Nebraska Wildfire Update: Crop Land Recovery
Wildfires have devastated row crop acres in western Nebraska causing significant destruction of crop residue and soil organic matter. Nebraska Crop and Water Systems Extension educator Jenny Brhel talks about how to proceed with the 2026 growing season.
View Transcript
[Brad Mills, Program Host]
Nebraska Extension Almanac.
Wildfires need fuel to keep burning, and according to extension educator Jenny Burhel, there might be some differences between pasture land and row crop land. She says every fire is different, and every land condition and environment is different, but there might be an opportunity to stay ahead, even if your land has been damaged.
[Jenny Brhel, Nebraska Extension Educator]
When it comes to wildfires and when they burn residue, what we know is the questions we're getting right now, with the high input prices, the low commodity prices, how much nutrients have we lost?
And we say that basically, the nitrogen, the sulfur, the carbon that was all in that residue was gone.
Um, but some good things are based on the research from, it was South Dakota State, and then there was some other Western states that did this to Wisconsin and others.
They showed that it actually, because you're changing that carbon and nitrogen ratio on the soil surface, it allows for more mineralization of nutrients.
So, They, in their studies, never felt like they had to supplement with more nitrogen as a result of wildfires and residue.
The biggest concern I have is, when you have a wildfire, the waxy oils from the plants get moved onto the soil surface and it creates a hydrophobic surface, meaning it doesn't allow for water to infiltrate very well.
So what I've been recommending to producers and what we've done in the past, I just recommend getting something drilled in there right away, like oats.
I've been telling everyone, just get in there with some oats right now, and that could be a great opportunity for guys who have cattle too.
Put in oats, put in oats and peas, get some forge growing, and maybe they consider, in a year like this, I've been pushing really hard, looking at putting annual forges on crop ground versus corn and soybeans because of the economics.
And this may be an opportunity for some of those growers to, um, utilize annual forges too.
[Brad Mills, Program Host]
Jenny talks about how wildfires have different effects on land that is used for pasture or crops.
[Jenny Brhel, Nebraska Extension Educator]
Every fire is different and how fast it burns across the field, how much residue is burned, how much soil is blowing, what the crop rotation was.
Like there's so many factors, what the soil moisture was before the fire.
All of that makes a difference on mineralization, on any kind of other surface, um, minerals lost.
The thing I would mention about the cover crops, the reason why I keep pushing that is every wild fire situation I've had experience with, what we have seen is where we were able to get a cover crop established in a field versus not.
We were actually able to have a crop that yielded afterwards because it helps heal that soil so much faster.
If we don't get something in the soil and get that soil trying to heal itself.
It just takes longer on those effects.
The cover, they can either use it for forage or they can plant their soybeans or corn green into it.
The 2nd thing, I would say, is we have a bunch of resources at our cropwatch.unl.edu website as well as I know the beef team does as well.
And if they search for wildfire, they will get all that and it'll be on the front page too.
And the 3rd thing is don't don't be afraid to reach out for help because there is a lot of emotion, stress, grief, loss in this, and we all need each other.
We were meant to live in community.
And so there are resources to help the real response hotline and just keep checking in with each other.
[Brad Mills, Program Host]
Be sure to stay tuned to Extension Almanac for more updates on recovering from the recent wildfires. For Nebraska Extension Almanac, I'm Brad Mills.
Nebraska Extension Almanac is a production of IANR Media and Nebraska Extension.
For more information on how your university is serving Nebraskans, go to extension.unl.edu.
2026 Cash Rent Lease Considerations
Farmland leases typically renew on March 1 and right now land values and cash rents are on the top of many farmers minds. Nebraska Extension Ag Economist Jim Janssen stresses the importance of having written agreements in place that benefit the landowner as well as the renter.
2025 Corn Disease Report
The 2025 Nebraska corn season experienced significant disease pressure, featuring record levels of southern rust, rapidly expanding tar spot, and widespread stalk and crown rots. Nebraska Extension Plant Pathologist Tamra Jackson-Ziems talks about 2026 disease pressures and urges producers to plan seed genetics and management practices accordingly.
Yield Effects of Pests and Diseases on Soybeans
Soybean gall midge, Dectes stem borer, and several plant diseases continue to be some of the most important threats to soybean production in Nebraska. Extension Crop Protection and Cropping Systems Specialist Justin McMechan talks about ways producers can use research information from last year to make more informed decisions about next year’s crop.
2025 Nebraska Extension Soybean Pest Study and Yield Results
Nebraska Extension has recently published a new study on the effects of insect and disease pests on soybeans from the last growing season. Nebraska Extension Crop Protection and Cropping Systems Specialist Justin McMechan talks about some of the highlights from this year’s report.
2025 Nebraska Corn Board Research Report
The Nebraska Corn Board research dollars are continually seeking new opportunities for corn farmers. Rachael Whitehair Director of Innovation and Stewardship at the Corn Board talks about the studies being done and how producers can use that information to stay profitable.
Land Application Training Certification
This February and March, Nebraska Extension is hosting seven hands-on workshops across the state to help producers get the most value out of manure while protecting water and soil resources. Nebraska Extension Animal Manure Management Extension Educator Leslie Johnson talks about this year’s certification training workshop and who needs to attend.
Supplemental Disaster Relief Program
USDA’s Supplemental Disaster Relief program helps farmers who may have suffered from production losses in previous growing seasons. USDA Farm Service Agency State Executive Director Hilary Maricle discusses the different stages of the program and says producers have until April to fill out the paperwork for claims.
Myths about Southern Rust in Corn
This growing season was one for the record books as southern rust invaded corn across the state for a second year in a row. Nebraska Extension Plant Pathologist Tamra Jackson-Ziems says southern rust was prevalent this year and has heard a few rumors that aren’t necessarily true. She talks about how the pathogen is spread and clears up any rumors before producers start making decisions that could affect next year’s crop.
Checklist for Winterizing Your Center Pivot
Irrigation season has ended and it’s time to evaluate your center pivot system to make sure it is ready for winter and for another growing season. Nebraska Extension Irrigated Cropping Systems Educator Steve Melvin talks about several key steps to keep in mind when shutting down your pivot for the winter.
Harvest Season Safety
Fatigue, stress, heavy equipment and unpredictable conditions all contribute to the risks faced by farmers and rural residents alike during harvest season. Nebraska Extension Educator Amy Timmerman offers a few commonsense tips to get the crop in while being safe.
Assessing Soil Health
Our state has some of the best soil on the planet. On today’s program, UNL Agronomy Professor Caro Cordova says testing your soil is the first step in the conservation and protection of our soils, and to do so on a regular basis.
Corn Disease Pressure
It should come as no surprise that the Cornhusker state's most economically important crop is corn, but many producers have felt the pressure of increased corn diseases. Nebraska Extension Plant Pathologist Tamra Jackson-Ziems talks about some strategies to help farmers maximize their yield even though they’ve had some significant disease problems this year.
Scheduling The last Irrigations For the Season
Correctly timing the last few irrigations of the season offers an excellent opportunity for many producers to save water and money. Bruno Lena, Nebraska Extension Water and Cropping System Assistant Educator says the main objective is to use stored soil water without affecting crop yields, while also creating room to store offseason precipitation.
Making Silage from Hail Damaged Corn
Making silage from late season hail damaged corn could be a great option for many producers. Nebraska Extension Beef Systems Specialist Mary Drewnoski talks about the advantages and risks of feeding hail damaged corn silage and earlage.