The University of Nebraska Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources (IANR) operates three main Research, Extension and Education Centers (REEC) across the state with each having a network of farms, ranches and educational facilities to support the mission of IANR. Each REEC is unique to its own history and development since their inception.
Nebraska Extension and the Agriculture Research Division team up to support three Research, Extension and Education Centers across the state which oversee 43,000 acres of land. Each center has multiple research sites that create a unique network of areas to conduct research and extension across the state.
Eastern Nebraska Research, Extension and Education Center, Ithaca, NE. The center is located within 30 miles of UNL’s East Campus and consists of 9,500 acres of crop land, pasture and livestock operations. The center also oversees the following:
- Barta Brothers Ranch, Rose, NE. A 6,000 acre ranch.
- Haskell Ag Lab, Concord, NE. A 480 acre farm for crop land and beef research facility.
- South Central Ag Lab, Clay Center, NE. A 640 acre farm for crop land research.
West Central Research, Extension and Education Center, North Platte, NE. The center is located in a semi-arid environment in the Platte river valley and consists of 1,848 acres, which includes 1200 acres of grazing pastures and 648 acres for small plot research. The center oversees the following:
- Gudmundsen Sandhills Laboratory, Whitman, NE. A 12,800 acre working ranch with 700 cows.
- Water Research Lab, Brule, NE. A 1,120 acre farm with five center pivots and two rain fed quarters.
- Henry J. Stumpf International Wheat Center, Grant, NE. A 640 acre farm in southwest Nebraska.
Panhandle Research, Extension and Education Center, Scottsbluff, NE.
The center is located on a 156 acre site for small plot research. The center oversees the following:
- Mitchel Lab site. A 269 acre cropland site and the Research Feedlot.
- High Plains Ag Lab, Sidney, NE. A 799 acre farm consisting of cropland and 1,600 acres of pasture.
- Sioux County Experimental Range, Scottsbluff, NE. A 800 acre native range site
Statewide Direction
The Director's of the Research, Extension and Education Centers created the Statewide Directions/Strategic Plan to prioritize needs across the state. Each REEC captured input from their advisory boards, as well as stakeholders and faculty to identify and prioritize these needs. Seven state wide "Strategic Directions" were developed during this process.
Each REEC developed a strategic plan to contribute to the statewide strategic directions based on their geographic location, faculty expertise and resources. From these individual plans, opportunities were identified where REEC’s could combine resources and expertise to support those statewide directions. The complete Strategic Plan 2020-2025 can be read here.