Range and Forage Crops
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* Agronomy and Horticulture - Crop, forage, and soil sciences research are conducted at the agronomy research area at the ARDC. This includes range and forage management, plant breeding, genetics and molecular physiology plant physiology and production ecology, soil and water science, and weed science.
Pasture grasses are important in Nebraska. UNL research has played a part in the development of the varieties found in the several million acres of improved perennial pasture grasses grown in Nebraska. We are looking for ways to improve profits for the people whose livelihood depends on grazing animals on these grasses. Research has shown that interseeding legumes helped improve beef gains by 25 to 40 pounds per acre. That translates into about $10 to $20 an acre of additional income.
In cooperative research with USDA scientists, switchgrass is being developed into a potential biomass energy crop. The improved digestibility of the Trailblazer switchgrass has added about $4 million a year to farmers' profits.
UNL research is on the leading edge of alfalfa variety development – with over 1,400 variety and germplasm comparisons, more than 30,000 plot harvests and 35+ years of data collection on alfalfa varieties. Commercial companies use the data to determine which varieties to market.
Learn more by visiting the following links:
* Center for Grassland Studies
