Even under dry years and dry environments, it s beneficial to have the plant population up there. You have less of an exposure to the times where you put stress on the plants. So far, not so much interest exists among Nebraska farmers in drought-tolerant hybrids, Trausch says, but he thinks this will change as the media focuses on summer forecasts. In recent years, many Nebraska farmers have shifted away from sorghum, which requires less moisture. WE VE SEEN a big change from sorghum to corn, Trausch says.
Corn needs more moisture.
Hall also notes farmers using conservation-tillage systems will be in pretty good shape going into drought potential. Compared with plowing and disking, no-till does not move the soil. Conservation systems with plant residue that do not move the soil have residue that reduce soil moisture evaporation. With a relatively open winter and little snow cover, less soil fracturing is occurring. While many people are looking ahead to what the 2000 growing season holds, don t forget the high yields of the 1999 season, says John Sawyer, Iowa State University Extension fertility specialist in Ames.