Improve Soil Structure

compost
Fall is a good time to incorporate organic matter like compost into soil. Increasing soil organic matter improves soil structure and adds nutrients. This in turn improves plant growth, efficient use of water, and water infiltration into soil to reduce runoff.

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Managing the Demands of Water & Wastewater Systems Can Make Gatherings More Enjoyable

Fall and winter gatherings are upon us and that often means a bustling house full of family, friends and preparation of tasty recipes in the kitchen. All of these things should make for joyful times, but they can potentially have a stressful impact on your private water well and onsite wastewater systems.

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Do Digesters Affect the Nutrient Content of Manure?

Digester

When incentives are available for renewable energy and/or practices that reduce carbon emissions, livestock and poultry producers tend to show more interest in anaerobic digesters.  These producers may also be looking to better manage manure nutrients on the farm.  Common objectives are to reduce nutrient content where an imbalance exists – typically an excess of phosphorus (P) – and to optimize the fertilizer value, especially the amount of nitrogen (N) that is readily available for plant use.  Perhaps the most appropriate answer to whether digesters affect the nutrient cont

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Correct Plants for the Location

sunlight through trees and prairie
‘Right Plant, Right Place’ is a very important aspect of planting and it is never too early to start thinking about landscape changes for next year. As you clean up and refresh mulch or water, start assessing your landscape and what did and didn’t work. There are some very important plant requirements to keep in mind when planning a new garden or adding to an established garden.

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Maximizing Manure Efficiency in the Fall

drag hose manure spreader applying manure to a field

As the harvest season winds down and cooler temperatures set in, it's time to start thinking about post-harvest plans. For many farmers, this means planning manure application. Manure is a valuable fertilizer and soil amendment, but to maximize its benefits, it should be treated with the same attention as commercial fertilizers. However, some farmers overlook manure in their fertility programs, missing out on its potential.

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Full Soil Water Profile Encouraged to Finish Crops Before Harvest

A sunflower field blooming in Box Butte County. (Photo by CHabella Guzman)
As surface/canal water usually curtails mid-September, extension recommends that Nebraska Panhandle producers ensure their soil water profiles are full to sustain crops through to harvest.

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Siphon Tubes: Setting Water to Grow Crops in Western Nebraska

concrete lined irrigation ditches
A new water research series from Nebraska Extension, this article focuses on the history, construction and use of siphon tubes for crop irrigation.

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Uses of Compost in the Landscape

1.	Compost is a great soil amendment for improving the physical, chemical and biological properties of soils.

Compost is used as a soil amendment to improve the physical, chemical and biological properties of soils. Over time, yearly additions of compost will improve your landscape or garden soil in many ways including the water holding capacity of sandy soils and water percolation in clay soils. 

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Soil Water Tension Sensors to Schedule Irrigation in East-central Nebraska

closeup of center pivot watering corn
Nebraska growers share Week 2 results of their irrigation management decisions based on soil moisture sensor data, as part of a new collaboration with extension educators.

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Irrigation Season Could Run Longer for Dry Bean Crop

Field corn under pivot irrigation. (Photo by Chabella Guzman)
Updates on crop progress, irrigation water deliveries and crop water use for growers in the Panhandle and western Nebraska.

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