The UNL Agronomy and Horticulture seminar series is returning this fall with a new lineup of experts set to discuss ag topics ranging from fertigation techniques and research on pest management to the latest advances in plant genetics and soil health concepts.

All seminars are free and open to the public. Seminars will be in person at Keim Hall, Room 150, streamed live at 3:30 p.m. CST/CDT, and recorded unless otherwise noted. Refreshments will be served at 3 p.m.

“With four external speakers and 10 distinguished representatives from our department, IANR, and the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, we will be covering a variety of topics related to research, extension and teaching,” said Guillermo Balboa, co-chair of the Agronomy and Horticulture Seminar Committee. “You’ll get to hear from faculty members, grad students, postdocs and alumni.”

The seminar series began on Sept. 8 with its first session by Nebraska Cropping Systems Extension Educator Sarah Sivits, who presented the steps she has taken and the lessons learned in her role as a Nebraska Extension educator growing a locally dynamic on-farm research presence over six to seven years in south-central Nebraska as part of the Nebraska On-Farm Research Network. For those who were unable to attend in person, Sivits’ seminar will soon be available to view online.  

Dates and topics for the rest of the series are as follows:

Sept. 15

“From Data Mining to Pleiotropic Effects, Environmental Interactions, and Phenomic Predictions of Natural Genetic Variants in Sorghum and Maize” — Ravi Mural, assistant professor of quantitative genetics and genomics, South Dakota State University

Sept. 22

“Scaling On-Farm Research in Image-Based Fertigation with Customer-Driven Development” — Jackson Stansell, founder and CEO, Sentinel Fertigation, Lincoln, Nebraska

Sept. 29

“Tracking Invisible Threats: A Comprehensive Study of Brucellosis and Leptospirosis Infectious Diseases at Human-livestock Wildlife Interface in Tanzania, East Africa” — Shabani Muller, doctoral student, graduate research assistant, School of Natural Resources, University of Nebraska–Lincoln

Oct. 6

“RNA Interference for Insect Pest Management” — Ana Maria Velez, professor, Department of Entomology, University of Nebraska–Lincoln

Oct. 12

“Delivering Soil Health Knowledge to the Farmer” — Cristine Morgan, chief science officer, Soil Health Institute, Morrisville, North Carolina, adjunct professor, Texas A&M University

Oct. 20

“Where and How can Instructors Assess Science Practices in Undergraduate Biology Courses?” — Brian Couch, Susan J. Rosowski associate professor, School of Biological Sciences, University of Nebraska–Lincoln

Oct. 27

“The Land-Grant Water & Cropping System Educator – Insights, Opportunities, and Challenges” — Nathan Mueller, extension water and cropping systems educator, Nebraska Extension, University of Nebraska–Lincoln

Nov. 3

“Open Data for Improved Cropland Nutrient Budgets and Nutrient Use Efficiency Estimations” — Cameron Ludemann, researcher, Wageningen University and Research, Netherlands

Nov. 10

“Linking the Modification of Biochar Surface by Iron Oxides Under Field Conditions With Enhanced Nitrate Retention” — Britt Fossum, agronomy doctoral student in environmental studies, University of Nebraska–Lincoln

Nov. 17

“Exploring Maize Resilience Through Genetics, Phenomics, and Canopy Architecture” — Addie Thompson, assistant professor, Department of Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences, Michigan State University. Cohost with CROPS, a graduate student and postdoc group funded and supported through the Center for Plant Science Innovation. Social following the seminar.

Dec. 1

“Tough Pests Call for Team Solutions: Building a Coalition for Wheat Stem Sawfly” — Katherine Frels, assistant professor, Department of Agronomy and Horticulture; Jeff Bradshaw, director, Doctor of Plant Health Program; Amanda Easterly, research assistant professor, Department of Agronomy and Horticulture; and Cody Creech, associate professor, Department of Agronomy and Horticulture, University of Nebraska–Lincoln

Dec. 8

“One Health: Linking Human, Animal, Plant, and Ecosystem Health in Nebraska and Beyond” — Liz VanWormer, director, Nebraska One Health, associate professor, School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, School of Natural Resources, University of Nebraska–Lincoln

Dec. 15

“Experiential Learning and Community Engagement in SCIL 101” — Jenny Dauer, associate director for undergraduate education, associate professor in science literacy, School of Natural Resources, University of Nebraska–Lincoln

For questions, contact: Kaye Wolfe, Agronomy and Horticulture Seminar Committee, Guillermo Balboa or Nevin Lawrence, co-chairs, Agronomy and Horticulture Seminar Committee.

More details available on the seminar series site.