July 19, 2013

Irrigation Management

• Using Your Irrigation Flow Meter for Better Decision Making. A new CropWatch Web app for irrigation can help you track seasonal and multi-year water use and evaluate pumping plant performance.

Pest Management

• Avoid Insurance Applications of Insecticides in Corn and Soybeans. Banks grass mites have recently been reported in central and western Nebraska and two-spotted spider mites are in Gage County. Control options should consider the value of natural predators.
• Hail and Fungicides Update (Iowa State University). If your crop was recently damaged by hail, a fungicide treatment may help protect wounded plants from fungal diseases and potential yield loss.

Weather

• State Climatologist:  Nebraskans May Have to Prepare for Dry Rest of the Summer (Links to IANR News). Earlier rains were good for topsoil, but soil moisture is lacking at deeper levels.

Alfalfa & Hay Production

• Why Did Some 1st Cutting Alfalfa Test so Low This Year?
• Tips for Harvesting Summer Annual Grasses for Hay. Cut it early, cut it high, and crimp it

Market Journal

• Speakers, Field Visits Examine Soybean Aphids, Goss's WIlt, and Gray Leaf Spot

IANR & Extension Programs

• Herbicide-Resistant Weed Field Days August 6-7.  Learn now how to can counter this potentially devastating development.
• August Field Days on Identifying and Managing SCN. It's estimated that Nebraska soybean growers lost over $45 million due to soybean cyst nematode damage last year.

Field Reports

• USDA NASS: 70% of Topsoil and 75% of Subsoil Moisture Short to Very Short (July 22, 2013)
• USDA NASS:  Soybean Progress Near Average; Corn Silking Lags (July 15, 2013)
• FSA-Approved Counties for CRP Emergency Haying and Grazing