From biodegradable mulch to biochar and strawberries, Nebraska’s top soil and specialty crop researchers are opening their fields to the public this June — and you're invited.
The Nebraska Chapter of the Soil and Water Conservation Society (SWCS) will host its 2025 annual meeting June 24–26, 2025 on the University of Nebraska–Lincoln East Campus, with a special focus on bridging urban and rural landscapes through soil resilience.
This year’s meeting will begin with the Grow Local Field Tour on Tuesday, June 24, from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the UNL East Campus Research Farm. Hosted by UNL Agronomy and Horticulture Associate Professor Sam Wortman, the tour will showcase cutting-edge specialty crop and local food systems research.
Participants will explore:
- Biodegradable and innovative plastic mulch films and weed barriers.
- Intercropping and double cropping vegetables, strawberries and cut flowers.
- Variety trials for vegetables and strawberries.
- Biochar, compost, cover crops and soil health.
The tour also includes:
- A free heavy metals soil analysis, courtesy of Tyler Durre (Nebraska USDA NRCS).
- A complimentary sandwich lunch and networking time with local specialty crop growers.
Registration is required by June 6 for the field tour to assist with meal and logistics planning. More details are available through the UNL Department of Agronomy and Horticulture.
Following the field tour, the SWCS meeting will continue with two days of presentations, tours and networking built around the theme “Cultivating Soil Resilience: Bridging Urban and Rural Landscapes.”
Tuesday, June 24 (Afternoon)
- Urban Agriculture — Brach Johnson, USDA NRCS
- Soil Health Assessment at Big Scale — Caro Córdova, UNL
- UNL Bee Lab Tour — Judy Wu-Smart, UNL
- Evening networking and social time
Wednesday, June 25
- Beginning Farmer Opportunities — Jamie Thoene, USDA NRCS
- Soil Carbon and Farm Health — Caro Córdova, UNL
- Biochar and Soil Functioning — Michael Kaiser, UNL
- Tour of Eastern Nebraska Research, Extension and Education Center (ENREEC), Ithaca
- Soil Health Research and Plot Tour — Katja Koehler-Cole, UNL
- Urban Projects and Practices — Kim Todd, UNL and Sean Elliott, LPN NRD
- Chapter awards banquet at Wanahoo Lake
Thursday, June 26
- SWCS Foundation and Chapter business meetings
All events are open to the public — SWCS membership is not required. Full conference registration for the SWCS meeting is $35 for SWCS members and their guests, and $40 for non-members. Daily registration is available for $20. UNL parking permits can be added for $7 per day.
More information is available online, including a downloadable agenda. For program updates, follow the Nebraska SWCS Chapter on Facebook or contact organizers via email.
