As it aggressively scavenges nitrogen in the soil, alfalfa can greatly reduce nitrate contamination of groundwater with no negative implications for future crops if planted in rotations.
This UNL research study provides insights on the rotation of annual crops with alfalfa as a highly effective means of reducing nitrate-nitrogen contamination in groundwater.
Interseeded cover crops was just one of many topics discussed at the Eastern Nebraska Soil Health Conference in February. (Photo by Jenny Rees)
Topics of this year's soil health conference included diversified crop rotations, interseeding cover crops, livestock integration, and emerging soil health methods like new cover crop species, biochar and Kernza.
Farm Management
Two bills in the 2023 legislative session have the potential to impact Nebraska ag in significant ways — LB 591 would change the deadline for oral cropland lease termination notice from Sept. 1 to Jan. 1, and LB 662 would enhance protection for livestock owners from nuisance lawsuits. (Photo credit: Nebraska Unicameral Information Office)
UNL Agricultural Law and Water Specialist Dave Aiken reviews the details of two bills in the 2023 legislative session dealing with farmland leases and livestock nuisance lawsuits.
Individuals who complete the survey will help Nebraska Extension prepare the training courses and materials that may best benefit ag producers in 2023.
Research has shown that small businesses who highly engage in strategic planning activities realize 60% higher gross returns than those who do not highly engage. (Photo courtesy Center for Ag Profitability)
UNL Farm and Ranch Management Specialist Jay Parsons discusses the impacts of sound strategic planning and decision-making in today’s ag industry.
Farm Safety
For safety training, Nebraska teens will have two locations to choose from — North Platte and Grand Island — and eight locations where they can take the final tractor driving test to receive certification. See testing sites and registration information below.
Two training locations and eight testing sites will be available to Nebraska teens seeking tractor and equipment safety certification.
Forage Production
For successful double cropping, small grains like triticale should be planted now through early April, grazed from the third week of May to early June, and then followed by a summer annual grass.
In this installment: Strategies and tips for successfully double cropping annual forages this year, and a breakdown on what fall dormancy means for alfalfa growth during the next growing season.
With intense drought conditions last year, it may be prudent to reduce stocking rates and delay turnout this spring, to help grasses in their recovery process.
Daran Rudnick, UNL associate professor and irrigation management specialist, provides a brief background on the TAPS program, how the competition works and why it’s had such a positive impact on Nebraska producers.
In the latest episode, FarmBits chats with Carlos Pizolotto, a Brazilian plant pathologist who is researching predictive models to prevent and control disease outbreaks in agriculture.
Robert Koch of the University of Minnesota speaks to the FarmBits team about the soybean pest management research being conducted in his lab, using remote sensing for scouting and sampling fields for soybean aphids.
A 2022 East Campus Discovery Days and Farmers Market attendee learns to lasso at the UNL Rodeo Club exhibit. The annual event, held on the University of Nebraska–Lincoln’s East Campus for three Saturdays each summer, offers locally grown and produced foods and crafts, educational activities from UNL departments, food trucks and live music. (Photo by Jordan Opp, University Communication and Marketing)
In addition to giving local growers a chance to connect with the public as business owners and agvocates, Discovery Days also showcases the ag research, teaching and extension taking place across IANR.
A native of Mitchell, Nebraska and graduate of UNL, Guzman began her duties at PREEC on March 13.
Crop Reports & AgNews
Approximately $123 million in automatic financial assistance has been made available for qualifying Farm Loan Program (FLP) direct loan borrowers who meet certain criteria.
The new relief funds will begin dispersement in April, and all producers with open FLP loans will receive a letter that details eligibility, and information about qualifying for assistance and how to apply.
FieldWatch covers all registered commercial apiary sites, vineyards, orchards, fruit and vegetable grow sites, nursery and Christmas tree production sites, and certified organic and transitional organic crops. To add your site onto FieldWatch, visit the link below.
As the growing season quickly approaches, producers are reminded to use FieldWatch and DriftWatch to protect specialty crop acreage and apiaries, which number in the thousands across Nebraska.
Weekly USDA NASS crop condition reports are set to begin April 3 for the 2023 growing season.
Very little change was recorded in winter wheat condition and soil moisture across Nebraska at the end of March, with only 22% of wheat in good-excellent condition.
In Case You Missed It...
For producers planting corn-on-corn this growing season, Nebraska Extension encourages taking soil samples to determine accurate nitrate levels and adjusting N application rates accordingly, as there may be considerable amounts of residual nitrogen left from the previous corn crop.
For producers planning corn-on-corn this growing season, there may be a substantial opportunity to reduce nitrogen fertilizer applications, as drought and reduced yields likely left higher-than-normal residual N in many fields.
The updates would clarify procedural duties if an unauthorized person enters the AEZ during a pesticide application, where landowners may be located during application, and proposes a new droplet size classification system.
