Extension Update by Gary Zoubeck [May 14, 2015]

Coming Events
May 18, Extension Board Meeting, 8:00 p.m., Extension Office, York

Cropping Update
I’m hoping that you did not have major damage from the rains and flooding we received this past week! I regularly post rainfall events on the Nebraska Rainfall Assessment and Information Network (NeRAIN) located at: http://nerain.dnr.ne.gov/nerain/. For the past week I reported 3.65” and other reports from the York County area varied from 2.5” to nearly 5.0”. These amounts are much better than the 10” to 13+” reports for Lincoln and Saline County areas. I’m sure we’ve lost some stands and will be replanting some spots but not like in the areas with all the flooding and erosion. On the bright side, hopefully we’ve refilled our soil profile.

Our soil temperatures have averaged 61.6° F compared to our normal of 59.5° F for the past week, but have dropped considerably over the weekend and today (Monday) as I prepare this column. If feels more like winter than spring with temperatures in the 40s and 50s.

If you have flooding or replant decisions to make, it’s always good to wait a few days for things to dry out so that you can have a better handle on the situation. Please check out our timely/updated resources related to flooding on our CropWatch website: http://cropwatch.unl.edu/. We have several timely articles for you to check out!

Last week I mentioned that hopefully we will not need to worry about irrigation for a while and it looks that way now, but it is time to get out your ETgages and Watermark sensors and ready them for the upcoming season. You can go to our NAWMN website: http://water.unl.edu/nawmn, click on our publications link and finally the ETgage & Watermark Sensor Checklist for what to do now for preparing these tools for the upcoming season. A short link to this information is: http://go.unl.edu/fkoe.

I’m planning to place my ETgages out this week so that I can get them adjusted and begin taking weekly readings next week. When using an ETgage it’s important to properly stage your crop as the season goes along. When your corn is at the 6th leaf stage be sure and marks some plants to that it’s easy to stage them the rest of the year. I’ll share more about this process latter this season.

Now is also the time to gather up your Watermark sensors. Then go ahead and test them dry to see if they are reading 199 kPa. Then place them in a bucket for 24 hours or longer and read them again. We want them to read 10 kPa or less. If they read higher, it’s probably a good idea to replace them.

As I mentioned before, the NRD will cost share half on this equipment! Check out their link at: http://www.upperbigblue.org/PDFs/dept_water/forms/Irrigation_Scheduling_Order_Form_2015.pdf. For more information, give me a call at 402-362-5508 or email me at gary.zoubek@unl.edu. I would be glad to assist you with using this equipment.

Lawn and Garden Update
Are you keeping up getting your grass mowed? It’s really been growing rapidly with the rain and cool temperatures. I’ve mentioned several times before that it’s important to follow the 1/3 rule. Our goal is to never remove more than 1/3 of the leaf surface with any one mowing. If you’re mowing at a 3” height, you can let the grass to 4.5”, but if you are mowing at 2.5” you should mow at 3.75”. If the grass get away from you can raise the mowing height, mow and then in a few days lower the height and mow again. That will be easier on you and the grass rather than taking off ½ or more of the leaf surface with one mowing. Also be sure and sharpen your lawn mower blade on a regular basis. Does your grass have a whitish look after mowing? If so it may be a dull mower blade. Check out the latest turf information at: http://turf.unl.edu/. You can stay up to date by checking out the Turf iNfo updates.

A co-worker of mine, Elizabeth Killinger from Grand Island share the following column and I thought I’d share it with you. It talks about using science based facts that come from research. When searching for information be sure it’s science based.

“Without a doubt the interest in gardening and landscaping has been on the rise for many years. In order to find information on how to garden in the past, you had to know who to ask or what book to look in. Today the places to find information are endless. Pinterest, Facebook, Twitter and the internet all have gardening information that is easily shared among friends and followers alike. Sometimes these ideas are tried and true while others are more “too good to be true.” I might not be the first to say it, but you can’t believe everything you read on the internet.

Through my job with Nebraska Extension, I educate people using science-based information that comes from research. This ensures the information that I give out has been researched by numerous people and has been found to be consistent in a number of settings and conditions.

When searching online, it can be difficult to figure out the source of the information. Sometimes the information comes handed down or it comes from unreliable information observed by one or a handful of individuals. Other times the information comes from groups or individuals with an agenda for or against a certain thing. Whenever you see something online, be sure to do a little research before you add the practice to your own garden.

Land-grant universities are good sources of information. To make sure you get science-based gardening information, you can find university extension resources online. The easiest way to find university information while you are searching online is to add the command “site:.edu” or “AND extension” to your search.

One of the most common sources for misinformation is with homemade pesticide alternatives. Be sure to research the safety and efficacy of these products before applying in the landscape or garden. Epsom salts, a common homemade pesticide ingredient, should be used with caution in the landscape. Epsom salts are magnesium sulfate. A soil test should be performed prior to applying to make sure the soil is deficient in magnesium. In slightly alkaline pH soils, like in most of Nebraska, magnesium is readily available. Another reason to avoid over using Epsom salts in the landscape is because it leaches easily from the soil and can act as a potential water contaminate.

Vinegar, the wonder substance. It can multitask so well in the house; it must be useful outdoors too. There are many homemade recipes that use vinegar as a cure-all for one thing or another in the landscape. Vinegar is an effective weed killer, but not the household type. Household white vinegar is about 5% acetic acid. Household vinegar will burn the top back on the weeds, but has a difficult time killing the roots on larger plants. The weed killing vinegar, or horticulture vinegar, is 20% acetic acid. It works much faster, but also has a tough time killing the roots on larger plants. Caution has to be used with the 20% acetic acid. Vinegar is also not very effective to prevent or cure disease problems; it can burn back good plants just like weeds. It is not a good fertilizer either. Acetic acid only contains hydrogen and oxygen, elements the plant can get from the air. The only thing vinegar is really good for in the landscape is killing very young weeds.

‘Research it before you apply it’ should be the new motto to follow. Check reputable resources to make sure what you are reading is safe and tested for that particular problem. A little research upfront can save you from applying a mixture that won’t fix your problem…and save your vinegar for making pickles.

June Forage and Pasture Management Session Planned
Just a reminder about the June Forage and Pasture Management Session planned for Monday, June 1, at the ARDC near Mead. Registration and meal at 11:15 a.m. – 12:00 p.m., program beginning at 12:15 p.m. and ending at approximately 3:30 p.m. Cost is $10 by May 28, or $15 at the door (make checks available to University of Nebraska-Lincoln). Lunch and hand-outs provided.

Dr. Bruce Anderson, Nebraska Extension Forage Specialist will discuss establishing pastures into previous crop ground, as well as advantages and considerations of rotational grazing. Dr. Daren Redfearn, Nebraska Extension Integrated Forage Specialist, will discuss monitoring pasture conditions – tools you can use.

To register or obtain more information, contact: Lindsay Chichester, Saunders County, 402-624-8030.