Tom Franti
Surface Water Management Engineer
Lincoln, Nebraska
(402) 472-9872

Specialization: Surface water quality

Sample Educational Programs:
Best Management Practices for Water Quality Protection
Extension activities include development of publications and programs to support adoption of best management practices to protect surface water in both agricultural and urban settings. Recent examples include publications aimed at the ‘how-to' of installing riparian buffers in agricultural fields and rain gardens in homeowner's yards. Other areas of effort include conservation buffers and reducing atrazine loading to surface water in the Big Blue River Basin in Nebraska.

Bioenergy and Water Resources
Extension activities including leading the Bioenergy and Water Resources focus team of the Heartland Regional Water Coordination Initiative, a four-state effort to collaborate on water resources protection extension and research.  Efforts include developing research and education workshops and publications related to CRP conversion to cropland, nutrient management in highly productive systems and integrating bioenergy conversion efficiency across the system, field to fuel.

Stormwater Management
Extension efforts include publications on rain gardens, a rain garden website, and in-place hydrologic evaluation of recently installed rain gardens to test their function.  Extension programming focuses on assisting municipalities in Nebraska to address storm water management education needs, and on promotion of green infrastructure to manage storm water. Recent publications:

Rain Garden Design for Homeowners
Plant Selections for Rain Gardens
Installing Rain Gardens in Your Yard
(Acrobat Reader required)

F. John Hay
Extension Educator, Bioenergy
Lincoln, Nebraska
(402) 472-0408
jhay2@unl.edu

Specialization: Energy and biofuels

Sample Educational Programs
Biofuels Friday's Web Seminar
An on-line seminar held live monthly the last Friday of each month and archived at the Web site, the forum focuses on exploring a new biofuel or bioenergy issue each month. The audience of extension educators, state agency personnel, biofuels industry, and the public have logged on each month for education and to ask the experts questions. The site also includes archives of seminars from 2007 to the present. Links and resources pages for wind and other energy topics are also included. Visit the Bioenergy Fridays Web Seminar Page

Co-Product Storage and Utilization
The expansion of ethanol production in the Midwest has provided a new feed product to cattle producers. The wet distillers grains co-products have predominately been used by large producers with substantial economic and animal performance benefits. New research is developing ways to store and utilize ethanol co-products to allow access of these benefits to small feeders and cow/calf operations. Availability of co-products to small operations will improve their ability to compete with large operations and improve the local economic impact of biofuel production. In the short term, educators will gain knowledge about storage and utilization of co-products. In the intermediate term, educators will take that knowledge to their home areas and teach producers. In the long term, producers will utilize this new feed to reduce costs, extend pastures, and improve the health, quality, and sustainability of their herds.

This train-the-trainer project included a conference on storage and utilization of co-products which attracted over 100 educators from 10 Midwest States. Within 8 months, educators indicated teaching more than 4200 producers using the education, written, audio, video, and web materials developed for this program. Co-product Storage

Wind
Nebraska has extensive wind resources and an increasing number of companies are proposing land contracts with Nebraska landowners for long team easements and options to build wind turbines. UNL has worked with landowners to learn about the wind development process and the complexities of wind contracts. Small-wind turbines have also become a hot topic with much misunderstanding about their design, construction, location, and economic impact. In partnership with experts from other Midwestern and High Plains states we are working on these and other small- and large-wind topics. Wind

Ethanol and Bioiesel
Biofuels, including corn ethanol and biodiesel, are a large part of Nebraska and will continue to be. This department has much experience with these two fuels from engine performance to feedstock development. I believe in the facts about ethanol production and have provided my presentation of "ethanol mythbusters" to hundreds of people in Nebraska and surrounding states. Sharing the facts of ethanol production and energy allows people to decide about ethanol for themselves. We have done some work looking at how communities have been impacted by ethanol plants. The movement or desire to move toward more cellulosic based feedstocks has led many universities to research the possibility of how it can be done for harvest and logistics. These issues, combined with the economic logistics, will be the key components to a facility's ability to procure enough biomass to feed production. 

The livestock industry is responsible for 48% ($8 billion) of Nebraska's total agricultural cash receipts, and livestock or poultry operations are found on 50% of Nebraska farms. With livestock production comes manure, and while some consider it a waste, it is a valuable resource. Teaching and changing the paradigm of a waste-to-resource is a key objective to ensuring the proper and sustainable utilization of animal manures in Nebraska Agriculture.

Manure Management:  (http://water.unl.edu/manure)

Recent Research from Dr. Irmak:

• Nebraska Agricultural Water Management Network
• Center Pivot Irrigation Research
• Subsurface Drip Irrigation Research
• Evapotranspiration
• Low Pressure Irrigation System

Sample Educational programs:
Irrigation Engineering
Efficient use of water resources in irrigated agriculture is essential to the long-term viability of the state's agricultural industry. Irrigation provides stability and sustainability of crop production and enhances the economics of the state of Nebraska. Irrigated agriculture is a crucial component of Nebraska's economy representing an annual income for the state of about $5 billion. In the United States, approximately 25.5 million hectares are now being irrigated. Total land area under irrigation in Nebraska has increased from about 1.7 million hectares in 1970 to 3.3 million hectares in 2000.

Efficient use of water resources in Nebraska is crucial to the sustainability of the agro- and ecosystems and economy of the state. Growers are being challenged to practice conservation methods and use water resources more efficiently and reduce runoff while meeting crop water requirements. Rapid depletion of freshwater resources and drought conditions, and degradation of groundwater quality in recent years impose challenges on the growers, consultants, extension educators, and their advisors to make more intelligent decisions to use water resources more efficiently. These conditions have also increased the competition for freshwater resources between different sectors (industry, public, etc.). Each sector has the responsibility to conserve and use water resources efficiently.

Sensor-based irrigation scheduling, crop water use efficiency, and subsurface drip irrigation
Suat is working with extension personnel and other research colleagues to develop and evaluate strategies to use Nebraska's precious water resources more efficiently. He conducts extension and education programs throughout the state to educate clientele and demonstrate different soil, crop, and climate-based techniques that can be used to schedule irrigation to achieve a better agricultural water management. He has been sharing this knowledge and his experience with clients on how to use soil moisture (soil water content and soil matric potential) sensors in irrigation scheduling for water conservation.

Suat is conducting research projects at the UNL's South Central Agricultural Laboratory (SCAL) near Clay Center on direct measurement of crop evapotranspiration and other climate variables and their use in agricultural water management. He has also been active in carrying out research activities with conventional subsurface drip irrigation (SDI) and low pressure subsurface drip irrigation (LPSDI) that can result in further water saving and increased crop water use efficiency (amount of yield and dry matter produced per amount of irrigation water applied) for corn and soybeans. Both SDI and LPSDI can be advantageous methods for irrigating relatively small and/or odd-shaped fields or high-value crops, though this is usually not suitable for center pivots. Both systems can be operated with a low-capacity irrigation wells (~250 GPM).

Suat has several demonstration sites throughout the state on various soil water status sensors (time-domain reflectometry, watermark granular matrix sensor, profile probe, etc.) that can be used by growers and consultants to monitor their own soil water status to schedule irrigation. Clientele are given first-hand exposure to these systems through field days and open house visits. He also has several research and demonstration sites on evapotranspiration gages (ETgages) which are simple, economical and accurate sensors that can be used by growers and consultants to monitor their own crop water use data. These demonstration sites are part of his efforts to introduce ETgages to Nebraska growers and consultants.

Crop diagnostic clinics
During July and August of each year, a series of crop management diagnostic clinics are held at the Agricultural Research Division at Mead in Eastern Nebraska. Suat participates in this clinic and provides educational information on measurement of soil water status and evapotranspiration for more efficient agricultural water management. The participants for the clinics are those who are working in the agribusiness sector, growers, crop consultants, and extension educators. The impact of these clinics can be crucial since every person participating in this clinic has the potential of impacting irrigation and water management practices on thousands of acres of irrigated crops.

Crop Management Diagnostic Clinics

Irrigation short courses
Held in February, the Central Plains Irrigation Short Course provides research-based educational information to a large number of clientele in Nebraska, Kansas, and Colorado. Every year, the course is hosted by the Land Grant University in one of these three states. As a member of the Central Plains Irrigation Association, Suat has presented the latest technologies on various techniques to measure soil water content and soil matric potential and their application in agricultural water management. The course is open to anyone interested in irrigated agriculture.

Paul Jasa
Extension Engineer
Lincoln, Nebraska
(402) 472-6715

Specialization: No-till system management and precision agriculture

Frequent contributor to CropWatch
CropWatch is the crop production and crop scouting news website offered by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension, published by EdMedia. Paul provides articles on the topics listed below, machinery management, and his various research projects.

Sample Educational programs:
No-till planting equipment and no-till system management
Planters, drills, and air seeders in no-till must cut and handle the residue, penetrate the soil to desired seeding depth, establish seed-to-soil contact, and close the seed-vee. Proper planting equipment, adjustments, and operation makes this easy. However, no-till is far more than just planting the crop without tillage. The crop production system must be managed properly the year-around—spreading residue, placing nutrients, establishing the crop, controlling pests, and more—to ensure success and fully benefit from no-till.

Conservation tillage equipment and system evaluation
A wide range of equipment is available for use in crop production. Likewise, there are a variety of tillage systems used depending on field conditions, conservation requirements, management ability, and a host of other factors. Understanding and selecting the proper ones are keys to profitability and conservation of resources.

Cultural practices for soil and water conservation
Soil and water are valuable resources that need to be protected for use by future generations. Though used for crop production, there are best management practices available to conserve them and to reduce the negative impacts on the environment. Yields can be increased with improved soil structure and better water use, enhancing profitability and sustainability.

Site specific crop management from a systems approach
Variability exists in nature, yet crop production tends to have a blanket approach. By properly matching crops and inputs to the potential of each site, profitability can be improved while protecting the environment. However, producers shouldn't be using the new precision ag technologies and equipment to make "nickel and dime" decisions while making some "dollar" mistakes by not considering all their options and using a systems approach.

Calibrating yield monitors and combine dynamics
Yield monitors and many other precision ag technologies are powerful tools to improve profitability in crop production. However, they are only tools and must be calibrated and used properly to gather accurate data and make informed decisions. Producers need to understand the function, operation, and application of any of these tools, realizing their limitations as well.

Interpreting precision ag maps and developing management zones
Precision ag involves field and data analysis to make informed management decisions on a site specific basis to improve profitability and protect the environment. Recognizing patterns on maps and identifying their causes in the field are keys to making the proper decisions and developing usable management zones. An understanding of how productivity is affected by field variability and varying the levels of crop inputs is needed to develop the zones and management schemes within the zones.

Derrel Martin
Irrigation and Water Resources Engineer
Lincoln, Nebraska
(402) 472-1586

Derrel Martin's specializations include water resources, agricultural water management, remote sensing of evapotranspiration, and the impact of conservation practices on surface hydrology and infiltration.

Rick Stowell
Animal Environmental Engineer
Lincoln, Nebraska
(402) 472-3912

Sample Educational programs:
Heat-stress mitigation for dairy cattle
Rick collaborates in developing regional extension materials on cooling cows using improved airflow and evaporative cooling techniques. Educational activities include field days at commercial dairy farms and participation in the Extension Dairy Group's spring dairy program.

Ventilation clinics
Enhancing farm managers' and employees' abilities to properly manage existing ventilation systems is the focus of this program. Topical information on ventilation systems and components is presented at interactive meetings where a significant proportion of time is allocated to addressing individual producer questions and problems. Rick is working with Extension specialists from neighboring states to utilize a mobile teaching lab to provide hands-on training on the use of mechanical ventilation components and controls in 2003.

Animal facilities
Rick collaborates with specialists in Animal Sciences to support and offer a variety of management programs. The most recent program offering was a Swine Farrowing School that was offered to producers at several locations in the state. Upcoming programs include a Swine Breeding & Gestation School for producers and a program for veterinarians on Ventilation of Nursery Facilities.

Odor control
Rick supports group efforts within BSE to provide information and educational opportunities to animal producers and community residents regarding odors and odor control. He provides information regarding odor emissions and control in the ventilation process.

Sample Educational programs:
On-Site Wastewater Treatment and Management
This extension program is directed toward the continued education of owners, contractors, vendors and regulators of on-site wastewater treatment and management systems. Educational materials are developed and distributed, and focused workshops are held at locations across the state.
Wayne also is part of the Nebraska Onsite Wastewater Treatment Task Force, which consists of local and state agencies, contractors (NOWWA), educators, and regulators involved with the industry. The mission of the task force is to increase the knowledge and capability of target audiences to achieve proper design, installation, maintenance, and operation of onsite wastewater treatment systems, such as septic systems and lagoons.
Onsite Wastewater Treatment.

Wellhead Protection Through Groundwater Education and Pollution Prevention
This extension program is focused on increasing the awareness of wellhead protection as a pollution prevention technique, primarily among community water supply managers and partner agency/organizations that are involved in similar programming. Wellhead protection involves protection for both quality and quantity of water supply. Educational programs include basics of groundwater flow, groundwater engineering, well design, and optimal management of groundwater extraction systems to maximize sustainability.

Groundwater Model
This extension program supports the sand tank groundwater demonstration model that is built by the Biological Systems Engineering shop.

Partners in Pollution Prevention (P3)
A member of the P3 team since its inception in 1997, Wayne provides leadership, along with a multidisciplinary faculty, for the Pollution Prevention (P2) program and interns who provide technical assistance to Nebraska business and industry during the summer. Interns are recruited and selected from junior and senior level engineering students attending universities in Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska and Missouri.

Groundwater Model information

Specialization: Irrigation

Sample Educational programs:
Irrigation and Nitrogen Best Management Practices
Several areas of northeast Nebraska have experienced an increase in the nitrate-nitrogen content of their groundwater supplies. The source of the contamination is primarily nonpoint source pollution due to poor irrigation management, and poor nitrogen management. Nitrate leaching can occur due to excess irrigation or rainfall applications when large amounts of nitrogen are present and available for transport. Bill leads the effort to encourage the use of irrigation scheduling techniques to minimize the number of times when leaching might occur and to conserve irrigation water and energy. This project has received funding from two sources – Natural Resources Districts and Region VII EPA.

Sprinkler package selection
Center pivots are used to apply water on about sixty percent of the irrigated land in Nebraska or about 4.8 million acres. While producers can use almost any sprinkler on field conditions with little slope and high infiltration rate soils, much of the sprinkler irrigated land in Nebraska is rolling and the selection of a sprinkler package can be a very important decision. Bill led the effort to develop a computer program to help match sprinkler packages with field conditions so that irrigation efficiency is maintained and surface runoff eliminated. Bill also worked with Derrel Martin to develop a Windows based version of the program that will be used by the Natural Resources Conservation Service to document cost share money provided to producers wishing to change to lower pressure sprinkler packages or from furrow irrigation to center pivots.

Crop diagnostic clinics
Each year a series of crop management diagnostic clinics are held at the ARDC at Mead. Bill provides educational information on irrigation water management, sprinkler selection and surge flow irrigation. The audience for the clinics are individuals working in the agribusiness sector, crop consultants and producers, many whom require continuing education units. Since each person in attendance can impact the irrigation management on 10,000 acres or more, the impact of these clinics can be substantial.

Irrigation short courses
In each of the past 15 years the Central Plains Irrigation Short Course has provided research based educational information to irrigators and agency personnel in Nebraska, Kansas, and Colorado. Each year the program is hosted by the Land Grant Institution in a one of the three states. As a member of the Central Plains Irrigation Association Bill has presented the latest information on sprinkler package selection and application of animal effluent to alfalfa and corn. In addition, Bill and his colleagues regularly develop and deliver Irrigation Short Courses in Nebraska. In 2003, educational opportunities were provided to over 350 producers in O’Neill, Fairbury, Holdrege, North Platte, and Alliance.

Chemigation training
The University of Nebraska has been subcontracted by the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality to develop and deliver a chemigation training program required to use irrigation systems to deliver fertilizers or pesticides. In 2003, over 1800 individuals were trained by Extension Educators and Specialists across the state. Bill serves as the statewide coordinator of the chemigation training program and he participates in training sessions in northeast Nebraska producers.

Specialization: Soil and water conservation, particular emphasis on crop residue cover.

Simon van Donk
West Central Research and Extension Center
North Platte, Nebraska
(308) 696-6709

Specialization: Water Resources and Irrigation

Simon creates and gives presentations at Extension meetings, reaching producers, consultants, policy makers, and agency personnel. Some of these presentations are on water savings that can be realized with less tillage, leaving more crop residue on the soil surface. His own research results are incorporated in these presentations. Other presentations include ones on limited irrigation, reducing cost of pumping irrigation water, sprinkler packages, and the effect of corn residue grazing and baling on sustainability and profitability of crop and livestock producers. Extension meetings/workshops/field days where these topics are presented include:

• Irrigation Management with Limited Water-A Farmer Education Program: annually in late summer, multiple locations in the Republican River Basin of West Central Nebraska
• Irrigation and Energy Conservation Training: annually in late winter, several locations statewide
• Irrigation and Energy Conservation Field Day: annually in late summer, different location every year
• Crop Production Clinics: annually in January, multiple locations
• Water Conference: annually in the summer, the last few years held at North Platte. In 2009, it was held at the West Central Water Resources Field Laboratories near Brule. This Conference and Open House was the first field day at the Brule Field Lab. It offered a unique opportunity for farmers and policy makers to learn about and see irrigation practices and cropping systems on a farm scale that maintain or increase crop production while conserving water.
• Author of NebGuide entitled: Tillage and Crop Residue Affect Irrigation Requirements (pdf file) 
• Contributor of : Agricultural Irrigation Management: Reduce the need for irrigation: maintain crop residue, reduce tillage' with a calculator on the UNL Water website. Note: The calculator calculates savings in pumping cost as a result of water savings due to more residue/less tillage.