The Hail Know Team
As a Water and Integrated Cropping Systems Extension Educator, I develop and deliver extension programming that: improves profitability and sustainability; reduces environmental risk; encourages stewardship; enhances resiliency; and expands consumer awareness of forage, grain, fiber, and oil byproducts production systems. I actively participate in developing solution- based resources as a member of the state-wide (WICS) team. I am excited to help local producers implement crop management practices to help reduce the impact related to extreme weather, such as hail using, my experience in plant diseases, genetics, and resistance management.
I am an Agricultural Extension Climatologist with the Nebraska State Climate Office. My career at the University of Nebraska started in 1989 when I worked on soil moisture modeling and leading the Climate Services division of the High Plains Regional Climate Center. I have been actively involved in studying climate-agricultural relationships, including evapotranspiration modeling, climate forecasting, drought monitoring, climate change analysis, mesonet siting and quality control, and thermal tracking of insect development. I monitor atmospheric patterns and identify trends that can be used to enhance ag productivity and marketing, releasing information through media outlets like CropWatch, Market Journal, and KRVN.
I develop and conduct crop production educational programs to help growers improve profitability, build soil health, and reduce risks to the environment. Across the years, I’ve worked with planting equipment, tillage system evaluation, soil and water conservation, residue management, crop rotations and, more recently, cover crops and soil health. Cover crops, seeded after a hail event, can reduce nutrient losses and help keep the soil biologically active with living roots feeding carbon and sunlight energy into the soil system.
Justin McMechan
Crop Protection and Cropping Systems Specialist
402-624-8041
justin.mcmechan@unl.edu
@JustinMcMechan on Twitter
My research focuses on crop response to hail damage and the interactions between hail, insects, and plant diseases using a hail machine that replicates real-world scenarios. Research from these studies allows growers to make accurate and informed decisions about the fate and management of their crops.
Nathan Mueller
Cropping Systems, Ag Technologies Educator
402-727-2775
nathan.mueller@unl.edu
croptechcafe.org
@CropTechCafe on Twitter
I feed you agronomic information for your farm in northeast Nebraska that will help you know your crop, know your tech, know your bottom line. I have agricultural experience from across the Midwest including Nebraska, Kansas, South Dakota, and Indiana. My extension work focuses on precision ag, on-farm research, soil fertility, crop rotations, cover crops, and soil health.
I am a Weed Management Extension Educator, focused on integrated crop management, weed control, and sustainable cropping systems. I help producers manage weeds after hail events.
I'm on a multidisciplinary team focused on enhancing and developing forage-based beef production systems. I focus on developing, analyzing and implementing integrated crop/forage/livestock systems. My research emphasizes the development of management, production and utilization strategies for annual forages used as cover crops after row crops. My extension programs focus on integrating the use of crop residues, annual forages, cover crops, and perennial grasses into existing beef production systems and implementing economical crop residue harvest and grazing methods.
Jenny Rees
Cropping Systems Educator
402-362-5508
jrees2@unl.edu
JenReesources.com
@JenReesources on Twitter
Using my background in agronomy, crop protection, and plant pathology and 18 years of experience in Extension, I serve Nebraskans. I walk fields with farmers and ag industry reps to assist with crop decisions, including those related to Hail/replant, disease, and problem diagnosis.
My extension and research interests focus on the use of public (crop insurance and Farm Bill) and private (futures markets) risk management tools to manage farm income risk. I also investigate policy-important areas of federal crop insurance, fertilizer decisions, and environmental quality. I can assist with hail related concerns related to insurance and farm finances.
Recognition of Past Contributors
Roger Elmore
Cropping Systems Agronomist
Robert Klein
Western Nebraska Crops Specialist
Tyler Williams
Cropping Systems and Climate Resiliency Educator
