Soil Health

Man squats near demo table while speaking
Riley Hackbart, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service soil scientist, discusses the results of the live rainfall simulator at a previous Nebraska Soil Health School event. Hackbart will have the rainfall simulator and soil health demonstrations at the Sept. 4 Nebraska Soil Health School at Fort Robinson State Park. (PREEC photo)

New Focus for September Nebraska Soil Health School

August 7, 2024
The next soil health school will focus on integrated crop and livestock system goals and objectives that might affect soil health management. Attendance is free, and certified crop advisor CEUs will also be offered.

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People stand in field observing woman holding corn plant
Nebraska Extension Educator Jenny Rees (center right, holding corn plant) shares her insights during a past Nebraska Corn and Soybean Clinic. (ENREEC photo)

Nebraska Extension Offers Dual Nebraska Soil Health, Corn and Soybean Clinics on Aug. 28-29

August 6, 2024
At this month's extension clinics on soil health, and corn and soybean production, participants will view a wide range of cover crops and a “growing season” all in one place, with hands-on interaction and field demos.

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Corn field
The West Central Research, Extension and Education Center is scheduled for 8:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 5. Attendance is free, but participants are encouraged to register for meal planning purposes.

Water, Crops and Soil Health Field Day Set for Sept. 5

August 5, 2024
West Central Research, Extension and Education Center's 2024 field day will feature keynote speaker Dale Strickler, a Kansas-based ag consultant with more than 30 years of experience in agronomy, pasture management, and soil and crop advising.

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People stand in group for photo
Figure 1. Participants of the Centennial Celebration and Congress of the International Union of Soil Sciences: (Back row, from left) Andy Gregory, Rothamsted, United Kingdom; Tim Reinbott, Missouri; Jim Wang, Louisiana; Filippo Benedetti, UN FAO, Italy; (front row, from left) Bijesh Maharjan, Nebraska; Audrey Gamble, Alabama; Sabina Braun, Uppsala, Sweden; Hans-Jörg Vogel, Bad Lauchstädt, Germany. (Not pictured: Lukasz Uzarowicz, Poland, and Dian Fiantis, Indonesia)

Historic Experiments Gathered at IUSS Congress — Nebraska’s Knorr-Holden Plot Takes Global Stage

August 2, 2024
Scientists from across the world met in May to share findings from their 100-plus-year-old experiments, emphasizing the impact of agriculture on the environment at the national and international level.

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Cattle grazing spring pasture
The 2024 Forage Field Day is free to attend online, beginning at 12:30 p.m. CT on Tuesday, Aug. 6.

2024 Forage Field Day Moving Online

August 1, 2024
The 2024 Forage Field Day webinar will feature discussion and interactive sessions on sustainable forage practices, optimizing forage quality and quantity, safe silage harvest procedures, alfalfa pests and more.

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Aerial view of tractor applying fertilizer to planted field
By adding hogs to his corn and soybean operation, Nebraska farmer Walter Traudt realized benefits beyond additional revenue for the farm by using manure to increase soil health and crop yields.

From Soil to Swine: How One Nebraska Farmer Found Success in Manure Management

July 11, 2024
For one Nebraska corn and soybean producer, an attempt at expanding operations revolutionized his whole approach to farming. Read more about his experience here.

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Woman sits near wall of soil
Judith Turk, associate professor in the School of Natural Resources, will use an $854,000 grant from the National Science Foundation’s Faculty Early Career Development Program to shed light on how human activity is impacting soil degradation in the Great Plains. (Photo by Craig Chandler, University Communication and Marketing)

Turk Investigating Soil Health Over Time, a Key to Climate Resilience Strategies

June 6, 2024
Turk’s research will inform soil carbon sequestration strategies and advance understanding of soil health, which is key to agricultural systems’ capacity to withstand extreme weather.

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Man speaks to audience at front of room
Gary Peterson, Colorado State University professor emeritus, delivered the opening keynote presentation at the Nebraska Soil Health School held at UNL’s High Plains Ag Lab on April 24. Peterson outlined historical events and mismanagement practices that have degraded the Great Plains soil and discussed the how and why the coupling of reduced tillage and cropping intensification can help growers rebuild soil. (Photo by Nicole Heldt)

2024 Nebraska Soil Health School has Successful Launch

May 9, 2024
The first Nebraska Soil Health School of the year was designed to provide potential management practices for producers in the Panhandle, with one focus being the practicalities of growing cover crops in semi-arid regions.

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