Southern corn rust was confirmed on corn leaf samples from Fillmore, Nuckolls and Johnson counties in southern Nebraska this week. Warm, humid conditions may favor disease development, so fields in this area should be monitored frequently in the coming weeks.
The infestations appear to have occurred recently, as the aphids were only observed on leaves that had not yet expanded completely. The economic threshold for late vegetative through R5 stage soybeans is 250 aphids per plant with 80% of the plants infested and populations increasing.
Weekly scouting of adult rootworm beetles in July and August will provide the information needed to decide whether rootworm control is necessary next year.
Diseases in corn, soybean, and wheat have been confirmed in parts of the state based on samples submitted to the UNL Plant and Pest Diagnostic Clinic from July 1 through July 15.
Fungicide use in corn has become increasingly popular for many farmers for a number of reasons. But, it becomes a more difficult decision when corn prices are low and some producers are looking for ways to reduce input costs when profit margins are narrow.
Leafy spurge is also known as wolf’s milk, faitours-grass or tithymal, and reproduces from seed and vegetative root buds. It is 1 to 3 feet tall with blueish-green leaves with round edges. Flowers are surrounded by heart-shaped yellow-green bracts which hold three round to oblong seeds.
Prior to storms July 8-9, plants were nearing tassel, a critical time for photosynthesis and pollination. These storms resulted in “flattened” corn from lodging/leaning in addition to bent and snapped plants. "Recovery" depends on a variety of factors.
Silks and tassels are emerging and the smell of pollen is in the air in fields throughout the State! Two recent articles from Dr. Bob Nielsen, Purdue University, may be helpful for a refresher and also to learn something new regarding silk and tassel development and pollination.
Although it is still too early to make strong inferences about end-of-season yields for irrigated corn, there is a relatively high probability for near-average yields for a majority of sites.
Figure 1. Wouldn’t it be great to have a soil water gauge to help determine when the crop water supply is getting low just like the gauge in a pickup that tells how much fuel is left.
Irrigation expenses are usually the biggest energy cost on the farm. On dry years, they become even higher. So how does one know when the system must be started and when it can be turned off? How should the low commodity prices this year affect these decisions?
A Nebraska Extension online course designed to help farmers and ranchers improve their decision-making by better understanding their current financial positions will begin Aug. 1.
Extension educators report on what they are seeing in the fields this week in southeast Nebraska, Dawson, Buffalo, Hall, Webster and Adams counties, as well as in the panhandle.
This week, Extension educators preview the upcoming 2021 Cover Crops and Soil Health Conference and offer tips on how to get prepared for chemigation training sessions beginning this month in Nebraska.
Corn is rated 70% good to excellent and progressing ahead of last year but behind the five-year average. Soybean is rated 73% good to excellent and is progressing ahead of both last year and the five-year average. Winter wheat harvest is ahead of previous years with 50% complete.
Soil microbiology is a universal and essential component of agricultural soils. This NebGuide provides basic information of soil microbiology, microbial functions, microbial enhancement, and microbial assessment.
A video camera took the place of live audiences for the High Plains Ag Lab Virtual Field Day, as Cody Creech, dryland cropping systems specialist and research supervisor at HPAL, discusses one of the research projects underway at the plots north of Sidney.
Social distancing ruled out an in-person field day this June. However, the Virtual Field Day website has a collection of videos and other online presentations (such as narrated Powerpoints) that convey the same type of information that would have been available in person.
