Research Updates

Xin Qiao (left), irrigation and water management specialist and principal investigator, and Jack Whittier, Panhandle Center Director of Research and Extension, accept the award from the Nebraska Environmental Trust fund to establish SDI research with livestock effluent.

NET Awards Grant for Subsurface Drip Irrigation System with Feedlot

April 26, 2019
The Nebraska Environmental Trust has awarded a grant to construct a subsurface drip irrigation system that uses feedlot effluent to irrigate crop fields. The practice will be evaluated as a potential means to better manage the state's limited water resources, an ongoing research priority of the University of Nebraska.

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Graph of multiple Corn Belt studies looking at the optimum corn planting window

Windows of Opportunity for Corn Planting: Data from Across the Corn Belt

April 24, 2019
A survey of published research on corn planting dates in the central northern Corn Belt indicates there is a window from mid-April to mid-May when optimum yields can be achieved.

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Graph showing irrigated corn yield departure from Trend-Line Yields and Corn Planting Progress by April 29 for 1985-2018 (excluding 1993 data) in Nebraska. From USDA-NASS survey data.

Windows of Opportunity for Corn Planting: Nebraska Data

April 24, 2019
Does early planting of corn necessarily result in higher yields? An examination of Nebraska research and data from USDA NASS sheds light on the question, indicating that, up to mid-May, other factors may affect final yield more than planting date.

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Joe Louis
Joe Louis, Harold and Esther Edgerton assistant professor of entomology at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, has earned a five-year, $1.5 million Faculty Early Career Development Program award from the National Science Foundation. (Jeff Wilkerson, UNL Research and Economic Development)

Study of Sorghum's Defense Against Sugarcane Aphid Nets NSF Award

April 19, 2019
Sorghum, one of the top five cereal crops in the world, is now battling a devastating insect pest, the sugarcane aphid, in the US. Joe Louis, a UNL entomology researcher, has just received a $1.5 million NSF grant to investigate how to help sorghum naturally resist the aphid.

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Layout of data-intensive prescription research conducted in Saunders County
Layout of data-intensive prescription research conducted in Saunders County

Soybean Seeding Rates

April 18, 2019
Research from Nebraska farmers and Midwest universities suggests seeding rates for soybeans can often be decreased without affecting yield. These decreases could save growers $10 an acre in seed costs.

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Purple hued corns

University of Illinois Study: Phenols in Purple Corn Fight Diabetes, Obesity, Inflammation in Mouse Cells

April 18, 2019
Scientists at the University of Illinois have developed new hybrids of purple corn containing different combinations of phytochemicals that may fight obesity, inflammation and diabetes, a new study in mice indicates.

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Improving Manure Nitrogen Use Efficiency

April 18, 2019
A multi-year study of organic N used in Nebraska crop production validated sensor guided in-season N application as a means to efficiently use the N available from manure and other organic materials. See what benefits they found, as well as considerations for use.

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On-farm automated oilseed pressing system

To Press or Not to Press: That is the Question

March 25, 2019
Results from a joint study by USDA ARS and Drexel University scientists will help farmers better weigh the merits of pressing soybeans on-site rather than transporting their crop to a crush (processing) facility.

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