Ag-Life

A combine harvests soybeans Sunday afternoon.

A combine harvests soybeans Sunday afternoon.

Soybean, corn harvest proceeds at a brisk pace

The 2023 corn and soybean harvest has been underway for several weeks now in Hamilton County and reports indicate that yields for soybeans are average to below average owing mostly to the drought, excessive heat during several portions of the growing season and diseases like white mold in the beans.
USDA NRCS State Soil Health Specialist Aaron Hird gives a practical demonstration at the field day event. The demonstration shows the soil structure of samples from no-till and conventionally tilled fields.

USDA NRCS State Soil Health Specialist Aaron Hird gives a practical demonstration at the field day event. The demonstration shows the soil structure of samples from no-till and conventionally tilled fields.

The next generation of stewards of the land

When input costs went through the roof in 2021 and 2022, Fillmore County farmer Jordan Uldrich decided that he needed a better strategy for fertilizer and weed management—one that wasn’t going to break the bank, but that would still be effective.
Kuni Shimoji, COO of Japan-based EF Polymer, shows off his product at the company’s booth at this year’s Husker Harvest Days. The product made from discarded orange and banana peelings promises to hold moisture in the soil and boost yields.

Kuni Shimoji, COO of Japan-based EF Polymer, shows off his product at the company’s booth at this year’s Husker Harvest Days. The product made from discarded orange and banana peelings promises to hold moisture in the soil and boost yields.

Japanese product saves water, boosts yields

It’s amazing what kind of new agricultural innovations one can discover just by wandering around the vast Husker Harvest Days complex situated in the midst of cornfields along Husker Highway west of Grand Island.
Andrew Willlis, left, and Dillan Olson, who have worked together for years as owners of their own businesses, have launched a new, joint venture called VIGR Crop Performance.

Andrew Willlis, left, and Dillan Olson, who have worked together for years as owners of their own businesses, have launched a new, joint venture called VIGR Crop Performance.

Willis, Olson excited about new VIGR venture

Two local natives operating their own successful ag-based LLCs have joined forces to create a new venture designed to utilize high-tech moisture probes and specialty crop services to help local growers get the most out of their fields.
Grain Place Foods CEO David Vetter, left, visits with an attendee at the organization’s annual Field Day on July 15.

Grain Place Foods CEO David Vetter, left, visits with an attendee at the organization’s annual Field Day on July 15.

Grain Place Foundation expands organic outreach

For many years, the Vetter family of Grain Place Foods (GPF) near Marquette, has been farming using tried and true organic cultivation practices and company CEO David Vetter has been a mentor to others who want to do the same.
A recent survey shows that Nebraska farmers and ranchers are above the national average for the use of computer technology in their operations.

A recent survey shows that Nebraska farmers and ranchers are above the national average for the use of computer technology in their operations.

Technology use growing in Nebraska ag

Technology has changed the way most of us live and the way we farm. I was in graduate school in Texas during the 1980s when personal computers started to be used in agriculture. The understanding of computers and their value in management was still quite obscure at the time.
A center pivot irrigation system sprays water on a late-season soybean crop. Farmers are urged to optimize their last few irrigations of the season in order to allow the soil to soak up more water in the non-growing seasons.

A center pivot irrigation system sprays water on a late-season soybean crop. Farmers are urged to optimize their last few irrigations of the season in order to allow the soil to soak up more water in the non-growing seasons.

End of season irrigation should use up soil water

Scheduling the last few irrigations of the season deserves extra attention because the goal is not only to focus on keeping the crop wet enough to produce optimal yields, but also on using up stored soil water.
Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen, center, demonstrates that he still knows how to handle a shovel at the Mission Critical groundbreaking Aug. 11 in Aurora. Pillen told the crowd at the ceremony Nebraska agriculture has a bright future.

Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen, center, demonstrates that he still knows how to handle a shovel at the Mission Critical groundbreaking Aug. 11 in Aurora. Pillen told the crowd at the ceremony Nebraska agriculture has a bright future.

Pillen touts continued growth for Nebraska ag

“We don’t have jobs in Nebraska,” Gov. Jim Pillen told the crowd assembled for the groundbreaking ceremony at the Mission Critical site south of Aurora on Aug. 11. That pessimistic sounding statement was followed up, however, by his saying, “We have extraordinary careers for our kids. Extraordinary!
Planning ahead for passing a farm on to family members is essential but many producers procrastinate on making those important decisions.

Planning ahead for passing a farm on to family members is essential but many producers procrastinate on making those important decisions.

Preparing ahead for farm and ranch succession

Farm and ranch succession planning is an important part of overall financial planning. However, it is something many producers procrastinate about.
From left, detasslers Issac Graham, Jack Allen and Greg Evans trek through a muddy cornfield after the previous night’s rainfall.

From left, detasslers Issac Graham, Jack Allen and Greg Evans trek through a muddy cornfield after the previous night’s rainfall.

Detasseling season comes to a muddy close

The 2023 detasseling season came to a close for the S&J detasseling crew last week. Workers aged 12 and older began detasseling July 7 in preparation to have seed corn ready for the fall harvest.