Feeding the Future
Food, Fuel, Water
Engler gift supports UNL entrepreneurship programs
A gift of $20 million from the Paul F. and Virginia J. Engler Foundation established the Paul F. Engler Agribusiness Entrepreneurship Program at the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources, along with a permanently endowed fund to support the program. Read more about the Paul F. Engler Agribusiness Entrepreneuership Program.
Here's your chance to win an iPod Shuffle
Download this free iPad app for a game that helps you learn where food, as well as other objects in our daily lives, come from. Some answers will surprise you. Play the game and become eligible to win one of five iPod Shuffles.
Where do hot dogs come from? How about milk? Hamburgers? Eggs? Most youngsters likely will say the grocery store. Of course, the real answer is much more fascinating, and "We Grow It, Do You Know It" is a lively free app that gives kids their first lessons in how agriculture produces the things they love to eat - and even their crayons. From the University of Nebraska's Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources.
For "Grow it, Know it" and other free game apps, go to http://ianrhome.unl.edu/mobileapps
Partnership will help NU wheat breeding continue to grow
The third-most-produced cereal grain in the world and the Number 1 provider of vegetable protein, wheat is so common in the human diet many consumers don't even think about it. But the University of Nebraska-Lincoln has been one of the nation's leading university wheat breeders for decades. Watch a video and read more about wheat breeding at UNL.
Nebraska's food, fuel and water research yields global solutions
The University of Nebraska-Lincoln's Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources has a problem-solving presence on many continents.
In Africa, Nebraska expertise in growing millet in arid climates is helping to feed populations that could easily be at risk of starvation. International Sorghum and Millet, known as INSTROMIL, based at the University of Nebraska, has established partnerships in countries in Africa and Central America to help local producers successfully grown varieties of millet and sorghum to enhance both nutritional value of the grains and economic successes for local farmers. Read more and watch a video about Water for Food research at UNL.
Consumers, industry benefit from beef research
Beef is big business in Nebraska. It's the state's No. 1 agricultural commodity. Nebraska leads the nation in commercial cattle slaughter and commercial meat production and is second in all cattle on feed. Read more about beef research at UNL.
University programs make a big splash in water for food research
When it comes to water, the University of Nebraska, through the Daugherty Water for Food Institute, brings focus and momentum to global efforts aimed at learning how to maximize the use of every drop of water when growing more food for an increasing world population. Read more and watch a video about Water for Food research at UNL.
Soybeans in the classrooms yield curiosity, knowledge
Soybean plants grow on more than 5 million Nebraska acres and are in line for a record-breaking 2011 harvest, but what intrigues Maxey Elementary school children are the legumes growing in their classrooms. Read more about soybean research and education at UNL.
Food.unl.edu
Where smart consumers and cooks go for the most complete information on 'all things food' from UNL Extension. Food preservation, food allergies, food safety, and yes, recipes for all budgets and all seasons. Go to Food.unl.edu
Extension educator helping Afghan farmers relearn crop production
So, what's a University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension educator doing in Afghanistan? "Doing what extension does best – help the people," said Vaughn Hammond, an educator who's helping Afghan farmers transition back to crops earlier generations grew before decades of war befell the nation. Read more about how UNL extension educators are helping Afghan farmers relearn crop production.
Unique rural-education research project to help teachers
Rural schools are not just smaller versions of urban schools existing in sparsely populated areas. They have distinct differences and needs. Researchers in UNL's National Center for Research on Rural Education recognize those differences, and they are working to help improve education service delivery in rural settings. Watch a video and read more about the National Center for Research on Rural Education at UNL.
Nebraska agriculture by the numbers
Nebraska's national rankings in agricultural production
No. 1
- Commercial red meat production (7.1 billion pounds in 2010)
- Great Northern bean production (180 million pounds in 2010)
- Irrigated land harvested (8.5 million acres in 2007)
- Popcorn production (294.5 million pounds in 2007)
No. 2
- Pinto bean production (1.6 million pounds in 2010)
- Proso millet production (2.6 million bushels in 2010)
No. 3
- Corn for grain production (1.4 billion bushels in 2010)
- All edible dry bean production (320 million pounds in 2010)
UNL's College of Agriculture and Natural Resources includes:
- 1,938 undergraduates
- 595 graduate students
- 15 academic areas
The college is part of IANR, which also includes the Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture, as well as:
- 83 local Extension offices serving Nebraskans with information and education
- 43,000 acres of land, including the Gudmundsen Ranch for cattle production research near Mullen
- $178 million operating budget
- 1,615 IANR employees across Nebraska, including 560 faculty experts in areas of agriculture and natural resources (water, cattle production and crop production).
Research and Extension Centers
- Panhandle Research and Extension Center at Scottsbluff
- West Central Research and Extension Center at North Platte
- Northeast Research and Extension Center at Norfolk
- Southeast Research and Extension Center at Ithaca
For information about consumer issues or production, or about 4-H and other educational programs, go to the IANR website.
ConAgra Foods, UNL partner to solve problems of production loss
The University of Nebraska-Lincoln's Food Processing Center has a strong working relationship with ConAgra Foods. Two key ConAgra Foods staff members also serve as adjunct faculty at the UNL Food Science program, which is closely tied to the UNL Food Processing Center. Read more about UNL's partnership with ConAgra.
Big Red camps offer many study programs
Big Red Summer Academic Camps have been hosted by Nebraska 4-H and UNL faculty members each summer for the past 10 years. The camps are open to youth who will be entering grades 9-12. During the week-long camp experience, participants explore the UNL campus, meet people from across the country, spend time investigating an interest or potential career, and have lots of fun.
Students are not required to be a 4-H member. The camps are open to ALL youth. Each camp is filled with hands-on learning opportunities and interactions with UNL faculty.
The 2012 Big Red Summer Academic preliminary camp offerings include:
- 3D Animation and Virtual World Creation
- Animal Science
- Crops
- Culinary Arts and Food Science
- Education
- Entrepreneurship
- Filmmaking
- Geology and Paleontology
- Textile Design
- Unicameral Youth Legislature
- Veterinary Science
More information about next summer's Big Red Summer Academic Camps, scheduled for June 10-15, 2012, can be found at http://bigredcamps.unl.edu/
