Widespread drought stress during the growing season coupled with late season rains created nearly ideal conditions for grain mold development. Aflatoxin contamination of corn is being reported throughtout much of Nebraska. Aflatoxin is one of several potentially harmful compounds known as mycotoxins that can develop from grain molds. Some harvest and grain management strategies can help minimize mycotoxins' effects. More

Crop residues from corn grain production are abundant in Nebraska. These residues can provide valuable forage for beef cattle this winter to replace forage lost to the drought. The challenge is to harvest this residue so it can be hauled to cattle while maintaining adequate crop residue on the soil surface to protect against erosion. More

Because of this year's drought and heat, many producers are harvesting short soybeans. The lower pods on these short plants also are closer to the ground than usual. Producers can do several things to help get every bean into the combine and to make sure that the short plants feed into the combine evenly. More

LINCOLN, Neb. — Fall watering can protect trees from damage if the abnormally dry to extreme drought conditions across Nebraska persist into winter, University of Nebraska foresters said. More

LINCOLN, Neb. — The message doesn't change from one harvest season to the next: Be careful, a University of Nebraska safety engineer said. More

LINCOLN, Neb. — Varying yield and moisture levels in corn and soybean fields along with poor crop stands will make harvest difficult this year, a University of Nebraska agricultural systems specialist said. More

The effects of this summer's drought will continue into harvest, drying and storage. Paying special attention to each of these activities will help reduce further losses in a year when each ear, head and pod will be important economically. More

Due to this year's unusual weather conditions and poor row-crop performance, nutrient uptake by crops has been less than normal and fertilizer application plans for 2003 may need to be adjusted accordingly. This fall higher than normal levels of nitrate-nitrogen likely will remain in the soil and be available to next year's crop. More

Producers should skip fall tillage this year to leave as much residue standing in the field as possible. Tillage driesthe soil, buries residue, destroys soil structure, and increases erosion and runoff. With this year's heat and drought statewide, crop residue is more fragile than normal, and not as much was produced in many areas. When tilled, dry soil flows easily through tillage equipment, breaking up and burying even more residue that in normal years. More

LINCOLN, Neb. — Drought's impact on landscapes is the focus for a series of workshops Sept. 18-23 at four sites across the state. More