November 13, 2020

Crop Production

2020 Soybean Management Field Day graphic

Nebraska Extension and Nebraska Soybean Board Launch Soybean Management Virtual Field Days

The Soybean Management Field Days moved online for the first time ever due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Growers can view presentations or listen to the podcasts presented by Nebraska Extension specialists and educators.

Soybean Micronutrient Management in Southeast Nebraska: Chloride

In soybeans, chloride is needed for osmotic regulation in plant cells. Deficiency symptoms are not clearly described but may include chlorosis and wilting of leaves in soybeans. Toxicity symptoms include leaf tip scorching, premature yellowing or bronzing of leaves, and leaf loss.

Dry Conditions Make Irrigation and Nitrogen Decisions Critical in TAPS Competition

In a stark contrast to 2019, this year’s growing season was drastically drier which meant that participants in the Testing Ag Performance Solutions (TAPS) program had to focus more attention on their irrigation and nitrogen management decisions this year.

Farm Management

Solar Power and Center Pivots - Part 1: Challenges, Introduction and Definitions

Farmers across the US are exploring solar PV as a way to reduce energy costs. Thousands have built solar PV systems, yet adoption of solar PV may not be right for everyone.

Pest Management

Herbicides for Corn, Dry Bean Rotation in Nebraska

Corn is the most common rotational crop planted the year before dry bean in western NE. However, herbicide programs must be chosen with foresight as many corn herbicides can injure dry beans the next season due to crop rotation restrictions.

Industrial Hemp Tolerance to Early-POST Herbicides

Hemp exhibited relatively good tolerance to several products that can be used postemergence in industrial hemp. It is important to note that the conclusions are based only on one year of data. This study will be repeated in 2021 season.

Water Resources

burned trees from the Mullen fire in Wyoming

Mullen and Cameron Peak Wildfires and Their Potential Effect on Nebraska Ag

The wild fires that took place late this summer and early fall, located in Colorado and Wyoming, are almost completely controlled, but they still might affect agriculture throughout Nebraska during the next growing season and for years to come.

Crop Reports

USDA Nebraska Harvest Projections up from 2019

Based on November 1 conditions, Nebraska's 2020 corn crop is forecast at a record 1.82 billion bushels, up 2% from last year's production. Soybean production is forecast at 299 million bushels, up 5% from last year. Sorghum production is forecast at 12.4 million bushels, up 3% from last year. And sugarbeet production is forecast at 1.48 million tons, up 38% from last year.

N Field Observations for This Week

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.

In Case You Missed It...

USEPA Approves Three Dicamba Products for Five Years

On Oct 27, 2020, The United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) announced a new 5-year registration for XtendiMax® and Engenia, and re-registered Tavium (a premix of dicamba and S-metolachlor).

screen shot of resistance calculator web application

Herbicide Resistance Risk Calculator: A New Resistance Management Tool

In order to calculate an herbicide resistance risk score, four years of crops need to be entered. Once herbicides are chosen for all four years and a weed species is selected, the model will calculate an herbicide resistance risk score for each herbicide site of action that was selected.