Nebraska CropWatch

54. Management of Fire-Affected Crops

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

53. Sampling for Soybean Cyst Nematode

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. 
 

52. USDAs Crop Progress and Production Reports

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

51. Cover Crop Biomass Calculator

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. 

50. Preventing Weed Seed Distribution from Combines

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. 

49. Planting Cover Crops with a Highboy Interseeder

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. 
 

48. Scheduling the Final Irrigation of the Season

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. 
 

47. Using Drought-Stressed Corn as Livestock Feed

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