West Central Research, Extension and Education Center

District Interest

Natalie Jones, IANR Media

The University of Nebraska–Lincoln’s Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Montana State University and Oregon State University will collectively receive $3 million per year for five years from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Research Service for the establishment of a Western Rangeland Livestock Center.  

The UNL TAPS Summer Event was held on June 24, 2021 at West Central Research Extension and Education Center.  The day brought agricultural producers and company representatives together to learn more about sensors, crop diagnostic analysis and marketing insights.  This first time event featured the "Agronomic Olympics" that tested producers on ther knowledge and abiltiy to identify various weeds, as well as other subjects.  The workshop proved to be informative as well as a fun event.  Daran Rudnick said the event was meant to highlight technology that TAPS participants and partners could use in managing crops as part of the competition as well as their own private operation.  

Corn and Soybean Season 

KNOP News Anchor Maressa Burke visited with Chuck Burr, Water Cropping Systems Extension Educator, regarding the corn and soybean 2021 planting season.  Chuck explained the research being conducted with the use of drones in applying pesticides in small doses where needed and therefore limiting the amount of pesticides in the environment.  The full interview can be viewed at KNOP News 2.

Trenton Houston, master's degree student at WCREEC was featured in the North Platte Telegraph regarding his research to develop protocols for applying pesticides with drones, or as Trenton prefers call them "unmanned aircraft systems" UAS.  Continue reading about the drone-aided research. . .

The Testing Ag Performance Solutions (TAPS) program has been awarded an $850,000 Conservation Innovation Grant award from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Natural Resource Conservation Innovation Grant to develop ag competitions.  Congratulations to the TAPS team!

The National Agricultural Aviation Association had the opportunity to visit the University of Nebraska's Pesticide Application Technology Lab this past summer.  The purpose of the visit was to tour the lab and find out more about its research and the potential for future work involving aerial application.  Dr. Greg Kruger, associate professor and director of the PAT lab provided the tour and information on the research being conducted.  With the NAAA's permission, the article can be read in the Fall 2019 issue of Agricultural Aviation.

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