Laura Thompson - Extension Educator

Laura Thompson

student, faculty
Graduate Student
Agronomy
Work
103 East 35th St Ste B Falls City NE 68355
US

Degrees
B.S. Agronomy (Soil Science focus), University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2012
M.S. Agronomy, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2014

Areas of Focus: On-farm research, ag technologies

Extension Interests: Co-coordinates the Nebraska On-Farm Research Network, through which innovative growers from across the state use on-farm research to address critical production, profitability, and sustainability questions.

CW Profile: Thompson Pursues the Puzzles of On-Farm Research

Streaming On-Farm Research Logo

Streaming On-Farm Research Offers Live, Timely Results from Research Studies

April 9, 2020
New for the 2020 growing season, Nebraska Extension presents “Streaming On-Farm Research,” a series of short live webinars for farmers and ag professionals. These events will occur weekly, on Tuesday evenings at 7:00 p.m. Sessions will be 30 minutes, featuring 15 minutes of presentation, and 15 minutes of Q&A.

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A farmer inspecting soil
Checking soil conditions while planting the improved soybean practice treatment on April 20 in Richardson County.

On-Farm Research Study to Investigate Practices to Increase Soybean Yield

March 12, 2020
The results of the first year of the study were promising. Across four sites, the improved treatment resulted in an average 8 bu/ac yield increase and $46/ac profit increase compared to the baseline treatment.

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men examine condition of soybeans in field

Four Nebraska Farmers Share What They Learned From Conducting On-Farm Research Last Year

February 10, 2020
Conducting on-farm research can help provide the reliable answers you need to make decisions for your operation with confidence.

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Nebraska On-Farm Research Network 2020 results update dates and location

Growers Statewide to Share On-Farm Research in February Meetings

January 23, 2020
Farm operators and agronomists from across the state are invited to attend the Nebraska On-Farm Research Network research results update meeting at a location near them.

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Farmers, Nebraska Extension educators, and NRCS employees at the NRCS-Nebraska Extension Soil Health Initiative Meeting held in York earlier this year. (Photo by Laura Thompson)
Figure 1. Farmers, Nebraska Extension educators, and NRCS employees at the NRCS-Nebraska Extension Soil Health Initiative Meeting held in York earlier this year. (Photo by Laura Thompson)

Why Growers are Adopting Practices to Build Soil Health

July 11, 2019
Growers conducting on-farm demonstrations as part of the Nebraska Soil Health Initiative met with UNL and NRCS staff to share about what they were doing and learning on their farms. Their work offers valuable insights for other growers considering how they too can build soil health on their farms.

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Farmer field testing two cover crop management options

Farmers Find Solutions Through Nebraska Soil Health Initiative

July 11, 2019
How can we manage cropland to improve soil health? To test and encourage adoption of soil health practices, the Soil Health Demonstration Initiative was launched as a collaborative effort of growers, UNL and NRCS. Now a network of farm research sites is providing valuable information from in-field studies.

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In-season nitrogen (UAN) is applied to corn in an on-farm research study. For fields with suspected nitrogen loss, on-farm research is a great way to evaluate in-season N rates and recommendation approaches. (Photo by Richard Ferguson)
In-season nitrogen (UAN) is applied to corn in an on-farm research study. For fields with suspected nitrogen loss, on-farm research is a great way to evaluate in-season N rates and recommendation approaches. (Photo by Richard Ferguson)

Does Your Corn Need Added Nitrogen? On-farm Research can Help Evaluate That

June 21, 2019
Knowing how much nitrogen (N) to apply to corn is challenging, especially in wet years, but on-farm research can help evaluate your N program to get the answers This article looks at several times of N trials conducted by other growers and invites you to learn how to set up your own trial yet this season.

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Farmers at On-Farm Research Network meeting
Figure 1. Growers surveyed about why they conduct on-farm research said that, among other benefits, they appreciated getting to share their results and talk with other growers about their research at winter meetings.

Study Highlights Motivations and Impact of Participating in an On-Farm Research Network

May 31, 2019
Forty Nebraska growers participating in the On-Farm Research Network recently shared why they conduct on-farm research and what it's meant to be part of a group of researchers. The results, published in the Agronomy Journal, illustrate a range of benefits, including cost savings and economic gains.

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