Extension Update from Jenny Rees

Jenny’s REESources-August 6^th 2016

UPCOMING EVENTS:
Aug. 9:  Soybean Management Field Days, Clearwater, http://ardc.unl.edu/soydays
Aug. 9-10: Nebraska Grazing Conference, Ramada Inn, Kearney, NE http://grassland.unl.edu/nebraskagrazingconference
Aug. 10:  Soybean Management Field Days, Chapman, http://ardc.unl.edu/soydays
Aug. 11:  Soybean Management Field Days, Cordova, http://ardc.unl.edu/soydays
Aug. 11-14:  Seward County Fair, Fairgrounds, Seward
Aug. 12:  Soybean Management Field Days, Schuyler, http://ardc.unl.edu/soydays
Aug. 23:  West Central Crop and Water Field Day, http://extension.unl.edu/statewide/westcentral/fieldday/
Aug. 24:  CMDC Late Season Clinic, ARDC near Mead, http://ardc.unl.edu/crop.shtml
Aug. 25:  CMDC Corn/Soy Production School, ARDC near Mead, http://ardc.unl.edu/crop.shtml
Aug. 26-Sept. 5: Nebraska State Fair, Nebraska State Fairgrounds, Fonner Park, Grand Island, NE
Sept. 13-15: Husker Harvest Days, Husker Road, Alda, NE

Soybean Management Field Days:  Just a reminder of this week’s Soybean Management Field Days throughout the State!  August 9^th will be held at the Robert Johnston Farm near Orchard; Aug. 10^th at the Shane Greving Farm near Chapman (1374 9^th Rd); Aug. 11^th at the Eberspacher Family Farms (Darren, Delayne, and Wes) just south and west of Cordova (4754 Saltillo Road); and Aug. 12th at Goff Farms near Schuyler.  Soybean Management Field Days are a long-term partnership between the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and the Nebraska Soybean Board.  They begin at 9:00 a.m. with registration and conclude at 2:30 p.m.  Topics include soybean irrigation; soil fertility, PPO herbicide and conventional soybean studies; grain marketing and farm management; soybean production management strategies comparison; and sprayer management for successful weed control in soybeans.  The event is free but please pre-register for meal count to 800-529-8030.  More information including maps to the field days can be found at:  http://ardc.unl.edu/soydays.  Hope to see you August 11^th near Cordova!

Fair:  I’ve always loved fair time-especially because it was such a special family time growing up.  4-H taught me much regarding life skills that I still use today!  It was wonderful to work with our team of ladies in the Extension Office, Fair Board members and their spouses, 4-H Council, Extension Board members, FFA leaders, and numerous volunteers.  A special thank you to all who were involved with the 2016 York County Fair; we really enjoyed working with everyone and meeting so many families!  Hope many plan to attend the Seward County Fair this week (Aug. 11-14)!

Crop Update:  I didn’t get out to look at crops last week and the reports I’m receiving from farmers and crop consultants don’t seem to be much different than what I shared last week.  There continues to be concern regarding spidermites and western bean cutworm in corn fields.  Sudden death syndrome is appearing in more soybean fields in our area with frogeye leaf spot appearing more east of us. 

Emerald Ash Borer Meetings:  Concern about this invasive insect and its impact on community trees is high.  Many homeowners have questions about their trees and potential treatment options available to them.  Nebraska Extension in Lancaster County and the Nebraska Forest Service are presenting seminars about Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) to provide homeowners with the information they need to make good decisions about the care of their ash trees.  Learn how to identify ash trees, determine which of your trees are best candidates for treatment, and about available treatment methods.  Treatment is still not recommended until EAB is confirmed within 15 miles of your location and it still in only the Omaha and Cass county area.  One will be held Thursday, August 18^th from 7-9 p.m. at the Extension Office in Saunders County (1071 County Road G) near Ithaca.  Another will be held Saturday, August 27^th from 9-11 a.m. at the Lancaster Extension Office (444 Cherrycreek Road) in Lincoln.  Registration is required by calling 402-441-7180 and there is a fee of $15 per person/couple for one set of educational materials.  Payment can be made the day of the meeting.  If you are a Master Gardener, please let them know that when you call to register. 

Water Field Day:  Nebraska Extension and the Nebraska Water Balance Alliance will host a field day on the Systems Approach to Cropping and Irrigation Management Tuesday, August 23 at North Platte.  It will be held at UNL West Central Research and Extension Center (402 W. State Farm Road) with registration at 8 a.m. and program beginning at 8:30 a.m.  Presentation topics will include: efficient crop rotations and tillage systems, reducing input costs and leveraging water resources, grazing cover crops, NRD updates, and grain marketing and irrigation mobile apps.  Following lunch, there will be previews of what’s available at each of the field sites and an opportunity to visit sites and talk with staff. Field site topics will include:  soil water sensor comparison; sorghum weed control & field pea research; forages/cover crops production plots; sensors for determining nitrogen requirements; field to market; crop rotation and productivity; managing corn rootworm; sustainable management of plant pathogens; pesticide application technology, and ethanol powered irrigation engines.  The event is free, but registration is requested by Aug. 19 to plan for food.  CCA Soil and Water credits have been applied for.  To register, visit http://extension.unl.edu/statewide/westcentral/fieldday/.