Update on Extension Water and Cropping Systems Accountability Regions: We’ve been blessed with some tremendous hires into the Nebraska Extension system. I’m grateful. The region I now officially serve is York, Seward, and Fillmore Counties. I’m surrounded by really smart people, 3 of which are new hires. Please see their introductions below and please welcome them when you see them!

Dr. John Nelson (Lancaster, Cass, Otoe):  John joined Nebraska Extension in April 2023 as the Water & Cropping Systems Educator for Lancaster, Cass, and Otoe counties, based out of Lincoln. I have a diverse background in agronomy and cropping systems research and extension in several areas around the country. I grew up on a family farm in Eastern Colorado and have remained involved throughout my professional career. I earned my bachelor’s degree in Soil & Crop Science from Colorado State, master’s degree in Crop Science from North Carolina State, and Ph.D. in Soil & Crop Science from Texas Tech. I worked as an Assistant Professor and Field Agronomist at the North Central Kansas Experiment fields for Kansas State from 2010-2013. While at K-State, I conducted research and extension programming in the areas of corn and soybean irrigation management, soil fertility, cover crops, precision ag, and water use in dryland cropping systems. I returned full time to the family farm in 2014 and remained there until joining Nebraska Extension this spring. My areas of interest include precision agriculture, irrigation and soil water management, cover crops/soil health, pasture management, and soil fertility. I am very excited to join Nebraska Extension and to develop beneficial research-based programs to meet the needs of the local producers. I can be reached at 402-441-7180 or jnelson158@unl.edu. Twitter: @NebWater_Crops

Dr. Travis Prochaska (Colfax, Butler, Polk): Travis “TJ” Prochaska, Ph.D., joined Nebraska Extension in July 2023. He is a native of Seward, NE where he grew up helping his family on the farm. He was an active member of Seward County 4-H and the Seward FFA Chapter. TJ received his B.S. from Concordia University Nebraska in organismal biology. He obtained his M.S. (2011) and Ph.D. (2015) from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in the Entomology programs where his efforts focused on the soybean aphid (M.S.) and switchgrass and aphid herbivory (Ph.D.). From 2016-2023, Prochaska served as the Crop Protection Specialist for North Dakota State University Extension, located in Minot, ND at the North Central Research Extension Center. ND farmers work with up to 40 different crops, however, TJ worked with about a dozen of them in North Central and Northwest ND (Wheat, durum, sunflower, canola, pulses crops, soybean, etc.). He currently serves Colfax, Butler, and Polk Counites as Water & Cropping Systems Specialist within Nebraska Extension and resides in the Colfax County Office in Schuyler. Prochaska is excited to work with area growers and serving the great state of Nebraska! Go Big Red!

Dr. Matheus Ribeiro (Clay, Nuckolls, Thayer): Matheus was born in Brasilia, the capital city of Brazil where in 2004 he got his bachelor’s in Agronomy. After graduating, he was hired as a technical manager for an agricultural aviation company in Mato Grosso state. Matheus also served as a professor for the Agronomy Department of Mato Grosso State University for a couple of years. In 2010 Matheus completed his master’s degree in Agronomy at the University of Brasilia where he studied the effect of chemical fertilization on two-spotted-spider mite infestation and strawberry yield. In 2017 Matheus obtained his PhD in Entomology from UNL focusing on the risk of insecticide resistance development in North Central soybean aphid populations to thiamethoxam seed treated soybean. He continued in the Entomology department (Insecticide Toxicology Lab), as a postdoctoral research associate until the end of 2017. He later worked as a staff entomologist for a start-up company called Crop Enhancement Inc., where he was actively involved with research and development of a non-conventional plant protection product. Before returning to UNL in 2021, Matheus worked as an independent consultant, coordinating, and managing contract research operations in Central and South America on projects related to pest and disease management of soybean, coffee, and tomato. During the past two years, he worked as a postdoctoral research associate where he collaborated with several soybean gall midge, and alfalfa weevil management projects, as well as supported rearing efforts of monarch butterflies. Matheus joined Nebraska Extension on November 1 and will be serving Clay, Nuckolls and Thayer Counties as an Extension Educator for Water and Cropping Systems.

7 of the 13 crop and water systems educators in Eastern NE are new in the past year with several coming on board since July. Grateful for more help!

My Challenge:
My challenge to everyone with irrigated ground who applies fall anhydrous or spring pre-plant fertilizer:

• Leave 1 piece of ground with a base rate of 70-100 lb N/ac
• Goal would be to apply rest of N in season using a tool like Sentinel Fertigation that senses what the plant needs. Will share research results from area producers this winter. If you decide that’s not what you wish to do, you can apply the remainder of N the way you’d like.
• Only asking to consider for 1 field. Will share more in next week’s column. 
• Soil Temps: https://cropwatch.unl.edu/soiltemperature