March 15, 2010

Gary Hergert, extension soil and nutrient management specialist at UNL's Panhandle Research and Extension Center, was recently awarded the Great Plains Soil Fertility Leadership Award.

The award, given every two years at the Great Plains Soil Fertility Conference, recognizes timely and innovative soil fertility contributions leading to increased profitability for Great Plains agriculture. He was recognized for soil, nutrient, and water management in Great Plains agriculture.

The award was presented by Mike Steward of San Antonio, Tex., Southern and Central Great Plains Director of the International Plant Nutrition Institute and incoming chair of the Great Plains Soil Fertility Conference planning group.

Hergert received his Ph.D. in agronomy from Cornell University in 1975, his M.S. in agronomy from Colorado State University in 1970, and his B.S. in agronomy from Colorado State University in 1967.

At the Panhandle Center, much of his research and extension efforts are focused on improving crop yields through improved nutrient management, including manure management, on high pH western Nebraska soils, One area of major emphasis is adapting cropping systems to limited surface and subsurface irrigation supplies for the future.

He also leads research into the long-term effects of beef manure on soils and continuous corn yields at the university’s Knorr-Holden plots east of Mitchell.

News Release
Panhandle REC, Scottsbluff