Extension Update by Gary Zoubek [August 23, 2012]

Coming Events

August 22, 2012 — UNL South Central Ag Lab Field Day near Clay Center, 8:30 a.m. – 2 p.m.

August 23, 2012 – York County Corn Grower Plot Tour, 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. located west of your on Highway 34 – ¾ miles north of Hwy 34 and Road I intersection!

August 28, 2012 – SCN Meeting, 6:30 p.m.,Neil Beck farm, Hastings

August 29, 2012 – SCN Meeting, 5:30 p.m., Pete C. Schmidt and Sons Farm, Bellwood

September 10, 11, 13 &14 – 7:00 – 9:30 p.m. – Archery Safety Education, 4-H Building, York Fairgrounds

September 17, 20, 24 & 25 – 7:00 – 9:30 p.m. – Hunter Safety Education, 4-H Building, York Fairgrounds

Corn Grower Plot Tour Planned

The York County Corn Grower Plot Tour is planned for next Thursday, August 23, 2012 from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m.  The plot is located ¾ miles north of Hwy 34 on Road I!

Those attending will be able to check out the various corn varieties and visit with the seed company representatives.  Following the tour, we’ll have pork sandwich lunch with all the trimmings.  We’ll then have a report on 2012 practices, products used as well as an irrigation update.

We also have several different types of irrigation equipment installed in this field to monitor soil moisture and estimate crop ET.  Systems we have in the field include:

• Brad Rathje with AquaCheck USA has provided an AquaCheck soil moisture sensor system
• Jeff Kugler from Servitech has provided the Profiler Watermark soil moisture sensor system
• Ken Quandt from McCrometer has provided an EnviroPro soil moisture sensor system
• Tanner Tool from AquaSpy has provided AquaSpy soil moisture sensor system

Door prizes will also be given away, so mark August 23^rd on your calendar and plan to attend!

Cropping Update

The ETgages I’ve been monitoring dropped about 1.30” for the week, so crop water uses was much less then we’ve had for much of the summer.  The grass ETgage in front of our office dropped 1.1” for the week, but still not much for rain, but it looks like we’ll have a few more chance s this week.  It will probably be late for the dryland crops, but could still help the soybeans.  August rains make for good soybean yields, but if the leaves have yellowed and dropped, the rain won’t do much good other than start the refill process of the dried out root zone!

The two corn fields near these ETgages are now fully dented and at about ½ starch line, so crop water needs will be about 2”, so depending upon the soil water status, we’re done for the season.  The soybean fields are past R6 which is the stage where the seeds are nearly fully developed and fills the entire seed cavity!  From this stage to maturity, the crop will use a little less than 3.5”.  Again that water can be provided from the soil, irrigation or hopefully rainfall!   When soybean leaves start to yellow estimated water use is about 2” additional inches, so it’s important to not stop too early, but it’s equally important to not end the season with a full soil profile.

For our NebGuide on scheduling that last irrigation of the season, go to:   http://www.ianrpubs.unl.edu/epublic/live/g1871/build/g1871.pdf.  To correctly estimate your crops stage of growth go to: http://elkhorn.unl.edu/ETGage/jsp/quickCharts.jsp and click on the appropriate crop.  I did short interview for the Market Journal program this week, it’s available on the Market Journal website located at:  http://marketjournal.unl.edu/.

Bill Kranz, Extension Irrigation Specialist also did a story for CropWatch and for Market Journal about evaluating your irrigation distribution system.  He indicated that “A bad year can have its silver linings. This year the yield-limiting impacts of irrigation problems will be clearly visible in some fields.  The silver lining, you can take this opportunity to assess your system, identify any problems, and fix them while they’re still fresh in your mind.”

Now would be a good time to fly over your fields and see is you can see differences, or at least get out into them and see if the crop is maturing the same.  I’ve seen some that we really do have some distribution problems.  Potential problems can include:

• Sprinklers can blow out of their hole, creating a geyser on the pivot pipeline.
• Sprinklers can wear out and stop rotating or rotate out of control.
• Pumping water level declines so that the system flow rate and pressure no longer match the original design.
• Boots, gaskets and other seals begin to leak.
• Sprinkler spacing is too wide, leaving gaps of unwatered crop.

Check out his story on CropWatch at: http://cropwatch.unl.edu/.

I also still have a few copies of our “Center Pivot Irrigation Management Handbook” available at our office for the asking.  It includes a checklist of “Pivot Maintenance and Management Activities” for you do.

Archery & Hunter Education Safety Training to be Held

I visited with Dan Barrett the other day and he asked that I remind young people as well as adults that he and other will be conducting both Archery and Hunter Education Safety Training in September.  Classes will be from 7:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. on the days listed in my Coming Events section of my column!

To register go to http://huntsafenebraska.org.  For additional detail contact Dan at 402-366-4380.

Companion Animal & Wildlife Career Days Planned

Are you a high school student and interested in potential careers in wildlife or companion animals? UNL has a couple of events planned for you.  The dates are Oct. 3 and Dec. 5 and these events have been very highly rated by high school students in the past.  This will be a great opportunity to receive hands on learning about careers and college programs related to companion animals and wildlife.  Teachers are welcome to bring a class or group of students or provide information to individual students wishing to come for the day.  For complete details go to: http://york.unl.edu/county/4h and click on the upcoming link for details and how to register.  There is no cost to attended, but registrations are limited to 50 per day to allow for appropriate sized groups for activities.  Let me know if you have any questions or need more info.

SCAL Field Day Planned

Reminder, th South Central Agricultural Laboratory (SCAL) Field Day will be held August 22^nd from 8:30 a.m. – 2:15 p.m.  No cost to attend, however, please call or email today, 402-762-4403 or shachtel1@unl.edu so that adequate meal will be provided.  SCAL is located 7.5 miles west of the Hwy 14 & Hwy 6 intersection.  A copy of the day’s program and detail can be found at: http://scal.unl.edu/Southcentralfieldday.pdf.

Soybean Cyst Nematode (SCN) Meetings are Planned 

It’s estimated that last year soybean cyst nematodes cost Nebraska farmers over $45 million in lost yields. Identifying fields where they’re present and implementing management measures can help you recapture this lost yield.

At each of the four sites, you will be able to:  See SCN-resistant and susceptible soybean varieties, Examine cysts on infested soybean plant roots, Learn how to identify and manage SCN infestations, Receive a kit for one free SCN analysis ($20 value), Talk with specialists to get the answers you need about SCN, and enjoy a complimentary meal!

Sessions in our area are:

Hastings –- Tuesday, August 28 at 6:30 p.m. at the Neil Beck farm
Directions: From Hastings, go 4 miles east on Highway 6, then 1 mile south on Maxon Road, 0.5 mile east on “J” Street. (north side)

Bellwood — Wednesday, August 29, 5:30 p.m. at the Pete C. Schmidt and Sons Field Day
Directions: From Bellwood, go 5.5 miles west on Highway 64 (1 mile east of junction of Hwy 81 and 64), 1 mile south on Rd B and 0.25 miles east on Rd 40 (north side)

For complete program details go to: http://cropwatch.unl.edu/web/cropwatch/archive?articleID=4964160.