Persistent wet weather in the early growing season set the scene for corn diseases to flourish. This article provides guidance on using foliar fungicides to mitigate loss, regarding application timing, disease history, crop stage and weather impacts.
Black dust from common bunt rises behind a combine during winter wheat harvest. (Photo by John Thomas)
Common bunt in winter wheat can be avoided by using certified seed, treating seeds with fungicide, and practicing crop rotation and field sanitation. These strategies are crucial to avoid infection and maintain healthy, productive wheat crops.
All growers in the study applied their last irrigation event during the past week. Get a closer look at their total irrigation season data in this update for Week 6.
Forage Production
Pastures are only one of the feed sources producers use for livestock. (Photo by Chabella Guzman)
Extension insights on forages to plant after wheat harvest in western Nebraska, where low rainfall and cool-season pasture decline is an obstacle for producers needing fall forage.
Certain silage inoculants can significantly improve the aerobic stability of silage by reducing spoilage when it's re-exposed to air, making them especially useful for large silage piles or bunkers that are difficult to keep fresh.
Extension educators highlight the importance of using the right inoculants and storage methods for corn silage to improve fermentation, reduce spoilage and maintain feed quality.
Extension Events
Checking on results from soil probes in the field are Homnath Ghimire, intern ( left), Dr. Mohamed Khalil, Nebraska Extension faculty, and graduate student Sujani De Silva. (Photo by Chabella Guzman)
Attendance is free for the tours, which will feature presentations by UNL researchers on alternative crop production, nutrient management for sugarbeets and dry beans, university irrigation studies and more.
Crop Reports
Historical crop progress data for Nebraska is available at USDA.
Nationwide, corn production is down by 1% from 2023, but soybean growers are expected to have a record-setting season, with the current yield forecast at 4.59 billion bushels.
Extension Weed Management Specialist Amit Jhala explains the process of controlling Palmer amaranth in post-emergence soybean with sequentially applied residual herbicides.
Options for post-emergence control of Palmer amaranth in corn.
IANR/Extension
A team led by Nebraska's James Schnable has received federal funding to expand the development of an innovative method to predict the performance of corn hybrids. The work is an important step toward commercializing new crop varieties. (Photo by Craig Chandler, University Communication and Marketing)
The research team's efforts could lead to innovations that significantly streamline the process of breeding and commercializing high-yield, resilient corn varieties, which is crucial for meeting global food demands.
Franz inspects one of the cosmic ray neutron sensors at the Eastern Nebraska Research, Extension and Education Center. The sensors' readings indicate soil moisture levels. Solar flares, such as those that produced the auroras in Nebraska on May 10-11, trigger electromagnetic interference in the sensors' readings. UNL has taken steps to correct the distortions and ensure data reliability. (Photo by Craig Chandler, University Communication and Marketing)
UNL has installed a neutron monitor — the third of its kind in the U.S. — to improve the accuracy of soil moisture readings by correcting data affected by solar activity, which is crucial for agriculture and climate monitoring.
The 109th Annual Meeting and Professional Improvement Conference of the National Association of County Agriculture Agents recognized four Nebraska Extension professionals with national awards. (IANR News photo)
Chances are good for several rounds of rainfall to hit Nebraska next week, to be followed by a dry spell and some intense heat during the last week of August.
Land Management
Attendees of this workshop will have the chance to get their leasing questions answered by experts. See details below. (Submitted photo)
A series of workshops throughout August and early September will equip landlords, tenants, and other stakeholders with valuable knowledge and tools for managing agricultural leases and planning for the future.
Farm families who decide to gift a portion of the business to heirs should weigh the options carefully — gifting shares during life may reduce the donor's tax liability but could also lower their income, whereas transferring ownership at death allows heirs to benefit from a step-up in the asset's tax basis, potentially reducing capital gains taxes. (CAP photo)
The next installment of a series on bringing family members into an agricultural operation, this article focuses on the pros and cons of gifting shares of a business during the donor's life versus at their death.
AgNews
Historical ag land values for Nebraska are available at USDA.
Nebraska's farm real estate value is up $260 per acre (7%) from last year.
Of all farm and ranch expenditures for Nebraska in 2023, the livestock expense category was the leading expenditure at $168,667 per operation — 5.72 times the national average.
Livestock expenses increased 11% in 2023 and accounted for 27% of Nebraska's total production expenditures.
In Case You Missed It...
Many irrigators apply more water than necessary toward the end of the irrigation season because the crop is using less water per day. To mitigate losses, calculate the amount of water needed from rain and irrigation for the crop to reach maturity starting in early August.
The last few irrigations of the season require careful consideration. An unneeded irrigation can waste several inches of water and gallons of diesel fuel, and leaves little room in the soil profile to capture winter/spring rains.
Nebraska Extension Educator Jenny Rees (center right, holding corn plant) shares her insights during a past Nebraska Corn and Soybean Clinic. (ENREEC photo)
At this month's extension clinics on soil health, and corn and soybean production, participants will view a wide range of cover crops and a “growing season” all in one place, with hands-on interaction and field demos.
The West Central Research, Extension and Education Center is scheduled for 8:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 5. Attendance is free, but participants are encouraged to register for meal planning purposes.
West Central Research, Extension and Education Center's 2024 field day will feature keynote speaker Dale Strickler, a Kansas-based ag consultant with more than 30 years of experience in agronomy, pasture management, and soil and crop advising.
