University of Nebraska–Lincoln’s Bijesh Maharjan, associate professor in agronomy and horticulture and extension specialist at the Panhandle Research, Extension, and Education Center in Scottsbluff, has been named the Ray and Jolene Ward Professor of Soil Health Science, effective April 1, 2026.
This newly established professorship in the Department of Agronomy and Horticulture honors the Wards for their longstanding contributions to Nebraska agriculture. Ray and Jolene Ward founded Ward Laboratories, Inc. in 1983 on the core principle of providing high-quality analytical results to help customers make informed decisions about their operations. What began in a three-bay garage in Kearney, Nebraska, has grown into a state-of-the-art facility staffed by a team of highly qualified agricultural professionals.
Ward’s impact extends beyond laboratory data. He has been a tireless advocate for sustainable soil management, promoting practices that enhance soil health, conserve resources and improve long-term productivity. His numerous honors — including recognition from the Soil Science Society of America, the Nebraska Farm Bureau Silver Eagle Award and induction into the Nebraska Hall of Agricultural Achievement — reflect his enduring commitment to science-based service and leadership in soil health and fertility.
Maharjan, the inaugural recipient of the professorship, has focused his efforts on soil health and on offering the concepts of the Soil Health Gap and the Soil Health Cycle, which are instrumental to the development of Soil Health Science. As an extension specialist in soil and nutrient management, Maharjan has developed a widely recognized and effective soil health and fertility program that addresses soil health and fertility issues related to cropping systems in the Panhandle, including corn, sugar beet, dry edible beans, winter wheat and other new crops such as mint.
He received a doctorate in land and atmospheric science from the University of Minnesota in 2013 and joined the department as a postdoctoral research associate in 2014. Maharjan joined the faculty in 2016 and was promoted to associate professor and granted tenure in 2022.
The Ray and Jolene Ward Professor of Soil Health Science professorship recognizes an accomplished scientist who translates their research into practice through outreach, engagement and extension activities that make a difference in agricultural practice.
Maharjan will be honored at a reception later this year.
