Recent rains aid crops and soil moisture for wheat planting

By Chabella Guzman, PREEC communications / Gary Stone, Nebraska Extension educator  For growers, temperatures have moderated back to near-normal for the season.  "Parts of the Panhandle received particularly good and much-needed moisture, and precipitation chances remain average for the coming week," said Gary Stone, Nebraska Extension educator. Panhandle crops continue to do well, and the replanted dry beans will require a long fall to catch up. Winter wheat planting will begin soon.  "Usually, the early planting will be in late August, depending on the soil moisture conditions," said Cody Creech, Nebraska Extension dryland cropping specialist. "For most of the Panhandle, the higher elevations areas we start around the first week of September, and the areas like Box Butte and Cheyenne County will start around September 10."  Creech said the biggest decision this year will be picking a wheat variety. With prices down right now, growers might consider using bin run seed. The risks are another factor growers will have to weigh if not using certified seed. "We know when we purchase certified seed, we are getting quality. The seed has been screened, and growers don't have to worry about diseases, like smut, which could be in bin run seed," he said. "Certified seed typically pays dividends down the road."  While wheat is getting ready for planting, beets and corn are still maturing and need irrigation. Irrigation water deliveries continue across the North Platte Valley, with Pathfinder diverting approximately 1,700 cfs and Goshen / Gering-Fort Laramie irrigation district diverting approximately 1,3700 cfs. Seminoe Reservoir is at 61 percent capacity, Pathfinder Reservoir is at 62 percent capacity, and Glendo Reservoir is at 41 percent capacity. Assisting growers with monitoring their crop's water profile is the - Estimated crop water use for Aug. 19-25. The table information includes the estimated crop water use for Nebraska Panhandle crops for the previous week and the upcoming week. The table is based on data gathered and calculations made by Gary Stone, Nebraska Extension educator, and Dr. Xin Qiao, Extension Irrigation and Water Management Specialist, both based at the UNL Panhandle Research and Extension Center in Scottsbluff. Crop water use will vary across the Panhandle due to variations in ET, crop growth stage, temperature, soil type, wind, and precipitation events. Crop water use will assist growers with irrigation scheduling and efficient water application and use.