Nebraska CropWatch: Recent Episodes
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Updates on soybean gall midge, southern rust, and a look at the weather for the upcoming week. A break from the heat is coming for the eastern half of the state but how long will it last?
This episode features Damian Mason, host of The Business of Agriculture comes on to talk about why Daylight Savings Time really doesn't have many benefits for agriculture and why year-round DST may actually be more harmful. We then transition into discussing water issues and he offers strong opinions on why #corn is becoming less viable in the High Plains region and how the push for year-round ethanol is only going to make the transition to other less water intense crops more difficult. We also briefly discuss why high property taxes in NE may also be hindering transition to other crops.
summaryThis weekly update covers water testing for private wells, weather forecasts, upcoming storm risks, and drought conditions across Nebraska and surrounding regions. It provides essential insights for farmers, residents, and water resource managers to prepare for weather and environmental challenges.keywordswater testing, Nebraska weather, drought, storm forecast, crop moisture, weather update, Nebraska agriculturekey topics* Water testing recommendations for private wells * Weather forecast and storm risk analysis * Drought status and water deficits in Nebraska * Crop moisture levels and irrigation prospects * Impact of weather patterns on agriculture
Chapters
00:00 Water Testing for Private Wells
02:21 Upcoming Weather Patterns and Predictions
07:37 Moisture and Rainfall Forecasts
12:47 Crop Conditions and Moisture Levels
20:33 Drought Conditions and Impacts
This weather update covers drought designations, USDA loan assistance, recent precipitation, upcoming weather patterns, and drought conditions across Nebraska and the Midwest.
This podcast provides an in-depth update on Nebraska's weather conditions, drought status, and agricultural impacts, emphasizing the critical need for moisture and the severity of ongoing drought and drought-related challenges.
00:00 Introduction and Upcoming Events
00:55 Current Weather Conditions and Forecast
03:46 Severe Weather Outlook
07:07 Drought Conditions in Nebraska
09:59 Impact on Winter Wheat and Agriculture
12:55 Pasture and Forage Conditions
15:40 Evapotranspiration and Soil Moisture
18:09 Conclusion and Future Outlook
Going to be a warm week for us next week with high temperatures generally in the 80's statewide. Scattered storms possible western and southern sections of the state tomorrow but generally dry weather expected through Thursday. Chances of rain return later next week.
This episode covers winter weed control, insect survival in mild winters, drought-resistant crops, and upcoming weather patterns affecting Nebraska. Expert insights help farmers prepare for rapid temperature swings, weather challenges, and innovative crop options.
In this episode of the CropWatch Podcast, Eric Hunt discusses the critical fire danger across Nebraska due to high winds, low humidity, and drought conditions. He emphasizes the need for caution and outlines the upcoming weather changes, including potential snowfall later in the week. The conversation highlights the importance of being aware of fire risks and preparing for changing weather conditions.
In this episode of the CropWatch Podcast, host Eric Hunt discusses critical issues surrounding groundwater and nitrate risk, providing insights from recent research. He also offers a detailed weather forecast for Nebraska, highlighting significant temperature trends, potential storm systems, and the implications of a possible cold snap. The conversation further delves into the current drought conditions affecting the state, emphasizing the need for precipitation to mitigate deficits. The episode concludes with a summary of the week's weather patterns and their impact on agriculture.
Takeaways
The link between management practices and nitrate mobility is crucial.
High nitrogen application rates can lead to groundwater contamination.
Temperatures are expected to be significantly above average next week.
A weak frontal passage may affect temperatures mid-week.
Potential for a cold snap could impact sensitive vegetation.
Drought conditions are worsening across Nebraska.
Precipitation deficits are significant in many areas of the state.
The upcoming storm systems may bring much-needed moisture.
Snowfall later in the month could be beneficial for soil moisture.
The weather patterns indicate a possibility of colder temperatures returning.
Chapters:
00:00 Introduction and Overview of Groundwater Concerns
02:18 Weather Forecast and Temperature Trends
06:26 Upcoming Storm Systems and Temperature Fluctuations
10:39 Potential Cold Snap and Its Implications
14:01 Drought Conditions and Precipitation Deficits
Discussion of global temperatures, ongoing drought concerns, recent cold, and the outlook for the next few weeks through the spring.
Chapters
00:00Introduction and Upcoming Events01:21Current Weather Conditions04:45Drought Conditions in Nebraska08:27Weather Forecast for the Week Ahead14:24Long-Term Weather Outlook
00:00 Introduction to CropWatch Podcast 2026
01:45 Northeast Nebraska Crops Update
02:43 Impact of Recent Rainfall
05:37 Climate Change and Weather Patterns
10:50 Upcoming Weather Forecast and Temperature Changes
14:34 Drought Conditions and Agricultural Implications
Keywords
CropWatch Podcast, Nebraska agriculture, weather updates, climate change, drought conditions, rainfall impact, soybean disease, grain storage, nitrogen reduction, weather forecast
In this conversation, Eric Hunt speaks with Hannah Birgé and Jacob Fritton from the Nature Conservancy about the intersection of agriculture and conservation. They discuss their backgrounds, the changes in farming practices over generations, and the economic challenges farmers face. The conversation dives into the Nature Conservancy's approach to working with farmers, the concept of regenerative agriculture, and the importance of soil health. They also touch on technological advancements in farming, the utilization of data, and the idea of stackable enterprises for income diversification. The discussion concludes with reflections on the hope and concerns surrounding modern agriculture and the importance of collaboration and listening in extension work.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to the Nature Conservancy Team
03:59 Backgrounds and Experiences of the Guests
08:03 The Nature Conservancy's Role in Agriculture
11:55 Economic Hurdles in Conservation Practices
16:59 Understanding Regenerative Agriculture
20:51 Balancing Agriculture and Conservation
25:35 The Technological Evolution of Farming
27:25 Data-Driven Decisions in Agriculture
30:31 Stackable Enterprises: Diversifying Income in Agriculture
35:40 The Role of Global Supply Chains in Agriculture
41:28 Challenges and Opportunities in Modern Agriculture
In this conversation, Eric Hunt discusses recent weather patterns, precipitation deficits, and the implications of La Niña on future weather conditions. He provides insights into drought conditions, snowpack levels, and seasonal weather predictions for the upcoming months, emphasizing the importance of these factors for agricultural planning and crop management.
In this episode, Dr. Ernie Goss (professor of Economics at Creighton) joins to talk about the state of the rural and regional economy, the impact of tariffs, why land is a good investment, why trade is still crucial, and China can play hardball with us more than our neighbors. Ernie ends by discussing the recent closure of the Tyson plant and the unintended consequences of recent political decisions. Ernie also reveals he is the grandson of a Georgia sharecropper and found his way to economics through love of Geography.
In this episode, Karen Braun of Zaner comes on to talk about weather related challenges with the season's corn and soybean crops, what the USDA report showed today on yield and stock numbers, and what China is or more importantly isn't buying in terms of soybean and how that will affect acreage numbers next year.
The 2025 season brought lots of diseases and in this episode we get into the details of the diseases and the weather that favored them.
southernrust #tarspot #Nebraska
In this episode Dr. Scott Irwin, Lawrence J. Norton chair of Agricultural Marketing, offers a history lesson and a very informative update on 45Z and the broader renewable fuels sector. He discusses why the changes in tax credits in the OBBB will be beneficial to ethanol producers but detrimental to SAF. He discusses why ethanol may have a brief resurgence and why hybrid cars are a bigger threat to ethanol than full electric vehicles in the next several years. We finish up with some discussion on carbon intensity scores and Scott discusses why indirect land use charges related to CI scores may make sense in theory but in practice is unfair.
In this #climate stories episode Dr. Sam Childs shares stories about #severeweather from Indiana and Colorado, including a time he had to get his dorm residents at Purdue to safety during a wintertime tornado warning. He then shifts into discussing how we use a #skewT to assess whether the #atmosphere can produce #thunderstorm and why the terms CAPE and CIN are crucial. Finally, he finishes with some discussion about how storms could change with #climatechange.
Storm chances will exist over the next week and it will be hot at times, especially across the southern portion of the state.
The 200th episode of the Crop Watch podcast features a detailed discussion with Kyle Broderick, Tamra Jackson-Ziems, and Dylan Mangel about the diseases affecting our crops and gardens and the treatment options for them.
In the first episode of a new podcast series, Dr. Barb Boustead (local meteorologist) discusses her first book: "Wilder Weather: What Laura Ingalls Wilder Teaches Us About the Weather, Climate, and Protecting What We Cherish". Barb focused on the weather-related hardships that Laura experienced as a child, how those experiences shaped her resilience, how we can use those experiences to prepare us for extreme weather events today, why its important to share stories about past weather events, and ultimately developing the mental framework we will need to protect what we truly cherish in life. Barb's book will be available on July 8th via the South Dakota Historical Press.
In this episode I discuss the upcoming heat wave and details about heavy precipitation next week in the eastern half of the state.
Rain chances statewide starting tomorrow through Monday evening. Best chance at picking up over an inch in the northwest Sand Hills. Severe storms possible tomorrow afternoon in southwest Nebraska. Rain will be more persistent in the western third of the state over the weekend. Eastern section of the state likely to be dry both Saturday and Sunday afternoons/evenings. Rain chances statewide on Memorial Day, though the position of the upper level low will dictate how much rain (if any) falls. Cooler temperatures will be the rule the next several days, though Saturday afternoon may be in the 70's in southeast Nebraska if the sun is out. Warm temperatures likely to return by month's end.
In this episode I discuss the warm/hot, dry, and breezy weather ahead. Fire danger will be elevated through middle of next week, especially western and central NE. Chance of moisture in the Panhandle Tuesday night but most of the state will be dry through the end of next week. Discussed chances for #rain and #storms next weekend but how it may not be enough to offset the deficits we are accumulating this season so far. Drought quickly becoming more of an issue with severe and extreme drought expansion this week.
In this episode Bryce Anderson of DTN joins to talk about the upcoming season. We talk about the demise of La Nina, the status of the Southern Oscillation Index, and how the current phase of the Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO) may be at least partly responsible for the string of warm, dry falls. We took a deep dive into the analog years and how years like 2006 and 2021 may be the best blueprint for this upcoming season.
Severe storms possible this evening in southeast Nebraska and a warm to hot day tomorrow. Cooler, wetter weather this weekend, with the best moisture falling in the northeast quadrant of the state. Snow possible in the Sand Hills and Panhandle. Additional moisture likely mid-week, with rain east and snow/wind possible in western and north central Nebraska. Temperatures generally cooler than average next week and cool/wet may last into the middle of April. Drought improvements in parts of central and eastern Nebraska and some degradation in the southern Panhandle.
In this episode Mike McDonald, farmer in Otoe County and former educator, joins the podcast to talk about his journey from the family farm in Sherman County to his 5-crop rotation farm today. Mike talks about ow a trip to North Dakota in 2011 changed his vision for their farm, the importance of cattle for soil health, his recent experience with biochar and manure, the importance of viewing soil health as not only proper stewardship but also a return on investment. We finished the discussion talking about the challenges and opportunities of carbon markets and the lack of agility in commodity markets.
Update on current drought and soil moisture conditions and outlook for the spring and summer.
In the latest episode of the Weather Ready Farms series Jordan Uldrich, a diversified farmer from Fillmore County near Milligan, dropped by the Hardin Hall podcast studio today. We had a great conversation covering several topics in the area of regenerative agriculture and water quality. As Jordan would say in a recent article he wrote, "It's all about water". How we manage our soils and inputs are critical to ensuring we have water in the future for our crops and our own consumption. Jordan's journey into regnerative agriculture stated in 2021 when he was trying to control a field of weeds and he offers 'GEE' for farmers who are looking to progress into regenerative practices: Goals, Education, and Execution. We also discuss the hindrances farmers face in getting started with regenerative practices and in some of the bigger issues facing agriculture today.
In this episode I discuss the recent historic cold and why we had it. Then move into the forecast for next week, which is much warmer than it has been and a chance for a little moisture midweek. Then I discuss the prospects for moisture in the first half of March and the possibility of it turning colder again in mid-March. Finish up with a few thoughts on the U.S. Drought Monitor.
In this episode, I discuss the possibility of more snow over the next several days and the brutally cold temperatures next week. A thaw is coming before you know it though. Finish up with some thoughts on the most recent U.S. Drought Monitor.
In this episode Landon Larkin, a young farmer from northern Illinois, recent Northern Illinois University graduate and employee of Farmland Stock Exchange, joins the podcast to talk about his love of farming, how Farmland Stock Exchange is helping keep land ownership in the hands of local farmers, and how its approach allows farmers to take the long view of land use management and become more profitable by emphasizing stewardship and regnerative agricultural practices.
The episode starts with some discussion on the possibility southern rust last summer was tied to Hurricane Beryl. Then I move into discussion on why we have been so mild the last week and then delve into the forecast.
In this podcast I discuss the prospects for a mild week ahead, chances for rain and/or snow for parts of the state late next week, and the chance for early February to cold, possibly very cold for parts or all of the state. Also discuss why parts of southwestern Nebraska haven't seen any degradation on the U.S. Drought Monitor even though meaningful precipitation hasn't fallen since before Thanksgiving.
In this episode, I review 2024 temperatures and precipitation across the state and the signal we are seeing from climate change in those stats. I talk about corn yields and a report issued earlier this week by Corteva's Mark Jeschke. Followed up by a summary of the week's weather, including some snow in the western Panhandle later and cold for all of us for the next several days. Finish up with thoughts on possibly getting into a more active pattern toward the end of the month with increased chances for snow.
Brief discussion of 2024 being the warmest on record, recent cold and snowfall (or lack thereof in some places), upcoming cold, and the possibility of a more active pattern opening up later this month into February. I discuss the possibility of drought improvement in the Western Corn Belt this spring and drought getting worse in western Nebraska. Finally I go into the possibility of a hot, dry summer across the region.
In this episode Dr. Tom Hoegemeyer, former CEO Hoegemeyer Seed and professor of practice at UNL, joined today to talk about the history of the Nebraska Soil Health Coalition, the long-term ecological and financial benefits of regenerative agriculture, how much water can be stored in healthy soils, the need for a stronger producer-to-producer network, and the benefits of programs like TAPS that allow farmers to experiment without incurring financial losses.
Discussion of #ice and #rain potential in eastern NE tomorrow evening/night. Mild to start to the week before more cold air moves in mid-week. No #drought relief in sight for western sections of NE.
Update on #precipitation and soil moisture, drought improvements, and the possibility of a White Christmas. Then I discussed the probability of a colder than average January-February in the north central U.S., wetter than average spring in the eastern Corn Belt. Finally I discussed the historical precedent of #drought in the summer after a warm, dry fall and why next growing season could be a challenge.
dry and roller coaster temperatures expected across the state in the next week. #Drought and #soilmoisture update.
In this episode of the Weather Ready Farms series, Quentin Connealy joins to talk about changes they are making toward sustainability, including no-till and cover crop adoption, his embrace of technology and process he uses for adopting new technology, and the financial challenges young farmers face getting into farming. We also got a little bit of volleyball chat in.
In this episode of Weather Ready Farms, Dr. Dave Aiken, an expert in water law from UNL's Agricultural Economics department joins to talk about how reading Paul Ehrlich's book "Population Bomb" got him interested in what was a novel field (environmental law) in the early 1970's, how a trip to the South Plains of Texas in 1976 influenced groundwater regulation in Nebraska, how the NRD's have been leaders in groundwater management, and how climate change will ultimately be the biggest challenge irrigated producers and regulators will face in the coming decades.
In the 7th episode in the Weather Ready Farms series Graham Christensen, corn and soybean farmer from near Oakland, NE and owner of GC-ReVOLT, joins to talk about his family's long history of farming in Burt County, his story of how his family started transitioning to regenerative agricultural practices, planting cover crops with drones, soil health benefit of keeping roots in the ground year round, using technology and ecosystems to enhance their operation, the challenges farmers face in transitioning to more regenerative practices, how university extension and educational curriculum could help shape an agricultural future that works with natural ecosystems to enhance productivity, and how they have remained profitable while shrinking the number of acres farmed.
In the sixth episode of the Weather Ready Farms podcast Bridgette Mason, an Illinois native and now the Assistant State Climatologist for Wisconsin, joins to talk about how her fear of severe thunderstorms as a little kid (including saying storms brought potatoes!) led to her wanting to study atmospheric sciences as an adult. Then we delve into her favorite tools for helping the agricultural sector use weather and climate information to make informed decisions for their operation.
Link for the ACIS training webinar series: https://www.nrcc.cornell.edu/workshops/acis_training/acis_training.html
In this episode, Dr. Christine Wittich of UNL's Civil Engineering department joins to talk about why she got into engineering, why she traded preparing buildings for earthquakes in California for working with farmers in Nebraska and Iowa, what was learned about grain bin structures in the 2020 derecho, and why grain bin destruction is more than just a damaged building.
In the third Weather Ready Farms podcast series, I visit with Dr. Amy Schmidt of UNL's Biological Systems Engineering. She talks about her background and why she switched from aerospace engineering to agricultural engineering, the benefits proper manure management in fields can bring to the soil and the environment, and what a manure broker is. Finally she tells us who her all-time favorite baseball player is and why.
In this episode, Aaron Young from UNL's Conservation and Survey Division joins the podcast to talk about the latest Nebraska Groundwater Report which was released earlier this year. We talked about the tedious work that goes into data collection and map making, the areas that saw the biggest declines between the spring of 2022 and 2023, why some areas of the state have actually seen groundwater levels rise over time, why the relationship between temperature and groundwater hasn't been well correlated in Nebraska, and how the High Plains aquifer is faring in Nebraska overall compared to neighboring states.
In this episode Dr. Craig Allen, professor in the School of Natural Resources and director of the Center for Resilience in Agricultural Working Landscapes (CRAWL) joins to talk about resilience in agricultural landscapes and the how the concept of panarchy can be used to better manage and adapt our landscapes to a changing environment and climate.
In this episode of the Crop Watch podcast, Dr. Brian Wardlow joins to talk about the history of VegDRI, its strengths for monitoring water stress, as well as some newer products like QuickDRI for flash drought and ForDRI to better monitor drought/water stress in forested ecosystems.
In this episode, Dr. Dannele Peck of the USDA Northern Plains Climate Hub joins to talk about the Grass-Cast model. Specifically what the Grass-Cast model is, why it was developed, its strengths, and the ways ranchers can use it to make decisions on forage production in the upcoming season.
In today's episode of Fridays with a Scientist, Beichen Zhang discusses the differences in drought monitoring and drought impact monitoring, the disciplinary language and data structure challenges of inter-disciplinary collaboration between the drought and public health community, and why he doesn't necessarily have a favorite drought index.
In the first episode of FWS in 2024 Alyssa Hall, a Ph.D. student in Agronomy, joined to talk about her journey to UNL, what is meant by sustainable and regenerative agriculture, and why livestock integration into cropping systems is crucial for both.
In the final Fridays with a Scientist episode in 2023, Lt Col (ret.) Ryan Harris joins to talk about the current #ElNino and how much of the record warmth around the globe can be attributable to it. We then discuss other aspects of #climatechange, including our concern that we are neglecting adaptation in favor of mitigation, and why geoengineering is and should be controversial.
In this episode of Fridays with a Scientist, Chuck Burr (UNL Extension) joins to talk about the many benefits of the Testing Ag Performance Solutions (TAPS) program to producers in the state, the different competitions, and future expansion opportunities.
In this episode of Fridays with a Scientist, Dr. Jesse Bell and Laura Nagengast join to talk about their individual journeys to working in the intersection of water, climate, and public health and the current issues we face in the state related to those topics.
In this weeks episode of Fridays with a Scientist, Caily Schwartz, Ph.D. student in the School of Natural Resources, joins to talk a recent Weather, Climate, and Society paper that she led that dives into water resource managers perception and understanding of #flashdrought.
In this episode of Fridays with a Scientist, Dr. Judah Cohen of Verisk Atmospheric and Environmental Research, Inc. joins to talk about what arctic amplification is, how it is linked to the rapid warming of the Arctic, and how it is linked to extreme cold outbreaks in the central and eastern U.S. in the past few decades. His blog can be found here: https://www.aer.com/science-research/climate-weather/arctic-oscillation/
In this week's episode, Dr. Travis (TJ) Prochaska of UNL Extension joins to talk about his experiences serving as an educator in North Dakota before moving back home to Nebraska. We discuss a wide variety of topics including the shifting crop landscape in North Dakota, the different crops he's worked with, how drought seems to be following him, and the different pests and diseases in his Accountability Region.
In this week's episode Amanda Folck, Turfgrass Extension specialist at UNL, talks about her internship with the Arsenal (English Premier League), her experiences working with athletic departments at Texas A&M, Purdue, and Nebraska, her collaboration with Hillcrest and other golf courses in the state, the impact of drought to the most common cool season grasses and why bermuda grass doesn't grow well up here.
In this episode, Dr. John Carroll joins to talk about his experience being a leader and director of a large academic unit during COVID. Then we chat for a while about how universities are dealing with artificial intelligence like Chat GPT.
In the latest podcast I discuss who has the best chance at picking up more than 2" of snow, the potential for snow to affect the football game and for light icing issues in southeast Nebraska. It will be a cold Halloween and then turn mild as we head into later next week.
In the latest episode Dr. Jackson Ziems and Kyle Broderick join to talk about the different bacterial and fungal diseases that affected corn in Nebraska this year, including Northern Corn Leaf Blight, Goss's Wilt, Gray Leaf Spot, and Tar Spot, which has now spread as far west as south central Nebraska. Good discussion on the difficulty in determining the difference between some diseases with just our eyes and the proper management/treatment of said diseases.
In this episode of Fridays with a Scientist Taylor Grace, a Ph.D. candidate in OU's School of Meteorology, joins the podcast to talk about wintertime heat waves and its impact on agriculture, with a focus on a December 2021 case that affected the Southern Great Plains.
In this interview, Dr. Adams-Selin from Verisk Atmospheric and Environmental Research explains why #hail is more common in the #greatplains than elsewhere, why size of hail alone doesn't explain all agricultural hail damage, about recent advancements in understanding of hail development, and the potential for a 2-year field campaign to fill in significant knowledge gaps.
In this episode, Dylan and Kyle talk about the various weather related issues that caused problems for soybean in Nebraska in 2023. They also go in depth on many of the diseases they have or are seeing in the clinic. For more information on the clinic visit: https://plantpathology.unl.edu/plant-pest-diagnostic-clinic
In this week's edition of Fridays with a Scientist, Bridget Gross, the recruiting specialist in the School of Natural Resources at UNL, talks about her past experiences working with beekeepers in Ohio, Nebraska, North Carolina, Honduras, and the Dominican Republic. Apparently beekeeping also transcends language and cultural barriers! Then we talk about her pivot to student recruiting over the past six months and the most fun aspects of that job.
In the latest podcast, I discuss thoughts on the storm system going through the state in the next 24 hours, including the severe threat in central and eastern Nebraska, flash flood risk in northeastern Nebraska, and the high wind threat across a lot of the state tomorrow. Then I discuss the weekend outlook, moderating temperatures early next week, a mid-week cold front and a warm-up headed into next weekend. Then I move into the update portion of the podcast and talk about recent precipitation, VegDRI and the latest changes on the Drought Monitor.
In this episode of FWAS, Dr. Nathan Mueller of University of Nebraska Extension discusses why the previous season was so challenging for wheat in southeast Nebraska, why fall moisture is so vital, benefits of snow cover in the winter, issues with excessive wetness in May, and why wheat is not more prominent in northeast Nebraska.
Highlights from the outlook include frost/freeze risk Saturday morning, pleasant weather first part of next week, a possible storm next Wednesday-Thursday that could deliver much needed rainfall to parts of southern Nebraska. In the update portion, highlights include a look at precipitation over the last week, soil moisture, and a review of growing season precipitation across the state and broader north central U.S.
In this episode, Dr. Trenton Franz, Hydrogeophysics professor in SNR, and M.S. student Tess Morris discuss their experiences balancing being a Division 1 athlete and a student, how they got interested in hydrogeophysics, how cosmic-ray neutron sensors measure soil moisture, and the benefits of using them for irrigation decisions. More information on the cosmic-ray neutron sensor can be found in this nifty video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eZTeQRSmcGY
Highlights include record temperatures and fire danger risk this weekend, chances for widespread precipitation next Tuesday-Wednesday, and possible cool snap late next week.
In this edition of the Fridays with a Scientist series, Dr. Caro Cordova discusses the roots of her passion for soil, why soil health is critical for agriculture and steps producers in Nebraska and elsewhere can take to improve soil health.
Highlights include severe storm and rainfall potential in the next 48 hours, recent precipitation and drought monitor update, vegetation conditions, and thoughts on corn yield numbers in the state this year.
In today's episode Dr. Dave Gosselin, director of the Environmental and Sustainability Studies program at UNL, and two students (Abigail Schroeder and Emma Kurtz) join the podcast to talk about an integrated waste-energy program in Norfolk, NE and what the barriers are to more widespread adoption of the approach. We also had some discussion on recycling, biochar uses, electric vehicle readiness and the existing incentives from NPPD for electrification. Acknowledgements to Project Energy Nebraska and Conservation Nebraska.
Thoughts on precipitation amounts in the next 24 hours, beautiful weekend and early next week forthcoming, scattered showers/storms later next week and potential for more widespread precipitation next weekend. Also a look at the latest U.S. Drought Monitor and soil moisture.
Highlights include a promising chance of rain this weekend, cooler temperatures next week, record short-term dryness in northeast Nebraska, and pasture conditions going the wrong way.
Thoughts about the upcoming heat and dry & warm start to September, some evidence on the lack of deep soil moisture recharge, improvements on the Drought Monitor in southeast Nebraska, and a look at vegetation conditions.
Vegetation update, heat update, outlook for the week, thoughts about September, and corn yield outlook
In today's podcast, Eric Snodgrass from Nutrien Ag Solutions joins me to talk about the wild weather of 2023, the pending heat wave, and what we may be looking at going into the fall with El Nino.
In today's episode Dr. Martha Durr, the Nebraska State Climatologist and director of the Nebraska State Climate Office, speaks about her time living in Alaska, the duties and responsibilities of the office, communicating about the link between extreme events and climate change, and what gives her hope.
In this update, I talk about recent drought improvements in Nebraska an update on soil moisture and vegetation conditions, the outlook for next week, and the hints for a warm finish to the month of August.
In this episode Dr. Dylan Mangel fills us in on where farmers have been experiencing on soybean with white mold, aphids, and nematodes as well as the best treatment and management options. He also discusses tar spot on corn and why it possibly being spotted in irrigated corn down the road could be a big problem. He recommends going to the following website for additional information: https://cropprotectionnetwork.org/
This week's update includes a look at drought improvements across Nebraska where else in the country should we be concerned about drought, precipitation and soil moisture update, and the strong potential for cooler temperatures to prevail across our region for the next few weeks.
The Nebraska On-Farm Research Network is an innovative program run by Nebraska Extension and coordinated by Laura Thompson, an extension educator and the guest of this podcast episode. As part of this program, Nebraska Extension partners with farmers in the state to help answer production, profitability, and natural resource questions. The results of these studies are then published in an annual report.
To learn more, visit the On-Farm Research Network website: https://on-farm-research.unl.edu/
You can access the 2022 annual report here: https://on-farm-research.unl.edu/result-publications
You can also utilize a searchable database with over 1,000 studies here: https://resultsfinder.unl.edu/
Please visit www.cropwatch.unl.edu to stay up-to-date on the latest crop production information for Nebraska.
The University of Nebraska Testing Ag Performance Solutions (TAPS) program is an innovative program developed by University of Nebraska research and extension specialists and educators. These competitions bring together UNL scientists and extension professionals, producers, industry leaders, agriculture students, government regulators and agency personnel to become part of a highly engaged network focused on evolving profitability and input-use efficiency. This low-risk environment offers participants the ability to test a large variety of strategies and technologies, as well as gives them access to a large dataset from the competitions at the end of the year.
In this episode, we speak with Tracy Zink, the 2022 Sorghum Triple Crown Winner, to learn about the practices she used in her plots.
To learn more about TAPS and to see results and data from the competition, visit www.taps.unl.edu or www.cropwatch.unl.edu
To get involved, send an email to taps@unl.edu
You can now find the Nebraska CropWatch Podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@UNLCropWatch/videos
Be sure to follow CropWatch on Twitter @UNL_CropWatch and Nate Dorsey @UNLNateDorsey
The University of Nebraska Testing Ag Performance Solutions (TAPS) program is an innovative program developed by University of Nebraska research and extension specialists and educators. These competitions bring together UNL scientists and extension professionals, producers, industry leaders, agriculture students, government regulators and agency personnel to become part of a highly engaged network focused on evolving profitability and input-use efficiency. This low-risk environment offers participants the ability to test a large variety of strategies and technologies, as well as gives them access to a large dataset from the competitions at the end of the year.
In this episode, we speak with Chuck Burr, an extension educator who helps run the TAPS program, and Shawn Woollen, the winner of the highest input use efficiency in the 2022 sprinkler irrigated corn competition.
To learn more about TAPS and to see results and data from the competition, visit www.taps.unl.edu or www.cropwatch.unl.edu
To get involved, send an email to taps@unl.edu
Be sure to follow CropWatch on Twitter @UNL_CropWatch and Nate Dorsey @UNLNateDorsey
Manure is a valuable resource in agriculture, but it can be a challenge to manage and protect natural resources, such as ground and surface water quality. The Animal Manure Management Team is holding several Manure Land Application Trainings throughout the state that offer certifications that are required of some livestock producers.
You can learn more on the following webpages:
- https://water.unl.edu/lat
- https://cropwatch.unl.edu/
Make sure to follow CropWatch on Twitter @UNL_CropWatch
For those who apply pesticides commercially or noncommercially, or private applicators who apply restricted use pesticides on their properties, pesticide certifications are required. Jennifer Weisbrod, an extension educator and the pesticide safety program coordinator for the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, joins us on this podcast episode to talk about pesticide certifications. These are earned by attending trainings hosted by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln throughout the state.
To learn more, visit:
www.pested.unl.edu
You can also learn more on the CropWatch website:
www.cropwatch.unl.edu
Follow CropWatch on Twitter @UNL_CropWatch
The 2022 season was full of challenges, from fire, to drought, to disease. Despite this, we had a lot to celebrate at Nebraska Extension as well. Join us in this episode as we reflect on some of the host's favorite episodes from this season.
Be sure to subscribe to the Nebraska CropWatch Podcast wherever you listen. Also, please consider leaving the show a review and sharing your favorite episode from this season with your friends.
Visit www.cropwatch.unl.edu for the latest crop production information for Nebraska. You can also follow CropWatch on Twitter @UNL_CropWatch.
You can also follow Nate Dorsey on Twitter @UNLNateDorsey
Sugarbeets are an important crop in the Nebraska Panhandle, but weed management is a significant challenge. A small weed population in sugarbeet fields can have a huge impact on yield, making weed management critical. Dr. Nevin Lawrence, an associate professor with the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, explains that one method for dealing with glyphosate resistant palmer amaranth is wiping paraquat with specialized equipment.
To learn more, please visit the following articles.
- https://cropwatch.unl.edu/2022/wiping-paraquat-rescue-or-salvage-treatment-sugarbeet
- https://extension.uga.edu/content/dam/extension/programs-and-services/integrated-pest-management/documents/handbooks/2022-comm-chapters/Peanut.pdf
You can follow CropWatch on Twitter @UNL_CropWatch
You can also follow Nate Dorsey on Twitter @UNLNateDorsey
In-field disasters, ranging from floods, to hail, to fire, can be disastrous. With how dry the 2022 season was in Nebraska, fires were common throughout the state. This fall, several areas of the state experienced field fires that damaged crops prior to harvest. In this episode, we speak with Mitiku Mamo, an extension educator for Dixon, Wayne, Cedar, and Knox Counties, about a fire-affected field in his area.
To read the articles mentioned in this podcast, visit the following websites:
- The Feeding Value of Heat Damaged Corn Grain in Cattle Diets
- https://dr.lib.iastate.edu/server/api/core/bitstreams/5f57ebb6-5d4e-4d18-8824-4e5eab1ca2a6/content
- Preventing and Responding to Combine Fires
- https://cropwatch.unl.edu/2022/preventing-and-responding-combine-fires
- FAQ for Fire Damage to Unharvested Crops and Harvested Ground
- https://cropwatch.unl.edu/2022/faq-fire-damage-unharvested-crops-and-harvested-ground
To learn more, visit www.cropwatch.unl.edu
You can follow CropWatch on Twitter @unl_CropWatch and you can also follow Nate Dorsey @UNLNateDorsey
Soybean cyst nematode (SCN) can drastically reduce yields in soybeans without displaying any above-ground symptoms. When unexplained yield loss occurs, it's highly recommend that producers consider sampling for Soybean Cyst Nematode. In this episode, we speak with Dr. Dylan Mangel, a soybean extension plant pathologist with the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, about this pest, how to sample, and best practices for managing SCN if it's present.
To learn more, visit:
- www.cropwatch.unl.edu
- www.thescncoalition.com
To request sample bags and submit your own free sample (for Nebraska producers only), contact your local University of Nebraska-Lincoln extension educator.
The United States Department of Agriculture's (USDA) National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) collects and publishes valuable data on agricultural production. This includes weekly crop progress reports and regular crop production reports for each state. Nick Streff, Regional Director for the NASS Northern Region, joins this episode of the podcast to talk about these reports and other data made available through USDA NASS.
Visit www.cropwatch.unl.edu to learn more.
You can follow CropWatch on Twitter @UNL_CropWatch. You can also follow Nate Dorsey on Twitter @UNLNateDorsey
Cover crops are a valuable tool for improving soil health and protecting resources. To help make management decisions, such as planting and termination dates, water use, and more, a team of researchers developed and released a Cover Crop Biomass Calculator. The calculator is available on the CropWatch website. You can find it here:
https://cropwatch.unl.edu/#/cover-crop-biomass-calculator/
The University of Nebraska-Lincoln has also published several other valuable resources, such as:
- Considerations when planting green:
- https://cropwatch.unl.edu/2020/considerations-when-planting-green
- Seeding rates for cover crops:
- https://cropwatch.unl.edu/2020/seeding-rates-broadcasting-cover-crops-late-season-corn-and-soybean
You can follow Nate Dorsey on Twitter @UNLNateDorsey and CropWatch @UNL_CropWatch . Visit www.cropwatch.unl.edu for the latest news and information for Nebraska Agriculture.
In this episode we speak with Daniel Smith, Southwest Regional Agronomist with the University of Wisconsin-Madison, about weed seed distribution from combines. Smith was a presenter at the Soybean Management Field Days held throughout the state of Nebraska, and spoke about his research on weed seed distribution, where weed seeds hide in combines, and how to perform a quick field cleanout to prevent spreading seeds within fields and to new areas of the farm.
To learn more, read this related CropWatch article:
https://cropwatch.unl.edu/2022/preventing-weed-seed-distribution-combines
You can also view a video that Smith put together that reviews the combine cleaning process:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nDMq1UanSkE&feature=emb_imp_woyt
You can follow Nate Dorsey on Twitter @UNLNateDorsey and CropWatch @UNL_CropWatch . Visit www.cropwatch.unl.edu for the latest news and information for Nebraska Agriculture.
Cover crops are a useful tool for improving soil health and water quality, but can be challenging to plant. In Nebraska, cover crops are often planted after harvest, but it leaves little time for cover crops to establish before winter conditions set in. Interseeding cover crops in late season corn is one possible method of increasing cover crop success. In this episode, we hear from several guests about a unique interseeding project the University of Nebraska-Lincoln is conducting in partnership with several Natural Resources Districts (NRDs) and the Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy (NDEE).
To learn more about cover crop interseeding, check out these helpful resources:
- https://cropwatch.unl.edu/2022/comparing-cover-crop-planting-methods
- https://cropwatch.unl.edu/2020/seeding-rates-broadcasting-cover-crops-late-season-corn-and-soybean
You can follow Nate Dorsey on Twitter @UNLNateDorsey and CropWatch @UNL_CropWatch . Visit www.cropwatch.unl.edu for the latest news and information for Nebraska Agriculture.
Knowing when to stop irrigating and how much to apply is one of the last and most challenging decisions of the growing season. In this episode, Bruno Lena, an extension educator for Platte, Boone, and Nance counties, explains the three main factors that go into accurately calculating the final irrigation for corn and soybeans.
To learn more about how to calculate this, visit his CropWatch article at: https://cropwatch.unl.edu/2022/scheduling-last-few-irrigations-season
You can also view the NebGuides that were mentioned in this episode here:
- Predicting the Last Irrigation of the Season: https://extensionpubs.unl.edu/publication/9000016365946/predicting-the-last-irrigation-of-the-season/
- Estimating Soil Moisture by Appearance and Feel: https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/extensionhist/1201/
You can follow Nate Dorsey on Twitter @UNLNateDorsey and CropWatch @UNL_CropWatch . Visit www.cropwatch.unl.edu for the latest news and information for Nebraska Agriculture.
Corn in much of the state has been impacted by drought conditions this summer. In some cases, it may make sense to utilize this corn as a source of animal feed rather than harvest for grain. However, this is not without risk, primarily in regards to animal health. In this episode of the Nebraska CropWatch Podcast, Brad Schick, a Beef Systems Extension Educator with the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, provides information on considerations for using corn as animal feed. This includes when and how to harvest, concerns around high nitrate levels, and how to best manage corn harvested for animal feed if this is the case.
For additional information, please view these resources:
- Drought-stressed Corn Feed Opportunity
https://cropwatch.unl.edu/2018/drought-stressed-corn-feed-opportunity
- The Use and Pricing of Drought-stressed Corn
https://extensionpubs.unl.edu/publication/9000016366038/the-use-and-pricing-of-drought-stressed-corn/
- Nitrates in Livestock Feed
https://extensionpubs.unl.edu/publication/9000016365158/nitrates-in-livestock-feeding/
You can follow Nate Dorsey on Twitter @UNLNateDorsey and CropWatch @UNL_CropWatch
Hot and dry weather throughout the state of Nebraska has increased the risk of spider mite damage for corn and soybeans. The Nebraska CropWatch Podcast's new host, Nate Dorsey, talks with entomologist Dr. Bob Wright, about the different species of spider mites, how to diagnose damage in the field, and management strategies that can be used.
The CropWatch articles referenced in this episode can be viewed here:
- https://cropwatch.unl.edu/2016/managing-spider-mites-corn-and-soybean
- https://cropwatch.unl.edu/2016/identifying-spider-mite-damage-species-responsible
For information on management and control of spider mites, view the publication EC130, 2022 Guide for Weed, Disease, and Insect Management in Nebraska, available here:
- https://marketplace.unl.edu/extension/ec130.html
You can follow Nate Dorsey on Twitter @UNLNateDorsey and CropWatch @UNL_CropWatch