What do you think about when you hear or read the word weather? In my role as an agronomist or more specifically as the Water and Integrated Cropping Systems Extension Educator for the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, I think of complexity and integration. Of the over 500 stakeholder calls I have received this year, weather or […] 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 → 
Crop scouting in late August often will not result in immediate management decisions. However, taking notes on what you observe now can provide valuable information moving in to harvest and confirm or reprioritize agronomic goals for next year. There are many things to take note of and questions to ask. What diseases are the most […] 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. Over the past 15 years widespread FHB epidemics occurred in Nebraska in 2007, 2008, 2015, and 2019. Southeast Nebraska is particularly prone to FHB issues. In addition […] Continue reading → 
Many factors affect corn growth and development, especially early in the growing season. A common question this time of year after corn is planted and some fields have emerged whiles other have not is “How many Growing Degree Days (GDD) does it take for my corn to emerge?” Since corn emergence is directly related to […] Continue reading → 
Corn Overall, the corn crop was in pretty could shape. Growth stages ranged from V6 to V10 (page 141 in 2019 pocket guide) and ranged in height from 18″ to 30″ tall (Figure 1). Many irrigated fields had plant populations ranging in the low 30s (Figure 2) while rainfed stands ranged throughout the 20s. The […] Continue reading → 
Weekly highlights and resources for producing winter wheat in eastern Nebraska. Pictures submitted in June by eastern Nebraska wheat growers and agronomist in Jefferson (UNL variety trial) and Saline counties. Email me to have your wheat picture featured next week! Weather Drought Monitor in eastern Nebraska: Abnormally dry areas in east central and southern Nebraska remain, but some […] Continue reading →