Important and emerging disease concerns of corn
TAMRA JACKSON-ZIEMS – Associate Professor, Extension Plant Pathologist, Plant Pathology, University of Nebraska–Lincoln
Jackson-Ziems is responsible for statewide extension programming and research on established and emerging diseases of corn and sorghum. She is interested in applied research leading to improved disease diagnostics and management strategies to minimize loss of yield and quality. Her talk will focus on corn diseases in Nebraska which is the third largest corn-producing state in the USA.
January 22, 2016
Unmanned aerial systems (drones) in agriculture
DON ADAMS – Professor, District Director,Animal Science Department, West Central Research and Extension Center, University of Nebraska–Lincoln
This mini-symposium featured four talks from UNL faculty and two talks from external speakers from the UAS industry. The talks covered a wide range of material from technical aspects of UAS usage to data analysis and applications in agriculture. The symposium ended with a brief panel discussion.
Drones are quickly becoming more and more commonplace as individuals and businesses find new ways to use them. Significantly cheaper than the traditional manned airplane or helicopter approaches to obtaining aerial imagery and sensor data, increased drone use is transforming the work of those involved in the agriculture industry.
University of Nebraska-Lincoln faculty and drone industry experts will discuss the use of unmanned aerial systems from the technical aspects of operation and data collection and analysis, to application in agriculture and legal use.
January 29, 2016
Bringing aerial robots closer to crops: Sensing, sampling, and safety
CARRICK DETWEILER – Assistant Professor, Computer Science and Engineering, University of Nebraska–Lincoln
How do I legally use my unmanned aerial systems
WILLIAM KREUSER – Assistant Professor, Department of Agronomy and Horticulture, University of Nebraska–Lincoln
Getting the most from unmanned aerial systems
NATHAN STEIN – Ag Solutions, SenseFly
Unmanned aerial systems to evaluate the timing of winter dormancy in Buffalograss
KEENAN AMUNDSEN – Assistant Professor, Department of Agronomy and Horticulture, University of Nebraska–Lincoln
Sensor-based nitrogen management: The role of unmanned aerial systems
RICHARD FERGUSON – Professor, Department of Agronomy and Horticulture, University of Nebraska–Lincoln
Building big data solutions for drones in agriculture
JEREMY BAYNES – Geospatial Scientist, PrecisionHawk
Cover crops and soil ecosystem services
HUMBERTO BLANCO – Associate Professor, Soil Management and Applied Soil Physics, Department of Agronomy and Horticulture, University of Nebraska–Lincoln
This presentation will discuss how cover crops impact soil physical quality, soil organic C storage, and other soil ecosystem services under different scenarios of management. It will also highlight ongoing cover crop experiments established to answer some of the unresolved questions through interdisciplinary efforts.
February 5, 2016
Video not available for this seminar.
Internationalizing the land-grant mission—opportunities and challenges
JOSH DAVIS – IANR Assistant Vice Chancellor for Global Engagement, University of Nebraska–Lincoln
Davis will discuss trends in the globalization of higher education, describe specific IANR initiatives already underway, and highlight tools and opportunities for those interested to become more involved.
February 12, 2016
Unmanned aerial systems (UAS) in agriculture: State of the art
IGNACIO CIAMPITTI – Assistant Professor, Crop Production & Cropping Systems Specialist, Department of Agronomy, Kansas State University
Global food security must address the dual challenges of closing yield gaps while improving environmental sustainability. The use of new technologies, such as uses of unmanned aerial systems (UAS), can play a critical role in addressing challenges. Kansas State University research on the diverse uses of UAS for agricultural applications will be discussed.
February 5, 2016
Social media: A revolution in modern agricultural communication
JOSH DAVIS – IANR Assistant Vice Chancellor for Global Engagement, University of Nebraska–Lincoln
Ciampitti will talk about the use of social media by Department of Agronomy and Cropping Systems group at K-State University to provide unbiased and science-based Ag information. The information shared via social media quickly reaches the target audience, providing timely educational and outreach contents. The most successful examples have been infographics, timely pictures of production issues, presentations and papers uploaded, and information on the use of new technologies.
February 19, 2016
Buffalograss—native with unique challenges
KEENAN AMUNDSEN – Assistant Professor, Turfgrass Genetics, Department of Agronomy and Horticulture, University of Nebraska–Lincoln
Buffalograss, like many specialty crops, has limited publicly available genomic data, complicating genetic-based breeding strategies. Amundsen will discuss how modern RNA sequencing applications are advancing buffalograss cultivar development. He will also dispel myths of buffalograss management and discuss advancements in the understanding of seed and winter dormancy mechanisms.
Febuary 26, 2016
Corn residue grazing and baling effects on soil physical properties
TIM SHAVER – Associate Professor, Agronomy and Nutrient Management Specialist, Department of Agronomy and Horticulture, West Central Research and Extension Center, University of Nebraska–Lincoln
Corn residue grazing and baling can provide a valuable and cost effective means of feeding cattle and is a common practice Nebraska. However, there are concerns about the effects of residue removal on corn yields and soil physical properties. The results of a long term study concerning this issue will be presented.
March 4, 2016
Leveraging the power of farmer data to empower agricultural research
PATRICIO GRASSINI – Assistant Professor, Water for Food Institute Fellow, Department of Agronomy and Horticulture, University of Nebraska–Lincoln
Increased regulatory pressures on the environmental influence of agriculture and requirements for farm reporting on factors affecting environmental impact will likely increase. Grassini will show how on-farm data provide an unprecedented opportunity to benchmark the impact of management practices on yield and efficiencies of water and fertilizer applications and to orient high-cost, multi-year, multi-site field studies.
Febuary 26, 2016
Nebraska On-Farm Research Network: Using data to drive decisions
LAURA THOMPSON – Assistant Extension Educator, Southeast Research and Extension Center, University of Nebraska
Nebraska Extension has been working with farmers to conduct on-farm research for over 26 years. Farmers participating in the on-farm research network take an active role in the research, addressing questions that impact productivity, profitability, and long-term sustainability. Thompson will discuss the recent growth of this program, tools the network has developed, results from 2015 research studies, and future directions for the network.
March 18, 2016
Ecosystem services and environmental consequences of lawns and turfgrass management
DOUGLAS SOLDAT – Associate Professor and Extension Specialist, Department of Soil Science, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Turfgrass is the predominant ground cover in urban land uses, covering approximately one-third of developed land in the US. Therefore it is important to understand the environmental consequences and the urban ecosystem services provided. This seminar will summarize the state of the science of turfgrass in the urban environment with respect to ecosystem services, soil quality and management and socioeconomic concerns of turfgrass management.
April 1, 2016
Freezing damage requires membrane remodeling and photosynthesis requires thylakoid dynamics
REBECCA ROSTON – Assistant Professor, Department of Biochemistry, University of Nebraska–Lincoln
Out-of-season cold snaps are increasing with changes in weather patterns, and resultant crop and landscape damage can have large economic impacts. Roston will review mechanisms to withstand cold and freezing in plants and recent data on a critical post-translational signals, which control membrane responses to freezing. She will also discuss the relevance of thylakoidal membrane dynamics to efficient plant growth and development.
April 8, 2016
Online education isn’t taxing—We’re here to help
LEAH SANDALL – Assistant Professor of Practice, Distance Education Coordinator, Department of Agronomy and Horticulture, University of Nebraska–Lincoln
Sandall will provide an overview of the current activities in the online education program in Agronomy and Hort and ways to participate in developing online learning materials. She will share examples of collaborations between research, teaching and extension faculty to create online learning opportunities for students.
Febuary 26, 2016
Improving soybean yield under drought
GEORGE GRAEF – Professor, Soybean Breeding and Genetics, Department of Agronomy and Horticulture, University of Nebraska–Lincoln
In Nebraska, water is the main limiting factor in soybean yield. Soybean yield response to water is linear, and soybean genotypes differ in their water use efficiency as measured by yield per unit water applied. I will discuss options to improve soybean yield response to water and implications for both irrigated and rainfed production systems.
April 29, 2016
Domestic rubber production – Stretching over the value chain
KATRINA CORNISH, Ph.D. FNAI, FAAS – Endowed Chair and Ohio Research Scholar, Bioemergent Materials, Department of Horticulture and Crop Science, Department of Food, Agricultural and Biological Engineering, Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center, The Ohio State University
Natural rubber is a strategic raw material essential to the manufacture of 50,000 different rubber and latex products. Until recently, natural rubber has been produced solely from a genetically narrow, single species, the rubber tree, grown in tropical regions. Developed countries import all the natural rubber they require—approximately 1.2 megatons a year by the United States. Dr. Cornish’s disruptive technologies encompass the value chain that underlies sustainable and resilient domestic production of alternate natural rubber, from crop domestication through agronomy and processing, to product manufacturing and validation. Highlights of these developments will be discussed in the context of high-value market opportunities and 100 percent crop consumption.
June 15, 2016
Integrating Precision Agriculture with Cover Crop and Rotational Management in Southern Brazil
TELMO AMADO, Ph.D. Soil Science – Professor at the Federal University of Santa Maria, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
This seminar will focus on precision agriculture adoption in South Brazil, the general view of Brazilian agriculture and use of cover crops in low yield zones as a biological tool to restore soil productivity.
August 5, 2016
Extension Master Gardener Program—a hidden gem
TERRI JAMESAssistant Extension Educator, Department of Agronomy and Horticulture, University of Nebraska–Lincoln
The Extension Master Gardener program began in 1973 at Washington State University. Today every state in the United States has a version of that first Master Gardner program. Currently over 100,000 certified Master Gardeners aid in providing unbiased science-based horticulture information to local communities. This presentation will discuss how the Nebraska Extension Master Gardener program is working in Nebraska and how it could be incorporated into your program.
Synteny as a marker for function across the grasses
JAMES SCHNABLEAssistant Professor, Department of Agronomy and Horticulture, University of Nebraska–Lincoln
Evolution of the corn seed industry
TOM HOEGEMEYERProfessor of Practice, UNL Agronomy and Horticulture, University of Nebraska–Lincoln
Dr. Hoegemeyer will discuss the history, major milestones in the development of maize hybrids, and the corn seed industry including scientific discoveries, development of theory and practice, mechanization, computerization and improvements to seed and agronomic technology.
Advances in field scale soil water monitoring using cosmic-ray neutron probes
TRENTON FRANZAssistant Professor of Hydrogeophysics, School of Natural Resources, Robert B. Daugherty Water for Food Institute Fellow
Dr. Franz will present an overview of the new proximal sensing method for measuring soil water and the representativity of point sensors to larger areas.
Phenotyping and remote sensing—what are the chances?
ARTHUR ZYGIELBAUMResearch Associate Professor, Center for Advanced Land Management Information Technologies, School of Natural Resources University of Nebraska–Lincoln
Remote sensing has been used for decades to estimate vegetation biophysical parameters. While techniques relating spectral reflectance to pigment content are well understood, reliable estimation of osmoregulated compounds has yet to be realized. This talk is an overview of reflected spectrum remote sensing.
Coolbeans—the musings of a soybean agronomist
SHAWN CONLEYProfessor of Agronomy and State Soybean and Small Grains Specialist, University of Wisconsin–Madison
Academia often too quickly dismiss research ideas as "too applied," "already been done" or "too simple" to be relevant to our discipline. In his seminar, Shawn Conley will address these misconceptions through real world examples from his research program and how those "simple" experiments tend to provide the greatest impact to both his research and extension program.
Seed industry globalization, consolidation and ownership changes—what are the implications?
JOE KEASCHALLPlant Breeding Professor of Practice, Department of Agronomy and Horticulture, University of Nebraska–Lincoln
Keaschall will summarize some of the completed and proposed changes in large multinational seed company ownership. What are some of the potential impacts on research investment, crop improvement and competition for the leadership position?
Video not available for this seminar.
Teaching and research in SCIL 101: Science and Decision-making for a Complex World
JENNY DAUERAssistant Professor, School of Natural Resources, University of Nebraska–Lincoln
Dauer will describe the curriculum of SCIL 101 targeted toward developing students’ science literacy skills. She will also describe results from on-going science literacy research in the course.
Integrating web media for impactful extension and research
BILL KREUSERAssistant Professor, Extension Turfgrass Specialist, Department of Agronomy and Horticulture, University of Nebraska–Lincoln
Web-based media such as websites, blogs, webinars, videos and social media can be used to disseminate research, broaden the reach of extension programs, and connect with diverse groups of people. This seminar will discuss ways to integrate various web-based content, track activity, and assess impact with surveys, polls and web tools.
Alternative crops for semi-arid High Plains of western Nebraska
DIPAK SANTRAAssociate Professor, Alternative Crops Breeding Specialist, Department of Agronomy and Horticulture, Panhandle Research and Extension Center, University of Nebraska–Lincoln
The rainfed crop production system in western Nebraska is dominated by the traditional wheat-fallow crop rotation. Replacing fallow in traditional crop rotations is imperative for sustainability. Proso millet is the best alternative crop and field pea is the emerging new alternative crop. This presentation will cover current progress of proso millet breeding and genomics, development grain legume crops field pea and fenugreek, and oil seed crops like winter canola.
Overview of the UNL Dry Bean Breeding Program
CARLOS URREAAssociate Professor, Panhandle Research and Extension Center, Department of Agronomy and Horticulture, University of Nebraska–Lincoln
Nebraska is one of the top dry bean producing states in the United States, ranking first in great northern, second in light red kidney and third in pinto bean production in 2016. Global engagement of the UNL dry bean breeding activities will be discussed including research, extension and educational components.
Integrating biological control into crop pest management—a little help from beneficial fungi, nematodes, and ladybeetles
JULIE PETERSONAssistant Professor and Extension Specialist, Department of Entomology, West Central Research and Extension Center, University of Nebraska–Lincoln
We face significant challenges from insect pests that have evolved resistance to chemical and genetic management tactics. With ever fewer tools for pest management alternative strategies, such as biological control, are needed. Research that takes advantage of the natural ecological interactions between important Nebraska corn pests (western bean cutworm, western corn rootworm and their predators), parasitoids and diseases will be discussed in the context of IPM.
Video not available for this seminar.
Geospatial technologies for the management of water, food production and energy
CHRISTOPHER NEALEDirector of Research, Water for Food Global Institute, and Professor, Biological Systems Engineering, University of Nebraska–Lincoln
Geospatial technologies such as remote sensing, GIS, GPS and digital spatial databases are becoming mainstream and being used operationally for precision agricultural practices. Remote sensing of crop evapotranspiration (ET) has matured over the last 15 years with multiple models and approaches and can now be used for real time irrigation water management. This presentation will discuss ongoing research on the use of these technologies for biomass and yield estimation, seasonal crop water use and water productivity estimates at different scales for different crops and locations.
Developing the next generation of Rwandan agricultural leaders
TIFFANY HENG-MOSSAssociate Dean, College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, University of Nebraska–Lincoln
Heng-Moss will discuss a new CASNR academic program initiative that will contribute to the transformation of the Rwandan agricultural industry, accelerate agricultural production through sustainable resource and environmental management, and position Rwanda to emerge as a model for African agricultural development.
FATIMA: A European Project on Precision Agriculture with Emphasis on Variable Rate Nitrogen Fertilization
STAMATIS STAMATIADIS, PH.D.Soil Ecology and Bitechnology Lab Director, Goulandris Natural History Museum, Greece, Adjunct Professor, Department of Agronomy and Horticulture, University of Nebraska–Lincoln
Stamatis was born and attended high school in Athens, Greece. He received his B.Sc. degree in 1980 in biology from the University of London, his M.S. in 1983 and Ph.D. in 1986 in soil biology & ecology from the department of Environmental Science and Forestry, SUNY, Syracuse, New York. Upon graduation, he held a postdoc appointment as a research associate in Soil Microbiology with John Doran, Ph.D., (by cooperative agreement between the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and USDAAgricultural Research Service). From 1989–1992 he taught terrestrial ecology and soil microbiology at the University of the Aegean, Greece, while at the same time he established the Soil Ecology and Biotechnology Laboratory at the Goulandris Natural History Museum, Athens, Greece. His early laboratory research concerned mass protein production from earthworms and microalgae. In the 1990s he collaborated with ARS-Lincoln and UC-Santa Cruz for development of soil quality indicators. Since 2000, he works in association with James Schepers, Ph.D., of ARS-Lincoln, on ground-sensor remote sensing technologies and variable-rate nitrogen application systems. Latest accomplishments are the direct funding of two European Union projects on precision nitrogen and water management—HydroSense and FATIMA—while maintaining an adjunct professor status at Nebraska.
High throughput plant phenotyping in greenhouse and field—translational pipelines from gene discovery to crop improvement
YUFENG GEAssistant Professor, Biological Systems Engineering, University of Nebraska–Lincoln
This seminar will give an overview of a number of high throughput plant phenotyping projects at UNL. Yufeng Ge will highlight some key findings and lessons from these projects, and share perspectives on the bright future of plant phenotyping research.