Nebraska Crop Production & Pest Management Information

The following sections feature information by Nebraska Extension specialists and educators on variety selection, soil fertility, production, pest management, irrigation, harvest, and other topics.

wheat field at sunset
Corn field at sunset

Corn

The Cornhusker State grows corn on more acres than any other crop in Nebraska and ranks third in the nation in production. Nebraska ranks second in production of ethanol and distillers grains — a processing byproduct often used for cattle feed. Slightly more than 55% of the state’s corn acres are irrigated. Considered separately from field corn production, the state’s popcorn industry ranks first in the nation in production.

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Soybean plant closeup

Soybean

Nebraska ranks fifth in the nation in production of soybean, the most widely used oilseed in the world. A legume, it fits well in crop rotations as it returns nitrogen from the atmosphere to the soil for use by the next crop. Much of the state’s crop is used for soybean meal to feed livestock. Approximately half of Nebraska’s soybean acres are irrigated.

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Wheat field at sunset

Wheat

Virtually all of the state’s wheat crop is hard red winter wheat, planted in the fall and harvested the next summer, mostly for processing into flour. As much as 50% of the state’s crop is exported. About 15% of wheat is irrigated. New wheat hybrids are often bred and introduced to production through research at public institutions such as the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, a leader in this work.

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Oat field

Cover Crops

Cover crops are grown across the state, usually to achieve one of two goals: 1) to reduce the potential for soil erosion, enhance soil nutrition, and scavenge fertilizers or 2) to provide a feed source for cattle, which in turn recycles nutrients to the soil.

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Sorghum field

Grain Sorghum

A stalwart grain and silage producer, particularly in limited rainfall or droughty conditions, sorghum is planted on an average of 150,000 acres annually in Nebraska. It is processed for ethanol, food and livestock feed.

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Mature dry beans

Dry Beans

Nebraska is a leading U.S. producer of dry edible beans, consistently ranking first in Great Northern production and in the top five for all dry edible beans, light red kidneys, pintos, black and navy. The state’s production is located in the Panhandle and western Nebraska.

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sugarbeets in field

Sugarbeets

Sugarbeets are grown in western Nebraska under contract with processors. The state generally ranks fifth in the nation in production, averaging more than 1.3 million tons annually. Beets are most often processed for use by the sweetener industry.

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nebraska pasture

Forages

Hay, including haylage and alfalfa, is grown in every county in Nebraska and accounts for more than 2.5 million acres of production annually. As many as four alfalfa cuttings are taken during a season to provide high-quality forage for livestock. A legume, alfalfa helps capture atmospheric nitrogen and return it to the soil.

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Roller Crimper Workshop

Organic

Organic crop and livestock production offers opportunities for growers wanting to diversify their operation while often gaining a higher price for their product.

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sunflower field

Bioenergy Crops

Major Nebraska field crops (corn and soybean) and alternative crops contribute to the state’s bioenergy production. Approximately half of the state’s corn crop goes to ethanol production and soybean contributes to biodiesel production.

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potatoes in field

Potatoes

With 7.4 million hundredweight in production, Nebraska has ranked as high as 10th in the nation for potato production. About one-third of the state's potatoes are processed into potato chips, the remainder being sold to grocery stores or used for seed potatoes.

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UNL wheat variety trial field

Variety Testing

Information on crop varieties and variety testing results, hybrid test plots entry forms, seed guides, and related publications.

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