Managing nutrients and water efficiently starts with understanding the soil beneath your feet — and that’s the focus of the 2026 Soils School on Tuesday, Feb. 3, and Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2026, at the Holthus Center in York, Nebraska.
Co-sponsored by the University of Nebraska–Lincoln Department of Agronomy and Horticulture and the Nebraska Agri-Business Association, Soils School is offered in alternating formats each year. The 2026 program will focus on basic soil, water and nutrient management concepts, making it well-suited for those looking to build or refresh foundational knowledge.
The course applies core principles of soils, water and nutrient management to improve agricultural crop production in Nebraska. University of Nebraska experts will cover fundamental concepts related to soil health, water movement and nutrient use efficiency, along with updates to research-based recommendations for primary crop nutrients — including nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium — as well as micronutrients.
The course provides continuing education units for certified crop advisors, with a total of 11 nutrient management and two soil and water CEUs available.
Soils School Agenda
Feb. 3, 2026
- 9:55-10 a.m. — Introduction
- 10 a.m.-10:50 a.m. — Fertilizer Recommendation Philosophies, Richard Ferguson
- 10:50-11:40 a.m. — Basics of Phosphorus Recommendations, Javed Iqbal
- 11:40 a.m.-12:30 p.m. — Basics of Potassium Recommendations, Nicolas Cafaro la Menza
- 12:30-1:30 p.m. — Lunch
- 1:30-2:20 p.m. — Past to Present: Basics of Nitrogen Recommendations, Richard Ferguson
- 2:20-3:10 p.m. — Understanding Biological Products and Their Role in Crop Production, Javed Iqbal
- 3:10-3:25 p.m. — Break
- 3:20-4:15 p.m. — Micronutrients effects on Crop Production, Nicolas Cafaro la Menza
- 4:15-4:45 p.m. — Discussion
Feb. 4, 2026
- 8:30-9:20 a.m. — In-Season N Recommendation, Richard Ferguson
- 9:20 a.m.-10:10 a.m. — Manure Nutrient Crediting, Amy Schmidt
- 10:10-10:25 a.m. — Break
- 10:25 a.m.-11:15 a.m. — Basics of Soil-Water Relationships, Humberto Blanco
- 11:15 a.m.-12:05 p.m.— Soil Chemistry – The Basics for Agricultural Soils, Michael Kaiser
- 12:05-12:50 p.m. — Lunch
- 12:50-1:40 p.m. — Understanding Soil Health and Measuring Improvement, Carolina Córdova
- 1:40-2:30 p.m. — TBD
- 2:30-3:20 p.m. — TBD
- 3:20-3:40 p.m. — Discussion
- 3:40 p.m. — Adjourn
Registration costs $295 for Nebraska Agri-Business Association members and $395 for non-members, with online registration available through the Nebraska Agri-Business Association’s calendar page. The Holthus Center is located at 3130 Holen Ave., York, NE 68467.
For more information, contact Javed Iqbal, UNL nutrient management and water quality specialist.
