For producers with crop damage from recent hailstorms, the timing of storms, development stage of the crop, individual field damage, subsoil moisture and crop insurance are important factors to consider when deciding the next course of action.
A review of the immediate and long-term impacts of hail damage on corn to assist producers with decision-making for the remainder of the growing season.
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.
Disease Management
Figure 1. Tan spot on a wheat leaf. (Photos by Stephen Wegulo)
UNL Beef provides information on forage species selection and key management considerations based on desired use.
To avoid rain delays on swathing and baling alfalfa hay, producers can lower harvest drying times by using wider windrow swatch and crimper conditioning.
Management strategies for curing alfalfa windrows in adverse weather conditions, grazing sudangrass and sorghum-sudan hybrids safely, and water quality issues for livestock on pasture.
Scouting should be prioritized in fields that are at the preferred growth stage for egg-laying and/or do not have the VIP3A Bt trait to protect them from western bean cutworm injury.
While numerous precipitation events have decreased statewide drought nearly 33% and brought timely moisture for rainfed crops, some producers may still face lower yields this year due to acute, continued dryness, particularly in the York area.
Extension Events
UNL Extension Engineer Paul Jasa points out key outcomes of the Nebraska NRCS rainfall simulator to onlookers at the conclusion of the Nebraska Soil Health School on June 28.
The final 2023 Nebraska Soil Health School will be Aug. 1-2, featuring numerous speakers and hands-on activities, and free attendance for all participants.
Beginning July 31, the Sunset Seminar series will give producers across the state a chance to see the results of image-based nitrogen management research conducted by Nebraska farmers in 2023.
Free to attend, the Sunset Seminars will provide growers and agronomists a look at results from several Nebraska producers who have trialed Sentinel Fertigation's new N-Time™ software this growing season.
Industry experts from organizations across the U.S. are set to present their research insights on advancements in soybean genetics during the Aug. 10-13 conference.
IANR/Extension
NU Horizon Genetics now supplies UNL-developed small-grain seed varieties. (IANR News image)
NU Horizon Genetics will promote, market and commercialize the certified seed of wheat, barley and triticale varieties developed by UNL, including the recently released irrigated wheat variety Epoch.
James Schnable, UNL agronomy professor, discusses the long-term agricultural impacts of a recent international research collaboration that successfully identified the complete set of genetic components for corn.
A participant at the Nebraska Soil Health School learns how to use the Munsell Soil Color Chart, an in-field tool useful for gauging the color characteristics of soil.
Attendees of the second Nebraska Soil Health School in North Platte heard the latest on fundamental soil health principles and research, and viewed numerous demos by UNL and NRCS experts.
Plant scientists Fatiha Bentata of Morocco and Intissar Zarrouk of Tunisia screened these wheat samples for resistance to root rot caused by the Fusarium fungus as part of greenhouse research at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln last fall. The scientists, visiting the university through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Scientific Exchanges Program, analyzed 13 wheat varieties grown in Nebraska for disease resistance. At left are non-inoculated control plants. At right is a soil mix inoculated with isolates of the Fusarium fungus. (Photo courtesy IANR Media)
UNL researchers involved in a new international collaboration with Morocco hope to boost wheat disease research and strengthen prevention strategies against fungus-enabled wheat diseases.
Crop Reports & AgNews
Historical crop progress data for Nebraska is available at USDA.
Nebraska crop conditions and topsoil moisture improved slightly across the board after last week's rainfall, and crop growth progressed near average pace for most crops.
Historical crop production reports for Nebraska are available at USDA.
Nebraska Extension Educator Gary Stone discusses how the exceptionally wet spring, hail and high winds have affected crop growth stages and resulting water use in the Panhandle.
In Case You Missed It...
Wheat stem sawfly on a piece of wheat. (Photo by Jeff Bradshaw)
Growers are encouraged to share their insights on controlling wheat stem sawfly through the survey, which will help a UNL-led team of researchers find improved solutions for management of this pervasive wheat pest.
Nebraska's total value of agricultural land and buildings rose to approximately $191.8 billion, a significant increase of about $23.8 billion from 2022 to 2023.
The average value of ag land in Nebraska increased for the fourth consecutive year, to $3,385 per acre, with the northeast, east and southeast districts experiencing the largest increases.
