the North Platte River Canal breached July 17, flooding nearby fields. Water flow to the canal was stopped and won't be continued until repairs can be made, possibly cutting short the crop season. (Photo courtesy of Chabella Guzman of KNEB Radio)

Growers in North Platte Valley Face Critical Water Loss with Canal Damage

Surface-water irrigators in the North Platte River Valley south of the river in western Nebraska and eastern Wyoming have lost their water supply due to a washout in the main supply canal early Wednesday morning (July 17). The Bureau of Reclamation is assessing the damage.

Insect Management

Impact of Planting Dates on Corn and Soybean Insects

The wide range in corn and soybean planting dates in Nebraska this year may affect the distribution and behavior of pest insects both this year and next year. Be alert to a possible shift and scout regularly to identify problem fields.

Grasshoppers Return ― It’s Time to Scout Field Borders

If the grasshopper species currently invading field borders are one of the four major species that are likely to infest cropland, control may be warranted if high numbers are present.

Cover Crops

New SARE Resource Examines Economics of Cover Crops in Row Crops

A new publication from USDA Sustainable Agriculture and Research Education (SARE), Cover Crop Economics: Opportunities to Improve Your Bottom Line in Row Crops, looks at the economics of cover crops in corn and soybean rotations to help farmers answer that big question: When do cover crops pay?

Sugar Beet Production

Sugar beet leaf with 3 very young, circular lesions induced by the CLS pathogen, Cercospora betae. If conditions are conducive, the disease can spread rapidly, even from this small beginning. — Figure 1. Sugar beet leaf with three very young, circular lesions induced by the cercospora leaf spot pathogen, Cercospora betae. If conditions are conducive, the disease can spread rapidly, even from this small beginning.

Cercospora Leaf Spot Spotted in the Panhandle – Be Aware!

On July 15 symptoms characteristic of cercospora leaf spot were observed on the lower leaves of sugar beets at the university’s Panhandle Research and Extension Center in Scottsbluff. While it is unusually early for this disease, growers are urged to scout their fields as fungicide applications may be necessary.

Alfalfa & Forage Production

Managing Seeding Year Alfalfa

Seeding year alfalfa is different from established stands and needs a different management and harvest strategy. While alfalfa seedlings can be harvested 40 days after emergence, it’s better to wait until 60 to 70 days after emergence.

How Summer Heat Affects Forage Growth

High heat can stress forage growth, especially with cool-season varieties. Adjusting management to allow increased time for recovery may be needed.

Crop Reports

Soybean field abutting a corn field — Both corn and soybean progress continued to lag short- and longer term averages, according to the July 15 report from the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service.

Corn and Soybean Progress and Winter Wheat Harvest Lag

Nebraska corn silking was at 11%, well behind 60% last year and 42% for the five-year average. Soybean progress was also lagging with just 28% blooming, compared with 63% last year and the average of 54%. Similarly, just 14% of the state's winter wheat crop had been harvested by July 14, well behind 57% last year and the average of 52%.

The Washington County Winter Wheat Variety Trial will be harvested on July 19. (Photos by Nathan Mueller)

Extension Crop and Pest Reports (July 15-19)

From wheat harvest in the Panhandle to parched corn in east-central Nebraska, Extension Educators report on crop conditions in their area.

IANR & Extension

Children experiencing science at the 2018 Haskell Field Day — Children and youth attending the Family Science and Agriculture Field Day July 24 at the Haskell Ag Lab will have plenty of opportunities to engage in activities while learning about STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts/Agriculture, and Math). Family-friendly activities as well as crop and crop pest field tours offer something for all ages.

Family Friendly Science and Ag Field Day July 24 at Haskell Ag Lab

The Haskell Agricultural Lab in northeast Nebraska will be hosting a day jam-packed with family-friendly presentations and activities to field tours on crop and crop pest research, all Wednesday, July 24 near Concord.

Matt Stockton accepting the Oustanding Extension Program award on behalf of the UNL-TAPS team.

UNL TAPS Receives Outstanding Extension Program Award

The Western Agricultural Economics Association (WAEA) recently honored the UNL-TAPS program with the Outstanding Extension Program Award for demonstrably impacting the mindset and management practices of irrigators while engaging and educating a much broader audience.

Whittier Receives Fellow Award from American Society of Animal Science

Jack Whittier, director of the University of Nebraska Panhandle Research and Extension Center in Scottsbluff, was recently presented the 2019 American Society of Animal Science Fellow Award for Extension.