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Evaluation of Novel and Commercial Varieties Alongside with Managements in Grain Sorghum and Feed Barley in the High Plains of Western Nebraska
No full textCrop productivity in the semi-arid High Plains of the United States is primarily limited based on the low and unpredictable precipitation that the region receives. While winter wheat is the central crop in most rotations, growers are continually looking to diversify and intensify their cropping system rotations for both economic and system sustainability reasons.
Winter barley has gained farmer and stakeholder interest in recent years in the region. As a good option to be used as feed to livestock, having good drought tolerance and low fertility requirements, the crop is a great option for growers. Also, as a winter crop with many similarities to winter wheat, winter barley could be easily introduced to the system, with few logistical or equipment changes needed for integration. One of the challenges is the lack of recent, regional information regarding best performing genotypes, management, and fertilizer requirements. This work reports a series of experiments performed in Cheyenne and Banner Counties from 2021 to 2024 evaluating commercial and experimental genotypes, different seeding rates and different fertility strategies. The results indicate that the best performance varieties are P-954 and advanced breeding lines from the UNL Small Grains Breeding Program. Minimum seeding rate required to achieve optimum yields is 2.47 million seeds ha⁻¹. Winter barley’s yielding components are highly benefited by phosphorus fertilization, especially when combined with spring nitrogen top-dress.
Grain sorghum is known for its drought and heat tolerance and can be used as a livestock feed with nutritional value close to maize (Zea mays). The crop suffers from yield reductions from early fall frosts, decreasing the season’s length. Breeding efforts on early-season chilling tolerance can increase the viability of shifting to an earlier planting date, thus increasing the growing season, and protecting yield. This work studied 38 commercial and experimental genotypes with various levels of early-season chilling tolerance in split-plot trials with two planting dates. The trials were performed in 2023 and 2024 in Sidney, Nebraska. Results identified commercial genotypes that maintained performance under chilling conditions and experimental material that can be selected and used for breeding improvements towards both early-season chilling and drought tolerance.
Advisors: Cody F. Creech and Amanda C. Easterl
Managing Risk in Agriculture
No full textFarmers and ranchers are managing through an interesting and challenging time in agriculture. National projections suggest a near-record farm income for 2025 (USDA-ERS) yet other reports show increasing levels of concern in agriculture as financial conditions weaken (Kreitman) and farmer sentiment weakens (Langemeier and Mintert).
Part of the seeming contradiction in ag conditions can be explained by the economic outlook for crops versus that for livestock. While cattle producers are enjoying record prices at present amid tight supplies and sustained consumer demand, crop producers have generally faced declining prices and tightening margins every year since 2022 (USDA-WAOB). The added livestock revenue and temporary relief from ad hoc government assistance in 2025 both help with profitability and cash flow for now but also come with questions about how long the current situation will last
Optimizing Nitrogen Management: Assessing Nitrate Transport in the Deep Vadose Zone and Its Impact on Groundwater Quality in East-Central Nebraska
No full textGroundwater contamination by nitrate (NO₃-N) is a growing environmental and public health concern driven largely by intensive agricultural fertilizer applications. The vadose zone plays an important role in NO₃-N transport, influencing groundwater quality and agricultural sustainability. This study investigated NO₃-N leaching dynamics in the deep vadose zone of Water Quality Sub-Area 30 (WQA30) within the Lower Loup Natural Resources District (LLNRD), northeast of Columbus, Nebraska (mean groundwater NO₃-N: 20.3 mg/L), using soil cores from 16 shallow (to 6.1 m) and four deep (down to 25.9 m) across four zones, two with inorganic fertilizer (Zones 1 and 4) and two with manure plus inorganic inputs (Zones 2 and 3). Laboratory analysis revealed variable NO₃-N levels (e.g., Zone 1: 25.1 ± 38.8 mg/L; Zone 4: 13.0 ± 12.8 mg/L), with peaks near the surface (e.g., Zone 1: 110 mg/L at 60 cm). Hydrus-1D modeling, calibrated with 1994–2023 data (high Index of Agreement, low RMSE), simulated seven 60-year scenarios (1994–2053) to assess crop and fertilizer impacts. Compared to continuous corn with a single fertilizer application, corn-soybean rotation with three split applications (4:3:3 ratio) reduced cumulative NO₃-N flux by 7.6% to 12.6% (mean ~10%) in kg/ha and deep vadose zone concentrations by 39.7% to 51.8% (mean ~45%), reflecting enhanced nitrogen efficiency. NO₃⁻N flushing times varied from 5.9 to 20.2 years, indicating prolonged contamination risks in some zones. These findings underscore the efficacy of integrating crop rotation and precise fertilizer timing to mitigate NO₃-N leaching, emphasizing site-specific strategies to protect groundwater in nitrate-vulnerable regions.
Advisors: Aaron R. Mittelstet and Troy E. Gilmor
The Current \u27Ban-demic\u27: School Book Bans in the U.S.
No full textThis essay examines the alarming rise of U.S book. Our stance is grounded in our experiences as educators and academics in Florida, the state with the highest number of book bans and legislation that has significantly impacted education. Book bans infringe on freedom of expression, right to access information, = students’ right to education, and real harm to targeted communities (i.e., LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC communities), as the bans contribute to the ongoing marginalization and stigmatization of these communities. Diverse representation is key in literature and education. Banning popular culture texts from the classroom stifles critical thinking, social dialogue, and, ultimately, social progress. We advocate for continued resistance to censorship and insistence of honoring students’ rights to a comprehensive, diverse, richly imaginative, factual, and inclusive education
Creativity and Special Education
No full textArtTEAMs Contributors
Zones of Regulation
How does creativity support special education?
-benefits
-creative modalities
-making art accessible
Creative Inquiry Framework: Creative Research Stages
Documenting Learning: Creative Thinking Journals
Self-Determination: Metacognitive Visual Metaphor
Self-Regulation: Bi-Lateral Art
Self-Expression: Poetry & Creative Writing
Co-Creation: Our Banne
Larger Price Limits for Cattle Futures Contracts: Should We Pay Attention to That?
No full textThe CME Group has recently announced an increase in price limits for its cattle futures contracts. This means that cattle futures prices now have a wider range to fluctuate on any given day, and the possibility of larger price fluctuations implies that traders may find larger gains as well as larger losses in their trading accounts at the end of the day. This is certainly something that people trading in futures markets should be aware of, but the change in price limits itself is just a regular update that happens every year. Let\u27s take a closer look at this
A New Genus and New Synonyms for \u3cem\u3eLiburnia reducta\u3c/em\u3e Van Duzee, 1907 (Hemiptera: Auchenorrhyncha: Delphacoidea: Delphacidae)
No full textThe delphacid species Liburnia reducta Van Duzee is transferred to the new genus Calkinodelphax Bartlett and Wallner (Hemiptera: Auchenorrhyncha: Delphacoidea: Delphacidae) and is designated the type species of this genus under the name Calkinodelphax reductus (Van Duzee), new combination. Calkinodelphax reductus is broadly distributed from Florida, the Antilles, Central America, and northern South America. Calkinodelphax reductus is the subjective senior synonym of Pissonotus striolus Osborn, Delphacodes cornuta Beamer, and Euides fasciatella auct. (nec. Osborn). A new lectotype is designated for Liburnia reducta Van Duzee. The female holotype and male allotype of Liburniella fasciatella Osborn were reviewed and found to be subjective junior synonyms of Tagosodes wallacei (Muir and Giffard)
The Millipede Genus \u3cem\u3eAlocodesmus\u3c/em\u3e Silvestri, 1896 (Polydesmida: Chelodesmidae: Batodesmini): Description of a New Species from Colombia and the Identity of \u3cem\u3eA\u3c/em\u3e. \u3cem\u3ehanseni\u3c/em\u3e (Silvestri, 1898)
No full textThe genus Alocodesmus Silvestri, 1896 (Polydesmida: Chelodesmidae: Batodesmini) currently comprises six valid species, three of which are recorded for Colombia, including A. danielae Romero-Rincon and Alvear, new species, from Yondó, Antioquia Department. Two species are known from Panama and one from Venezuela. The new species differs from its congeners by having a spoon-shaped prefemoral process that is ventrally extended forming a conspicuous concave space with branch Z being shorter than branches X and Y. The identity of A. hanseni Silvestri, 1898, previously of uncertain status, is revised, and the species is herein proposed as a new synonymy of A. gracilicornis (Brölemann, 1898), based on the examination of type material. A key to all species of the genus and a map of their type localities are provided.
Resumen
El género Alocodesmus Silvestri, 1896 (Polydesmida: Chelodesmidae: Batodesmini) actualmente comprende seis especies válidas, tres de ellas registradas en Colombia, incluyendo A. danielae Romero-Rincon and Alvear, nueva especie, para Yondó, Departamento de Antioquia. Dos especies son conocidas para Panamá y una para Venezuela. La nueva especie difiere de sus congéneres por tener un proceso prefemoral en forma de cuchara que está ventralmente extendido formando un espacio cóncavo visible con la rama Z más corta que las ramas X y Y. La identidad de A. hanseni Silvestri, 1898, previamente con estado incierto, es revisado, y la especie es aquí propuesta como una nueva sinonimia de A. gracilicornis (Brölemann, 1898), basado en la examinación del material tipo. Se provee una clave para todas las especies del género y un mapa de sus localidades tipo
Leading and Collaborating in a Complex Space: Developing and Evaluating a Course Materials Program
No full textLibrarians at a large public university describe ongoing efforts to develop a strategic, multi-pronged Libraries Course Materials Program to reduce course material costs for students. These efforts include the integration of course materials in the university’s learning management system in addition to offering course materials reviews, consultations, and grant opportunities for instructors. A pilot program in the College of Business provided a path for direct outreach to instructors as well as significant potential student cost savings and revealed challenges related to communication and recruitment. Authors share their approach to program evaluation for understanding and communicating impact and for estimating the program’s return-on investment as well as their plans to test the feasibility of determining and providing the lowest-cost version available of selected course materials at scale, campus-wide