Briefings at SNR highlight UNL importance

Sen. Mike Johanns (left) and UNL Vice Chancellor Ronald Green listen to Matt Stockton, an agricultural economist with the UNL Extension, at the National Drought Mitigation Center at UNL's School of Natural Resources.
Sen. Mike Johanns (left) and UNL Vice Chancellor Ronald Green listen to Matt Stockton, an agricultural economist with the UNL Extension, at the National Drought Mitigation Center at UNL's School of Natural Resources.

During remarks at last week’s fall 2012 welcoming assembly, assistant vice chancellor Alan Moeller used the moment to highlight where the School of Natural Resources and UNL fit into the big picture.

Over a recent three day stretch, Senators Ben Nelson and Mike Johanns and aides for Rep. Jeff Fortenberry all visited campus for briefings from the National Mitigation Center.

“It opens your eyes to how important Nebraska is nationally,” Moeller said.

Drought conditions have been in the national and regional news most of the summer, and SNR’s Drought Center has been a steady source of information and detail for not only news outlets, but also lawmakers.

The drought and recent congressional debate about the 2012 Farm Bill prompted the visits.

Sen. Ben Nelson visited on Aug. 1, and Sen. Mike Johanns attended an hour-long briefing Aug. 2. Both met with university officials and experts to discuss the full scope of drought impacts on Nebraska. A staffer from Fortenberry’s D.C. office visited on Au. 3.

University officials and experts outlined the deep impacts of the drought, both short-term and possible long-term effects. They covered a broad range including livestock, crops, water wells and even impacts on insect populations.

“I really applaud your efforts at outreach,” Johanns said. “Probably the best drought expertise in the country is in this room, if not the world.”

Bob Wright, an entomologist at UNL Extension, said the current crops are suffering a “double-whammy” because as they thirst for moisture, certain insects thrive in dry conditions adding stress to the plants. He said he hasn’t seen such an infestation of plant-eating spider mites since 1988; and rootworms are limiting plants’ ability to absorb what little moisture there is.

Current dry conditions create several problems, including dusty conditions that can be harmful to livestock, particularly young calves. And what few trees and forested areas that exist in the state are tinder boxes waiting for a spark, according to Don Westover with the Nebraska Forest Service.

There have been 22 fires in the state so far, “and we’re going to have more, I’m afraid,” he said.

Even as current crops shrivel in the fields, there may be a more lasting impact. Dying trees across the state aren’t just hurting homeowners’ landscaping efforts, but also threaten rows of trees that help prevent erosion.

Sarah Browning, a horticulturist with UNL Extension, said she expects most Scotch pine trees will die in the state and there’s little that can be done about it.

“We’re in a mode of damage management and repair,” she said.

Another potential long-term problem is associated with the high amount of nitrates found in water-starved crops, particularly those used to feed livestock. High amounts of nitrates are poisonous to livestock, which could create even more problems during winter months.

Like Johanns, Nelson was discouraged by the news.

“If anything it was disheartening,” Nelson said after the meeting. “We’re not out of the woods yet.”

Nelson said he would return to the Senate to urge Congress to pass the 2012 Farm Bill, which has stalled in the House of Representatives.

“It’s time to get something done,” he said.