Dr. Tamra Jackson to speak at October 1st meeting

Dr. Tamra Jackson will be the guest speaker for the Nebraska Agribusiness Club’s October meeting on Monday, October 1st.

Dr. Jackson is the corn and sorghum specialist with the Extension Plant Pathology Team and the Department of Plant Pathology.  Her professional responsibilities and activities include:  statewide educational programs and resources on diseases of corn and sorghum; Crop Protection Clinics; Crop Management and Diagnostic Clinics; Field Plant Pathology Tour (AGRO896); Field Scout Training; Corn Nematode Training; NCIA and NDA Phytosanitarty Training. Her research portfolio includes: biology and management of diseases of corn and sorghum; corn nematode survey and management; management of foliar diseases of corn with fungicides; investigation into the reemergence of Goss’s wilt and leaf blight of corn; and survey of mycotoxins in ethanol distillers grains.

Dr. Jackson’s meeting topic and discussion will be related to Aflatoxin and other drought related quality issues this harvest has experienced.

Be sure to RSVP to the meeting below or by clicking here. The meeting will be held at the Lancaster Extension Education Center located at 444 Cherrycreek Road, Lincoln, NE (directions here). Buffet lunch will begin at 11:30 a.m., with the program starting at 12:20 p.m. Meeting registration, which includes lunch, is $10 per person.

Waverly Agricultural Education Program Making a CASE for Agriculture Education

Kori Jensen, Waverly Agricultural Education Instructor, attended a 10-day professional development session in July at the University of Nebraska Lincoln to teach the Introduction to Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources (AFNR) section of the Curriculum for Agricultural Science Education (CASE).

The AFNR course is designed to introduce students to the world of agriculture, the pathways they may pursue, and enhance their knowledge in science, mathematics, reading, and writing. This course allows students to experience exciting hands-on activities, projects, and problems while gaining basic skills and knowledge in agriculture. The course includes six units: Agricultural Education – Agriculture, FFA, and SAE, Communication Methods, Science Processes, Natural Resources, Plants and Animals, and Agricultural Mechanics.

To enhance this curriculum Jensen developed a soybean unit highlighting production, processing, and use of soybeans in Nebraska. It is important for Nebraska youth to understand the role soybeans play in agriculture and our economy. For more information on Nebraska soybean production visit nebraskasoybeans.org.

After spending approximately 80 hours going through each lesson, Jensen is now one of sixteen agricultural teachers in Nebraska certified to teach the CASE curriculum. Currently 44 Waverly High School students are enrolled in this course, which serves as a foundation for the Waverly Agricultural Education Curriculum. Jensen would like to continue implementing other CASE courses by attending additional summer CASE seminars in Plant and Animal Sciences.

August meeting update from the Food Bank of Lincoln

Scott Young and Alynn Sampson of the Food Bank of Lincoln spoke to the Nebraska Agribusiness Club during the August 20th meeting in Lincoln.

A 30-year-old non-profit organization that works to distribute food to 16 counties in Southeast Nebraska, is only the beginning of a description for the Food Bank of Lincoln.

According to Executive Director, Scott Young, the Food Bank helps to extend income, and help families move forward, out of poverty. In 2011, the group distributed over 8.2 million pounds of food – of which 6.8 million pounds was distributed in Lancaster County. The programs they discussed focused on childhood hunger programs – mobile/emergency pantries and the back pack program.

Below are a few surprising facts Scott and Alynn shared with club members:

• Lincoln High and North Star High Schools in Lincoln has approximately 60% of the students receiving free and reduced lunches
• Within the next five years, 50% of all students in Lincoln Public Schools will receive free and reduced lunches

Volunteers are always needed to help man the emergency and mobile pantries. Those interested in volunteering are expected to cover one, two hour drive a month.