The Nebraska Yields for Food and Resource Broadband Initiative, 82 Stewardship
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Fall 2016 A HEALTHY FUTURE 8 16 22 Wearable Youth Precision Tech Entrepreneurship Agriculture FOOD • FUEL • WATER • LANDSCAPES • PEOPLE INSTITUTE OF AGRICULTURE AND NATURAL RESOURCES I UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA–LINCOLN 12 Cow-calf Producers Nebraska Extension 4 As harvest winds down, we With an additional 57 professional students have much to be thankful for in our Professional Program in Veterinary Ranch Management 10 in 2016. Higher crop and livestock Medicine and Doctor of Plant Health programs, prices would make it even better, the total CASNR enrollment is 3,089. By next Emerald Ash Borer 14 but if the past is any indication fall, some of those students will have the option of the future we know those will of living in the newly completed residence hall Entrepreneurship 16 return, and let’s hope that is not too next to the C.Y. Thompson Library. far off. I want to share with you a Sponsored research funding in the Agricultural Commodity Marketing 20 few of the things for which we in the Ron Yoder Research Division also set a record high in the Institute of Agriculture and Natural past year, as our faculty members successfully The Learning Child 24 Resources are thankful. Certainly the loyal competed for funding to support our growing Marketing Hometown America support of you, our stakeholders and alumni, is research enterprise. Contributions from our Healthy Eating 26 at the top of the list. generous donors are also helping support As your university, we exist to serve Nebraska, our cutting–edge research. In October, a 18 Master Gardeners 29 and a quick review of the contents of this issue $40-million Food for Health initiative was of Growing shows some of the breadth of how announced with a $5 million lead gift from Alumni Spotlight 30 we do that. As our name implies, we serve the Raikes and Gates Foundations. This agriculture and natural resources. Finding ways transdisciplinary initiative will integrate Faces to Watch 32 to make the lives of all Nebraskans better and agriculture, medicine and nutrition across the ensuring the quality of the environment in university to improve the quality of life by 4-H Youth Development The Sower 34 which we live are also important parts of what preventing or ameliorating diseases such as we do. The connection between IANR and heart disease, diabetes, cancer, and others. 6 Nebraskans is strengthened by our outstanding We are thankful that we have loyal friends like Fall 2016 Volume 5, Number 2 Extension programs. you, and that we have the privilege of serving Having passed the century mark in 2014, Nebraska. GROWING Nebraska Extension is breaking new ground A HEALTHY FUTURE as it continues delivering programs in all 93 counties in our state, and exemplifies how IANR addresses important issues in crop and Growing A Healthy Future is published twice a year by the University Editorial Photography livestock production, in youth education, in of Nebraska–Lincoln under the auspices of the University of Nebraska Jill Brown Craig Chandler, Vice President and Harlan Vice Chancellor of the Institute of food for healthy people, in community vitality Scott Schrage University Communication Agriculture and Natural Resources. Haley Steinkuhler Curt Arens, and in ensuring the quality of the environment Linda Ulrich Nebraska Farmer Written material may be reprinted, provided no endorsement of a in which we live. In one-on-one consultations, Austin Benes, commercial product is stated or implied. Please credit IANR Growing Midwest Farmers Cooperative through experiential learning, or by providing A Healthy Future, University of Nebraska–Lincoln. To simplify Design Clint Chapman, decision–making tools, the people of Nebraska technical terminology, trade names sometimes may be used. No University Communication Extension serve the people of Nebraska. endorsement of products is intended nor is criticism implied of products not mentioned. We are also serving Nebraskans through our Ron Yoder, Ph.D., P.E. research and teaching efforts. Enrollment in the Interim Vice President, There is no charge for this magazine. Each issue describes IANR Would you like to contact the editor? Here’s how: College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural programs that benefit Nebraska and beyond. If you happen to receive • [email protected] Agriculture and Natural Resources, more than one copy, please share with a friend. • 402-472-2871 Resources (CASNR) has increased for the University of Nebraska • 202 Agricultural Hall Upon request, this publication can be made available in an alternative 12th consecutive year to a new high of 2,340 Interim Vice Chancellor, P.O. Box 830708 format for people with disabilities. For assistance, call 402-472-2871. undergraduates and 692 graduate students. Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Nebraska–Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68583-0708 University of Nebraska–Lincoln The University of Nebraska does not discriminate based on race, color, ethnicity, Cover photo: University of Nebraska–Lincoln graduate national origin, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, disability, Scott Spohn combines soybeans near Friend, Nebraska. age, genetic information, veteran status, marital status, and/or political affiliation in its programs, activities, or employment. © 2016, The Board of Regents of the University of Nebraska on behalf of the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. 2 Growing A Healthy Future IANR.UNL.EDU 3 Cropping and Water Systems Fast Facts Population growth puts a greater stress on expanding ■ Through the Nebraska yields for food and resource Broadband Initiative, 82 stewardship. To help meet this percent of households challenge, Nebraska Extension surveyed have a better shares unbiased, research- understanding of how to take based information that supports advantage of broadband diversified agriculture and also technology. conserves water. Nebraska Extension serves all 93 Food, Nutrition and Health ■ The Entrepreneurial Extension Nebraska counties with 170 locally Community Activation based Extension professionals. Extension is committed to Process engaged more Known for their teaching improving the physical and than 2,500 people through brings science to excellence, Extension personnel nutritional health of Nebraska’s community conversations are responsive to local needs, children and families. Access to and online discovery issues and problems. Through safe and affordable food is another tools designed to build a client-driven issues discovery priority as well as safe food entrepreneurial communities. process, Extension recently production practices throughout the food supply chain. Nebraskans identified new opportunities, ■ In 2014, Extension educators problems and challenges 4-H Youth Development presented workshops related important to the people it serves. to cropping and water systems 4-H empowers youth ages Helping People Solve Real-World Problems in over 94 locations across the To better meet these needs, 5-18 to reach their full potential state attended by an estimated Nebraska Extension has formed by working and learning in 4,056 participants from 93 Many people know about the services Issue Teams, which create partnership with caring adults or more than 100 years, Nebraska counties, nine Extension provides to the agricultural demand-driven, interdisciplinary, (over 12,000 adult volunteers in Nebraska Extension has U.S. states and four foreign community, but Extension also provides innovative programs and services Nebraska). 4-H is education for made a huge impact on countries. Due to information expertise and know-how in many other within seven program areas: life that uses a learn-by-doing provided at these meetings, the state’s environment, areas, including nutrition, child development, approach. Modern 4-H engages Beef Systems more than 1,000 farmers water quality, food community vitality and a wide array of applied youth in robotics, wearable across Nebraska reduced safety, economy and technologies. By providing objective, relevant The Beef Systems Team provides technologies, civic participation, their water usage more than 2 and research-based information and expertise, research-based information and leadership and healthy living. quality of life. inches per acre. Extension educators, specialists and other resources to beef producers to “As Extension enters our The Learning Child professionals improve the lives of Nebraska’s help them provide an economical, second century, we are In 2014, 53,000 Nebraskans youth, its families, its communities and its safe, quality product to consumers ■ committed to ramping up our were involved in an Extension economy as well as its farms and ranches. while protecting and preserving work to bring the science of Nebraska's vast natural resources. program for creating healthier the University of Nebraska to the residents In addition to one-on-one help, Nebraska eating patterns, increasing of our state. And, we will do so in ways that Extension provides experiential learning, Community Environment physical activity, improving Nebraskans value,” said Chuck Hibberd, dean decision tools and consultation for clients. Extension is committed to health management, or reducing foodborne illness. and director of Nebraska Extension. Educational delivery methods include: helping Nebraskans know more about creating resource- ■ workshops, conferences, field and energy-efficient rural and ■ In Nebraska, one in three age- days, other events urban landscapes, protecting eligible youth across all 93 counties are enrolled in 4-H, online