Alfalfa is the most grown crop in Saline, Jefferson, and Gage counties after corn and soybeans. Based on satellite imagery and crop reflectance, USDA CropScape estimates there was over 18,000 acres of alfalfa growing in 2020 in Saline, Jefferson, and Gage counties. An independent crop consultant, private industry agronomist, and Nebraska Extension (me) found alfalfa weevil (Figure […] Continue reading → 
Planting season can be busy and stressful, so please don’t forget to be safe when handling treated seed and check the seed tag or talk to your seed dealer for specific handling and use directions. Treated seed is another route of exposure for farmers and other handlers, whether this exposure is to fungicide, insecticide, or […] 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 estimates there was over 18,000 acres of alfalfa growing in 2020 in Saline, Jefferson, and Gage counties. Assuming farmers maintain alfalfa stands for 5 to 7 years, there are about […] Continue reading → 
Soybean cyst nematodes (SCN) are a plant-parasitic roundworm that attack soybeans and found in Saline, Jefferson, and Gage counties. The pest is not new or unfamiliar to area farmers and agronomists. However, sometimes we get to comfortable with old issues. As a reminder, SCN is the #1 yield-grabbing pest in U.S. soybean production. Soybean cyst […] Continue reading → 
As spring is nearly here, I wanted to remind farmers and agronomists about resources available from your local Extension offices in Wilber, Fairbury, and Beatrice. Our local extension offices are open to the public for walk-ins. As a reminder, the Extension offices are located in Wilber at 306 W 3rd St, in Fairbury at 517 […] Continue reading → 
Chemigation is the process of applying chemicals to land/crops with water from an irrigation system. Chemical is broadly defined as any fertilizer, herbicide, fungicide, or pesticides mixed with the irrigation water during application. In southeast Nebraska, the most common chemigation process is applying liquid nitrogen fertilizer through a center pivot. Applying nitrogen fertilizer through pivots […] 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 →