Solar radiation and temperature data for the third week of August in central Nebraska indicates it likely contributed to the lower-than-expected yields being reported by many growers this year.
Two new guides from the Midwest Cover Crops Council and Nebraska Extension offer key "how to" information for growers interested in integrating cover crops into their traditional corn-soybean rotation.
When planning your cover crop plantings for this fall, be aware of plant-back restrictions that may affect your plant selection. These scenarios show how restrictions may influence your choices.
Research in southwest Nebraska looks at potential water savings from adding field peas and chickpeas in corn-soybean rotations where irrigation water is limited. Both pea crops efficiently used early-season precipitation for good yields.
Following a colder than normal October, University of Nebraska Climatologist Al Dutcher predicts drier, colder weather for much of the next two weeks with storms likely in late November.
This week the USDA Farm Service Agency announced that payments now are available to eligible producers in Nebraska who lost stored commodities due to natural disaster in 2018 or 2019.
Based on November 1 conditions, Nebraska's 2019 corn crop is forecast at 1.77 billion bushels, down 1% from 2018. Soybean production is forecast at 282 million bushels, down 13%.
As of Nov. 3 Nebraska's corn harvest was 60% complete, near last year's 62%, but behind the five-year average of 69%, and soybean harvest was 94%, ahead of 88% last year, and equal to average.
Low temperatures in western Nebraska may have caused some sugarbeets to start decaying, making them unacceptable for sugar production for human consumption but an economical source of feed for cattle.
With a record-setting wet growing season and some unique differences in management decisions by competitors, this year’s Testing Ag Performance Solutions (TAPS) awards banquet is sure to be interesting.
The Nov. 18 Agricultural Land Management webinar will focus on end-of-season topics, including county-level cash rental rates, closing out 2019 leases while preparing for 2020, and resources for flood-related prevented plant acreage.
Female agriculture landowners, farmers, and ranchers looking to increase their business management skills are encouraged to register for the 2019 Women Managing Agricultural Land conference.
Research Updates
Figure 1. ARS scientists have discovered genes in sorghum that can double the amount of grain that the plant produces. (Photo by Robert Klein, USDA ARS)
