Randy Pryor - Extension Educator

Randy Pryor

306 W 3rd St., Box 978
Wilber NE 68465-0978
402-821-2151
Email: randy.pryor@unl.edu
Twitter: @Pryor_Knowledge

Expertise in cropping systems, no-till farming, carbon payments in agriculture, farm management, new technologies in irrigation water management, manure nutrient management and wind farm leases in Nebraska. Pryor also works in the 4-H youth development program and community development issues.

Photos of two very different eastern Nebraska wheat fields
Figure 1. Photos of both of these eastern Nebraska wheat fields were taken June 16, 2018 and show the contrast between wheat grown in Thayer County (left) in southeast Nebraska where precipitation was much below normal and a field in Washington County in east central Nebraska where there was sufficient soil mosture throughout the season. (Photos by Brad Heinrichs (left) and Nathan Mueller)

Recap of 2017-18 Eastern Nebraska Winter Wheat Crop

July 25, 2018
Winter wheat yields in eastern Nebraska were quite variable in 2018, ranging from 10 to 80 bu/ac, depending on precipitation. This review of the growing season examines some of the factors affecting yields in southeast, east central, and northeast Nebraska.

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Palmer amaranth
Figure 1. Palmer amaranth curling within a week of spraying a postemergence dicamba product to corn. (Photo by Jenny Rees)

Considerations for Postemergence Dicamba-based Herbicide Applications to Corn

May 31, 2018
With postemergence herbicide applications occurring to corn, consider these best management practices to improve results and reduce the potential for off-target injury from your dicamba application.

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ETgage

Take Time to Set Up Nebraska Ag Water Management Equipment

May 23, 2018
As you finish planting, consider installing ETgages and soil moisture sensors before crop roots interfere. Then join the hundreds of farmers contributing their data each week to the Nebraska Agricultural Water Management Network, a valuable tool for managing your crop.

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Field of winter wheat
Figure 1. Field of winter wheat seeded at the recommended time. (Photo by Bob Klein, taken April 12, 2018)

Winter Wheat Progress Across the State

April 26, 2018
Winter wheat in the Nebraska Panhandle continues to be rated above average with most of the wheat rated good to excellent. Winter wheat in the west central, south central, and eastern areas is more varied, as described in this wheat progress and condition report.

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Maximum daily temperature and humdity recorded at Harvard in June 2017
Maximum daily temperature and humdity recorded at Harvard in June 2017

Potential Off-Target Dicamba Movement from Corn Applications

February 15, 2018
While the new soybean dicamba herbicides were often blamed for injury to sensitive plants in 2017, a deeper look at the timing of injury and the weather conditions at those times suggests dicamba applications in corn may have contributed to plant injury in many areas. Increased management for all dicamba applications will be needed in 2018.

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An eastern Nebraska field with dicamba injury.
This eastern Nebraska soybean field was injured by off-target dicamba movement to a sensitive crop. Applying best management practices to all dicamba applications can help reduce the likelihood of similar whole-field damage in 2018.

Can We Manage Dicamba Applications in 2018?

February 15, 2018
Factors leading to dicamba injury and how growers will need to practice best management practices with all dicamba applications in 2018 to help reduce injury to susceptible crops and other plants. This article discusses key practices to implement.

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Sprayer hose test

Removing Dicamba Residues from Your Sprayer: A Tricky Task

February 15, 2018
Thoroughly cleaning your sprayer both before and after applying dicamba is required and can help reduce the potential for off-target damage. Check these recommended practices and see what research at Mississippi State University found when testing sprayer hoses.

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Adjusting the combine feeder house chain with green soybeans can help optimize harvest.

Equipment Adjustments for Harvesting Soybeans at 13%-15% Moisture

September 15, 2017
When harvesting higher moisture soybeans, adjustments to your combine and your practices can help minimize challenges in the field, making it easier to achieve a recommended average soil moisture level of 13%.

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