Although not recommended, if planting a long-season hybrid this year, reduce plant populations accordingly. Yield increases anywhere from 25 to even 100 bushel per acre are possible using no-till instead of conventional tillage if weed control is timely. With no-till, crop residues help conserve moisture and may make the difference between having a crop or having it burn up. In some instances, a rain that came in time for no-till may increase yield by 100 bushel per acre. The conventional crop, having less soil moisture, already was lost.
Equipment is needed to plant or drill through crop residues with no-till.
Control early emerging weeds including volunteer crops with herbicides before they use much soil moisture. It also is important for the furrow irrigator to control these weeds. Updated information from the University of Nebraska on these concepts is expected to be forthcoming in the next few weeks. Contact this Cooperative Extension office for details. Most of the state has had no significant moisture since September.