Determining N for Wheat Wheat is coming out of dormancy with many stands below par, causing growers to evaluate how much nitrogen is recommended and profitable. A table helps you determine what's best for your operation.  MORE
Tips for No-till Planting Getting a good field of no-till corn starts with effective planting into all kinds of residue. Learn how to adjust your planter and follow the old rows to get consistent, yield-producing stands. MORE

March 29, 2013

Planting

• No-till Planting Tips for a Dry Year. In a year when soil moisture is short, no-till planting into a residue cover will help you conserve what moisture there is. Planting just off the row, rather than halfway between the rows, can offer minimal residue disturbance and good stand emergence.
• Familiar Cultural Practices (No-till, Crop Rotation) Battling Climate Change. An update on USDA ARS research on the potential climate effects of some often used cultural practices.

Wheat Production

• Will N Applications be Profitable in Winter Wheat in 2013? Spring fertilizer management for 2013 wheat presents bigger challenges than last year due to severely limited precipitation in the last six months. See recommended nitrogen rates for various residual nitrate levels, wheat prices, and the current N price.

Corn Production

• Survey: Corn Populations to be Unchanged for 55% of Respondents.Thanks to all who responded to last week's online survey. See what corn populations growers are planning to use and what's causing some of them to change this year.

Soybean Production

• The Value of Residual Herbicide in Reduced Soybean Stands.The cost of soybean seed is dramatically increasing, and this presentation discusses the interaction and relative importance of residual herbicide versus having extra soybean plants in the canopy.

Forage and Pasture Production

• Planning for Summer Forage Needs, Managing Pasture Problem Spots. Oats may be just the ticket to take advantage of early season moisture and cool temperatures to gain extra forage. See these tips for planting oats and managing your pasture this summer.

Apps

• Nebraska App: UNL Ground Spray Helps Estimate Droplet Size. Input your product and application information to get the droplet size that your sprayer will be producing. This app is based on research data from the wind tunnels at the UNL West Central Research and Extension Center.  

Weed Management

• Sericea Lespedeza Becomes Nebraska's Newest Noxious Weed. Be alert to this threat and initiate control before it gets a chance to spread in your pastures or roadsides.

USDA Reports

• Nebraska Intended Plantings Drop Slightly; Corn Still High. Nebraska's intended corn acres are down 1% from last year, but would be the second largest planting since 1933, according to this week's USDA report. Nebraska corn stocks are down 14%, soybeans are down 42%, and sorghum stocks are down 57% from a year ago.

UNL Extension

• Analyzing Why This Week's USDA Reports Hit the Market. This week's Market Journal looks at the grain stock and intended plantings report, as well as irrigation tune-ups, and more.
• NeATA Ag Technology Presentations Available Online. View slides from 18 presentations made at this year's conference.
• Scholarship Deadline April 1 for UNL Crop Science Camp, where youths dip their toes in scientific research and discovery and learn about the variety of agricultural careers available to them.