July 9-10 numerous severe storms with large hail and damaging winds caused significant crop damage in an area of south central and southwest Nebraska. The National Weather Service in Hastings reported hail from 1-1.75 inches, wind gusts up to 85 mph, and crop and property damage. Hail stripped plants and high winds leveled fields just as corn was nearing pollination. (Photo by Ron Seymour)

July 11, 2014

Corn Production

• Begin Scouting for Western Bean Cutworm Eggs in Corn. Moth flight usually peaks in mid-July, use population numbers to guide treatment decisions.
• Nitrogen Uptake in Corn. Learn how to determine nitrogen deficiency in corn.
• Japanese Beetles Emerging; Identification Key to Management (in Corn and Soybeans). Now emerging in southeast and south central Nebraska, this pest is being found in corn and soybeans more frequently than before.

Soybean Production

• Dectes Stem Borer Emerging in Soybeans in south central Nebraska. Treating adults now may not necessarily lower the larval populations that can later cause lodging. 
• Check Fields for Soybean Cyst Nematodes. When scouting corn for insects and disease, take time to also check for SCN. Cysts are usually visible on the roots about one month after emergence.

Storm Damage

• Differentiating Superficial and Deeper Hail Damage. How can you tell how badly damaged corn may be from hail bruising?
• NRD Emergency Crop Damage Disaster Meetings July 17 : 9 a.m., Gibbon; 2 p.m. Bue Hill
• USDA-NRCS Funding to help producers plant cover crops to re-establish vegetative cover lost with extreme weather conditions such as drought, floods, tornado, hail, and high winds.
• More Storm Damage and Recovery Information

Irrigation Management

• UNL Sources of Crop Water Use Information. Daily updates of ET and GDD information for sites across Nebraska are available from several UNL sources.

Insect Management

• Insect light trap numbers from Concord, Clay Center, and North Platte are available at entomology.unl.edu/fldcrops/lightrap.shtml

Forage Production

• Soybeans and Sunflowers as Forage after Wheat

Farm Management

• 2014 Cropland Lease Arrangements in Nebraska. Who's using what type of lease in what part of the state? See results from Farm Real Estate Survey.

Weather Report

• June Precipitation 200%-400% Above Normal. June precipitation ranged from 2-5 inches in the Panhandle to 6-10 inches in central Nebraska to 9-15 inches in northeast Nebraska.

Market Journal

• UNL specialists discuss Controlling Volunteer Corn; Rotating Weed Management Strategies; Forecast for the Week (View videos)

Crop Reports

• Field Reports from Extension  Updates and photos from across the state.
• At 56 Million Bushels, Nebraska's Winter Wheat Harvest Estimate up 42% from 2013. 
• USDA Crops Report: Wheat Harvest Starts

IANR & Extension/AgNews

• Reminder: Register Now for July 17 Midsummer Crop Diagnostic Clinic at ARDC. Topics to include cover crops, use of herbicides for resistant weed management in soybeans; corn hybrid placement, herbicide mode of action, and field diagnosis of symptoms.
• Nebraska Grazing Conference in Kearney to Include Low-Stress Cattle Handling Demo