Nebraska’s UNL receives $1.7m USDA grant for Ag research

Aug 12, 2024
By Farms.com

UNL’s new USDA funding focuses on sustainable sugar beet and agroforestry research

The University of Nebraska–Lincoln (UNL) has received $1.7 million in grants from the USDA to further its research into sustainable agricultural practices. This funding is part of a broader $90 million Conservation Innovation Grant initiative.

One grant, worth $1,116,149, will focus on optimizing nitrogen management for sugar beets in Nebraska and Colorado. This project, conducted in collaboration with the Western Sugar Cooperative, aims to improve sugar beet production by identifying the best nitrogen application techniques.

The research will involve 50 growers and is designed to boost yields while promoting environmental sustainability.

The second grant of $682,335 will support research on alley cropping, which combines tree planting with traditional crop farming. This project will study how alley cropping can enhance soil conservation, water management, and resilience to climate challenges such as drought and wildfires.

UNL will also investigate supportive policies and tax programs for agroforestry practices. The findings from these studies will contribute to USDA's conservation guidance and offer practical solutions for farmers.

These USDA grants highlight UNL’s role in advancing sustainable agriculture and its impact on both local and broader agricultural communities.

Video: Dicamba Returns for Georgia Farmers: What the New EPA Ruling Means for Cotton Growers

After being unavailable in 2024 due to registration issues, dicamba products are returning for Georgia farmers this growing season — but under strict new conditions.

In this report from Tifton, Extension Weed Specialist Stanley Culpepper explains the updated EPA ruling, including new application limits, mandatory training requirements, and the need for a restricted use pesticide license. Among the key changes: a cap of two ½-pound applications per year and the required use of an approved volatility reduction agent with every application.

For Georgia cotton producers, the ruling is significant. According to Taylor Sills with the Georgia Cotton Commission, the vast majority of cotton planted in the state carries the dicamba-tolerant trait — meaning farmers had been paying for technology they couldn’t use.

While environmental groups have expressed concerns over spray drift, Georgia growers have reduced off-target pesticide movement by more than 91% over the past decade. Still, this two-year registration period will come with increased scrutiny, making stewardship and compliance more important than ever.