Weeds – Crop Tech Cafe: Recent Episodes
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Know your crop, know your tech, know your bottom line... feeding you agronomic information for your farm in southeast Nebraska
Nebraska Extension has numerous field days that agronomists, conservationists, and farmers can attend during the summer across the state. Locally, we have two upcoming regional field days at the end of June and early July. Please learn more about each of the field days and consider attending.
First up is our Weed Management Field Day on Wednesday, June 26 from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm at the South Central Ag Lab near Clay Center. This field day will include on-site demonstrations of new technologies and herbicides for weed control in corn, soybean, and sorghum. The field day is free to attend, but preregistration is required at https://agronomy.unl.edu/fieldday. Registration is from 8:30 to 9:00 am with rolls and coffee available. Free lunch is also provided including UNL Dairy Store Ice Cream for dessert. Certified Crop Adviser credits are available. There will be two tours with four demonstrations trials discussed in each tour. Tour 1 is on-site demonstration of new technology/herbicide for weed control in soybean including planting green and residual herbicide interaction in soybean, interseeding small grains in soybeans for weed suppression, comparison of herbicide programs for weed control in soybean, and evaluating residual herbicides for overlapping residual weed control in soybean. Tour 2 is on-site demonstration new technology/herbicides for weed control in corn and sorghum including comparison of herbicides program for weed control in corn, control of corn volunteers in Enlist corn, evaluating Surtain for weed control and crop safety in corn & popcorn, and control corn volunteers in iGrowth sorghum and Double Team sorghum. Learn more by visiting the field day website at https://agronomy.unl.edu/fieldday
Second up is our 4Rs Nutrient Stewardship Field Day on Thursday, July 11 from 8:30 am to 3:00 pm held at the August N. Christenson Research and Education Building at the Eastern Nebraska, Research, Extension and Education Center near Ithaca. The field day is free to attend including lunch and features knowledge and tools to improve nutrient management, soil health, crop yields and water quality. This is a great opportunity to learn about 4Rs (right source, right rate, right time, right place) strategies to improve crop yield and profits while protecting the environment. Certified Crop Advisers can earn 4.5 CEUs on Nutrient Management. Attendance counts toward Lower Platte North NRD Nitrogen Certification. Topics covered at the field day include the future of nitrogen management, performance of enhance efficiency fertilizers, digital UNL nitrogen calculator demonstration, performance of biological products, farmer panel discussion on 4Rs, 4Rs cost-share funds and process, and 2 hours of nutrient management demonstration activities in the field. Registration is required to participate. Learn more and register at https://agronomy.unl.edu/4rs-nutrient-stewardship-field-day-registration.
For assistance with registration over the phone for these field days, call the Saline County Extension office at 402-821-2151. For inquiries regarding these field days and other water and cropping systems resources from Nebraska Extension, contact me at nathan.mueller@unl.edu or 402-821-2151. Know your crop, know your tech, know your bottom line at croptechcafe.org.
As a reminder, a private pesticide applicator is a person who uses or supervises the use of restricted use pesticides in the production of agricultural commodities on land owned or rented by them or their employer. Applicators are not eligible to purchase or apply restricted use pesticides until they take a certified training and licensed. The only remaining private pesticide application training options for 2024 are the online self-study and Nebraska Department of Ag walk-in testing in Lincoln. To learn more about obtaining a private pesticide applicator license, please visit the local training and certification webpage at https://croptechcafe.org/training/ or call your local Extension office in Beatrice (402-223-1384), Fairbury (402-729-3487), or Wilber (402-821-2151).
A tool to come borrow from Extension this spring is a battery-powered flow meter to determine if spray nozzles are worn out, called the Spot-On Sprayer Calibrator. Nozzles are considered worn out and need to be replaced when they apply 10 percent more (at 40 psi w/water) than the manufacturer’s specifications for a new tip. Please call to check the availability of the calibrator at your local Extension office in Beatrice, Fairbury, or Wilber.
When mixing and loading pesticides this spring, ensure you are wearing your chemical resistant apron. I have heard from several applicators during training that chemical resistant aprons are hard to find in local stores. For this reason, you can purchase these aprons for $15 at the Saline County Extension office in Wilber (only in Wilber for 2024).
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 nematicide treatments present on the seed. Remember that reducing your exposure is key to reducing the overall risk when handling pesticides. Below are some basic tips to safely handle treated seed:
- Read the seed tag. This will be key to identifying personal protective equipment (PPE) requirements, signal words, use, disposal, environmental hazards, and storage information.
- Wear the right PPE. Most seed tags at minimum require long pants, long sleeves, shoes, socks, and chemical resistant gloves to handle the product.
Along with wearing other PPE and reviewing the seed tag, choosing the right chemical resistant gloves is key to safe handling. Unlined chemical resistant gloves that cover the forearm provide protection over a greater area and reduce the risk of exposure. Many seed treatments require wearing gloves that have 14-mils thickness or greater when handling treated seed. These gloves can be made from a variety of materials and are categorized by the EPA by their chemical resistance. Have a safe planting season and for information on glove selection read our NebGuide G1961, Pesticide Safety: Choosing the Right Gloves: http://extensionpublications.unl.edu/assets/pdf/g1961.pdf.
For inquiries about these resources and other agronomic resources and programs from Nebraska Extension, contact me at nathan.mueller@unl.edu or 402-821-1722. Know your crop, know your tech, know your bottom line at croptechcafe.org
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 there was approximately 17,047 acres of alfalfa growing in the summer of 2023 in Gage, Jefferson, and Saline counties. Assuming farmers maintain alfalfa stands for 5 to 7 years, there are about 3,000 new alfalfa acres seeded each year.
In southeast Nebraska, late summer and early spring are the two target seeding windows for alfalfa. Late summer after winter wheat from August 15 to September 1 works well when we have good soil moisture, and it has less weed challenges than with spring seeding. The recommended spring seeding window of April 1 to May 15. Alfalfa seedlings are very cold-tolerant, so there is very little risk when seeding after April 1.
Use inoculated, fungicide-treated alfalfa seed at rates of 12 to 15 pounds per acre in rainfed fields and 15 to 20 pounds per acre in irrigated fields. There are some advantages to the higher end of these seeding rate recommendations when conditions are not perfect. Higher spring seeding rates can help increase canopy cover and competitiveness against weeds. However, over-seeding is costly, and alfalfa stands will self-thin down to a similar number of plants per acre by the end of the second year whether seeded at 15 pounds verses 20 pounds per acre. In general, I do not recommend seeding companion oats at 20 lbs/acre other than on tilled highly erodible soils or if really need extra tonnage during the first year.
Seed alfalfa into a firm seedbed at ¼ to ½ inch deep in fine-texture soils that make up most fields in southeast Nebraska. In sandier soils like Jansen and Meadin loam in west central Jefferson County, seeding at ½ to ¾ inch deep should be considered. No-till drilling alfalfa at 8-inch row spacing or narrower is recommended.
With no-till alfalfa, pre-plant incorporated herbicides are not an option. Therefore, start clean and burn down emerged weeds. Most small weeds can be controlled with a timely post-emergence herbicide in new seeding alfalfa fields. For more information on weed control options in alfalfa, purchase the 2024 UNL Guide for Weed, Disease, and Insect Management in Nebraska as a digital or hard copy through the UNL Market Place (https://marketplace.unl.edu/default/ec130.html). This guide offers valuable information on weed, disease, and insect management for alfalfa and other crops.
For more information about seeding alfalfa download our NebGuide G2247: Seeding Alfalfa (https://extensionpublications.unl.edu/assets/pdf/g2247.pdf). For inquiries about these resources and other agronomic resources and programs from Nebraska Extension, contact me at nathan.mueller@unl.edu or 402-821-1722. Know your crop, know your tech, know your bottom line at croptechcafe.org
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 sessions will be 9–11:30 a.m.
Scheduled topics and speakers are:
- Thursday, Nov. 30 – Ag Policy and Marketing (speakers: Brad Lubben, UNL, Farm Bill Update; and Jeff Peterson, UNL/Heartland Farm Partners, Grain Marketing)
- Thursday, Dec. 7 – Weather & Climate Projections, Cover Crops and Farmer Panel (speakers: Eric Hunt, Nebraska Extension, Climate & Weather Projections; Katja Koehler-Cole, Nebraska Extension, Cover Crops & Resiliency; and a panel of local producers discussing innovations they are trying)
- Thursday, Jan. 4 – Nitrogen Management Tools, Water Quality & Nitrate Management (speakers are: Tim Mundorf, Central Valley Ag, Nitrogen & Nitrate Issues; Javed Iqbal, UNL, Nitrogen Management & Water Quality; and Shane Forney, Sentinel Fertigation, Image-based Fertigation Management)
Multiple sessions and topics allow producers to pick the topics most relevant to them and their operation. Cost is $10 per session or $20 for the entire series. Refreshments will be provided. The Successful Farmer Series is also a great opportunity to visit with other area producers in attendance. No cost to watch online.
Please register at least two days before each session. More information and registration link is online at https://lancaster.unl.edu/farmerseries. You may also register by contacting Karen Wedding at kwedding2@unl.edu or 402-441-7180. Pay at the event with check (payable to Lancaster County Extension), cash or credit/debit card (small additional fee).
CCA credits will be available at relevant sessions for certified crop advisors attending in person.
The Nebraska Soybean Board and Nebraska Extension would like to invite you to attend your local Soybean Management Field Day being held this Friday, August 11, from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the following location: August 11th – DeWitt, NE – Randy and Blake Huls farm – Google map: http://go.unl.edu/googlemapsmfd4 The 2023 Soybean Management Field […]
Nebraska Extension has numerous field days that agronomists, conservationists, and farmers can attend during the summer across the state. Locally, we have two upcoming regional field days at the end of June and early July. Please learn more about each of the field days and consider attending. First up is our Weed Management Field Day […]
When weather and workload does not permit the application of preemergence herbicides prior to planting, there are options. Some preemergence herbicides are labeled for broadcast application after corn and soybean emergence without injury. Additionally, early post-crop emergence herbicide applications including these herbicides are beneficial for controlling weed species with extended emergence (e.g., waterhemp and Palmer amaranth). Overlapping residual activity from preemergence herbicides from pre-plant through canopy closure is a common approach due to herbicide resistant weeds and limited field days suitable for spraying. I do get asked on flexibility of these products. Therefore, the following herbicides are labeled for corn and soybean. There are other options for corn-only and soybean-only products. The list is not exhaustive and not an endorsement. Site of action group and active ingredients are listed after the product name and company. Please read all herbicide labels prior to purchase and application. Tank mix partners are needed or recommended with these preemergence herbicides for control of emerged weeds. As I work with numerous winter wheat and alfalfa growers in southeast Nebraska, included is the crop planting interval restriction in months.
Anthem MAXX by FMC Ag US (Group 14 – Fluthiacet-methyl, Group 15 – Pyroxasulfone). May be applied to corn through the V4 stage and soybean through the V6 stage. Some control of emerged weeds up to 2-inches. Rotational wheat interval is dependent on use rate, 3.25 oz/acres or less is 1 month, 4.87 oz/acre or more is 3 months. Alfalfa interval is 10 months. Link to website/label: https://ag.fmc.com/us/en/herbicides/anthem-maxx-herbicide
Perpetuo by Valent (Group 14 – Flumiclorac, Group 15 – Pyroxasulfone). May be applied to corn from the 2-leaf stage through the V6 stage and soybeans through the V6 stage. Some control of emerged weeds is expected, but does vary by weed species, height, and use rate. The rotational wheat interval is dependent on use rate, 8 oz/acres or less is 1 month, 10 oz/acre or more is 4 months. Alfalfa interval is 10 months. Link to website/label: https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/agrian-cg-fs1-production/pdfs/Perpetuo_Label.pdf
Dual II Magnum by Syngenta (Group 15 – S-metolachlor). May be applied to corn up to 40-inches tall and soybean up to 75 days before harvest. It will not control emerged weeds. The rotational wheat interval is 4.5 months and alfalfa is 4 months. Link to website/label: https://www.syngenta-us.com/herbicides/dual-ii-magnum
Outlook by BASF (Group 15 – Dimethenamid-P). May be applied to corn up to 12-inches or layby up to 36-inches tall and soybean from cracking/emergence to 5th trifoliate stage. It will not control emerged weeds. The rotational wheat and alfalfa interval is 4 months. Link to website/label: https://www.cdms.net/ldat/ld3LS013.pdf
Warrant by Bayer (Group 15 – acetochlor). May be applied to corn up to 30-inches tall and soybean prior to R2 stage. It will not control emerged weeds. The rotational wheat interval is 4 months and alfalfa is 9 months. Link to website/label: https://www.cropscience.bayer.us/products/herbicides/warrant/label-msds
Vida by Gowan (Group 14 – Pyraflufen ethyl). May be applied to corn from VE to V4 stages or directed postemergence to V8 stage and soybean emergence to V6 stage. It will control some broadleaf weeds up to 4-inches tall. The rotational wheat interval is 0 months and alfalfa is 1 month. Link to website/label: https://www.gowanco.com/products/vida
Zidua SC by BASF (Group 15 – Pyroxasulfone). May be applied to corn from spiking to V8 stage and soybean from emergence to 6th trifoliate. It will not control emerged weeds. Rotational wheat interval is dependent on use rate, 3.25 oz/acres or less is 1 month, 5 oz/acre is 5 months, 6.50 oz/acres is 6 months. Alfalfa interval is 10 months. Link to website/label: https://www.cdms.net/ldat/ldE0R027.pdf
For inquiries regarding this information and other agronomic resources from Nebraska Extension, contact me at nathan.mueller@unl.edu or 402-821-1722. Know your crop, know your tech, know your bottom line at croptechcafe.org.
Happy holidays from your land-grant university, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) and your outreach arm of UNL called Nebraska Extension. As you wrap up your holiday plans and 2022, it is already time to start thinking about attending some winter educational programs offered by Nebraska Extension. If you are a landowner, farmer, or agricultural professional in Gage, Jefferson, and Saline counties, I encourage you to register and attend two upcoming Nebraska Extension programs in early January.
The first program is a workshop covering agricultural land management and leasing considerations for 2023 in Beatrice from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Monday, January 9, at the office of Nebraska Extension in Gage County, 1115 W. Scott St. It will offer updated leasing information relevant to landlords and tenants, including tips for communication and negotiating. It will address topics like equitable rental rates, managing and adjusting farmland leases, landlord-tenant issues, pasture leasing, crop share leasing and other management considerations. The presentation will be led by Allan Vyhnalek, an extension educator specializing in farm and ranch transition and succession, and Jim Jansen, an extension agricultural economist. Both are with the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s Center for Agricultural Profitability. The meeting is free to attend and lunch will be included, but registration is required online at https://go.unl.edu/aglease_beatrice or with Nebraska Extension in Gage County at 402-223-1384.
The second program is our regional 2023 Crop Production Clinic organized by the UNL Department of Agronomy and Horticulture, UNL Pesticide Safety Education Program, and local Nebraska Extension Water & Cropping System Educators. The clinic will be held from 8:30 am to 3:30 pm on Thursday, Jan. 12 in Beatrice at the Holiday Inn Express, 4005 N 6th St. The crop production clinic offers practical, profitable, environmentally sound, high impact training for agricultural professionals and farmers. Commercial pesticide and private pesticide applicators can attend Room 1 to get their 3-year required training. In Room 2, certified crop advisers can obtain continuing education units and farmers in the Turkey Creek National Water Quality Initiative (NWQI) Watershed can learn more about how they can continue to improve surface and groundwater quality. A map of the watershed, cost-share opportunities, and more is located online at https://www.lbbnrd.net/. Farmers located in the Turkey Creek NWQI Watershed can call the Lower Big Blue NRD at 402-228-3402 to obtain a registration code that will allow them to register online for free (not allowed to use if renewing private pesticide license, education only). The cost of the crop production clinic for other attendees will be $95 (includes lunch and handouts). To learn more and to register for the Crop Production Clinic, visit https://agronomy.unl.edu/cpc.
For inquiries about other agronomic resources and programs from Nebraska Extension, contact me at nathan.mueller@unl.edu, 402-821-1722, or visit my website. Know your crop, know your tech, know your bottom line at croptechcafe.org.
Late fall herbicide applications can be a good alternative to early spring for control of several introduced biennial forbs or broadleaf weeds in southeast Nebraska. A few of these biennial forbs are considered noxious weeds in Nebraska including musk thistle, plumeless thistle, and spotted knapweed while bull thistle, common mullein, and poison hemlock are just […]
If you own or rent pasture or grass hay ground, there are four Extension publications that you should own a copy of. At the top of my list is the 2022 Extension Circular 130: Guide for Weed, Disease, and Insect Management in Nebraska. This is an over 300-page annual publication, so you can get an […]
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 […]
The spring growth of winter annual weeds is underway. A winter annual weed is an unwanted plant in your field that germinated last fall, overwintered, resumed growth this spring, and will soon begin flowering and producing seed. There are numerous species of winter annuals weeds common in southeast Nebraska including henbit (figure 1), marestail, field […]
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 estimated there was approximately 16,500 acres of alfalfa growing in the summer of 2021 in Saline, Jefferson, and Gage counties. Assuming farmers maintain alfalfa stands for 5 to 7 years, […]
As spring is here, I wanted to remind farmers and agronomists about guides and tools available at your local Extension offices in Saline, Jefferson, and Gage counties. Our local extension offices are open to the public for walk-ins at the following locations and hours: Wilber at 306 W 3rd St, open weekdays from 8:00 am […]
The 2022 Eastern Nebraska Soil Health Conference (merger of two previous conferences, the Nebraska Cover Crop Conference and Southeast Nebraska Soil Health Conference) will provide information to farmers who are just getting started with cover crops and other soil health practices and to those who are already making soil health part of their farm operation plan. Register […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
2021NOFRNFlyerDownload The annual Nebraska On-Farm Research Network research results update meetings will be offered in-person and online in 2021. Farm operators and agronomists from across the state will obtain valuable crop production-related information from on-farm research projects conducted on Nebraska farms by Nebraska farmers in partnership with University of Nebraska faculty. These research projects cover products, practices and new technologies that affect farm productivity and profitability.
The Nebraska On-Farm Research Network is a statewide, on-farm research program that addresses critical farmer production, profitability and natural resources questions. Growers take an active role in the on-farm research project sponsored by Nebraska Extension in partnership with the Nebraska Corn Growers Association, the Nebraska Corn Board, the Nebraska Soybean Checkoff and the Nebraska Dry Bean Commission.
These February programs will provide an opportunity to hear growers who conducted on-farm research share their results from the 2020 growing season. Field length replicated treatment comparisons were completed in growers’ fields, using their equipment.
Local hosting sites and online options (same program both days):
- Thursday, February 25 in Beatrice at the Gage County Extension Office, 1115 West Scott
- Friday, February 26 in Wilber at the Saline County Extension Office, 306 W 3rd St.
- Online from home or office via Zoom on Feb. 25 or 26
Programs start with check-in at 8:30 a.m. and conclude at 12:30 p.m. Visit the webpage for the On-Farm Research Network meetings that includes the online registration, details and program updates. Please register online or over the phone by calling the Gage County Extension office at 402-223-1384 or the Saline County Extension office at 402-821-2151.
Pre-registration is required. Walk-in registration will not be permitted. Early registration is encouraged due to capacity limitations at both locations. Once a location is full, it will no longer be listed as a registration option online. Please pre-register for in-person training at least one days in advance for planning purposes. In-person meetings will only be held if local and UNL directed health measures allow and if weather conditions are suitable for travel. If a meeting is canceled, registered participants will be notified via email, phone, or text message. Facial coverings/masks are strongly recommended at Nebraska Extension Offices in Beatrice and Wilber.
Certified Crop Adviser (CCA) continuing education units have been applied for and are pending. For more information and general inquiries about Nebraska On-Farm Research Network, feel free to contact me at nathan.mueller@unl.edu or 402-821-1722. Know your crop, know your tech, know your bottom line at croptechcafe.org.
You can subscribe to the weekly Pasture and Forage Minute at: https://gmail.us17.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=5c438ee4998f5db5645a35e0e&id=c2f262f559
FALL WOODY PLANT CONTROL – Megan Taylor
As we transition into fall are you seeing more brush and woody weeds in your pastures?
It can be tempting to spray herbicides in fall to manage woody plants and brush. I have been receiving several calls over the past two weeks about spraying woody plants in conjunction with thistles. However, counter to what is recommended for thistles, fall spraying may not pay for woody weeds. Spraying can still be completed on deciduous woody plants if the leaves are still green and actively growing, for many in Nebraska this has already passed and we don’t want to make applications on dormant plants. Mowing for brush or smaller woody plants can be completed in fall, but will need to be chemically controlled in the following summer to reduce populations. So, fall may serve as a time for collecting information, making a plan for late spring to early summer, and questioning why woody plants have encroached.
Right now make a plan for June!
- Know your weeds you are controlling and pick products
- Make a plan for grazing restrictions after treatment
- Adjust management practices to increase competition in favor of desirable grasses
Typically, early June is the best time to control woody plants and spraying early rather than later is recommended. So, if we have a warm spring and break dormancy early, spray accordingly. Also, overgrazing and fertility play a big role in encroaching woody plants, so looking at past records and soil sampling may be a better use of time this fall, than actively spraying.
Bottom line: spraying now won’t pay for woody weeds, wait until early summer and use this time to plan ahead/adjust grazing schedule.
VALUING CORN STALK BALES – Ben Beckman
With dry conditions still plaguing much of the state, baling corn residue following harvest might be an optional roughage source if hay supply is getting tight. What value should be put on harvesting corn residue?
Figuring out the true value of corn stalk bales can be a bit tricky, but breaking down the costs can help it make sense. First, look at the value of nutrients removed from the field that will need to be replaced by fertilizer. Stalks this fall will contain between $3-5 worth of nitrogen, potassium, phosphorus, and sulfur per ton.
Stalks also provide organic matter and help reduce erosion. We need to account for the loss of these benefits as well. Nebraska research shows that dryland corn yield declines about 2 bushes for each ton of residue removed. Irrigation costs increase similarly to maintain yields, accounting for an additional $10-12 per ton.
Baling stalks is harder on equipment than putting up grass or alfalfa hay. This additional labor and equipment cost comes in at around $20-25 per ton. Adding everything up, we accumulate $33 to $45 in cost per ton of residue removed.
With costs calculated, we have to figure out what a bale is worth. From a nutritional standpoint, corn stalk bales don’t come out much better than straw. Even if being selective with what we harvest, we can only count on around 5% crude protein and up to 55% TDN. With these values, combining stalks with distillers grain in a diet may be the most efficient use. Comparing a distillers grain and stalk ration with a mixed grass hay diet, we can put a value on corn stalk bales up to $80 per ton.
So, is corn stalk harvest worth it? This year with fertilizer prices down, and hay up, corn stalk bales may be a reasonable option to explore.
ALFLAFA IRRIGATION IN THE FALL – Megan Taylor
With warm and dry conditions across the state should we be irrigating alfalfa one more time?
With the continued lack of moisture that we have across the state of Nebraska and the warm autumn temperatures, alfalfa stands may benefit from added water. Alfalfa is a drought tolerant crop with a deep root system, however it does have a relatively high water use requirement. This means that alfalfa can survive between long breaks of irrigation or rainfall events due to its deep root system. However, timely application of water and recharge are critical for success of the stand over time. We need some surface soil moisture to prevent alfalfa roots from drying out and dying over winter, but too much surface moisture, especially in new stands, can stunt the root development of alfalfa. Soil moisture can help to regulate soil temperatures from dropping too low for alfalfa plants to survive and application of water now in heavy textured soils could allow water to move through the profile for spring capture.
During the peak water use period in summer, it is unrealistic attempt to keep up with the water demand of alfalfa with irrigation alone. Relying on water reserves available in the deeper portion of the root and soil profile are valuable to production. Irrigating in October and into November until soils freeze thus can protect plant roots and improve yields by mitigating stress on alfalfa stands). There are two main advantages to late season water application.
- Low evaporation compared to summer, permitting very high irrigation efficiency.
- Moving water lower into the profile for spring.
Most irrigated fields of alfalfa never get much water below 4 feet deep, but alfalfa’s powerful taproot can extend 8 feet deep. Allowing for extended water capture capabilities and application of water in fall can help to build a reserve lower in the profile. That water reserve will help to mitigate stress next year while alfalfa is growing rapidly during next summer’s heat and allow you to irrigate on a timelier basis. Since many alfalfa soils have low water infiltration rates, irrigating now may provide an advantage to next spring and summer. It is important to note that irrigating in fall will not be silver bullet to recharging dry profiles, but should be used as a way to mitigate stress on alfalfa stands following dry conditions.
Monday, Aug. 31: Course on Quicken for Farm and Ranch Record Keeping – Register Tuesday, Sept. 1: Which winter small grain – wheat, cereal rye, or triticale – should you plant this fall for forage next spring? Information from Daren Redfearn Wednesday, Sept. 2: Pasture Weed Management – Information from Jerry Volesky Thursday, Sept. 3: Free – 2020 Weed, Disease, and Insect Management in Nebraska Books Friday, Sept. 4: Free – 2019 Nebraska Corn and Soybean Pocket Field Guides