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 → 
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 → 
Winter wheat variety selection is one of the first key management decisions that you make each year as a wheat farmer in southeast Nebraska. The three-year average yield difference in currently planted varieties evaluated at the University of Nebraska Jefferson County trial is 12 bushels per acre. I consider southeast Nebraska to include the 23 […] 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 → 
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 →