Extension Update from Jenny Rees

UPCOMING EVENTS:  
Nov. 13:  So You Inherited a Farm, Now What? 1:30 p.m., 4-H Bldg York, RSVP (402) 362-5508 or jrees2@unl.edu
Nov. 13:  Crop Science Investigation for Youth, 5:00 p.m., Extension Office York, RSVP Jenny Rees 402-440-4739
Nov. 15:  Sprayer Clinic for Dicamba/Enlist, NE College Tech Ag Curtis, 12:30 p.m., RSVP 308-696-6705 or robert.klein@unl.edu
Nov. 16:  Grain Marketing Seminar:  Intro to Futures and Options, 9:30-3 p.m., former ARDC near Mead, RSVP (402) 261-7572
Nov. 16:  York County Corn Grower Banquet, 6:30 p.m. Social, 7 p.m. Supper, Chances ‘R’, Tickets at York Co. Extension Office or from Corn Grower Directors
Nov. 19-21:  Facing Challenges: Shaping the Future Water Conference, Holiday Inn Kearney, http://www.newra.net/nwra-nsia-joint-convention/
Nov. 21:  Grain Marketing Seminar:  Intro. to Futures and Options, 10 a.m.-3:30 p.m., Extension Office Holdrege, RSVP (308) 345-3390Nov. 27:  On-Farm Research Brainstorm/Discussion Session, 1-4 p.m., 4-H Bldg Fairgrounds Aurora, RSVP jrees2@unl.edu or steve.melvin@unl.edu
Dec. 7:  Farmers and Ranchers College:  Dr. David Kohl, 1-4 p.m., Bruning Opera House, Bruning
Dec. 11:  Grain Marketing Seminar:  Intro to Futures and Options, 9:30 a.m.-3pm, Extension Office Beatrice, RSVP (402) 873-3166
Dec. 11:  Beef Quality Assurance Training, 3-5 p.m., Saunders Co. Extension (former ARDC), RSVP 402-624-8030 or kristen.ulmer@unl.edu
Dec. 12:  Grain Marketing Seminar: Intro to Futures and Options, 9:30 a.m.-3 p.m., 4-H Building York, RSVP (402) 362-5508
Dec. 12:  Beef Quality Assurance Training, 3-5 p.m., Jefferson Co. 4-H Building in Fairbury, RSVP 402-624-8030 or kristen.ulmer@unl.edu
Dec. 12:  Beef Quality Assurance Training, 7-9 p.m., Civic Center in Seward, RSVP 402-624-8030 or kristen.ulmer@unl.edu
Dec. 13:  Cow-Calf Management in Limited Perennial Pasture, 6:30 p.m., Blue Hill Community Center, Blue Hill, RSVP brad.schick@unl.eduJan. 10-11:  York Ag Expo, Holthus Convention Center, York
Jan. 11:  Crop Production Clinic, North Platte
Jan. 16:  Crop Production Clinic, Norfolk
Jan. 18:  Crop Production Clinic, Lincoln
Jan. 18-19:  Hops Grower, Brewer Conference, Embassy Suites Downtown Omaha, http://www.growbrewnebraska.com/registration/
Jan. 24-25:  Crop Management Conference, Kearney
Jan. 30-31:  No-Till On the Plains Winter Conference, Wichita, KS http://notill.org/
Feb. 7-9:  Nebraska Ag Tech Assoc. (NeATA) Conference
Feb. 19:  Nebraska On-Farm Research Network Update, former ARDC near Mead
Feb. 20:  Nebraska On-Farm Research Network Update, Lifelong Learning Center Northeast Com. College, Norfolk
Feb. 21:  Nebraska On-Farm Research Network Update, Hall Co. Extension Office, Grand Island
Feb. 22-23:  Women in Ag Conference, Kearney

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.

Thank you to our veterans and your families for your service and sacrifices! 

Crop Update:  On this week’s CropWatch at http://cropwatch.unl.edu, there’s a photo gallery from Bob Klein, Extension Cropping Systems Specialist, showing using a Vermeer rake and combine pick-up attachments to pick up downed corn.  They were able to obtain 75-80% of the corn this way in 2012 after a windstorm.  He did mention it can be hard on the combine running that much material through it and very dusty, but a fairly effective way of doing this.

Dr. Tamra Jackson-Ziems also has a project with the Nebraska Corn Board.  Every year we get questions about corn nematodes and their potential on limiting yields.  University of Nebraska-Lincoln Plant Pathology Professor Tom Powers’ lab is providing free nematode analyses for soil samples submitted from corn fields now through spring.  The objective of this project is to learn more about the root-lesion nematode species present in Nebraska fields. Unlike some nematodes, root-lesion nematodes are extremely common (in more than 93% of Nebraska fields).  If you’re already planning to sample your soils for nutrient content, this would be a good time to take samples for corn nematodes.  You can do this by collecting at least 2 cups of soil from down to about 8 inches deep in the plant root zone (from within the row). For more information on nematodes of corn and how to collect samples view this video, Corn Disease: Nematodes.  Please package the samples in plastic bags and ship them with a completed Sample Submission form to the UNL Plant & Pest Diagnostic Clinic (P&PDC) (448 Plant Science Hall, Lincoln, NE 68583-0722). Be sure to clearly identify that the sample is for the Corn Nematode Survey.  For sandy fields, some nematode species can travel deep in the soil and out of reach of traditional soil probes.  Sandy fields can best be sampled in the spring after planting by about the V5 corn leaf stage to capture all nematodes.

And, because soybean cyst nematodes affecting soybeans can be sampled at any time and after any crop, you may wish to take even more soil from those areas and submit to the same lab for free soybean cyst nematode analysis via the Nebraska Soybean Board!

With harvest nearing the end, I’ve received several questions regarding fall herbicide applications for marestail and henbit in particular.  We know from UNL research that at least 60% of marestail in Nebraska germinates in the fall.  There were some pretty telling pictures on Twitter last spring showing the differences in fields where fall applications were applied in a field vs. where the pivot was located in the field at the time of application.  Questions I’ve received have been about the efficacy of herbicides with cooler conditions.  Dr. Amit Jhala, Extension Weed Scientist, wrote an article in CropWatch this week sharing that herbicides can be applied at temperatures of 40°F to 60°F, but weeds may be killed slowly. When the temperature is below 60°F, absorption of herbicides such as glyphosate and translocation of herbicides such as 2,4-D are lower compared with applications at higher temperature; therefore, they act slowly. When the temperature is below 40°F for an extended time after burndown herbicide application, weed control will most likely be reduced, specifically for a systemic burndown herbicide such as glyphosate. Additionally, weed control may be reduced under cloudy conditions following an initial temperature drop below 40°F. Tank-mixing a residual herbicide with a burndown product will improve marestail control because the residual activity will control marestail emerging after herbicide application.

With late-fall herbicide applications be sure to add labeled adjuvants to improve herbicide efficacy. For example, if you are planning to apply 2,4-D, add crop oil concentrates at 1% v/v (1 gallon per 100-gallon spray solution) or non-ionic surfactant at 0.25% v/v (1 quart per 100-gallon spray solution). Spray volume should be 15 gallons per acre for better coverage when a dense weed population is present.

Some have also asked about frost and effect on weed control.  Amit shares that frosts of less than 25°F usually cause leaf damage to annual plants, making them poor targets for herbicide applications. However, winter annual weeds may tolerate usually a frost up to 20°F and continue growing when conditions improve, with little tissue damage. Symptoms of frost damage to leaves are a water-soaked appearance shortly after the frost. This is followed by a darkened or blackened appearance within a day or so, and then necrosis after a few days. After weeds experience frost active growth may not begin again for a few days. Growers should wait until new leaf tissue is produced, scout the field, and then consider applying herbicide. Generally, this would be when nighttime temperatures are 35°F or greater and daytime temperatures are at least 50°F for two consecutive days. Additionally, bright sunshine is needed for plants to recover.

York County Corn Grower Banquet November 16:  Please plan to join us for the York County Corn Grower Banquet to be held November 16 at Chances ‘R’ in York!  A social time begins at 6:30 p.m. followed by the meal and program at 7:00 p.m.  Kim Eberly of Aurora will provide a presentation on her LEAD 35 trip to China, Laos, and Thailand.  Brandon Hunnicutt, National Corn Board Member from Giltner, NE, will provide a National and State Update.  Tickets are $10 and can be purchased from any York County Corn Grower director or at the York County Extension Office.  We hope to see you there!

On-Farm Research Brainstorming/Discussion Session:  As you plan for next year, you may have questions regarding a specific practice or product working on your farm.  On-farm research is a way to answer this for yourself!  I’ve already had some growers calling about plans for next year which is great!  We are planning an on-farm research brainstorming/discussion session with it to be held on Monday, November 27^th from 1:00-4:00 p.m. at the Fairgrounds (4-H Building) in Aurora.  This is purely an opportunity for growers to talk about their ideas with each other; no research results will be shared at this meeting.  We encourage farmers who have conducted on-farm research in the past or are considering/interested in on-farm research in the future to attend.  If you’re interested in attending, please RSVP to Steve Melvin at steve.melvin@unl.edu or Jenny Rees at jrees2@unl.edu.