Agronomy Zone 3

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The corn and soybean crops in Nebraska appear to be in good shape.  Like much of the Corn Belt, many fields suffered some drowned out spots, but overall the crop looks good for this time of the year.  I would like to remind people that all we have done so far is build the factory.  The crop still has to produce the product.  There are still many management decisions to make yet.  Be on alert for disease and insect problems that could still show up. 

As my Dad--a dry land Nebraska farmer all his life--used to say, “You do not have a crop until it is in the bin”.  Keep on watching your crop.

The USDA reported on Monday, May 10 that more than 75% of Nebraska’s corn has been planted.  This is about 4 days ahead of average.  The report said that soybeans are about 26% done. The average for this time of year is about of 15% planted.

It has been said that the climate change from Omaha to the western panhandle of Nebraska changes more than the climate changes from Omaha to the East coast of the United States.  This variability makes it hard to make broad statements about the current crop.  Some of the early results have been excellent.  For example, growers in southeast Nebraska have reported soybean yields in the low 60 bu./acre.  Commonly dryland yields in Eastern Nebraska are in the mid-40’s.  In the central Platte valley, the yields being reported for irrigated soybeans have been in the high 60’s, with a few plots in the middle 70’s.  

Not enough corn has been harvested to report any results at this time, but irrigated fields appear to be in very good shape and poised for high yields. Now is the time to examine corn fields for stalk rot.  A simple test for stalk rot is to walk across the rows of corn bending the stalks apart far enough to make walking easy.  If any stalks break or feel soft, split a few stalks to see if stalk rot is present. Fields affected by stalk rot should be the first fields harvested.

The Nebraska corn and soybean crop is making progress, and appears to be on its way to acceptable yields.  The dry land (not irrigated) crops could use rain in the near future to help the grain fill process.  Many irrigated corn fields have had fungicides applied mostly for gray leaf spot.  Southern corn leaf rust has been confirmed in south central Nebraska.  For more information about these diseases follow the link below for University of Nebraska information.  

http://cropwatch.unl.edu/archives/2008/crop08-18.htm