It is that time of year when Japanese beetles, grasshoppers, or various caterpillars consume the soybean leaf canopy. It is very easy to overestimate the amount of defoliation that has occurred, and many do not like walking and scouting soybeans this time of year. We should tolerate some low level of defoliation simply because there […] Continue reading → 
In Kansas and Nebraska, I remember seeing several corn fields with severe potassium deficiency symptoms in 2012. Unfortunately, this June I have confirmed one field in Gage County and observed several others in the area with potassium deficiency. Along with many other agronomic challenges during a drought, potassium deficiency in corn is one of them. […] Continue reading → 
The U.S. Drought Monitor map shows parts of the U.S. that are in drought, how intense it is, and short-term and long-term impacts. As the Water & Cropping Systems Extension Educator for Gage, Jefferson, and Saline counties, I contribute reports for this area directly to the weekly authors in Nebraska through our internal Nebraska drought […] Continue reading → 
Nebraska Extension has numerous field days that agronomists, conservationists, and farmers can attend during the summer across the state. Locally, we have two upcoming regional field days at the end of June and early July. Please learn more about each of the field days and consider attending. First up is our Weed Management Field Day […] Continue reading → 
When: Thursday morning, June 8, 2023 from 9:00 – 11:30 am Location: 1/4 mile west of Wehling Family Farms, 70397 581 Ave, Diller NE, 68342. GPS: 40.030166°, -96.939897° Driving Directions: From Diller, head south on Highway 103 for 4 miles. Go one mile south of Hwy 8 on 581st Ave (1 mile south of Hwy 8 and 103), turn west on 704th Road, […] Continue reading → 
Due to the dry weather, early season fungal diseases were low or not even present, i.e., no reports of stripe and leaf rust (view reports/map and take the survey yourself at https://cropwatch.unl.edu/plantdisease/wheat). I did not recommend a fungicide application prior to flowering this season, save the application and product cost. However, dependent on the near-term […] Continue reading → 
When weather and workload does not permit the application of preemergence herbicides prior to planting, there are options. Some preemergence herbicides are labeled for broadcast application after corn and soybean emergence without injury. Additionally, early post-crop emergence herbicide applications including these herbicides are beneficial for controlling weed species with extended emergence (e.g., waterhemp and Palmer […] Continue reading → 