Water Resources

Figure 1. The Nebraska Statewide Groundwater-Level Monitoring Report shows groundwater-level changes in Nebraska from spring 2016 to spring 2017.

Nebraska Continues To See Modest Groundwater Decline March 15, 2018

Based on tests in 5,200 water wells across the state, Nebraska has seen a modest decline in groundwater levels in the last five years. A new university report tracks well levels in 1-year, 5-year, 10-year, and pre-irrigation increments to identify trends.

Cover of new Extension publication, Foliar Fungicide Use in Soybean

New Publications from Nebraska Extension August 3, 2017

New agricultural publications from Nebraska Extension include ones on fungicides for soybeans, a primer on cover crops, on-farm research results, agriculture in the Nebraska Panhandle, and ones on estimating soil water deep percolation or run-off.

Center pivot irrigation of soybean — The online tool SoyWater can aid in staging crop growth stage of soybeans and scheduling irrigations at the right time for maximum efficiency and impact. ons and make the ones you do apply more efficient.

Using SoyWater to Schedule Irrigation and Monitor Soybean Stages to Guide Decision-Making June 26, 2017

SoyWater is an online tool that, based on the information you input, can provide timely, field-specific irrigation recommendations to increase irrigation efficiency.

Snowy Moutain Range in Wyoming — Figure 1. Old Main peak in the Snowy Mountain range in south-central Wyoming. (Photos by Gary Stone)

North Platte River Basin Water Update June 1, 2017

After good precipitation over the winter and spring, most of the reservoirs in the North Platte River basin in Wyoming are at or near capacity with more snowmelt/runoff still expected.

Water flowing at Pathfinder Dam — Figure 1. Pathfinder Dam and Fremont Canyon on the North Platte River in Wyoming

North Platte River Water Update — US Bureau of Reclamation April 21, 2017

North Platte River water operations and deliveries are expected to be normal for the 2017 growing season with an expected demand of 1.1 million acre-feet, according to a US Bureau of Reclamation forecast presented at the University of Nebraska Panhandle Research and Extension Center in Scottsbluff April 19.

Pathfinder Reservoir Dam Overflow photo by Gary Stone — Figure 1. Overflow from Pathfinder Dam in Wyoming, part of the North Platte River Reservoir system. (Photo by Gary Stone)

Status of North Platte River Water Reservoirs February 14, 2017

I usually start reporting on river flows and water reservoirs affecting western Nebraska in early May, but with recent national news about the spillway at the Oroville Dam in California, you may be wondering about the status of snowpack water content and the reservoir levels along the North Platte River in Wyoming.

Learn how to improve irrigation efficiency through new technologies and tools at the Sept. 8 Technologies for Irrigation Management Field Day near Elgin.

Technologies for Irrigation Management Field Day Sept. 8 August 24, 2016

Nebraska Extension and MidPlains Ag are collaborating on a Technologies for Irrigation Management Field Day near Elgin on Thursday, Sept. 8.

Corn leaf rolling — Figure 1. One indicator of heat stress is when corn leaves roll in the early morning in areas where there is adequate soil moisture.

Impacts of Extreme Heat Stress and Increased Soil Temperature on Plant Growth and Development June 21, 2016

Both corn and soybean are susceptible to extreme heat (and water) stress during early vegetative stages as well as later critical growth stages (pollination for corn and flowering for soybean). Extreme heat stress can reduce plant photosynthetic and transpiration efficiencies and negatively impact plant root development, which collectively can negatively impact yield. The author recommends that during an extended heat wave (air temperature equal to or greater than 90 F for 7-10 days), applying 0.25-0.40 inch of water can be very beneficial.