It is that time of year when Japanese beetles (Figure 1), grasshoppers, or various caterpillars consume the soybean leaf canopy. It is very easy to overestimate the amount of defoliation that has occurred. Many do not like scouting several locations within a field this time of year either but is it important. We should tolerate […] Continue reading → 
The University of Nebraska Lincoln’s Center for Agricultural Profitability has scheduled training workshops for July and August for its new online Agricultural Budget Calculator program. A workshop in Beatrice has been scheduled for Tuesday, July 12 at the Gage County Extension Office Meeting Room, 1115 West Scott, Beatrice, from 1-3 p.m. Other workshop locations scheduled […] Continue reading → 
The Lower Big Blue Natural Resource District (NRD), in partnership with Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy (NDEE) and Nebraska Extension would like to notify landowners in Turkey Creek watershed that applications for conservation work are now being accepted. Turkey Creek is one of two priority watersheds through the National […] Continue reading → 
Following some issues with aphids and alfalfa weevil prior to first cutting, we now are moving on to a second major insect pest in alfalfa prior to second cutting and beyond, the potato leafhopper. Last year on June 15, we found potato leafhoppers using a sweep net during a site visit in Gage County on […] Continue reading → 
With the hail storms last night in Saline, Jefferson, and Gage counties, I wanted to remind or introduce you all to resources for crop producers developed by Nebraska Extension. I was part of a team after the 2014 hail storms to create a set of hail-related resources for farmers. A website, videos, and infographics were […] Continue reading → 
Fusarium head blight (FHB), also called head scab, is a fungal disease that infects wheat during flowering, which typically occurs between mid-May to early June in this area. This year, early maturity varieties and earlier planted winter wheat fields started heading on May 15 and likely will be flowering by May 21. Over the past […] Continue reading → 
As spring is here, I wanted to remind farmers and agronomists about guides and tools available at your local Extension offices in Saline, Jefferson, and Gage counties. Our local extension offices are open to the public for walk-ins at the following locations and hours: Wilber at 306 W 3rd St, open weekdays from 8:00 am […] Continue reading →