Lana Koepke Johnson | Agronomy and Horticulture
Department of Agronomy and Horticulture professors Richard Ferguson and Roger Elmore were recognized for their dedication and outstanding service to the University of Nebraska–Lincoln South Central Agricultural Laboratory on Dec. 6, 2018.
Ferguson, former interim department head, has been at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln since 1985. A professor of soil science, Ferguson began his career at Nebraska as an assistant professor conducting research, delivering extension programs and teaching in the areas of soil fertility and precision agriculture. He began serving in administration in Agronomy and Horticulture as interim associate department head in 2012. He was named vice chancellor for the Rwanda Institute for Conservation Agriculture, effective Jan. 1.
Elmore, Nebraska Extension cropping systems specialist, Heuermann Chair and Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute Faculty Fellow, has spent his entire career addressing agronomic issues relevant to the immediate needs of crop producers. He provides research information that is science-based, timely and relevant to a diverse audience. He has spent over 29 years at Nebraska and nine years at Iowa State University.
He has a long history of applied crop production research and extension programs focused on maintaining or increasing crop production, profitability, and water-use efficiency by seeking and demonstrating environmentally sound production practices. His focus is on research and developing, teaching and extending timely and pertinent crop management information for farmers, agribusiness, extension personnel and students.
Elmore’s most significant research contributions have centered on evaluating corn growth and yield response to extreme weather events. He has been able to engage diverse groups based on this research with high-impact extension programming.
John Westra, Southeast Extension District associate research and Extension director, presented the recognition plaques.