Irrigation

Cattle stand in pasture below thunderstorm
Despite their resiliency, perennial forages can experience significant yield loss from hailstorms. Damage assessment and timing are key to the recovery process for pastures and hay fields.

Pasture and Forage Minute: Hail Damage to Pasture and Hay, Alfalfa Irrigation After a Wet Spring

June 11, 2024
Extension recommendations on reducing the risk of toxic plant consumption for grazing animals, hail damage recovery for pasture and hay fields, and summer alfalfa irrigation following a wet spring.

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Water droplets

To receive 2024 weekly crop water use reports via text message, subscribe on the PHREC AgLab site.

Estimated Crop Water Use for June 10-14, 2024

June 10, 2024
Nebraska Extension Educator Gary Stone shares an update on Panhandle crop planting and growth with this week's crop water report.

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Water droplets

To receive 2024 weekly crop water use reports via text message, subscribe on the PHREC AgLab site.

Estimated Crop Water Use for June 3-9, 2024

June 3, 2024
This week's crop water use estimates and insights from Gary Stone, Nebraska Extension educator, on planting dry edible beans as temperatures begin to climb toward summer.

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Man holds cable reel above water well
Aaron Young, a survey geologist with the Conservation and Survey Division, performs maintenance on a water well. (Courtesy photo)

Nebraska Groundwater Levels Continue Decline After Prolonged Drought

May 9, 2024
Below-average precipitation and an increased need for irrigation have led to groundwater level declines of more than 20 feet at some locations in Nebraska.

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Alfalfa field irrigated by center pivot
Early season irrigation linked with first cutting alfalfa can potentially lower water use sharply, as transpiration is lower when the leaf foliage is removed.

Pasture and Forage Minute: Early Season Irrigation, Controlling Alfalfa Weevil

April 23, 2024
This week, extension educators discuss strategies for early season irrigation of alfalfa to lower seasonal water use, controlling alfalfa weevil and flash grazing in spring to mitigate early pasture weeds.

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UNL-TAPS: Reflections on Seven Years of Irrigation and Nitrogen Management

April 11, 2024
Extension insights on the year-to-year variability in corn yield response to irrigation and nitrogen (N) fertilizer rates throughout seven years of the TAPS sprinkler irrigated corn competition.

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Pathfinder Dam as water rushes
The Pathfinder Dam overflows in 2016. Reclamation will release water over the dam in years with abundant rainfall. (Photo by Gary Stone)

Nebraska Extension Hosts Yonts Water Conference in April

March 29, 2024
This year's Yonts Water Conference will include insights on new irrigation technologies, 2024 weather and basin runoff outlooks, plus an update on the Goshen/Gering-Fort Laramie canal tunnel replacements.

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Center pivot running over field
A center-pivot irrigation system waters a cornfield near Adams, Nebraska, about 45 minutes south of Lincoln. (Photo by Craig Chandler, University Communication and Marketing)

Husker Study Finds Aquifer Depletion Threatens Crop Yields

February 1, 2024
Researchers involved in this study found that an aquifer’s depletion can curb crop yields even when it appears saturated enough to meet irrigation demands, and yield losses intensify when an aquifer drops below certain thresholds.

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