Millet and Field Pea as Drought-Resilient Options for Nebraska Corn-Soybean Systems

Mar 20, 2026

By Rituraj Khound

Key Takeaways

In regions where seasonal precipitation is unpredictable and groundwater reserves are depleting, millet and field pea offer more than mere diversification — they provide resilience to the cropping system as risk-buffering alternative crops. By integrating millet and field pea into corn-soybean-based systems, Nebraska growers can build robust cropping systems that maintain both profitability and productivity under high-risk conditions.
Diverse crops in the rotation lead to overall improvement of soil health.
Both millet and field pea are low-input crops. The net profit could be higher for millet and pea even in the current volatile commodity market. Corn and soybean prices continue to fall as of March 16. Earnings from millet and pea could help exceed (or at least offset) the total farm income due to low input costs.

Drought risk is building across western Nebraska heading into the 2026 growing season, with limited winter snow and continued pressure on groundwater supplies. At the same time, rising input costs and declining commodity prices are forcing many producers to rethink how much risk they can afford to carry with irrigated corn and soybean.

In years like this, even small shifts in cropping strategy can help protect both yield and profitability. Alternative crops such as proso millet and field pea offer lower water and nitrogen requirements, making them potential tools for reducing risk in water-limited systems.

Source : unl.edu

Video: Dicamba Returns for Georgia Farmers: What the New EPA Ruling Means for Cotton Growers

After being unavailable in 2024 due to registration issues, dicamba products are returning for Georgia farmers this growing season — but under strict new conditions.

In this report from Tifton, Extension Weed Specialist Stanley Culpepper explains the updated EPA ruling, including new application limits, mandatory training requirements, and the need for a restricted use pesticide license. Among the key changes: a cap of two ½-pound applications per year and the required use of an approved volatility reduction agent with every application.

For Georgia cotton producers, the ruling is significant. According to Taylor Sills with the Georgia Cotton Commission, the vast majority of cotton planted in the state carries the dicamba-tolerant trait — meaning farmers had been paying for technology they couldn’t use.

While environmental groups have expressed concerns over spray drift, Georgia growers have reduced off-target pesticide movement by more than 91% over the past decade. Still, this two-year registration period will come with increased scrutiny, making stewardship and compliance more important than ever.