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Central Nebraska farmer says diseases challenged crops, but he expects good harvest

A Central Nebraska farmer says he’s seen some disease pressure this year, but still expects a good harvest. 

Mike Bergen, who farms near Henderson, tells Brownfield…

“We kind of hit the whammy, the trifecta with Southern Rust and Goss’s wilt and even tar spot moving into Central Nebraska this year on corn,” he says. “But overall, I think it’s fairly well managed. Corn is still hanging in there, pretty well drying down.”

He says not much corn has come out in his area, but soybean harvest is underway and he’s expecting an average yield.

“These beans were planted so late following the rye that they’re going to be middle 60s. But we pulled some revenue off the rye and running livestock last winter on on the cover crop, so I think overall revenue is going to be fine, but the yields are going to be down a little bit on this field,” he says.

He says 18 inches of rain fell during the growing season, however he’s only had four hundredths of an inch in September.

Photo credit: Mike Bergen