Late Season Must-Do's

By Robert Klein, Extension Western Nebraska Crops Specialist

Use this time to evaluate production practices used and plan for next year’s crop.

1. Evaluate stalks and stems to determine if fields need to be harvested early to reduce losses. Identify elevators that will take high moisture corn, etc., if necessary.
2. Scout for weeds. Do you need pre-harvest treatments? Check the labels of herbicides you plan to use so they do not prevent the following crop or cover crop.
3. Evaluate your weed management program. Would a fall or early spring treatment benefit your program? Use the Guide to Weed, Disease, and Insect Management in Nebraska (Nebraska Extension EC130) to select the best treatment.
4. Evaluate hybrids and varieties to determine which ones to plant next year. Be careful of selecting all hybrids and varieties with same genetics.
5. Take advantage of early season discounts on seed. Make sure that your herbicide selection will not prevent your crop selection.
6. Take soil samples, both surface and deep samples, keeping samples from the problem areas separate so they can be addressed differently, if necessary. Sample at 0 to 8 inches for top soil and 8 to 18 inches and 18 to 36 inches for sub soil. (This works well with an 18-inch tube and 36-inch probe.)
7. Make notes of items which can improve your crop production program. Compare your costs to the Nebraska Crop Budgets. These budgets will usually place you in the low one-third cost per bushel or unit of crop production.