Alfalfa is the third-most grown crop in Saline, Jefferson, and Gage counties with approximately 16,500 acres. Given the current drought and hay price, I expect demand for alfalfa to remain strong. Protecting your fields from insect damage will be important. Last year, I received my first call on April 30 about alfalfa weevil and the […] Continue reading → 
After corn and soybeans, alfalfa is the most grown crop in Saline, Jefferson, and Gage counties. Based on satellite imagery and crop reflectance, USDA CropScape estimated there was approximately 16,500 acres of alfalfa growing in the summer of 2021 in Saline, Jefferson, and Gage counties. Assuming farmers maintain alfalfa stands for 5 to 7 years, […] Continue reading → 
The 2022 Eastern Nebraska Soil Health Conference (merger of two previous conferences, the Nebraska Cover Crop Conference and Southeast Nebraska Soil Health Conference) will provide information to farmers who are just getting started with cover crops and other soil health practices and to those who are already making soil health part of their farm operation plan. Register […] Continue reading → 
The University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s Center for Grassland Studies will host an open house at the Dalbey Prairie on Sept. 29, starting at 10 a.m. and ending with a noon luncheon. The open house will take place in a fully in-person format. The Dalbey Section, comprised of 640 acres, near Virginia, Nebraska was given to the […] Continue reading → 
What risks are there for cutting alfalfa in the fall? When and how long is the alfalfa fall resting period or winterizing period? The answers to these questions can help you make an informed decision on whether to take another cutting of alfalfa in 2021. When and how long is the alfalfa fall resting period? […] Continue reading → 
Southeast Nebraska farmers can sharpen their management strategies for the third and fourth most grown crops in the region at the inaugural 2021 Southeast Nebraska Alfalfa and Wheat Expo. Hosts and local Water & Integrating Cropping Systems Extension Educators, Nathan Mueller, Gary Lesoing, and Melissa Bartels said more diverse crop rotations are both underutilized and undervalued. […] Continue reading → 
WINTER SURVIVAL IN ALFALFA Whether you planed it originally or held off due to dry conditions in the fall, the time for spring planting alfalfa is just around the corner. Selecting the right seed is crucial, and two traits to consider are fall dormancy and winter survival. These traits are often treated the same, but […] Continue reading →