Martha Mamo, University of Nebraska–Lincoln Weaver Professor of Agronomy and Horticulture and interim associate department head, has earned the Soil Science Society of America’s 2017 Soil Science Education and Extension Award. The award recognizes the educational achievements and outstanding educational contributions of soil scientists through activities such as resident, extension or industrial education.
Area farmers, students learn about cutting edge ag technology
Thursday, August 17, 2017
Area growers and ag students from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln got a briefing Wednesday about how growers can outfit and implement high-tech sensors into their farming operations. The Project SENSE presentation was conducted at the farm of Ken Seim near Chapman. During the first part of Wednesday’s presentation, University of Nebraska–Lincoln agronomy graduate students John Parrish and Joel Crowther talked with farmers about the accomplishments and challenges with the project.
One tough bird: Greater prairie-chickens pay turbine fields no mind
Wednesday, August 16, 2017
A new study by University of Nebraska-Lincoln researchers shows that at least one grassland bird — the endangered greater prairie-chicken — pays little attention to small-scale wind energy infrastructure in choosing nesting sites. Over two years, Jocelyn Onley Harrison and her colleagues, Mary Bomberger Brown, Larkin Powell and Jennifer Smith, all of SNR, and Walter Schacht, of the Department of Agronomy and Horticulture, captured 78 female prairie-chickens at breeding sites and fitted them with transmitters to track them to their nests.
Nebraska program takes unique approach to plant health
Thursday, August 10, 2017
As more focus is placed on the agricultural industry to produce more food with less resources, plant health is taking center stage. While basic research in soil health, plant breeding and pest management is more critical than ever, there is a growing demand worldwide for leaders who can comprehensively address plant health issues. A unique professional program at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln is training leaders with multidisciplinary expertise to optimize plant health.
University leads research into heat-tolerant crops
Wednesday, August 2, 2017
Harkamal Walia, associate professor of agronomy and horticulture at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, has been awarded a $5.78 million National Science Foundation grant to explore the affects of high nighttime temperatures on wheat and rice. Walia’s team will investigate genes and genetic variants in wheat and rice to identify genetic markers and physiological characteristics tied to heat tolerance.
Nebraska Extension specialist responds to dicamba concerns
Friday, July 28, 2017
Nebraska crop producers are joining others across the country in facing potential issues related to dicamba, a herbicide for broadleaf weed control. While the product has been available for a number of years, this was the first year that dicamba-tolerant Roundup Ready 2 Xtend soybean and new dicamba-based formulations were made commercially available in Nebraska.
Horticulturists and biological systems engineers from nine universities met at the Hyatt Place in Lincoln for their annual multistate meeting, June 29–30. The group, NE-1335 Resource Management in Commercial Greenhouse Production, was welcomed by University of Nebraska–Lincoln IANR Vice Chancellor Mike Boehm.
Jorge Venegas, University of Nebraska–Lincoln agronomy doctoral candidate, specializing in plant breeding and genetics, received the national Roger Krueger Memorial Scholarship from the American Seed Research Foundation at the American Seed Trade Association conference June 22 in Minneapolis.
Plant scientists aim to turn sorghum into jet fuel
Wednesday, July 19, 2017
The University of Nebraska-Lincoln is one of 15 institutions partnering with the University of Illinois in the $104-million Center for Advanced Bioenergy and Bioproducts Innovation. Biochemistry professor Edgar Cahoon and agronomy and horticulture professor Tom Clemente will lead Nebraska’s part of the project. They expect to receive slightly more than $4 million for their research during the next five years. Their goal is to genetically enhance certain sorghum species so that the stems and leaves contain more oil and less starch.
A retirement reception for Dennis McCallister, agronomy and horticulture professor, is from 3 to 5 p.m. July 28 at the Goodding Learning Center, 280 Plant Sciences Hall, East Campus. McCallister will retire July 31 after 37 years at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln.
