Orchardgrass
With its rapid regrowth rates, orchardgrass is an excellent option to add to a cool-season grass mixture for late summer forage planting.

Pasture and Forage Minute: Valuing Drought Forage, Late Summer Planting, Managing High Nitrates

August 24, 2022
Insights on how forage prices should be adjusted this year for droughty crops, the optimal grasses for late summer forage planting and how to manage high nitrates in forages.

Read more

National temperature rankings

Drought Covers 76% of Nebraska by End of July

August 18, 2022
Sustained heat in the high 90s and 100s combined with below-normal precipitation throughout July led to increased drought stress across Nebraska, with severe implications for pasture and sorghum conditions heading into August. 

Read more

Weekly Agricultural Weather Update — Aug. 17. 2022

August 18, 2022
The current forecast holds a slightly cooler trend for Nebraska in August, with temperatures ranging from the 70s to low 90s through the end of the month and widespread precipitation anticipated Aug. 19-20 and Aug. 24-26.

Read more

Corn silage

Pasture and Forage Minute: Storage Considerations for Corn Silage and Hay

August 17, 2022
Nebraska Extension educators share recommendations on harvesting and storing drought-stressed corn for silage, and the most efficient ways to minimize hay bale weather loss.

Read more

Precipitation map

Weekly Agricultural Weather Update — Aug. 9, 2022

August 11, 2022
Heat is expected to dominate in the central Plains over the next two weeks, and with few precipitation opportunities, further warm-season crop deterioration is anticipated.

Read more

Corn silage
For high quality silage, inoculants alongside proper harvesting and storage can reduce the risk of spoilage and maintain its condition.

Pasture and Forage Minute: Considerations for Inoculants, Thinning and Heat-stressed Alfalfa

August 11, 2022
Extension recommendations on using inoculants to preserve corn silage quality, the best grasses to interseed in alfalfa and timing for cutting alfalfa hay in heat-stressed conditions.

Read more

Departure from normal temps map

Weekly Agricultural Weather Update — Aug. 2, 2022

August 4, 2022
Though high temperatures and minimal precipitation chances are expected to continue through the first 10 days of August, a possible break from the current heat event may develop in the second half of the month.

Read more

Grasshopper in pasture
With grasshopper populations flourishing in dry conditions statewide, the reduced agent/area treatment can be an effective control technique for pastures and rangeland.

Pasture and Forage Minute: Harvesting Drought-stressed Corn and Milo, Controlling Grasshoppers

August 2, 2022
Considerations for harvesting drought-stressed corn or milo, grasshopper control in pastures and rangeland, and taking inventory of fall/winter feed and hay.

Read more