Using Water Resources More Efficiently

Nebraska is no stranger to dry spells, especially during the summer months. Unfortunately, we have been experiencing longer year-round dry spells in recent years that are becoming more severe to deal with. While using water more efficiently is always a good habit to adopt, it becomes more critical during times of drought, even if restrictions are not mandatory yet.

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More Roots = Increased Soil Health

sunflower roots
During the Soil Health School, presenters will cover many aspects of the science related to soil health, including foundational soil health principles, the evaluation of soil health management practices, and get to experience many hands-on soil health investigations and demonstrations. As a bit of a sneak preview, this article highlights what Leslie Johnson, Nebraska Extension Statewide Manure Educator will be sharing that day. Of course, she’ll be talking about how manure can impact soil health, but the role she’s the most excited about because it will be the most hands-on, is getting to show different ways of determining root growth.

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Fly Control on Livestock Operations

image describing breaking the fly reproductive cycle for control. Image credit Cassandra Olds, Kansas State University.
Flies are numerous this summer. They drive us all nuts, but are they a problem beyond our annoyance? The answer is yes, flies are more than just a nuisance. Flies can carry and transfer diseases between animals. Additionally, they can create wounds where other diseases can enter. So, how do we control them?

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Avoid "Set it and Forget it" With Turf Irrigation Systems

Lawn irrigation
Tall fescue tolerates dry periods better than KBG due to a deeper root system that uses moisture deeper in the soil. However, it does not have the physiological ability to go dormant to avoid dying from drought. If tall fescue begins to turn off color from a lack of water, it requires irrigation.

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Keep Those Veggies and Fruit Crops Hydrated!

soaker hose irrigating cabbage

Warm summer temperatures prompt vegetable crops to grow and thrive. Keeping garden vegetable crops hydrated is crucial for these plants thriving as water is essential to the photosynthesis process, plant growth, and production. When water availability is reduced, carbohydrate production in the plant, the building block of plant nutrition, decreases significantly. That decrease leads to reduced growth, vigor, and crop production potential.

Here are some very simple tips to help provide the needed moisture levels in vegetable and fruit crops.

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Drought-stressed Crops and Yield Potential

Corn leaf rolling is the primary symptom of drought, and yield loss estimates are assumed when drought stress occurs for four consecutive days or more. (Photo courtesy Iowa State University Extension and Outreach)
Drought-stressed Crops and Yield Potential

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How to Determine the Chemigation Injection Pump Setting for a Center Pivot with the End Gun Off and On

Pivot with end gun
The key to knowing the correct setting for a chemigation pump is to first determine how many acres per hour the pivot will cover at the desired irrigation application depth or rate.

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Drought Management Planning from the UNL Beef Team

example drought monitor map
Drought is a common occurrence in Nebraska. The UNL Beef Drought Management Planning page is designed to help beef producers design a drought management plan and to provide ideas to consider before and during a drought.

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The UNL Animal Manure Management Team Produces Monthly Graphics on Manure Application

example graphic with photo of a cow's nose and says "manure improves crop fertility and is locally available" and provides a link to manure.unl.edu
Every month the UNL Animal Manure Management Team produces graphics on the benefits of manure application and manure best practices and we want your help sharing them. The graphics are for educational purposes and for use by the public. Oftentimes the graphics we create include a link to an article featured on the UNL manure website, manure.unl.edu.

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Estimated Crop Water Use for June 19-25, 2023

Water droplets
The estimated crop water use for Nebraska Panhandle crops for the previous week and the upcoming week is shown in this table. It is based on data gathered and calculations made by Gary Stone, Nebraska Extension educator, and Dr. Xin Qiao, extension irrigation and water management specialist, both based at the UNL Panhandle Research and Extension Center in Scottsbluff.

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