February 25, 2013

Two Join UNL Extension Crops Team

Extension Weed Scientist Amit Jhala

Dr. Amit Jhala has joined the UNL Department of Agronomy and Horticulture as an assistant professor of weed science and extension weed management specialist. His responsibilities will be split between research (50%) and extension (50%).

Jhala earned his Ph.D. from the University of Alberta, Canada. Prior to joining the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, he was a postdoctoral fellow in weed science programs at the University of California-Davis and the University of Florida.

Officed in Lincoln, Jhala’s responsibilities will include research on weed control in corn, soybean, and sorghum and working with the Extension weed science team to conduct the Crop Production Clinics and Herbicide Resistance Management field days, and contribute to the Nebraska Guide for Weed Management. Specific research areas include risk assessment of multiple herbicide-resistant crops, gene flow from glyphosate-resistant weeds, leaching of soil-applied herbicides, and herbicide tank mixtures for control of herbicide-resistant and susceptible weeds in corn, soybean and sorghum.

Contact Information

Amit Jhala
Extension Weed Management Specialist
Department of Agronomy and Horticulture
173 Keim Hall, P.O. Box 830915
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Lincoln, NE 68583-0915
402-472-1534
amit.jhala@unl.edu
Webpage: http://agronomy.unl.edu/jhala

Extension Educator Tyler Williams

Tyler Williams, the new Extension educator in Phelps and Gosper counties in south central Nebraska, brings a background in climatology as well as agriculture to his position. He received a BS in meteorology/climatology in 2008 and an MS in agriculture in 2012, both from UNL.

For the past three years Williams worked as an Extension assistant in Phelps and Gosper counties working with youth raising livestock. In his new position Williams will be responsible for Extension programming related to cropping systems and irrigation and manure management with a focus on weather/climate impacts on these systems.

A native of Phelps County, Williams said he's "always been a cattle guy" who grew up showing cattle. He still enjoys calving season and getting to work with cattle when he has time, and is enjoying getting to relate to both farmers and cattle producers through his new position.

Williams fills a vacancy left when Chuck Burr became the new extension educator for water/cropping systems at the West Central Research and Extension Center in North Platte.

Contact Information

Tyler Williams
UNL Extension Educator
Phelps and Gosper Counties
Phelps County: 1308 2nd Street, Holdrege 68949, 308-995-4222
Gosper County: PO Box 146, Elwood, NE 68937, 308-785-2390
twilliams2@unl.edu