The third annual IANR WICS Water and Nutrient Management Summit was held on March 7, 2024, at the Nebraska East Union in Lincoln, Nebraska. The summit was attended by researchers, educators, extension and external parties from around the state.

Mike Boehm, vice chancellor of UNL’s Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources, offered opening remarks for the 2024 summit, followed by several panel discussions featuring research and industry updates on water and nutrient management concerns throughout the daylong event.

The first panel discussion centered around the “Science of Nutrient and Water Cycling,” moderated by Richard Ferguson, from the Department of Agronomy and Horticulture. Panelists included Abia Katimbo, biological systems engineering, West Central Research, Extension and Education Center; Aaron Daigh, Department of Agronomy and Horticulture/Biological Systems Engineering; Dan Snow, Nebraska Water Center, and Virginia Jin, USDA ARS.

The next panel discussion was “Nutrient and Water Efforts and Opportunities,” moderated by Katie Pekarek, Nebraska Extension. Panelists were Laura Johnson, division administrator, drinking water and groundwater division, Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy; Marty Stange, environmental director, City of Hastings; Kole Pederson, director of environmental and regulatory affairs, Nebraska Farm Bureau; and Daryl Andersen, water manager, Lower Platte North Natural Resources District.

Chittaranjan Ray, director of the Nebraska Water Center, provided the keynote address, “Water, Water Everywhere: Respecting Nebraska's Valued Resource”.

The final panel discussion was “Data-driven Innovation, Technology, and Management,” moderated by Joe Luck, Biological Systems Engineering; panelists were Yufeng Ge, Biological Systems Engineering; Jackson Stansell, Sentinel Fertigation; Roric Paulman, producer, Sutherland, Nebraska; and Mike Spray, producer from Clay Center, Nebraska.

The day concluded with “What’s Realistic? A Round Table Discussion” led by Daren Redfearn, professor of Agronomy and Horticulture and WICS Hub Leader, and Crystal Powers, Nebraska Water Center and Nebraska Extension.