Current market conditions for wheat along with the price and short availability of hay is setting up a scenario where the winter wheat crop may have more value for grazing or as a hay crop this spring than harvesting it for grain.
Wheat growth in the Panhandle has been hampered by cold temperatures this spring and is behind normal development, but overall it is expected to yield well.
Wheat in eastern Nebraska is behind normal growth stage, but has good yield potential. Weather in late May and early June, as wheat enters the critical grain fill stage, will likely dictate final yield.
Figure 1. Snow and freezing temperatures in the Nebraska Panhandle this week are likely to cause some leaf burn in wheat, but are not expected to cause extensive crop damage. (Photo by Cody Creech)
With freezing temperatures in the Panhandle May 1-2, wheat injury may have occurred. This guide addresses injury potential at various growth stages, factors contributing to injury, and why it's important to delay assessment for several days afterward.
Flood Recovery
Spring flooding left deposits of sand and silt on many acres of river-frontage property, such as this pasture near Ravenna. A May 13 workshop will look at treatments and practices to recover these acres for production.
After spring flooding, many river frontage pastures and crop fields were left with sand and silt deposits ranging from a few inches to up to three feet. Recovering that land for production will be the focus of a May 13 on-site workshop near Ravenna.
There’s still time to add an on-farm research component to your operation this year. Nebraska Extension educators can help design a project that yields reliable, field-tested data for your production decisions.
As of Monday, April 29, corn planting at 16% was near last year, but behind average and soybean, at 3% was near last year and the average. Winter wheat condition was 68% good to excellent.
May and June are prime months when outdoor blood feeders — like ticks and mosquitoes — are active in Nebraska. Learn which repellents are most effective and how long they're effective.
Scientists and engineers at the USDA Agricultural Research Service have developed a more precise method to determine a major factor in grain quality used to characterize the suitability of the wheat for processing into foods.
University of Nebraska-Lincoln researchers evaluate the forage production of Nebraska’s perennial grazing land systems and the potential to increase cow/calf production in Nebraska.
Mark Rosegrant, research fellow emeritus at the International Food Policy Research Institute, delivers the final Heuermann Lecture of the 2018-19 season April 30 at Nebraska Innovation Campus. (Craig Chandler/University Communication)
It’s crucial for society to implement effective and efficient water-management practices, said researcher Mark Rosegrant when he presented the final Heuermann Lecture of the 2018-2019 year.
Chuck Hibberd, dean and director of Nebraska Extension, was recently inducted into the USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture Hall of Fame for his exceptional contribution to the institute's mission.
