News

Volesky named interim director of Center for Grassland Studies Thursday, January 27, 2022

Jerry Volesky has been named the interim director of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s Center for Grassland Studies.

Volesky is a professor in the Department of Agronomy and Horticulture and a Nebraska Extension range and forage specialist at the West Central Research, Extension and Education Center in North Platte.

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Staswick retires after 36-year career at Nebraska Wednesday, January 26, 2022

Paul Staswick. <em>Craig Chandler | University Communication </em>

Paul Staswick, University of Nebraska–Lincoln agronomy and horticulture professor, retired January 3 after a 36-year career of research and teaching in the Department of Agronomy and Horticulture.

A native of Washington state, Staswick’s career focused on the fundamental aspects of plant biology related to plant productivity, crop plant quality and disease resistance mechanisms. Early in his career, he worked on soybean protein biochemistry.

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U.S. corn production is booming—but not for the reasons scientists hoped Tuesday, January 25, 2022

Tractors pack down a giant mound of corn at a feedlot near Imperial, Nebraska, before storm clouds roll in. PHOTOGRAPH BY RANDY OLSON, NAT GEO IMAGE COLLECTION

National Geographic features Nebraska — the corn belt of success. According to a new study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, over the past 15 years, the primary driver of growing corn yields has been another factor entirely: the longer growing seasons and mild weather promoted by climate change. "We're going to need to be really creative in order to keep yields up,” says Patricio Grassini, an agricultural scientist at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, who was one of the authors of a new study.

See full story at National Geographic

Graduate students earn fellowships and awards Tuesday, January 25, 2022

Ten Department of Agronomy and Horticulture doctoral students were honored with fellowships and awards from the College of Agricultural and Natural Resources, Agricultural Research Division, Water for Food Daugherty Global Institute and Crop Science Society of America.

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Li is new distance education lecturer Monday, January 24, 2022

The Department of Agronomy and Horticulture welcomed Luqi Li on January 10 as a lecturer for the AgroHort Online Program. He works with Leah Sandall, distance education coordinator.

Li has been with the University of Nebraska–Lincoln as an undergraduate and graduate student, research assistant and postdoctoral research associate.

Original from Beijing, China, Li earned a Bachelor of Science in turfgrass and landscape management from Nebraska in 2013.

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Mamo reappointed as head of UNL Department of Agronomy and Horticulture Thursday, January 20, 2022

Martha Mamo has been reappointed as head of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln's department of agronomy and horticulture, a position she has held since 2019. Her reappointment took effect on Jan. 1.

See full story in IANR News

National Climate Assessment’s Northern Great Plains report will feature contributions from Nebraska researchers Thursday, January 20, 2022

Since its first report was released in 2000, the U.S. Global Change Research Program has been responsible for producing an assessment of climate change impacts across a broad scope of sectors. The creation of the Fifth National Climate Assessment (NCA5) is currently underway. Andrea Basche, assistant professor and crop resilience specialist in agronomy and horticulture, is among the co-authors who will produce the NCA5 Northern Great Plains Region chapter.

Full story at Inside the School of Natural Resources

Agronomy and Horticulture seminar series begins Feb. 4 Wednesday, January 19, 2022

The spring Agronomy and Horticulture seminar series starts with “Collaborative Efforts to Diversify Nebraska Cropping Systems” presented by Nebraska’s Andrea Basche Feb. 4.

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Nebraska study finds climate, field management hold keys to increased crop yields Wednesday, January 19, 2022

Much of the recent gain in corn yield is attributable to farmer adoption of improved management practices.

A multi-year analysis of Nebraska corn production by researchers in the University of Nebraska–Lincoln’s Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources sheds new light on crop yield improvement and demonstrates the value of the university’s partnership with Nebraska ag producers and natural resources districts.

See full story in Nebraska Today

MLK week to feature volunteer opportunities, critical conversations Tuesday, January 18, 2022

The University of Nebraska–Lincoln’s MLK Week celebration will feature week-long opportunities for service, education and conversation.

See full story in Nebraska Today