By Scout Nelson
As temperatures remain warm for this time of year, Nebraska farmers continue harvesting dry beans, sugar beets, and corn silage. According to Gary Stone, Nebraska Extension educator, “Early planted dry beans will need a good three to four weeks of good weather to finish out.”
Corn silage, which involves chopping the entire corn plant, is also being harvested. “Anaerobic fermentation of the plant's sugars into acetic and lactic acids allows long-term preservation of the material for livestock feed,” said Pablo Loza, Nebraska Extension beef feedlot specialist. The silage is an important winter feed for the Panhandle Research Feedlot cattle.
Despite the corn still appearing green, it has reached the black layer stage, where it stops supplying nutrients to the grain. Properly processed silage is essential for maintaining cattle nutrition throughout the winter months.
Irrigation water deliveries are nearing their end for most surface water irrigation districts in the North Platte Valley, with the Pathfinder irrigation district diverting approximately 1,700 cfs and the Goshen/Gering-Fort Laramie irrigation district diverting about 1,375 cfs.
To assist growers with irrigation scheduling, the Nebraska Extension provides estimated crop water use data. This data, compiled by Gary Stone and Dr. Xin Qiao, helps farmers in the Nebraska Panhandle make efficient irrigation decisions based on crop growth, temperature, soil type, and weather conditions.
Photo Credit:gettyimages-tlillico
Categories: Nebraska, Crops, Corn, Sugar Beets, Harvesting, Weather