Growers are invited to the University of Nebraska’s 2025 South Central Agricultural Laboratory (SCAL) Field Day on Thursday, Aug. 7 for a hands-on look at the latest in irrigation scheduling, nitrogen management, crop protection and AI-driven technologies — all tailored to help producers apply research-backed strategies on their own operations.
From research updates on tar spot spread in Nebraska to live demonstrations of an AI-enabled weed management and tillage robot, SCAL Field Day offers a flexible lineup of presentations and tours, allowing attendees to build a schedule that fits their production priorities.
Registration, coffee, rolls and visits with sponsor tables begin at 8:30 a.m. at the SCAL research farm, with the welcome and opening remarks by sponsors kicking off at 8:45 a.m. Lunch will be provided, and the field day will conclude at 3:10 p.m.
Attendees can earn Continuing Education Units (CCA credits). Pre-registration is appreciated by Thursday, July 31, to assist with lunch planning. Visit the SCAL Field Day homepage to register and view program details.
Dan Snow, director of laboratory at the University of Nebraska Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute, is the keynote speaker during lunch and will discuss nitrate challenges in groundwater. This talk will cover findings from a study with the Upper Big Blue NRD and UNL focusing on nitrate and agrichemical levels in the vadose zone across 12 water quality management zones. Lunch talks also feature a farmer panel discussion, providing an opportunity for attendees to engage and interact at the local level.
Timely topics include:
- Strategies for irrigation scheduling.
- Corn and soybean disease management, including tar spot management and white mold.
- Cover crops for weed suppression in corn and soybean: planting green and intercropping.
- Insect management in crops and tours of conservation features in prairie strips.
- Sensor-guided fertigation: Demonstrating real-time nitrogen management. Fine-tuning nitrogen: Timing and rate strategies for maximum impact.
Growers can also check out AI-enabled targeted weed management with the "See-N-Till" robot.
"See-N-Till" is an advanced autonomous field robot developed to detect, differentiate and mechanically manage weeds while simultaneously performing shallow tillage. Leveraging cutting-edge AI, computer vision and precision actuation, it offers a sustainable alternative to chemical weed control and reduces soil disturbance.
The SCAL Research Farm is located at 851 Hwy. 6 near Harvard, Nebraska. Directions: 13 miles east of Hastings on Hwy. 6 or 4.5 miles west of the intersection of Hwy. 14 and Hwy. 6 north of Clay Center. Field day GPS coordinates: 40.575256, -98.137824.
For more information, call 402-762-3536 or email Sharon Hachtel.
