PROGRAM INFORMATION

EQIP, WHIP, WRP, CREP & Continuous CRP: Applications for funding assistance and annual payments can be taken anytime at your local USDA Service Center.  The deadline for EQIP sign-up is December 14, 2007.

NSWCP: Applications for cost-share assistance can be taken at your local NRCS office.  The next round of approvals for irrigation practices will be Dec. 11, 2007.  Applications must be completed and submitted by Nov. 30, 2007.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

Sept. 3: Labor Day.  Government offices closed.
Sept. 4: CNPPID Board of Directors meeting, 9 a.m.
Sept. 11:  TBNRD Board of Directors meeting, 1:30 p.m.
Sept. 11-13: Husker Harvest Days, Grand Island (www.huskerharvestdays.com)
* Times are tentative

No-Till Whirlwind Expo Highlights!

• Don't blame no-till.  It is different management that works.
• Good uniform spreading of residue at harvest is where successful no-till starts.  Not a place to cut corners.
• Corn seeding depth -- shoot for 2 to 2-1/2 inches.
• Soybean seeding depth -- shoot for 2 inches.
• Tillage breaks up the soil structure which leads to crusting, sealing the soil, thus eliminating infiltration and increasing erosion.
• Rainfall Simulator Demonstration:  The tilled soil developed crusting resulting in increased runoff, more erosion and a dry soil underneath.  The no-tilled soil didn't crust, resulting in less runoff, less erosion and a wetter soil to deeper depths (increased infiltration).
• We looked at no-tilled soil just behind the pivot.  Used a spade to dig in sprayer tire track and no track.  The sprayer track had water standing and soil below the surface was drier.  Soil in non-track had all pivot water infiltrated and soaked down into the soil.
• Soil Clod Demonstration:  No-till clod dropped in water held its structure.  The tilled clod disintegrated.
• Pivot tracks are not as deep in a no-till environment due to stronger soil structure.
• When no-tilling, don't shred stalks.  Leave them standing and anchored in the soil.
• Precise fertilizer placement is not needed.  The crops will find the fertilizer.
• In a heavy residue no-till environment, pictures of corn didn't look as good at emergence compared to tilled/less residue fields, however the no-tilled heavy residue was the healthier, better-looking crop in July/August.
• Utilize cover crops for soil buildup, weed suppression, and to manage off-season moisture.

ACROSS THE TRI-BASIN NRD

Loomis Field Tour Highlights:

The Loomis Field Tour was held Aug. 16 north of Loomis.  Dinner was provided at the Loomis Park.  The afternoon session was held southwest of Loomis.

The north site compared gravity irrigation strategies to see how one can stretch water during water-short years.  The site used CNPPID's schedule.  The 2005 and 2006 results from a site near Axtell were discussed.  Dave Nelson discussed his project of irrigating based on 90%, 70%, 50% and 30% soil moisture levels.  Pumping plant performance was also discussed at this north site.

The site southwest of Loomis was sprinkler irrigated, comparing strategies of fully watered, Water Miser BMP, and deficit irrigation.  Other topics included crop water use and soil moisture monitoring equipment for irrigation scheduling, predicting last irrigation, crop residues and skip row planting, ET gauge sites, and NRCS's EQIP program.

Stage of Growth:

Corn (Full dent to black layer stage): At full dent, all or nearly all kernals are dented or denting.  This is updated/revised information.  Corn takes about 5.0 inches of moisture to reach maturity at full dent.   At 1/4 milk line, it needs about 3.75 inches, at 1/2 milk line, about 2.25 inches and at 3/4 milk line, about 1.0 inch.  Black layer is when corn is physiologically mature, not requiring any more moisture.

Soybeans (R-3 Beginning pod to R-6.5 leaves yellowing stage): Soybeans in wheat harvested fields are not as far along as other soybeans.  When the lower leaves start yelllowing (R6.5), soybeans need about 1.9 inches of moisture to reach physiological maturity.

Irrigation:

Periodic rains have continued to supply valuable moisture for the crops.  Some corn may need another inch or so.  This depends largely on stage of crop growth and how the soil profiles have been managed during the year.  Fields that maintained a wetter profile are done irrigating because they have the moisture.   Fields that maintained a drier profile may still need irrigation if no more rain comes.  Hopefully the rains will come and they won't need to be irrigated again.

Lake McConaughy is at 25.9% capacity versus 20.5% a year ago. Inflows in the North Platte River at Lewellen are at 692 cfs versus 567 cfs a year ago. Flows in the South Platte River at Roscoe are at 10 cfs versus 0 cfs a year ago.   You can track these flows on Central's web site.

Rainfall:
Rainfall amounts come from NeRAIN which can be found at http://dnrdata.dnr.ne.gov/NeRAIN/index.asp?&.

EVAPOTRANSPIRATION (ET) and GROWING DEGREE DAYS (GDD) INFORMATION
(Crop ET data comes from CNPPID's web site)

Additional ET Information Sites:

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

No-till vs. Tilled Soil Comparison

No-till soil (on left), good structure (porous) and tilled soil (right), poor structure (no pores)	Tilled soil clod (on left) breaking apart, dirtier and no-till soil clod (right) intact, cleaner
Rainfall Simulator: The no-till soil is on the left showing less runoff, less erosion, more infiltration. In the center is high residue tillage soil with results in between. On the right is conventional-tilled soil showing more runoff, more erosion and less infiltration.

Check out these web sites:

"Too many people overvalue what they are not and undervalue what they are." - Malcolm Forbes (1919-1990), American publisher

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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