September 18, 2020

Corn & Soybean Production

Check Stalk Quality of Corn Going into Harvest

Poor stalk quality can cause stalk lodging and breakage, leading to harvest difficulties. This could cause yield loss and create issues of volunteer corn for next year's crops due to ears lost from lodged corn.

2020 Corn Yield Forecasts: End-of-season Forecasts Suggest Near-average Yields for the Region

Our forecasts suggest a near-average year for irrigated corn at most sites. For rainfed corn, the scenario is diverse across regions.

Harvest Aid Herbicide Options in Soybean

As we get close to soybean harvest, some herbicides can be applied as harvest aids to desiccate weeds and improve the speed and efficiency of harvest operation.

Seeding Rates for Broadcasting Cover Crops Into Late-season Corn and Soybean

The middle to end of September is a good time to establish cover crops by broadcasting seeds into corn or soybean before harvest, which allows the crop to capture more sunshine, growing degree days and rainfall.

Pest Management

While You’re Waiting, Collect a Sample for SCN Analysis

Time spent waiting in a grain cart or truck on the edges of fields while the combine fills may feel like wasted time and lead to frustration. Why not make the most of that time by using it to collect soil samples for soybean cyst nematode (and other) analyses?

How to Control Palmer Amaranth in Dry Beans in Nebraska

Palmer amaranth emergence occurs throughout the season, generally from early May to late August. Consequently, weed control programs targeting Palmer amaranth need to provide season-long control, or from planting through canopy closure.

IANR & Extension

Recent Water & Crops Field Day Available Online

The UNL West Central Research, Extension and Education Center recently held their annual Water and Crops Field Day virtually. If you were unable to attend or would like to catch some of the other presentations from the day, all of the presentations are now available online.

photo of dignitaries visiting panhandle for dry bean harvest

Nebraska Dry Bean Commission Hosts Field Tour for U.S. Agriculture Trade

The Nebraska Dry Bean Commission hosted a field tour for Ambassador Gregg Doud, Chief Agricultural Negotiator in the Office of the United States Trade Representative on Sept. 2nd and 3rd in the Nebraska Panhandle.

Crop Reports

Extension Crop and Pest Reports (Sept. 14-18)

Extension educators report on what they are seeing in the fields this week in the norther Panhandle, Saunders, Sarpy and Douglas 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.

USDA Nebraska Crop Production Forecast

Based on September 1 conditions, Nebraska's 2020 corn crop is forecast at 1.78 billion bushels, down slightly from last year's production, according to the USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service. Area harvested for grain, at 9.45 million acres, is down 4% from a year ago. Average yield is forecast at 188 bushels per acre, up 6 bushels from last year.