Blog Archives

Week of Feb. 15th Events

This beautiful weather resulting in a warm, dry winter, provides an important opportunity to be watering evergreen trees and lawns. Our horticulture educators have the following information to share. Now is the time to water trees and lawns to prevent desiccation, especially with warm temperatures in the extended forecast. If you want to prevent evergreens from turning ever-brown, take time over the winter to provide supplemental water. Any time air temperatures are above 40°F you can do a slow soak of water around your evergreen trees and shrubs (and even lawns). Allow enough time for the water to infiltrate before temperatures drop below freezing. For information about this and other winter tree care tips read more here: https://water.unl.edu/article/lawns-gardens-landscapes/tree-care-during-winter/.

Friday Conversations: This past week’s conversation on nutrient balance could’ve lasted much of the afternoon as it went two hours over the scheduled time. Will write on that topic next week. Friday Feb. 20^th’s conversation will be on Cows, Compost, and Covers. Hear from growers who have converted crop ground to annual forages for grazing and the economics of that, especially compared to corn and soybeans this year. There’s still time to make that change for 2026. We’ll share options for different classes of cattle, including custom grazing if you don’t own/have enough cattle. I’ve heard some growers struggling with landlords/lenders to make that decision. If you are in that situation, please contact me and I’d be happy to talk with them and you. We need more diversity in our operations to spread risk and reduce pests! You’ll also hear how we’re using compost extracts on our farms to aid in biology and other benefits. You’ll also learn from the growers why they use various species of cover crops in their operations and what each species does for their soils and their system. If you’re interested, please join us from 10 a.m.-noon this Friday, Feb. 20^th at the 4-H Building in York. RSVP to 402-362-5508 isn’t required, but is helpful to ensure I have enough handouts.

On-Farm Research Updates: There’s several on-farm research updates upcoming with the first being this Tuesday, Feb. 17^th at the Holthus Convention Center followed by Feb. 18^th at ENREEC near Mead. Program starts at 9 a.m. with registration at 8:30 a.m. If you’re looking to hear what other growers are trying on their farms and their results, it’s a great opportunity. More info.: https://on-farm-research.unl.edu/.

Central Nebraska Soil Health Conference will be held Feb. 18^th in Hastings at the Lochland Country Club with program beginning at 9 a.m. and registration at 8 a.m. At that meeting, you will hear from some of our producers utilizing cover crops for grazing with the economics and how they are also reducing inputs in the corn the following year after that cover crop grazing year. You will also hear from growers who are reducing inputs in soybeans using soil health practices. The keynote speaker will share on biochar. More info. and RSVP: https://go.unl.edu/2026soilhealthcon.

York Co. Corn Grower Tour will be held Wed., Feb. 25. We’ll meet at the York Co. Extension Office at 9:40 a.m. First stop will be Timpte Manufacturing in David City. Lunch will be at La Carreta in Seward followed by tours at Hughes Brothers Inc. and Bottle Rocket Brewing Co., both in Seward. Please RSVP to the Extension Office at 402-362-5508 if you’re interested in attending.

Posted in Corn Growers, Event, JenREES Columns

Beginning a Soil Health Journey

Feb 8

Posted by JenBrhel

This was the topic of last week’s Friday February conversation. $700 million has been designated by USDA for regenerative ag and soil health. USDA’s defintion: “Regenerative Agriculture is a conservation management approach that emphasizes natural resources through improved soil health, water management, and natural vitality for the productivity and prosperity of American agriculture and communities.” From the website at: https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs-initiatives/regenerative-pilot-program, participants work with their local NRCS office to determine a whole farm plan addressing soil, water, and nutrient concerns. A soil sample is required in the first year and last year of the program. I’m grateful there’s finally a program that helps farmers who are either beginning or more advanced. For those beginning, practices such as reduced tillage, cover crops, etc. can be implemented. Those more advanced have additional options such as soil amendments. The original application was due Jan. 15 to qualify for 2026; however, several NRCS staff have told me to contact your local NRCS to fill out an application if you’re interested.

Why does this matter? The soil is a big deal! The majority of food and feed is raised in the soil. Healthier soil can lead to healthier people and animals. There’s an increasing number of labs that are documenting the nutrition density of foods grown in conventional vs. regen/organic systems. As I continue to learn results from these labs, it’s sad to hear how much we’ve lost in food nutrition. It’s also important for us to steward the resources we’ve been given well.

The following are a few thoughts shared by the farmers from the conversation. The greatest obstacle to overcome is one’s mindset…all the reasons we tell ourselves that we can’t change in addition to the social implications (family and friends) of doing something differently. We are only given so much time and so many seasons to farm. If you’re thinking about any change, try it now!

Advice to begin: Focus on one or two fields and continue the practices (reduced tillage or cover crops) on them for several years. It takes at least three years to see changes based on their experiences and our on-farm research studies. Planting cover crops on this or that field without consistency each year leads to frustration as one may not see improvements over time.

Cereal rye before soybeans is the easiest way to start. Before corn, we’d recommend planting winter wheat or winter barley in the fall or spring oats.
Either plant your crop into dead brown covers or green growing ones; don’t plant into the in-between stage. If terminating pre-plant, use clethodim to allow more structure to the covers and follow label restrictions before planting corn.
Money savings can occur through reduced herbicide, fungicide, and seed treatment costs. Also through reduced irrigation if reducing tillage, which improves soil structure.
Challenges are markets for alternative crops or to be paid for raising crops with less inputs.
Challenges are also economics. Choosing to continue using the same amount of inputs with reduced tillage and covers makes the economics challenging. Personally, I see how growers on this journey could reduce inputs more; however fear is a factor in addition to advisors uncomfortable with recommending less.
Peer support is key. You don’t have to do this alone! If you’re interested in being connected to others, please reach out to me (jrees2@unl.edu). Another resource working to establish producer groups is the Nebraska Soil Health Coalition: https://www.nesoilhealth.org/. This Friday’s conversation (Feb. 13) is on nutrient balance from 10-Noon at the 4-H Bldg in York. The Central Nebraska Soil Health Conference is Feb. 18th at the Lochland Country Club in Hastings beginning at 9 a.m. (Reg. at 8 a.m.), RSVP: https://go.unl.edu/2026soilhealthcon.