The past two weeks, we’ve received a number of calls regarding injured soybean plants during emergence. Additional questions include “What caused this?” and “Do I need to replant?” The following is what we’ve seen thus far.
Soybean planting was early this year in Nebraska, but dry soil conditions in most of May resulted in poor activation of pre-emergence herbicides applied in rain-fed fields and subsequently less than expected weed control.
Corn ear abnormalities have been noted the past few years. Tracing back the information on various field calls often pointed to a misunderstanding of proper growth stages when making post-emergence herbicide applications in addition to pre-tassel fungicide and insecticide applications.
This week's map indicates that enough degree days have accumulated for common stalk borer eggs to have hatched across the state. It's time to start scouting.
Disease levels are low in most Nebraska wheat fields. Current hot daytime temperatures and dry conditions will keep disease levels low in areas that do not receive rainfall.
This week, Extension educators preview the upcoming 2021 Cover Crops and Soil Health Conference and offer tips on how to get prepared for chemigation training sessions beginning this month in Nebraska.
As of May 31, 2020, Nebraska corn planting was complete and soybeans planted was 95% according to the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. Planting and emergence of both crops continues to be ahead of five year averages.
Free legal and financial clinics are being offered for farmers and ranchers across the state in June 2020. The clinics are one-on-one meetings with an agricultural law attorney and an agricultural financial counselor. For the time being the clinics are being conducted as conference calls or as Zoom meetings.