Combine in field
In addition to equipment and operational costs, the number of acres to be harvested, time, the availability of good custom operators in your area, and harvest efficiency all contribute to making an economic decision on hiring custom work. (Center for Ag photo)

Harvest Operations: Own It or Hire It?

September 22, 2023
A review of custom rates in 2022 and how to use the Ag Budget Calculator to determine what custom operators may be charging this year.

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Precipitation forecast map

Weekly Weather Update and Outlook: Sept. 21, 2023

September 21, 2023
A preview of precipitation expectations for the rest of September, and insights on how this year's corn maturity timeframe may affect final yields. 

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Spring pea field
Spring pea trials at the UNL High Plains Ag Lab near Sidney, Nebraska. (Photo by Chabella Guzman)

Results for 2023 Nebraska Pea Variety Testing Released

September 21, 2023
The 2023 trials included an assortment of winter and spring peas from ProGene, Meridian Seeds, Seed Ranch and Valesco Genetics.

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Group photo of Ostdiek, Maharjan, Bischoff and Yoder with sign
The Historic Knorr-Holden signboard located near the corn plot north of Scottsbluff was officially unveiled on Aug. 23. (From left) Dave Ostdiek, retired UNL PREEC communications specialist; Bijesh Maharjan, UNL associate professor at PREEC and current plot supervisor; Richard Bischoff, UNL IANR associate vice chancellor; and Ron Yoder, UNL IANR senior associate vice-chancellor.

Unveiling of Historic Knorr-Holden Plot Signboard

September 20, 2023
UNL faculty members recently celebrated the Knorr-Holden Plot's century-long historical value to agricultural research. Located near Scottsbluff, Knorr-Holden is one of the top five-oldest continuous field-crop experiments in the U.S. 

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Tractor in on-farm research field

Growing Results: Direct Harvest of Dry Beans

September 20, 2023
As part of this year's studies, the Nebraska On-Farm Research Network is partnering with Nebraska farmers to evaluate which dry bean varieties are best-suited for direct harvest. 

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Researchers sitting in bean field
Timothy Porch, research geneticist at USDA ARS, left, and Carlos Urrea, Nebraska Extension dry bean breeding specialist, scout a plot of dry beans. (Photo by Chelsea Didinger)

Dry Bean Breeders Collaborate on Climate-savvy Bean

September 19, 2023
Researchers at UNL and USDA ARS in Puerto Rico are collaborating on the development of new drought-tolerance dry bean lines using plant genes from tepary beans, a crop native to the southwest U.S. and Mexico.

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Vesh Raj Thapa stands near soil sample display
Vesh Raj Thapa, UNL post-doctoral research assistant, stands behind root samples from the plots at WREEC in North Platte. (Photo by Chabella Guzman)

Roots, Another Important Aspect of Cover Crops

September 19, 2023
Researchers involved in a UNL-USDA NRCS study on cover crops highlight the importance of species selection, as each type of cover crop has a unique root system that contributes differently to soil health.

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Field day participants inspect an ag drone
A session on drones was held at the annual Water and Crops Field Day at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, West Central Research Extension and Education Center in North Platte. (Photo by Chabella Guzman)

Nebraska Extension Center Preps Ag Producers for Climate-smart Practices

September 19, 2023
The 2023 Water and Crops Field Day featured seminars and panels on crop and livestock production practices that align with USDA's new climate-smart agriculture initiatives.

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