While they don't cause damage to plants when feeding, migrating army cutworm moths can be an irksome household pest. Fortunately, there are simple management methods to prevent them from entering homes and other structures.
Forage Production
The best time to cut grass hay is when the grass nutrient content matches the nutritional needs of your livestock — before heads begin to emerge for young animals, and before seeds develop for mature animals.
This week — Nebraska Extension educators share target protein levels of small grains and grass hay for the upcoming harvest, and analyze the cost of various fencing options.
Field day participants will get the chance to tour varieties of winter wheat, spring wheat and spring peas on dryland and irrigated plots in six locations spanning Perkins to Banner County.
Carter Canyon wildfire in 2022 as seen from Scottsbluff. (Photo by Chabella Guzman)
The free field tour will visit two locations that experienced wildfires during the summer of 2021 and 2022 for discussion with rangeland management experts on recovery strategies, reseeding fire lines and more.
Graduate students Grace Emperatriz Pacheco Jiron (left), Bridget McKinley, and Vesh R. Thapa, UNL postdoctoral research associate, gather forage samples at PREEC cover crop plots. (Photo by Chabella Guzman)
The project is a four-year collaboration between UNL and NRCS to identify the best-suited cover crop species and varieties for unique eco-regions across the state of Nebraska.
Crop Reports & AgNews
Historical crop progress data for Nebraska is available at USDA. (Photo by Gary Stone)
Dry edible bean planting was at 4% complete as of May 21, and corn planting was nearing 90% complete.
Beth Ford, CEO and president of Land O’ Lakes, engages in a “fireside chat” with CASNR Dean Tiffany Heng-Moss. (Photo by Craig Chandler, University Communication and Marketing)
In a recent Heuermann Lecture, Land O'Lakes President and CEO Beth Ford highlighted current initiatives farmers are implementing to preserve our water supply and the need for a comprehensive, long-term water sustainability strategy.
Farm Management
Nebraska Extension Biological Systems Engineering Educator F. John Hay shares an in-depth analysis on the economics of on-farm solar following USDA's announcement that an additional $1 billion in grants are available to help ag producers and rural small businesses finance renewable energy systems or to make energy-efficiency improvements.
This webinar covers the general design elements of behind-the-meter on-farm solar and walks through production, value of electricity, interconnection policies and how these impact economic return.
ABC program users can watch for new virtual and in-person training workshops and Q&A sessions to be scheduled on the CAP website.
Producers are encouraged to ask questions about making the best use of the ABC program for their operation and share feedback about the financial management tool during these virtual meetings.
The Agricultural Land Management Quarterly webinars address common management issues for Nebraska landowners, ag operators and related stakeholders. To review historical land management webinars, visit the Center for Ag Profitability.
The May webinar examines the latest average cash rental rates in the state and offers insight on adjusting rental rates considering high commodity prices this year.
The webinar features discussion about FSA drought assistance programs by Pat Lechner, Nebraska FSA price support, conservation and environmental programs chief, Ben Henrink, Nebraska FSA farm loan program specialist, Brad Lubben, Nebraska Extension policy specialist, and Shannon Sand, Nebraska Extension agricultural economist.
This webinar reviews how to apply for key drought assistance programs, and discusses drought disaster designations, the FSA emergency loan program, and management principles and recordkeeping needs for producers under drought conditions.
The videos discuss topics relevant to landlords and tenants and their accompanying leasing considerations, including crop residue, hunting rights, pasture leases and using manure on cropland.
Nebraska Extension recommendations on minimizing crop injury from anhydrous ammonia applications.
Whether cereal plant forages are grazed out, hayed or harvested as wheatlage this year, the goal is to timely plant subsequent summer annuals between mid-May to mid-June for optimizing yields.
This week — Recommendations for producers considering wheat for forage, including varieties and planting timelines for summer annual grasses, plus tips on control measures for poison hemlock.
Figure 1. Adult and small- to medium-sized larvae of the alfalfa weevil. (Photo by Julie Peterson)
Alfalfa weevil larvae have emerged in southeast, south-central and central Nebraska; scouting for this pest is crucial for alfalfa producers over the next few weeks.
