Alternative Crops

Three women stand in field of mint plants — The spearmint plots at PREEC in Scottsbluff were harvested on Oct. 9, 2023, by UNL students Kasun Lakmini, left, Piumi Ishara, and Sujani De Silva. (Photo by Chabella Guzman)

Nebraska Extension Projects Look at Viability and Economics of Mint in Panhandle

July 2, 2024

UNL researchers are investigating the crop's ability to produce favorable yields in the Panhandle's semi-arid climate, with continued focus on determining an optimum fertilizer and application rate for mint production.

Sawfly traps in field — Sawfly traps without the nets stand in wheat fields at the High Plains Ag Lab near Sidney. The traps are part of ongoing research on the wheat stem sawfly. (Photo by Chabella Guzman)

High Plains Ag Lab Meeting to Focus on Research Updates

February 12, 2024

The Feb. 15 meeting will include updates on HPAL winter wheat fertility research and alternative crops breeding, wheat stem sawfly initiatives, TAPS wheat contest results, commodity marketing, HPAL 2022 crop production review and more.

Aerial view of research plots — A view of some of the research plots surrounding the Panhandle Research, Extension and Education Center, taken by a drone.

Panhandle Center Hosts Field Day Aug. 19

August 5, 2021

The 2021 event will highlight up-to-date research on dry beans, corn, sugarbeets and alternative crops, and include tours of crop research plots and a chance to see new ag technology.

Proso millet field — A pre-pandemic tour of a proso millet variety plots at High Plains Ag Lab near Sidney. After the pandemic, face-to-face field days will be possible again but the variety trial results are always available online as well.

2020 Proso Millet Variety Trial Results Available Online

March 10, 2021

Results of University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s 2020 variety trials for proso millet have been compiled and are now available on CropWatch.

During a research plot tour at the 2019 Panhandle Agricultural Research and Technology Tour (PARTT), Integrated Weed Management Specialist Nevin Lawrence speaks in front of a weed control plot.

Panhandle Center to Host Field Day Aug. 20

July 22, 2020

The University of Nebraska Panhandle Research and Extension Center will partner with the Nebraska Dry Bean Growers Association on August 20 to host the annual Panhandle Agricultural Research and Technology Tour (PARTT). The in-person event will be conducted with social distancing and other precautions to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

A mint variety trial plot at the Panhandle Center.

Alternative Crops Program Investigates Growing Mint in Western Nebraska

March 24, 2020

Mint is not grown commercially in Nebraska on a large scale yet – there are less than 500 acres – but a project at the University of Nebraska Panhandle Research and Extension Center at Scottsbluff is aimed at providing answers about whether farmers could grow it here and which varieties might grow best.

Figure 1. Nevin Lawrence, integrated weed management specialist, shows an individual rubber dandelion plant in the greenhouse at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln's Panhandle Research and Extension Center. (Photos by David Ostdiek)

Can Nebraska Grow Rubber-Producing Dandelions on a Farm Scale?

May 17, 2019

Panhandle researchers are working with those in other states to test agronomic conditions and practices best suited to the production of rubber dandelions. While it's too early to tell, it might be a viable alternative crop one day.

Adoption of Yellow Field Pea: Replacing Summer Fallow with Field Pea and the Relationship between Planting Timing, Population, and Yield

January 9, 2018

How much will yellow field pea affect soil fertility and soil water content when replacing fallow in a wheat-corn-fallow rotation? This article from the 2019 Crop Production Clinic Proceedings.reports on 2018 research to address this question.

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