6/25/2025
Collapsing Forest Eco-Systems Could Destabilize Economies, Study Finds
A new study finds that forests are under enormous pressure from agriculture, urbanization, wildfires and more – and their collapse could lead to widespread issues on both ecosystems and people's livelihoods. Husker researcher Craig Allen said, "The economic impacts of forests are enormous. If your forest ecosystem collapses, there are going to be knock-on effects to society. ..."
https://www.forbes.com/sites/jamiehailstone/2025/06/05/collapsing-forest-eco-systems-could-destabilize-economies-study-finds/
The U.S. Drought Monitor — produced jointly by the university’s National Drought Mitigation Center, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the U.S. Department of Agriculture — was cited in a June 5 Lincoln Journal Star article on drought conditions in Nebraska. About 85% of the state was under some kind of drought conditions, according to the monitor, with about 35% in severe drought. Eric Hunt, a climatologist with Nebraska Extension, was also interviewed for the article. The High Plains Journal and Rural Radio Network published similar stories.
https://hpj.com/2025/06/10/oklahoma-is-officially-drought-free-after-spring-rains/
https://ruralradio.com/kneb-am/news/extreme-drought-gone-in-nebraska-but-one-dry-week-could-set-back-gains/
7/10/2025
Eric Hunt, Extension Educator in Agricultural Meteorology, discusses fires, flooding, and drought that Nebraska has been seeing it all this year on Pure Nebraska. He gave an update on where things stand in the state, and how things are looking for the rest of the year.
https://www.1011now.com/video/2025/07/10/extension-educator-agricultural-meteorology-talks-drought-flooding-outlook-rest-year/?fbclid=IwY2xjawLeWFBleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHk9HCoc7cuH_zNvuOtESB9FHKbEPYItZym_kV2TRj3FEcjmMN3IbqqDrmwlj_aem_ATcMpg7TDjIkS3JV5xKm8A
8/4/2025
Christopher Neale, biological systems engineering, was named a fellow of the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers. Fellowship is ASABE’s highest honor and recognizes a member of unusual professional distinction, with outstanding and extraordinary qualifications and experience in, or related to, the field of agricultural, food, or biological systems engineering. Neale is director of research for the Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute and focuses his work on developing remote sensing applications for irrigated agriculture, hydrology and natural resources monitoring. He was honored at the 2025 ASABE Annual International Meeting, held July 13-16 in Toronto.
July 2025
The university’s National Drought Mitigation Center and the United Nations’ Convention to Combat Desertification recently released a report outlining the impacts of drought around the world since 2023. The last two years represent some of the worst drought effects seen on a global scale, said Mark Svoboda, report co-author and director of the drought center. Stories on the report appeared in KOLN/KGIN, BBC, CBS News, Der Spiegel, El Mundo, The Guardian, India Today and more than 580 other media outlets.
July 14, 2025
Eric Hunt, a climatologist with Nebraska Extension, was interviewed for a July 14 CBS News story on the historic flooding that affected the Midwest last summer. Hunt said he worries about “whiplash weather” caused by climate change. “We had almost a year’s worth of rain in two months,” he said. “By October, (the Midwest was) in severe drought because it quit raining for most of the next three months.”
June 26, 2025
Caro Córdova, assistant professor and statewide soil health specialist, was invited by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine to present at its Crossroads in Agriculture: Innovation, Resilience, and Opportunity symposium June 26 in Washington, D.C. The event brought researchers, innovators and policymakers together with congressional staff to explore science-driven solutions shaping the future of U.S. agriculture. In her talk, “Soil Health: A Foundation of Agricultural Resilience,” Córdova outlined the bipartisan importance of soil health, emphasizing its role in supporting farmers, strengthening ecosystems, and enhancing national resilience.