The inaugural open house at the University of Nebraska Eastern Nebraska Research and Extension Center near Mead — formerly the Agricultural Research and Development Center — is planned for 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday, June 29.

ENREC encompasses 53 counties and includes the University of Nebraska Southeast Extension District, Northeast Extension District, and the newly developed Metro Extension District, as well as the South Central Ag Lab, Haskell Ag Lab, Barta Brothers Ranch and Kimmel Education and Research Center. This model of collaboration specifically addresses the needs of eastern Nebraska with research initiatives and extension programs and leverages the strengths of existing programs and connections.

Don Adams, ENREC research and extension director, invites the public to see how ENREC is making a difference. State Sen. Bruce Bostelman of Saunders County will join in the welcome

The event will begin with an informal time to meet with industry leaders and representatives and visit commodity group booths from 10 to 10:50 a.m.

“There will be opportunities to interact with Sen. Bostelman, university faculty, commodity groups and others attending the open house," Adams said. "The event is intended to show firsthand what we are doing at ENREC and why it matters."

Morning presentations will include:

• Driving Nebraska’s Economic Vitality — Mike Boehm, Harlan Vice Chancellor of the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Nebraska is uniquely positioned to be a global leader in key areas such as food, fuel, water and rural development. Boehm will share his insights about how the university’s research, teaching, and extension efforts are positioned to drive the vitality of the state's economy and communities.
• The Ag Climate: Temperatures, Trends, and Outlooks — Nebraska Extension Agricultural Climatologist Al Dutcher. Weather presents opportunity and risk in agriculture, Nebraska’s economy, and global markets. Dutcher will take a closer look at the interconnection of historical conditions, current trends, and the forecast regionally, across the Corn Belt, and globally and its impact on agriculture.
• Swine Research Facility Virtual Tour. “University of Nebraska scientists are studying issues that are important to bringing a safe, high quality pork product to the table," Adams said. "We want people to see where the research takes place and who is working on it, as visits are limited due to biosecurity precautions to keep the animals healthy.”

Afternoon tours are from 1 to 3 p.m. at three locations. Adams said opportunities for partnerships and collaboration keep growing and the tours will highlight some of these projects.

Tour stops include

• In-the-Field Crops Classroom, See a Live Hail Machine Demo with Keith Glewen, extension educator, and Justin McMechan, crop protection and cropping systems specialist. View a live demonstraton of a hail machine on crop and learn about research, education and training to mitigate the devastating impact of hard rain and hail.
• Carbon Farming: Reducing Greenhouse Gases with Crops with Andy Suyker, research associate professor. Can storing carbon in the soil reduce greenhouse gas emissions? This long-running project has brought about some interesting findings from both dryland and irrigated cropping systems.
• Drones on the Farm with Wayne Woldt, professor and extension environmental engineer. Unmanned aircraft, or drones, are an emerging technology that have the potential to increase production and improve efficiency of farming operations. Learn about unmanned aircraft and sensors, and view a flight demonstration.
• Nebraska: The Beef State: Empowering our No. 1 Ag Industry with Matt Spangler, Nebraska Extension beef genetics specialist. See and learn about beef cattle research and teaching activities as we focus on issues that are important to producers and consumers.
• Plant Phenotyping: A Bird’s Eye View with Yufeng Ge, assistant professor of biological systems engineering, and Frank Bai, postdoctoral fellow in biological systems engineering. Just what is that very noticeable project on Hwy. 66 with the tall poles? This new state of the art research project helps measure and monitor the health of crops with an aerial spider cam. Be one of the first groups to come check out this new project!

Information and Registration

For more information, see the event flyer and map to the facility or contact enrec@unl.edu or 402-624-8037. RSVPs for the open house are requested by 5 p.m. June 23 to assist with plans for lunch and tour transportation. Please RSVP at ENREC Open House.

Visit the ENREC website for more information about the research and extension projects being conducted there and view short videos of their research in action.

The University of Nebraska Eastern Nebraska Research and Extension Center is at the former Agricultural Research and Development Center near Mead. Morning program and lunch are at the August N. Christenson Building, 1071 County Road G, Ithaca. Transportation will be provided for the afternoon tours.