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| Duane A. Lienemann UNL Extension Educator |
I think the rain obviously has been a shot in the arm for area pastures and crop fields and even put a little water in some of our ponds that were dry or at the very least nothing but mud holes. The cooler weather has helped slow down evapotranspiration, which is good, but unfortunately it also takes away from the Growing Degree Units (GDU) necessary for crops and perhaps, as a result, slowed down some of the early growth we usually experience. We are already starting to see some fields that have a yellow cast to it, and that may persist for a while. I think this is environmental, due to the rain and lack of GDU’s and the slow uptake of some nutrients. As the temperatures rises (which they most likely will do) the color symptom should improve and you will likely be able to see and even hear the corn grow!
I have been asked several times over the last couple of weeks, kind of jokingly, if this means the drought is over? I say “jokingly” because most everyone I think knows better. But for those who are not sure and still ask… “Does this take us out of the drought designation?” I would say…”absolutely not!” While this is much better than we thought it would be at this time of the year by all estimates and prognostication, we are a long ways from the critical reproductive stages in our crops. While this is a reprieve, and it is psychologically soothing, we are still very much short on subsoil moisture and are living right now on those topical moisture events. I just hope that we get some timely rains and that the moisture we got over the last week seeps into the ground deep enough for the crops to properly root down. What would be even better if we get another shot of rain in the next couple of weeks, and while I am dreaming – every week or so, the rest of the growing season. If you think that is unreasonable, then we are probably on the same page. It doesn’t hurt to dream! I do suggest that you take a look at the UNL Drought Mitigation site at: http://drought.unl.edu/ and specifically at: http://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/DM_highplains.htm you will see that our area is still in drought conditions. To add to that worry, we are not too far from the time frame that we get into a normally dry and hot portion of the growing season, and are likely living on borrowed time and moisture. This is especially important to our dryland producers as they cannot rely on underground water like our irrigated friends. That is where the no-till production practices will have a huge impact on water savings. It appears to me right now that our crops are in pretty fair condition.
A good barometer of where we are at is with our pastures and wheat fields, both of which I have taken a good look at this past week. We have some wheat fields that from the road at least look pretty darn good, however there are others that don't look so hot, and I think a lot of that has to do where the wheat was planted (ie. In moisture sapped soybean fields from the previous year). We still have wheat that was stunted because of drought and started heading at only 8 inches or so. The old adage that wheat will double in height after heading - still makes for short wheat, and perhaps earlier harvest, and unfortunately we will likely see the yields lower in many fields than what you would like. The good news however is that I have not however found as much disease as we have had in the past, but the recent moisture events can bring them on. The flag leaves are the important element in the remaining days till maturation and they seem fairly clear in the bulk of the fields I have looked at, but it may not hurt to be vigilant and check those flags for obvious signs of rust or disease.
I have spent most of my time in the Webster County area from the county line between Bladen and Lawrence and then south. I know that around us, and particularly east and north of us, have had more rain but, but also were the recipients also of hail and heavy wind, which both go to provide some problems with damage to corn and beans. It also gives some challenges to replanting options in many cases. I think we have had good emergence on beans and corn with some problems with crusting , depending upon planting date and timing of rains. I know a lot of our fields were a little late getting planted do to cold and even wet conditions, but I think we will see all of our crops come on like gangbusters now.
I am concerned about our pastures as some producers put cattle out in traditional time frame (around May 1 and even earlier) and a lot of our grass just wasn't ready yet. Early grazing this year may cause some unwanted consequences as the year progresses. Many drought-stressed grasslands received enough rain recently to give pastures a much needed boost, and seeing some fresh green grass is nice. But as we all know, it will take a lot more rain to bring things back to normal. I suggest that we do not take what looks to be fairly good pasture right now for granted because in a couple months it could look a lot different. When moisture is available like now, grasses will regrow after grazing. Regrowth starts more rapidly when extra leaves remain behind after grazing. These leaves help plants harvest more sunlight energy to hasten regrowth, so those grasses will be ready to graze again much sooner and with more forage than if it had been grazed very short early on. If we don't get additional moisture, all bets are off in the grazing game and we are right back into the soup!
The preceding information comes from the research and personal observations of the writer which may or may not reflect the views of UNL or UNL Extension. For more further information on these or other topics contact D. A. Lienemann, UNL Extension Educator for Webster County in Red Cloud, (402) 746-3417 or email to: dlienemann2@unl.edu or go to the website at: http://www.webster.unl.edu/home
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