The first annual open house at the University of Nebraska Eastern Nebraska Research and Extension Center (ENREC) near Mead - formerly the Agricultural Research and Development Center - is planned for June 29. The event is co-hosted by Nebraska State Senator Bruce Bostelman and runs from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Don Adams, ENREC Research and Extension Director invites the public to come see firsthand how ENREC is making a difference.
“There will be opportunities to interact with Senator Bostelman, university faculty, commodity groups and others attending the open house. The event is intended to show firsthand what we are doing at ENREC and why it matters,” states Adams.
The event kicks off with an informal time to meet with industry leaders and representatives and visit commodity group booths from 10 a.m. – 10:50 a.m. followed by the morning presentations.
Mike Boehm, Harlan Vice Chancellor of the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, will present “Driving Nebraska’s Economic Vitality.” Nebraska is uniquely positioned to be a global leader in key areas such as food, fuel, water and rural development. Boehm will share his insights about how the university’s research, teaching and extension efforts are positioned to drive the vitality of Nebraska’s economy, communities and success of our people.
Nebraska Extension Agricultural Climatologist Al Dutcher will present “The Ag Climate - Temperatures, Trends, and Outlooks.” Weather presents opportunity and risk in agriculture, Nebraska’s economy, and global markets. Dutcher will take a closer look at the interconnection of historical conditions, current trends, and the forecast outlook regionally, across the cornbelt, and globally and its impact on agriculture.
Attendees will take a close-up, virtual tour of the university’s swine research facility at the conclusion of the noon lunch. Adams notes, “University of Nebraska scientists are studying issues that are important to bringing a safe, high quality pork product to the table. We want people to see where the research takes place and who is working on it, as visits are limited due to biosecurity precautions to keep the animals healthy.”
Afternoon tours are from 1 p.m. -3 p.m. at three different locations at the facility. Adams says that the opportunities for partnerships and collaboration keep growing and that the tours will highlight some of those projects.
Tour stops include: In the Field Crops Classroom, See a Live Hail Machine Demo with Keith Glewen, Extension Educator and Justin McMechan, Crop Protection and Cropping Systems Specialist; Carbon Farming: Reducing Greenhouse Gases with Crops with Andy Suyker, Research Associate Professor; Drones on the Farm – with Wayne Woldt, Professor and Extension Environmental Engineer; Nebraska: The Beef State - Empowering our #1 Ag Industry with Matt Spangler, Nebraska Extension Beef Genetics Specialist; and Plant Phenotyping- A Bird’s Eye View with Yufeng Ge, Assistant Professor, Biological Systems Engineering and Frank Bai, Post Doctoral Fellow, Biological Systems Engineering.
RSVPs are requested by Friday, June 23 at 5 p.m. to assist with plans for lunch and tour transportation. Please RSVP online at: enrec.unl.edu. A detailed flyer, map and directions also are online at the website.
The University of Nebraska Eastern Nebraska Research and Extension Center (ENREC) is headquartered at the former Agricultural Research and Development Center near Mead, Nebraska, a short driving distance from Omaha and Lincoln. Morning program and lunch are at the August N. Christenson Building at: 1071 County Road G, Ithaca, NE. Transportation will be provided for the afternoon tours held at several sites located throughout the center.
Questions contact: enrec@unl.edu or (402)624-8037.