October 9, 2020

Nutrient Management

Plowing a field — Anticipated high residual soil nitrate-N levels in NE rainfed crops of dry 2020 can be credited to reduce N rates for 2021

Planning 2021 Fertilizer-N Application Following a Dry 2020

Fertilizer-N is a big investment for crop production in Nebraska and elsewhere. After harvest, growers tend to plan their fertilizer-N management for the next year’s crop. But the question is how much nitrogen can they apply to get the most profit from their fertilizer-N investment?

New Series on Soybean Micronutrient Management in Southeast Nebraska

We are bringing you an extended series of CropWatch articles on micronutrient fertility and plant nutrition for soybean production in southeast Nebraska.

Pest Management

Common mullein plants in field — Mild, wet winters favor common mullein growth, ensuring good germination the following year for new seedlings and good winter survival of plants entering the second year.

Common Mullein Control: Herbicide Choice and Application Timing

Effective weed control in range, pasture and CRP depends on selectivity and timing. In selecting an herbicide for common mullein control, there are many options.

Rejuvra™: A New Herbicide for Battling Cheatgrass

Rejuvra™ is a new rangeland herbicide product from Bayer that works differently from existing cheatgrass herbicide products. Rejuvra™ can provide control for more than a year after application.

Industrial Hemp Varieties Exhibit the Same Tolerance Level to PRE-Herbicides

Herbicides registered for in-season weed control in industrial hemp are scarce, or nonexistent. To help with this issue, a greenhouse study was conducted this summer at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln to test tolerance of three industrial hemp varieties to preemergence herbicides commonly used in corn and soybean.

Managing Weed Seeds in Manure

A survey found that fresh manure on dairy farms had an average of 75,000 seeds per ton. But, luckily, there are some measures that can be taken to reduce the viability of those weed seeds.

Farm Management

USDA Designates Six Nebraska Counties as Primary Natural Disaster Areas

Producers in Colfax, Cuming, Dawes, Dodge, Stanton and Thurston counties who suffered losses due to recent drought may be eligible for emergency loans.

Training for Ag Professionals on Crisis, Suicidal Behavior

Nebraska Extension and the Panhandle Public Health District will be offering an online “Question. Persuade. Refer.” training. This 90-minute training will be held online, via Zoom on Nov. 12 at 11 a.m. CT (10 a.m. MT).

Crop Reports

brassicas as cover crops interseeded in mature corn

Extension Crop and Pest Reports (Oct. 5-9)

Extension educators report on what they are seeing in the fields this week in Dawson, Buffalo, Hall, York, Seward and Box Butte counties.

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.

Corn, Soybean Harvest Continues Ahead of Normal

Corn and soybean harvest continued ahead of the five-year average with 21% of corn and 55% of soybean harvested. Winter wheat planted was 80% (near the average) with 33% emerged, which is behind the average. Sorghum and dry bean harvest were slightly ahead of average, according to the USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service.

In Case You Missed It

Lisa Jasa receiving the Media Appreciation Award — Debbie Borg (left), District 4 Director of the Nebraska Corn Board, presents Lisa Jasa (right), editor of UNL’s CropWatch, with the Media Appreciation Award in March of 2019.

A Tribute to Lisa Jasa, CropWatch Editor Since the Beginning

After a short bout with pancreatic cancer, we lost Lisa this past Monday. She leaves behind a legacy with CropWatch, not only through the timely stories released nearly every week for almost 30 years, but in the kindness shown to everyone with whom she interacted and the relationships she built along the way.