The USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) reminds producers to work with the local NRCS office to remain in compliance with their current conservation plan on highly erodible land.

Drought conditions in the United States grew even worse over the last week as historic drought conditions crept north and threatened new winter wheat planting in several states.

Dry soil conditions have sparked many questions from growers on how best to establish their winter wheat crop.

With this years drought conditions there is less residue than normal in many fields. In some, the crop was harvested as a forage or cut as silage, leaving very little residue at all. Without residue to absorb the energy of raindrop impact and keep the wind off the soil surface, soil erosion will be greater and surface crusting could be a problem. Also, without the water-conserving residue mulch, soil moisture losses by evaporation will be much higher.

With much of the country suffering from a lack of moisture, it’s a good time to think about the many benefits no-till offers in capturing valuable moisture from snow cover. This is also linked to the height of standing stubble left in your no-tilled fields after harvest and the impact it can have on capturing winter moisture.

Soil Quality Specialist Jeff Hemenway of the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Huron said if producers reduce tillage or increase surface residue, they can increase infiltration rates.

Grazing corn stalks is of major importance to Nebraska’s beef cattle industry, particularly this year, and can be compatible with no-till crop production.