Sustainable Agriculture

People sit at a table listening to speaker — U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack (from left) talks to UNO Chancellor Joanne Li, UNL Chancellor Rodney D. Bennett, and Mike Boehm, vice chancellor for UNL's Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources, on March 28. (Photo by Ryan Soderlin, University of Nebraska Omaha)

Campus Leaders, Students Meet with U.S. Ag Secretary During Visit

April 11, 2024

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack visited Nebraska in late March to discuss the future of agriculture with farmers, ag industry stakeholders, and University of Nebraska administrators and students.

Solar panels in front of corn field — Numerous Nebraska businesses have received assistance from USDA's Rural Energy for America Program so far this year to establish clean energy facilities and increase domestic fertilizer production. Learn more about these initiatives below.

USDA Invests $124 Million in Clean Energy and Fertilizer Projects

April 11, 2024

Three Nebraska businesses are among the award recipients of USDA's renewable energy program, which helps fund projects that will lower energy costs, generate new income and create jobs for the ag industry.

Benson Bounty stands by screen during presentation — Benson Bounty presents ‘Planting a Profitable Pollinator Habitat with Native Nebraska Plants,’ a SARE-funded project that explored the profitability of growing native perennial plants and marketing them through a variety of channels. (Photo by Sydney Seh)

Registration is Open for the Annual Local Food and Healthy Farms Conference

January 4, 2024

This year's conference features more than 30 sessions on agricultural and local food systems, including farm financial and transition planning, farm skills, field crops, livestock, farm and food policy, and more.

Collage of people attending soil health events in 2023 — In a recent survey conducted by the Soil Health Team, 43% of respondents reported that they have implemented soil health practices influenced by UNL soil health events. (Image by Carolina Córdova)

UNL Soil Health Team Celebrates Year of Success in Advancing Sustainable Agriculture

January 3, 2024

Following eight successful events that stand to impact nearly 13 million acres of U.S. farmland, preparations are underway by the UNL Soil Health Team to deliver more robust sustainable ag research and innovations in 2024.

Corn field under center pivot — A water-saving strategy, deficit irrigation represents an important concept in managing water use through irrigation as groundwater depletion rises across the U.S.

The Economics of Deficit Irrigation Utilizing Soil Moisture Probes

December 15, 2023

Cornhusker Economics experts examine the financial impact on producers using a deficit irrigation strategy in corn.

Native prairie field — Applications for USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service program assistance need to be submitted by Nov. 17 to be considered for this year’s funding. (USDA NRCS photo)

Application Cutoff for Natural Resource Conservation Funds Approaching

October 6, 2023

Farmers and ranchers interested in preventing erosion, improving soil health, conserving water and wildlife, or making other natural resource conservation improvements to their property are encouraged to apply.

Man assessing soil in field — The Soil Health Exchange is a new discussion forum, designed to give producers and ag stakeholders an avenue for direct communication with some of Nebraska's leading soil health experts for help with their soil health concerns, interpreting test reports and more.

Announcing: The Soil Health Exchange

September 27, 2023

The Soil Health Exchange is a new online forum where producers and ag stakeholders can engage with a team of soil health experts to discuss production issues and ideas, get assistance with understanding test results, and more.

Field day participants inspect an ag drone — A session on drones was held at the annual Water and Crops Field Day at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, West Central Research Extension and Education Center in North Platte. (Photo by Chabella Guzman)

Nebraska Extension Center Preps Ag Producers for Climate-smart Practices

September 19, 2023

The 2023 Water and Crops Field Day featured seminars and panels on crop and livestock production practices that align with USDA's new climate-smart agriculture initiatives.

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