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November 2007

The Leading Object: November 2007

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I always enjoy my travels throughout Nebraska, and each fall take keen interest in observing the harvest. November 2007 As fields yield their bounty, John C. Owens as loaded NU Vice President and NCTA’s 100 Cow Program Aims trucks rumble Harlan Vice Chancellor, IANR down country to Help Beginning Farmers, Ranchers roads and highways, the rewards of many people’s labor are apparent. Getting started in farming and Frequent rains have complicated ranching can be tough — and harvest for many Nebraska farmers this expensive. It can cost up to $1 year, yet progress is made each time a field million to buy land, livestock, and dries enough to let harvest continue. As equipment. we move through the weeks we see more Oftentimes, young farmers and fields picked clean, more cattle grazing cornstalks, more acres settling in for win- ranchers start out as hired hands, ter rest and the promise of spring. but that doesn’t give them the When I drive harvest roads I think business experience they need of the hard work, tenacity, and overall to truly get their own operations “smarts” of the Nebraskans who bring going. those crops in, and of IANR’s role in The Nebraska College of Tech- Nebraska’s harvest. nical Agriculture’s new “100 Beef Hampton Brett Our role in crop, soil, pest, water, Cow Ownership Advantage” program up to 100 cows. Then they are to strive and livestock research and education, gives graduates low-interest loans to to become partners in a farm or ranch in new product development, and best purchase cattle as well as an education in operation, taking their own cattle with management practices. getting their businesses started, said Dean them, Sleight said. The program provides Our role in building entrepreneurs, in Weldon Sleight. an income tax credit to resident produc- leadership development, in strengthening “We want them to leave with an asset ers who rent land to the participants. youth, families, and communities. large enough that will let them be part- The thinking is that these young farm- Our role in disseminating what we ners rather than hired hands,” Sleight ers will be more involved in the farming learn through research as quickly as said. operation knowing they own some of possible in our campus classrooms and The program will give new graduates the cattle than if they were employed as a laboratories, and throughout our state the guidance they need to become rural hired hand, he said. through extension education. entrepreneurs, he said. While students The program also provides the edu- President Milliken often says his goal have access to beginning farmer work- cational background students need to for the University of Nebraska is that we shops, they too often take the information get their own operations started, Sleight will be the best university in the country home and put it aside, never receiving the said. Students learn how to put a business in terms of serving the interests of the push they need to get started. plan together and seek financing. They citizens of our state. The 100 Cow program is designed to also will learn about succession planning, Amen to that. give them that push. so they will be knowledgeable should a It’s why land-grant universities were NCTA is partnering with USDA’s business partner get out of farming or created. It’s why we are needed. And we Farm Service Agency, which is making ranching. will go right on being needed as long as loans available at 5 percent interest to Succession plans are important because we fulfill our land-grant responsibility participating students. Upon graduation, oftentimes when a producer dies, his continued on page 2 the participants use the money to buy continued on page 2

Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources • University of Nebraska–Lincoln Perspectives continued from page 1 of taking the resources of Nebraska’s a variety of IANR programs carry a Web Longtime university to Nebraska’s residents, of address readers can use to learn more. Agronomist listening to their needs, and delivering Also new to the At Work for Nebraska highly-valued programs. Web site are IANR Conversations, short Furrer Dies We hear concerns expressed locally videos in which members of our IANR John Furrer, a and nationally that as state tax dollars community talk about how we in the longtime University supporting research decline, more research Institute are at work for our state. New of Nebraska–Lincoln video is added weekly. will follow research dollars, meeting the Extension special- Please share these with others. Help needs of granting agencies, rather than the ist and a former needs of the citizens of the states. tell the story of how IANR is at work for “Backyard Farmer” Let me be very clear on this: IANR’s Nebraska. panelist, died October commitment is, and will remain, firmly The At Work for Nebraska Web site 3. He was 87. focused on Nebraskans’ needs, through carries many tools for us to use, but the Furrer, a retired John Furrer both applied and basic research. thing about tools is, no matter how good agronomist, served As Nebraska’s land-grant university, we they are, they can’t do the job if we don’t with the University’s Cooperative Extension are at work for Nebraska. use them. Please do. Service for 41 years. He was a “Backyard So when I think about harvest in IANR has a wonderful story to tell, Farmer” panelist for 33 years. He was past Nebraska, I also think about harvest for of planting and bountiful harvest for president of the Nebraska Cooperative Nebraska. Such as the conservative 15-to- Nebraska, of benefit and a proud tradition Extension Association and received its 1 return Nebraskans receive for each state of providing strong return on investment. Distinguished Service Award. tax dollar invested with IANR. Every day the work of our faculty and staff Furrer also served on the board of We contribute to both Nebraska’s shows our commitment to being the best directors of the Lower Platte South Natural economy, and way of life. We are at work university in the country in terms of serving Resources District and is in the Hall of for Nebraska in a variety of ways. the interests of the people of our state. Agricultural Achievement. Some of these ways we capture four times It’s why we’re here. It’s how we’re at a year in the brief, eye-catching At Work work for Nebraska. for Nebraska newsletter first published in Public Service to June. June and September issues are on the atworkfornebraska.unl.edu Web site, to Ag Awards Given be followed with issues in December and University of Nebraska–Lincoln Exten- March. Brief, well-written nuggets about sion Dean Elbert Dickey has received one of three Public Service to Agriculture Awards from the Nebraska Agribusiness Club. NCTA’s 100 Cow Program Aims to Help Steven Wright, a corn and soybean producer from Benedict, also was honored Beginning Farmers, Ranchers (continued from page 1) at the club’s 41st annual awards banquet or her children don’t want to take over Rich Barta, Farm Loan Chief with FSA, November 1st in Lincoln. ownership of the operation but do want said the agency’s goal is to help beginning The late Neal E. Harlan of Valley was the money from it. A sibling or even a farmers and ranchers. He worked with honored posthumously. Harlan, who died in 2003, and his wife, Leone, made non-relative who does want to take it over Sleight to develop the program. numerous contributions to the Institute usually doesn’t have the money to buy the “This particular program fits into our of Agriculture and Natural Resources and others out, Sleight said. mission perfectly,” Barta said. other entities at UNL. The business plan and actual experience Thirty-six NCTA students attended an in running a business will better equip the October 10 seminar on the program. Sleight students to get future business loans, and hopes NCTA students view the 100 Cow Need to meet with the the cattle ownership will give them col- program as a means of eventually growing a lateral, Sleight said. small business into a larger operation. Vice President/Vice Chancellor? Drop-ins each Friday from 3-5 p.m.* – Lori McGinnis John C. Owens Editor - Lori McGinnis • Layout - Anne Moore The University of Nebraska–Lincoln does not discriminate based on gender, age, disability, race, color, NU Vice President for religion, marital status, veteran’s status, national or ethnic origin or sexual orientation. Agriculture and Natural Resources and Harlan Vice Chancellor of IANR The Leading Object is published monthly for all IANR staff members by Communications & Information Technology. Questions or story ideas may be 202 Ag Hall • (402) 472-2871 directed to the editor at *Occasionally Dr. Owens will be 103 ACB, 0918; via e-mail ([email protected]) or via fax (402-472-0025). called away on University business. page 2 Maunder Receives First Henry Beachell Alumnus Award

A. Bruce Maunder has ties to the leg- “The award is a special honor to me Research Sup- endary University of Nebraska alumnus because Henry Beachell’s name is attached port Program, Henry Beachell in more ways than one. to it,” Maunder said. “I admired him and serving as an Maunder’s father was a classmate and fra- to have his name on it gives it a special external evalua- ternity brother of Beachell, a plant breeder meaning.” tor for 22 years. whose research in helped feed hungry Maunder is recognized for his work in The crux of people in developing Asian countries. sorghum breeding, although he considered his work was Maunder attended the another field while in college. The Holdrege developing new Conference in 1996 when Beachell was native had an interest in wildlife manage- hybrids which the recipient. Maunder was present for ment but changed his studies to agronomy resulted in better Beachell’s 100th birthday party a year ago. after a graduate student, Milo Cox, said his yields and more A. Bruce Maunder Now, Maunder has received the Henry future would be brighter in that field. disease and Beachell Distinguished Alumnus Award, His adviser was Frank Keim, for whom insect resistance. He had a role in releasing given September 29 in Lincoln. the agronomy and horticulture building about 150 new grain and forage hybrids. Maunder, a Lubbock, , resident, on East Campus is named. Keim’s son, From 1997 to 2003, Maunder helped studied plant breeding and genetics and Wayne, invited Maunder to accept an as- choose the recipients of the World Food earned a bachelor’s degree in agriculture sistantship at Purdue. Maunder accepted Prize, the agricultural equivalent of the from the university in 1956, as well as and while there researched the genetics of Nobel Prize. In 1996, that prize went to master’s and doctoral degrees from Purdue sterility in sorghum. Beachell, a Nebraska agronomy gradu- University in 1958 and 1960. He was given Dekalb Genetics Inc. offered him a posi- ate widely recognized for research in the an honorary doctorate of science from the tion as sorghum breeder in Lubbock, which development of the “miracle rice,” which University of Nebraska–Lincoln in 1991. he accepted. It wasn’t long before his supervi- greatly alleviated famine in southeast Asia. The Beachell award is given for humani- sor was promoted to a different job, allowing Maunder said the support he received tarian contributions to the community, Maunder to become Dekalb’s worldwide and the contacts he made while at the uni- state, nation, and the world as well as for director of sorghum research. He was named versity have helped him greatly in his career. work that brings honor to the University vice president of the company in 1976 and He is especially honored to be remembered. of Nebraska–Lincoln. This is the first year senior vice president in 1991. “For the university to still remember the award was named for Beachell. Previ- Throughout his career with Dekalb, someone who graduated in the 1950s is ously it was called the CASNR Distin- Maunder worked with UNL’s Interna- very nice,” he said. guished Alumni Award. tional Sorghum and Millet Collaborative – Lori McGinnis Nebraska Master Conservationist Wilson Receives Award Winners Announced Employee Award

Nine Master Conservationist Awards were presented at the annual banquet of the Roger Wilson, Nebraska Association of Resources Districts (NARD) in Kearney September 24 by John research analyst Owens, NU Vice President and Harlan Vice Chancellor of IANR. with the West The recognition program has been conducted for the past 25 years by the Omaha Central Research World-Herald and the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources in cooperation and Extension with the NARD and the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). Master Center, has Conservationists are selected by IANR faculty and representatives of NARD, NRCS, and received the various Natural Resources Districts. Outstanding Master Conservationist recognition in production agriculture went to Mark and Bruce Employee Award Watson, Alliance; Paul and Jeryl Kettelson, Albion; Pursley Family, Enders; Brandes and for managerial/ Sons, Inc., Central City; and L & L (Lawrence and Larry Gronewold), Beatrice. professional staff Roger Wilson The community-public category recognition went to Keep Omaha Beautiful, Inc., for November/ for the “World O! Water Festival.” Keep Omaha Beautiful and the Papillion Watershed December. Partnership conduct the annual event in September for children and adults to learn about Supporters wrote that Wilson has made water pollution, water quality, and water fun. significant contributions to the center. Two community youth groups were named Master Conservationists. The recipients He developed Access, a data management were Spalding Academy of Spalding for “The Cedar River Stabilization Project” and the program for livestock records at the FFA Chapter at Superior High School for developing a tree nursery and carrying out an Gudmundsen Sandhills Laboratory, which underground water testing program. has improved data access for faculty Adam Venteicher of Pierce, a member of the Pierce High School FFA chapter, was members and graduate students. named Master Conservationist in the individual youth category. Venteicher started Wilson received $250, a certificate, and a his own farming operation by renting land and farm equipment from his parents and lapel pin. purchasing six beef cows. page 3 Three with UNL Ties Served as Equine Residents at Texas A&M

Each year the Texas A&M University 1992 and got his College of Veterinary Medicine veterinary medicine and Biomedical Sciences has three degree from KSU veterinarians in its equine surgery in 1996. He worked residency program. Amazingly, three in Mobridge and students with University of Nebraska– Belle Fourche, South Lincoln ties served in the program at once. Dakota, then started Residents A. Berkley Chesen of Lincoln, his residency in Will Jordan of Broken Bow, and Jason 2004. Mez of Falls City were residents in the Texas A&M program during the 2006-07 school year. receives about 60 Chesen and Jordan still are in the three- applications a year year residency program while Mez now for one residency practices equine surgery in Sturgis, South position in equine Dakota. surgery. Selecting From left, Jason Mez, Berkley Chesen and Will Jordan All three were undergraduates at UNL, three in a row from although not at the same time and neither UNL was coincidental, said Cliff Honnas, Chesen, who grew up around horses, knew each other from UNL. Professor of Equine Orthopedic Surgery at said she thought it was unusual that Chesen graduated from UNL in 1996 Texas A&M. three former UNL students had all three and received her veterinary medicine “They were all outstanding,” Honnas residencies in one place. degree from Purdue University in 2000. said. “All three of us were from Nebraska and She worked as a veterinarian associate at Jordan, who got his UNL degree in none of us knew each other before. It’s an equine hospital in Kentucky for four 2002 and his veterinary degree in 2005, funny what a small world it is,” she said. years, then went to Texas A&M for her will finish his residency in 2009. He met Mez said he, Chesen, and Jordan plan residency, which she will finish next July. Chesen and Mez during his residency to keep in touch no matter where their Jordan, who got his veterinary medicine interview process. practices take them. degree from , is in “It was kind of neat to have a common – Lori McGinnis the second year of his residency. connection between the residents,” Jordan Mez attended UNL from 1989 to said.

Terry Assumes Post Boeckner Named Interim of CIT Director Director of Panhandle

Roger Terry has been appointed Research and Extension Director of IANR’s Communications and Information Technology Unit. Extension Specialist Linda Boeckner Terry, who has served as Interim has been named Interim District Director Director since June 2006, has been a long- of the Panhandle Research and Extension serving faculty member at Kansas State Center. University. He most recently served as Boeckner succeeds Charles Hibberd, Professor and Coordinator of Information who accepted the position of Director of and Education Technology in the Roger Terry the Purdue University Cooperative Exten- Department of Communications at KSU. sion Service and Associate Dean of Purdue “Roger brings a partnership philosophy, a strong work ethic, a Agriculture. Linda Boeckner creative energy, and a commitment to excellence to CIT,” said John John Owens, NU Vice President and Owens, NU Vice President and IANR Harlan Vice Chancellor. IANR Harlan Vice Chancellor, announced the appointment of “His vision for CIT is for the unit to be strategic partners with its Boeckner, saying she brings a wealth of successful programming customers.” and leadership experience to the interim position. Terry succeeds Dan Cotton, who is now Director of eXtension. A search advisory committee has begun the process of seeking a permanent Director. page 4