PROGRAM INFORMATION

EQIP, WHIP, WRP, CREP, CONTINUOUS CRP and SAFE:  Applications for funding assistance or annual payments can be taken at your local USDA Service Center.

NSWCP: New money comes July 1.  Applications for cost-share assistance can be taken anytime at your local NRCS office.  Applications need to be signed by the owner and completed two weeks prior to the TBNRD board meeting (second Tuesday of each month) in order to be reviewed for approval.  Irrigation applications are reviewed for approval in September, December, February and May.  An exception is applications for flow meters which are reviewed monthly for approval.  All non-irrigation applications are reviewed monthly for approval.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

July 1: CNPPID's four 2-week delivery schedule begins
July 7: CNPPID Board of Directors meeting, 9:00 AM
July 8: TBNRD Board of Directors meeting, 1:30 PM
July 15-16: UNL Crop Management Diagnostic Clinic.  For information and registrations, go to http://ardc.unl.edu/cmdc.shtml

Planting Depth for Corn

Why talk about planting depth now?  To prepare for next year while this year's emergence and stand are fresh in our minds.

Most corn planters are designed to plant to 2- to 3-inch depths.  In doing this, the plant will develop a good root system with more nodal roots in the soil, anchoring the plant better.  If the roots are weakened later in the year, the plant has a better chance for recovery.  Insect feeding or herbicide injury could be blamed for problems when it's really a planting depth issue.

Planting less than 2 to 3 inches with a planter that has angled closing wheels increases the chances for sidewall compaction as the press wheels compact the soil below rather than around the seed.  A properly closed seed "V" will fracture the sidewalls of the furrow as the soil closes around the seed, eliminating sidewalls.  Also, good soil structure from using no-till will help prevent smearing or compacting the soil.

Also when planting too shallow, the press wheels may not close the seed "V" properly, allowing the soil to dry out, thus affecting germination and root development.  Not closing the seed "V" can result in herbicide injuries as well.

If you are encountering poor stands or standability issues later in the year, one must closely observe the planting depth and root development.  What happens at planting can have an effect throughout the growing season.  Curtis Scheele at (308) 995-6121, ext. 3 also can provide a copy of the report.

** This article is a summary from "Identifying Problems with Shallow Planted Corn" in the May 23, 2008 issue of UNL CropWatch.  You can see this article in its entirety at the UNL CropWatch website.  One may need to go to the archives section if the website has been updated recently.

ACROSS THE TRI-BASIN NRD

NAWMDN Part 2: Example

In the last issue, you were introduced to the 2008 Nebraska Water Management Demonstration Network (NAWMDN).  This is another tool you can use in your irrigation water management program to determine ET (crop water use).  The following is an example of how to use this tool.

Step 1:  Find an atmometer station nearest your field to utilize that information.  We will use Site #11 in our example.  For the week of June 9-15, the amount of evaporation was 2.10 inches.  See below for map and atmometer station information.

Step 2:  Determine your crop coefficient (Kc).  During the June 9-15 period (week 2), your field has corn at the 6-leaf stage.  Using the chart below, your crop coefficient is 0.35.

Step 3:  Calculate ET (crop water use).  Multiply evaporation and the crop coefficient (2.10 x 0.35 = 0.735).  The crop used 0.735 inches from June 9-15.

Step 4 (optional):  You can calculate your average daily ET for the week (0.735 divided by 7 days = 0.105 inches per day).  NOTE:  Pay attention to days as some weekly readings may be over an 8-day or 6-day period.

If you have any questions about irrigation water management or need assistance getting started, call Curtis Scheele at (308) 995-6121, ext. 3.

Stage of Growth:

Corn (4-leaf to 9-leaf stage):  The growing point and tassel are above the soil surface at the 6-leaf stage.  Precise fertilizer placement is less critical at 6-leaf because the nodal roots are well distributed in the soil.

Soybeans (Emergence to V3 stage): Active nitrogen fixation begins at about the V2-V3 stage and will increase with time up to ghe beginning seed to full seed stage.

Irrigation:

Fertilizer is being applied through pivots as well as side-dressing.  Cultivation and hilling is taking place.  Weeds are being sprayed.  Some soybeans being planted in low areas that are now dry enough to plant.

On June 16, CNPPID's board voted to delay their deliveries one week.  The decision was prompted by cooler and wetter conditions and delays in planting, field work and crop maturity and from customer and crop consultant discussions.  As a result, the irrigation schedule of four 2-week runs will start Tuesday, July 1 and will end on Monday, August 26.  New water schedule cards are being mailed to customers.

Lake McConaughy is at 46.1% capacity versus 39.7% a year ago. Inflows to Lake McConaughy are 542 cfs compared with 282 cfs a year ago.  Flows in the South Platte River at North Platte are 182 cfs compared with 396 a year ago.  You can track these flows on Central's web site.

Rainfall:
The following rainfall amounts (inches) come from NeRAIN which can be found at NeRAIN.

Nebraska Water Management Demonstration Network (NAWMDN) Crop ET Information
Additional atmometer sites and Weather Station Data can be found on CNPPID's website

Inches of Crop Water Use (ET) = Evaporation x Kc

Crop Coefficients (Kc)

Additional ET Information Sites:

KRVN radio broadcasts
KRVN.com
Central Nebraska Public Power and Irrigation District
Water Use Hotline: 1-800-993-2507

Check out these web sites:

"Why is it called 'after dark' when it is really 'after light'?" - Anonymous

If you would like to receive this newsletter via e-mail, or have any questions, comments or ideas, feel free to contact Curtis Scheele at the NRCS office in Holdrege or your local NRCS office at the addresses or phone numbers listed below.

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