Govorner's Column by Dave Heineman

Innovation in Nebraska Agriculture

Sept. 3, 2009 Dear Fellow Nebraskans:

Nebraska has a strong history as one of our nation’s leading agricultural producing states. Nebraska agriculture plays an important role in the research that fosters ag innovation and is making our state a premiere place for new developments in bioscience and conservation.

Increasingly, Nebraska agriculture is incorporating the tools and methods developed by geneticists, environmental managers, bioengineers, and other specialists to advance the work that takes place on Nebraska farms and ranches around the world. I want to highlight some of these investments and advances taking place in our state.

Nebraska is home to the University of Nebraska Global Water Institute where scientists research water quantity and irrigation efficiency. As the world’s agricultural producers raise more food to feed a growing global population, they are working to do so using less water.

The Institute is researching ways to improve water use efficiency in agriculture by developing new technologies, and innovative land and crop management techniques for both modern farms and those in developing countries. It is one example of how expertise at the University of Nebraska is contributing innovative solutions to the challenges facing producers around the world as they work to grow more with less water and manage limited resources in a thirsty world.

In addition to having the research capacity that can positively impact modern agriculture, Nebraska is home to several of the world’s largest manufacturers of center pivot irrigation systems. The innovations developed and produced by these Nebraska-based businesses are used by farmers across our state and throughout the world.

Other areas of agriculture innovations include a laboratory company that started in the business incubator of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Tech Park. The company provides a full range of genomic screening and clinical diagnostics to help develop new biotech products for agribusiness. The technology has also been instrumental in indentifying the precise strains involved in animal disease outbreaks, where this genetic information is vital in developing vaccines and therapies to protect livestock and help control the spread of disease.

Innovation and research on behalf of the livestock industry is also being conducted in Nebraska in partnership with the federal government. At the U.S. Meat Animal Research Center in Clay Center, a division of the Agricultural Research Service of USDA, researchers develop science information and new technology to benefit the beef, swine and sheep industries, as well as consumers. They research matters dealing with livestock health, genetics, environmental management, meat quality and safety, nutrition, and reproduction. These efforts are conducted in conjunction with the University of Nebraska and other land grant universities, so the benefits of these efforts accrue to the agricultural industry nationwide.

Nebraska producers are world leaders in food production. Thanks to these kinds of investments and partnerships between private industry and our research institutions, Nebraska has a growing reputation for developing new technologies and helping agricultural producers better manage and conserve scarce resources.

Water is perhaps the most important natural resource in Nebraska and this summer a Water Utilization Learning Center opened south of Gothenburg. The $6 million facility is the first of its kind and was built to study new crop hybrids developed for hardiness and drought tolerance, as well as low-impact farming practices.

The center will research how new technologies can help with water conservation and increased farm productivity as well as a better understanding of crop water use. The Water Utilization Learning Center is a high tech farm with the latest in video-conference software that connects the Gothenburg facility to locations around the world. That network provides opportunities for Nebraska producers to connect with researchers and producers to interact and learn about ways biotechnology can impact agriculture.

Many of the engineers, researchers and specialists at work in our state are a vital part of Nebraska’s agriculture industry. New investments in biotechnology and innovation are helping our largest industry to continue to grow and diversify, and producing advanced career opportunities here in our state.

Agriculture and agri-business is Nebraska’s number one industry. Agriculture innovation is key to agriculture’s future success.