As rains abated in some areas this week, low-lying, saturated fields such as this one in Dodge County, drained off.

 

Nathan Mueller, Extension Educator in Dodge County: The water level in the Fremont Cutoff Ditch dropped enough after the June 20 rain to start draining lower-lying fields. However, corn and soybeans on well-drained fields in the Platte River bottom look good with corn reaching the 11-collar growth stage and soybeans blooming (R1 growth stage). The stunting and yellowing of corn from saturated soils devoid of enough oxygen for root respiration that we are observing will have some season-long effects on yield potential; however, "Platte Valley Yellows" or iron deficiency chlorosis in soybeans are being amplified by the wet conditions and may be elevated with a drier weather pattern.  Read more… in Mueller's Crop Tech Café blog. (June 26, 2014)

Wayne Ohnesorg, Extension Educator in Madison County: Parts of the area have had over 12 inches of precipitation since June 1. A lot of producers are now trying to replace nitrogen that has been lost. The basis for replacement has been either the color of the corn or the texture of the soil. Soil erosion is becoming evident on fields with steeper slopes. There has been standing water in some bottom ground and long enough that the crops are showing signs of stress. Otherwise crops are looking good if they haven't been hit by hail or tornadoes.  (June 24, 2014)

Charles Shapiro, Extension Soils Scientist, Haskell Ag Lab, Concord:  Wind/water damage is severe where the tornados hit.  Regrowth on Saturday from last Monday's storm shows new soybean leaves in the leaf axils, but the stems are pretty bruised and that is the big unknown. The question of the day was do you leave 60-70K plants with unknown bruising and some uneven stands, or replant. (June 24, 2014)

Julie Peterson, Extension Entomologist, West Central REC in North Platte: We had hail damage in the Brule (Keith County) area last week. Our research farm sustained heavy damage at the northern pivots, and less severe damage at the southern pivots.  Using soil floats with salty water and drying out corn roots over top of a pan of water, we collected several 1st instar larvae of the (presumably western) corn rootworm last week. We saw two to three larvae per five corn plants from irrigated, continuous corn fields that have been specifically chosen for having a history of high rootworm pressure in Perkins County. It appears that rootworm egg hatch has commenced in our area. Within the last two weeks, a lot of the alfalfa fields around North Platte have been cut. False chinch bugs are abundant in North Platte and people are calling in with nuisance concerns. (June 24, 2014)

Tyler Williams, Extension Educator in Phelps and Gosper Counties: We are very wet like many others in the state.  Before it started raining this morning, we were at 7 inches so far this month in Holdrege.  Over the last couple weeks, wind and very large hail hit the southern portions of both Phelps and Gosper Counties, as well as portions in southeast and northwest Phelps County.  Many other areas saw smaller hail that only stripped the leaves.  Some farmers were able to replant soybeans late last week, but recent rain has all but diminished any more plans for planting soybeans.  The pastures and crops that were able to dodge the storms look good and things are looking lush.  A full soil profile heading into July is something that has been scarce around here for a few years, so the lake will be full of farmers next weekend. (June 24, 2014)