As a reminder, you need to plan ahead to plant alfalfa in regards to herbicide rotation restrictions and soil pH management, so read my blog post from Fall of 2023 at https://croptechcafe.org/plan-ahead-to-plant-alfalfa/. After corn and soybeans, alfalfa is the most grown crop in southeast Nebraska. Based on satellite imagery and crop reflectance, USDA CropScape estimated […] Continue reading → 
Learn about several hot topics from university and industry experts at Nebraska Extension’s “Successful Farmer Series.” Sessions will be held on Thursdays, Nov. 30, Dec. 7 and Jan. 4 at the Nebraska Extension in Lancaster County conference rooms, 444 Cherrycreek Road, Suite A, Lincoln. Each session will also be livestreamed and archived on YouTube. All […] 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? What impact will cutting alfalfa during this ongoing drought have this fall? The answers to these questions can help you make an informed decision on whether to take another cutting of alfalfa […] Continue reading → 
Southeast Nebraska farmers and crop consultants can sharpen their management strategies for the third and fourth most grown crops at the 3rd annual Southeast Nebraska Alfalfa & Wheat Expo. Hosts and Nebraska Extension Water & Cropping Systems Educators, Nathan Mueller and John Nelson, and Nebraska Extension Livestock Systems Educator, Connor Biehler advocate for more diverse […] 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 → 
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 →