Join us February 4, 2026, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Haskell Ag Lab for our second Northeast Nebraska Crops Update! This year's program will be hosting in the auditorium of the Haskell Office Building. Registration beginning at 8:30 a.m. with refreshments. Lunch will be provided at no cost to participants.
This update will feature Extension specialists covering a wide range of timely topics relevant to the growing season, including:
- Did 2025 Disease Disasters Cause a Corn Crisis? What's Next in 2026? - Tamra Jackson-Ziems
- Corn diseases were historically worse in parts of Nebraska in 2025. We’ll dispel common myths about southern rust and discuss what conditions made that disease and others more severe in parts of the state. And, which disease headaches of 2025 will carry forward into 2026.
- The Changing Landscape of Soybean Disease Management - Dylan Mangel
- This session provides an update on the evolving management of key yield-limiting threats, including white mold, soybean cyst nematode (SCN), and sudden death syndrome. We will discuss how the "changing landscape" of disease progression and environmental factors necessitates updated Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategies and precise diagnostic timing. Participants will leave with research-based recommendations on balancing genetic resistance with both established and innovative crop protection tools to optimize soybean health and yield.
- Scouting for Defoliation in Soybeans - Wayne Ohnesorg, WCS Extension Educator
- Defoliation of soybean is consistently overestimated without a trained eye. Participants will learn about the impact of insect pests on defoliation of soybean. Through a hands-on activity, individuals will learn how to assess soybean damage by defoliation.
- One Big Beautiful Bill: Ag Outlook, Policy Pathways, and Producer Choices in 2026 - Jim Jansen, Extension Educator
- Agricultural producers face pivotal decisions as the next farm bill takes shape amid shifting market forces and policy priorities. This presentation will explore the outlook for agricultural markets, key provisions and timelines for the emerging farm bill, and their implications for producers in 2026. Updates on policy pathways, commodity trends, and producer strategies will help guide planning, profitability, and risk management in the year ahead.
- Entomology updates affecting Northeast Nebraska crops with Silvana Paula-Moraes
- In-season nitrogen reduction and nutrient management strategies with Joe Luck
- Grain storage management and post-harvest considerations with Nicole Luhr, WCS Extension Educator
- Nebraska On-Farm Research Network with Adam Leise, Director of On-Farm Research
Certified Crop Adviser CEU’s are pending for program participants.
The Northeast Nebraska Crops Update is designed to provide practical, research-based information that producers can apply immediately to improve decision-making, profitability, and risk management.
There is no cost to attend, and lunch is provided, but registration is requested at go.unl.edu/26register-crops-update for meal planning purposes or by contacting Agnes Kurtzhals at 402-584-2261.
