By SANDRA HANSEN
Scottsbluff Star-Herald

SIDNEY - A lot of territory was covered Tuesday morning by scientists from the University of Nebraska Panhandle Research and Extension Center. It wasn't so much actual land mass, as the amount of information regarding projects being conducted at the UNL High Plains Ag Lab north of Sidney.

The three-hour field day covered nitrogen management, feral rye control, spring canola, curl mite movement, and evaluation of wheat varieties. Information was presented by six members of the UNL Panhandle Research Center staff, as well as UNL small grains breeder Dr. Steve Baenziger.

Although the focus was on wheat, other factors that impact the crop and the market were also discussed. Dr. Gary Hergert, UNL soils specialist, reviewed nitrogen applications to white wheat. In any case, Hergert said nitrogen applications need to take residual levels into consideration.

"Soil testing is the best basis for determining nitrogen needs," Hergert emphasized.

Dr. Drew Lyon addressed feral rye control in Clearfield Wheat, and Downy brome control in winter wheat. He said that so far, testing shows fall treatment for feral rye in Clearfield wheat is more effective than spring treatment, but he does not know why, yet. The MCPA additive helps the Beyond treatment get into the wheat plant at a higher rate, but it does not affect the rye.

Regarding downy brome control, Lyon said two herbicides, Powermax, Maverick and Olympia are available, but farmers need be especially aware of the rotation restrictions. Maverick has a three-month wait, while Olympia has a four-month delay and Powermax is at nine months. Lyon said each has its place in the production cycle, but farmers must use caution when making decisions.

Alternative crops, new and old, were discussed by Dr. Dipak Santra, alternative crops breeding specialist.

 

Canola and camolina have been studied for several years now in eastern Wyoming and western Nebraska. So far, canola seems to be the most promising crop for this area, although it is not as well suited for dryland as for irrigation.

Winter varieties as well as spring varieties have issues with the local climate. However, Santra told the group,

 

"As a breeder, I'm pretty sure we can develop a variety more suited to this region."

Santra is also interested in developing a variety of proso millet that is more viable in this area. He would like to get some field trials underway, but needs support from area farmers.

Another potential crop is camolina, but Hergert said the government's Risk Management Agency doesn't understand what limited irrigation is, and is not user friendly to anything but 30 inch rows. "They understand dryland and fully irrigated, but haven't figured out limited irrigation," Hergert said. He noted that he has been working with growers and the RMA to overcome some of these issues.

Santra and Baenziger reviewed wheat varieties, some tried and true, and some new ones. Dipak gave an evaluation on some organic wheat varieties being tested on the UNL organic test plots, while Baenziger did a quick run down on the several traditional and new varieties that are or may soon be found in traditional farming operations.

Organic varieties are limited because of the restrictions on growing organic crops. Lyon said any organic operation is subject to a heavy load of paperwork. This makes it more difficult to produce seed, which does not yet have a high demand.

So why organic? According to Lyon, when traditional wheat is at $7 a bushel, organic would be worth about $15 a bushel.

"There is a demand, but it is a lot of work," Lyon said. "We even have to wash the tractor tires when we're working on these plots."

The HPAL was the first UNL certified organic site.

Also on the morning agenda was a presentation by Abby Stilwell, a UNL graduate student who has been working with Dr. Gary Hein who transferred to another UNL position a few months ago. Stilwell continues to work on the remote sensing project being developed to track wheat curl mites and the spread of wheat streak mosaic virus.

She explained the methods used in the three-year experiment that tracks populations as they spread from the source plot. The remote sensing will make it possible to obtain a more accurate picture of the spread, she said.

In addition to the morning's presentations, the Panhandle researchers also participated in wheat plot tours throughout the area during the past two weeks.