February 17, 2003
Farmers Face Indecision for 2003 Growing Season
LINCOLN, Neb. — Facing a bleak precipitation outlook for the 2003 growing season, Nebraska farmers are going into spring with tough questions to answer.
With little winter precipitation on top of last year's drought, many farmers may have limited irrigation options as nearly the entire state faces below normal subsoil moisture, say University of Nebraska specialists.
"Producers are making decisions on water they may or may not have," said Dean Yonts, irrigation specialist at NU's Panhandle Research and Extension Center at Scottsbluff. "You may want to plant alternative crops or dryland crops and just get by on what Mother Nature provides you."
Farmers getting their water from the North Platte River and other river systems will be very restricted, and farmers relying on surface system irrigation "unfortunately may not know how much water they have until March, April or May. For the irrigated producer, it's a challenge," Yonts said.
"The drought will impact all producers, but some will run out of water – some wells will be pumping air," he said.
Conserving moisture will be key for all Nebraska producers, said Bob Klein, cropping systems specialist at NU's West Central Research and Extension Center at North Platte.
No-till can save moisture and allow water to better infiltrate the soil. Leaving crop residues on the surface will suppress weed growth and prevent crusting from raindrop impact, the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources specialist said.
No-till will be very important for center pivot irrigation because when residues are not left on the surface, evaporation increases after every water application.
It also might be a good idea to explore alternate crops and adjust seeding rates this year, said Roger Elmore, crops specialist at NU's South Central Research and Extension Center near Clay Center.
"Dryland sorghum is a really good alternate to consider," he said. NU research has shown over the past seven years that grain sorghum usually yields as well as or better than corn on dryland.
Before making any cropping changes, be sure to consult with a local Farm Service Agency and a crop insurer on Crop Revenue Coverage or Revenue Assurance regarding any restrictions.
Soil fertility and testing will be very important this year, said Richard Ferguson, soils specialist at South Central. Scattered rains across the state last summer resulted in varying degrees of nitrogen in fields.
"This stresses the importance of sampling," Ferguson said. "Take standard soil samples and then adjust the nitrogen rate back."
Dryland fields may require less nitrogen, while fields with a full soil moisture profile may need the usual recommendations.
Elmore said planting populations on soybeans and irrigated land could stay about the same – around 150,000 seeds per acre.
Dryland corn and grain sorghum could be reduced. In eastern Nebraska, sorghum population seeding rates could be planted at around 50,000 seeds per acre. In western Nebraska, seeding rates could be at 40,000 seeds per acre or even 30,000 seeds per acre under extreme drought conditions. Corn seeding rates could be reduced as low as 8,000 to 9,000 seeds per acre where soil moisture and crop residue is limited in the western half of the state and 17,000 to 20,000 seeds per acre in the eastern end of the state.
Seeding rates should be adjusted at planting time based on soil moisture and crop residue, Klein said. Weed management also becomes more critical at low plant populations because of less plant competition.
In the Panhandle, Yonts also suggests keeping plant populations down and looking at shorter season varieties. Dry beans will be a good alternative in the west, while sugar beets use a substantial amount of water April through October.
The specialists made their comments on NU Cooperative Extension's "Market Journal" program Feb. 14. The entire program is on the Web at "Market Journal".
2/17/03-SA
Bob Klein
Agronomy
Professor
(308) 696-6705
Richard B. Ferguson - Ph.D.
Agronomy and Horticulture
Professor
(402) 472-1144
Roger Elmore - Ph.D.
Agronomy & Horticulture
Professor
(402) 762-4433
Sandi Alswager Karstens IANR News and Photography (402) 472-3030
Department: Communications & Information Technology
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