Crop Production

Visitors to the 2026 North American Manure Expo being held at the Wayne County Fairgrounds in Wayne, Nebraska on July 28-30 will have the chance to explore some of the region’s most innovative and sustainability focused agricultural operations during the event’s official tour day on July 28, 2026. All tours will begin and end at the Wayne County Fairgrounds. Five tours, each highlighting different aspects of manure management and livestock production, as well as conservation and agricultural innovation in Nebraska have been developed. Participants will have the option of choosing one or two half-day long tours or one full-day tour. While the full day tour is the “family friendly” option, families are welcome on any of the tours. Learn more about the manure expo, the tours, and watch for registration at manureexpo.com.

This February and March, Nebraska Extension is hosting seven hands-on workshops across the state to help producers get the most value out of manure while protecting water and soil resources.

Nebraska Extension will offer face-to-face and online chemigation certification and recertification training for producers in 2026.

Private, commercial and non-commercial pesticide applicators seeking first-time certification or recertification will have several options from which to choose in 2026. Whether you prefer to learn directly from local experts or from the comfort of your own home, Nebraska Extension has you covered.

The 2026 Nutrient Management Calendars are available for pre-order from the Nebraska Extension. This easy-to-use record keeping calendar tracks manure-related records for livestock and cropping operations. It serves as a guide for livestock operations that are required by the State of Nebraska to keep records. It was designed to be used by all sizes of livestock operations and includes all records required for operations permitted for the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES).

From improving corn silage quality to preventing pasture pests and algae-filled water tanks, this week’s Pasture and Forage Minute offers practical tips to protect your forages and livestock.

With irrigation season winding down, your final decisions are some of the most important — see how these growers are managing their schedules to prepare for harvest.

Ready to stretch your irrigation dollar farther while setting your soil up for next season? A smarter late season strategy taps into your field’s remaining stored water — save on costs, protect yields, and make room for offseason rain. Here’s how to do it right.

Cutting irrigation doesn’t have to cut yield — as groundwater allocations take effect, 2024 field data show high corn yields are achievable within new NRD limits. Now’s the time to adopt proven scheduling tools and strategies to make every inch count.

Your crop is talking. Crop ET helps you listen. Use crop evapotranspiration to know when and how much to irrigate.

Results from a series of UNL field trials in 2024 that compared traditional irrigation practices with data-driven scheduling tools highlight the potential for smarter irrigation to boost sustainability and reduce costs on the farm.

Advanced tools like soil moisture sensors, variable rate irrigation, and precision nitrogen management are driving gains in input efficiency and on-farm profitability.