Agronomy and Horticulture IMPACT 2026 Conference

March 3 – 4, 2026
Nebraska Innovation Campus, Lincoln, Nebraska

Sponsorship Deadline is February 16.

ABSTRACT SUBMISSION and REGISTRATION deadline is February 16.

Register Sponsor Registration Display Submission Agenda Speakers Planning Committee

Why This Conference?

The Department of Agronomy and Horticulture is hosting a showcase and strategy conference to highlight our collective achievements in teaching, research and extension. This event will:

Demonstrate public value of our work for agriculture, the environment, and society.
Showcase innovative and emerging programs aligned with Nebraska’s needs.
Build connections across disciplines and strengthen partnerships with industry, agencies, commodity boards and community stakeholders.
Engage graduate students and highlight their role in advancing innovation.

Together, we will celebrate accomplishments, share ideas and shape the future of agriculture and horticulture in Nebraska and beyond.

Benefits to the Community

Networking opportunities with faculty, students, industry, agencies and stakeholders.
Insights into cutting-edge research and extension programs addressing sustainability, soil health, water quality and crop productivity.
Strategic collaboration opportunities to address current and future challenges.
Direct engagement with advisory board members, policymakers and community leaders.

Agenda

Tuesday, March 3, 2026

Nebraska Innovation Campus

6 – 9 pm – Mixer with posters, displays, and demonstrations

6:25 pm – Welcome

6:30 pm – Opening comments from Derek McLean, Dean of Research, Charles Stoltenow, Dean of Extension, and Tom Burkey, CASNR Interim Dean

Coordinator: Anne Streich

Wednesday, March 4, 2026

Nebraska Innovation Campus

7:30 – 8:30 am	Check-in, coffee and pastries
8:30 – 8:45 am	Welcome and Introductions: Speakers: Tiffany Heng-Moss, Interim IANR Vice Chancellor, and Martha Mamo, Department of Agronomy and Horticulture Head
8:45 am – 10:05 am	Interdisciplinary Projects 8:45–9:05 am: Testing Ag Performance Solutions (TAPS) Speaker: Chris Proctor, Extension Educator and TAPS Lead, Agronomy and Horticulture 9:05–9:25 am: Teaching and Experiential Learning — Real-World Learning Requires Real-World Partners Speaker: Sam Wortman, Associate Professor, Agronomy and Horticulture 9:25–9:45 am: Data-Driven Digital Agriculture: From Research to Impact Speaker: Guillermo Balboa, Research Assistant Professor, Agronomy and Horticulture 9:45–10:05 am: Agriculture and Human Health Speaker: Aaron Daigh, Associate Professor, Agronomy and Horticulture Session Coordinator: Javed Iqbal
10:05 – 10:15 am	Break
10:15 – 11:15 am	Stakeholder Panel (5-6 participants) Session Coordinator & Chair: David Meyer
11:30 am – 1 pm	Lunch and Keynote Address 12:15 pm: Keynote Speaker – Jackson Stansell, Sentinel Ag
1 – 3 pm	Department Focus Area Highlights 1:00–1:20 pm: Forage and Range 1:20–1:40 pm: Horticulture and Turfgrass Science 1:40–2:00 pm: Plant Breeding and Genetics 2:00–2:20 pm: Soil and Water Sciences 2:20–2:40 pm: Plant Physiology and Crop Production 2:40–3:00 pm: Weed Science Session Coordinator: Sam Wortman
3 – 3:10 pm	Break
3:15 – 4:45 pm	Roundtable Discussion with Stakeholder Feedback Feedback (2 of 5 rotating discussions, 40 minutes each) Workforce Development AI/Technology/Data Partnerships and Future Funding Global Value of Agriculture and Natural Resources (holistic and financial) Communicating Research Data with Stakeholders Session Coordinators: Jinliang Yang & Javed Iqbal
4:45 – 5 pm	Closing Remarks Speaker: David Holding