Irrigation Management

• Cost-Effective Tools to Improve Irrigation Efficiency. With fuel prices up, commodity prices down, and water restrictions or limits in many parts of the state, consider adding these tools to better manage irrigation timing and amount.
• Soil Moisture Sensor Programs Offered by Nebraska NRDs. Sixteen NRDs offer cost-share programs to buy soil moisture sensor equipment; many also assist with installation and data interpretation for first-time users.
• Nebraska Cost-Share Programs for Irrigation Management Tools. Identify the water management programs offered by locally governed NRDs.

Corn Production

• Do You Need to Boost Your Corn Seeding Rate? A UNL NebGuide suggests that Nebraska producers could increase corn yields by increasing their seeding rates. The numbers: 34,000 for irrigated corn and 24,000 to 30,000 for rainfed corn.
• For western Nebraska rates see the NebGuide Recommended Seeding Rates and Hybrid Selection for Rainfed (Dryland) Corn in Nebraska.

Farm Management

• Nebraska Farmland Values Remain Steady - UNL Cornhusker Economics. Average statewide farmland price at $3,195 per acre, up about 5% from 2013.The overall increase of 25% in 2013 followed increases of 22% and 32% in the two previous years, leaving the 2013 all-land value more than double the value in early 2010. See more in the IANR news release.

Research

• Plan Now for On-Farm Research Projects. Carl and David Sousek of Prague are among the many Nebraska producers to conduct their own on-farm research as part of a statewide UNL Extension program.

Water

• North Platte Basins Report Above Normal Snowpack and Pathfinder Dam in Wyoming adds new weir to increase capacity.

Extension Programs

• No-till Workshop & Planter Demo March 26 in Hastings. Designed for first-time users, it will also be of interest to those wanting to get a refresher on planter adjustments and more.
• Women in Agriculture Conference April 4 in Sidney. "Visualize What's Important to You" will be the theme of this year's conference, loaded with inspirational and educational presentations.