The major factors that have impacted the wheat crop in 2022 are drought-like conditions — especially in western Nebraska, where freeze damage also caused significant injury — hail, and the virus diseases wheat streak mosaic and barley yellow dwarf.
Crop Damage
Hail-damaged corn field in Nebraska. (Photo by Jenny Rees)
Experts in agronomy and agricultural economics from Nebraska Extension's Hail Know team cover options for dealing with damaged commodities from a production perspective and discuss the role of crop insurance.
Nebraska Extension Educator Jenny Rees shares the latest on hail damage recovery, replant options and other concerns to address while waiting for crop insurance adjusters and fields to dry.
Measuring the amount of heat between an upper and lower threshold to which an insect has been exposed, degree-days models can provide a high level of precision in predicting western bean cutworm peak flight.
Growers should begin scouting for potato leafhoppers and alfalfa aphids, as these pests have been spotted in Nebraska alfalfa fields prior to first cutting.
The current forecast indicates multiple chances for widespread precipitation in western Nebraska during the first part of July, which may slow drought expansion and intensification.
There are five dates scheduled for free, in-person farm and ag law clinics in July.
Crop Reports & AgNews
Brad Ramsdale, professor of agronomy at the Nebraska College for Technical Agriculture, discusses plant and weed identification with a group of youth at a previous Youth Agronomy Field Day. (Photo by Kathy Burr)
Nebraska youth will spend the day immersed in activities to learn more about weed identification, plant growth stages, insect management, using ag tech for irrigation management, and more.
Frogeye leaf spot — which will likely begin appearing in Nebraska soybeans within the next few weeks — can cause significant yield loss, but there are effective management options available.
Figure 1. Early installation of sensors helps to minimize root and leaf damage and makes it easy to get around the field with the pickup or ATV to install the equipment.
While a recent study revealed that irrigators tend to overwater on wetter years, extension experts recommend data-driven decisions for optimizing yields, saving water and lowering cost of production.
