Extension Update from Jenny Rees

UPCOMING EVENTS:  
June 6:  Winter Wheat Field Day-Washington Co., 6pm, RSVP Nathan Mueller (402) 727-2775
June 7:  Winter Wheat Field Day-Fairbury, 6:30 pm, RSVP Randy Pryor (402) 821-2151
June 12:  Generational Transition for Ranchers, Noon-5pm, Belvidere Community Bldg, RSVP erin.laborie@unl.edu or (308) 268-3105
June 13:  Summer Grazing Tour (Reynolds, Belvidere, Bruning), RSVP:  erin.laborie@unl.edu or (308) 268-3105
June 16:  Field Pea, Forage, and Cover Crop Tour, Hastings-Webster Co, RSVP:sstepanovic2@unl.edu or (308) 352-4340
June 17:  Cow-Calf Management Field Day, 1pm, Cuming County,  Larry Howard, 402-372-6006
June 19:  Winter Wheat Field Day-UNL Research Farm North Platte, 3 p.m., RSVP Rodrigo Werle (308) 696-6712
June 20:  Winter Wheat Field Day-Henry J. Stumpf Wheat Center Perkins Co, 9am, RSVP Rodrigo Werle (308) 696-6712
June 22:  Cover Crop Conference, 2 p.m., Holthus Convention Center York.
June 28:  South Central Ag Lab Weed Science and Cover Crop Field Day, SCAL near Clay Center, registration 8am, Weed Program 8:30-Noon, Free lunch, Cover Crop Program 1-3pm, Register:  http://agronomy.unl.edu/fieldday
July 10-11:  Youth Tractor Safety Class, 8am, Grand Island College Park (308) 385-5088.
July 18:  Crop Management Diagnostic Clinic:  Soil Health, ARDC (now ENREC) near Mead
Aug. 2:  Crop Management Diagnostic Clinic:  Precision Ag Training, ARDC (now ENREC) near Mead
Aug. 8:  Soybean Management Field Days, North Platte
Aug. 8-9:  Nebraska Grazing Conference, Kearney
Aug. 9:  Soybean Management Field Days, Ord
Aug. 9:  Nebraska Cover Crop Conference, during Lancaster Co. Fair at Fairgrounds
Aug. 10:  Soybean Management Field Days, Auburn
Aug. 11:  Soybean Management Field Days, Tekamah
Aug. 23:  Crop Management Diagnostic Clinic:  Soybean Production Training, ARDC (now ENREC) near Mead
Aug. 24:  Crop Management Diagnostic Clinic:  Corn Production Training, ARDC (now ENREC) near Mead
Aug. 24:  York County Corn Grower Plot Tailgate, 5-7pm, 1416 Road I, York County.

Farm Finance Clinic Sites and Dates To sign up for a clinic or to get more information, call Michelle at the Nebraska Farm Hotline at 1-800-464-0258.

Field Pea Field Day:  Field Pea Field Days with Nebraska Extension are scheduled for June 16 at Bladen, June 19 at North Platte, and June 20 at Grant, and they will be conducted in conjunction with Nebraska Winter Wheat Field Days. Directions to the research plots and detailed agenda for each location can be found at http://cropwatch.unl.edu/2017/field-pea-field-days.

Participants will be able to view different field pea varieties and learn more about rotational benefits and agronomic practices to profitably grow field peas in their cropping systems. The June 16 field day will include a tour of Gavilon’s field pea grain processing facility at Hastings, NE and indoor sessions featuring topics such as wheatlege production prior to corn silage, cover crops after wheat, planting and harvesting field peas, herbicide carryover in field pea production, wheat and field pea production in Kansas, and practices to increase wheat grain protein.  Field Pea Field Days are sponsored by the SARE (Sustainable Agriculture and Research Education) and are fee. Lunch and refreshments will be served at each location.  To PRE-REGISTER by June 14 by calling Perkins County Extension Office at 308-352-4340 or send email to Strahinja Stepanovic at sstepanovic2@unl.edu.

Weed Management/Cover Crops Field Day:  During pesticide trainings last winter, I shared research on palmer amaranth and other weeds.  Some asked if there were any field days to view and compare herbicide program activity on weed control. 

One of the better opportunities to do this is on June 28 at the South Central Agricultural Laboratory near Clay Center.  There is no charge for the field day with registration beginning at 8 a.m. and field day from 8:30 a.m.-12:15 p.m.  Lunch will be served which will then be followed by a cover crop field day from 1-3 p.m.  The weed management field day will include on-site demonstrations of herbicides for weed control in corn, popcorn, and soybean as well as a view of ongoing cover crop research. An early morning demonstration will focus on weed control in soybeans followed by a demonstration of projects for weed control in corn, popcorn and sorghum. Onsite demonstration of cover crop research will highlight the afternoon session.

Soybean demonstrations will include an unbiased comparison of herbicide programs of different companies for weed control in Roundup Ready, Liberty Link, and Xtend soybeans.  Weed control and crop safety in Roundup Ready 2Xtend Soybean, Balance Bean, Bolt Soybean, and Conventional Soybean will also be discussed. 

Corn demonstrations include an unbiased comparison of several herbicide programs by different companies for weed control in glyphosate- plus glufosinate-resistant corn. Effect of row spacing and herbicide on weed control in popcorn, DiFlexx DUO for weed control in corn, INZEN sorghum, and injury symptoms of dicamba or 2,4-D on a number of crops will also be discussed. 

Afternoon demonstrations of cover crop research will include cover crops in corn and soybean systems including planting dates, plant populations, and maturities. Participants will walk cover crop experiments planted in corn and/or soybean.  Cover crop pluses and minuses: Bio-mass, nitrogen for the following crop, nitrates, erosion, water use, and crop yields will also be discussed.

Certified Crop Advisor (CCA) continuing education units will be available.  There is no cost to attend the field day, but participants are asked to register at http://agronomy.unl.edu/fieldday.  The South Central Agricultural Laboratory is 4.5 miles west of the intersection of Highways 14 and 6, or 12.4 miles east of Hastings on Highway 6. GPS coordinates of the field day site are 40.57539, -98.13776.

Lawn Care:  A common question this spring has been to identify a weed primarily occurring in lawns called chickweed.  In Nebraska lawns this is typically a winter annual in which it germinates in the fall, goes dormant over the winter and grows and produces seeds in the spring.  It most commonly occurs in lawns with lower mowing height that are moist, compacted, or shady.  Raising the mowing height to 3” and monitoring watering can help with management.  While spring broadleaf lawn care products can keep it in check, the best time to apply a herbicide for control would be in early September.  Fall is also the best time to control perennial broadleaf weeds such as dandelion and henbit.  It’s important to read and follow all label directions.  I know you hear us mention this a lot, and it’s important.  Labels will tell you information such as temperatures to apply products containing 2,4-D as I’m seeing damage right now from improper use.  They will also tell you if there’s concern with translocation to other shrubs, trees, or plants.  One product some have asked about is Trimec, which is a good product to use in the fall for the above-mentioned weeds.  However, one does need to be cautious about applying it around desirable plants and making sure to not apply it around roots or to surface roots of desirable trees or shrubs.  A product that should never be used in lawns is Tordon which is a chemical for range, pasture, and industrial sites such as along powerlines, railroad tracks, etc.  The label will always have important information so please be sure to read and follow all label instructions to avoid unwanted damage to plants!  The following is a resource with lawn weed photos and management options:  http://go.unl.edu/xw56.

Yellow nutsedge control:  Yellow nutsedge is a grass-like weed that has a thicker, waxier leaf and often a lighter yellow color compared to the rest of your lawn.  Sedges have three-sided stems so they are different than true grasses.  The plant produces shallow roots before putting on tubers.  The timing of tuber formation varies each year but often occurs around June 21.  Prior to tuber formation, you can hand-pull it to help control it.  It tends to take diligence with hand-pulling but that does seem to be an effective way of controlling it.  Once tubers form, hand pulling only tends to increase the nutsedge problem, so it is recommended to stop upon tuber formation.  A product that homeowners can use in their lawns is called Sedgehammer, which translocates to the roots and may take 1-3 weeks before you see it working.  This product should also be applied prior to tuber formation for best control and it may take several years to achieve full control.  While this is a few years old, the following YouTube video from BackYard Farmer shares more about nutsedge and its control:  https://youtu.be/SVgbXLP_oKE.