By Scout Nelson
As Nebraska welcomes back warmer temperatures this week, the agricultural sector is seeing significant progress in crop management.
According to Gary Stone, a Nebraska Extension educator, the second cutting of alfalfa is nearly complete, and the winter wheat harvest is expected to finish in most of the Panhandle area by the end of this week.
Irrigation remains a priority, with significant water deliveries ongoing in the North Platte Valley. The Pathfinder and Goshen/Gering-Fort Laramie irrigation districts are actively managing water resources, diverting flows at 1,535 and 1,400 cubic feet per second, respectively. These efforts are crucial as they help sustain crop health during the warmer days.
Further aiding growers is the estimated crop water use data provided for July 22-28, prepared by Stone and Dr. Xin Qiao, an extension irrigation and water management specialist. This information is vital for farmers to optimize their irrigation schedules and ensure efficient water use.
The variability of crop water needs across the Panhandle, due to factors like evapotranspiration rates, crop growth stages, and local weather conditions, makes these insights particularly valuable.
This week also brings a forecast of potential precipitation over the weekend, which could further impact irrigation strategies and crop conditions.
Farmers continue to monitor these developments closely, as efficient water management is key to maintaining crop quality and yield in the face of fluctuating weather patterns.
Photo Credit: gettyimages-tlillico
Categories: Nebraska, Crops, Wheat, Alfalfa, Weather