Mara Zelt - University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Department of Biological Systems Engineering

Friday, October 14, 2022

The UNL Animal Manure Management team’s first Art Challenge comes to an end with state-wide contributions showing how much “Manure Matters in Nebraska”

example image of coloring contest submission

During our in-person events this summer, we had a lot of fun talking with kids of all ages about the diverse types of manure, how manure provides nutrients to growing crops, and how manure helps improve soil health and water quality. We hope that all the kids we talked to learned how much manure matters in Nebraska. We also asked our in-person participants to submit some of their own more artistic interpretations of how “Manure Matters in Nebraska” for a chance to win a fun prize.

Wednesday, July 17, 2019

Tolkien Teaches Ag: Lessons from Organic Fertilizer Production

On a brisk April day, I was traveling with a group of adventurers through the wilds of the Minnesota country side. We came upon a steep embankment and climbed it so that we might see what lay beyond. When I reached the top, and the crowd around me had parted, I thought for a moment I might suddenly have traded places with Samwise Gamgee, hobbit, because I was gazing out onto a field of what reminded me very much of the steaming slag pits of Mordor. However, rather than an apocalyptic hell-scape I was instead looking at a premier example of sustainable agriculture.

Friday, July 5, 2019

i(AM)Responsible: A Nationwide Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Education Network

iAMR project team members by region and expertise

Antimicrobial resistant infections have been recognized worldwide as a significant threat to public health in recent years. As new research continues to help us understand and characterize AMR populations and potential risks associated with them, developing a nationwide capacity for conducting effective scientific outreach and education on this topic has become critical. In summer 2018, a nationwide team of research and extension professionals was assembled to design and deliver extension programming on AMR.

Tuesday, October 30, 2018

Observations of Manure Management on a South Dakota Dairy

photo of sand lane to recover sand bedding

As a part of the North American Manure Expo events, participants were invited to tour a family-operated dairy farm located in Hamlin County, SD to witness first-hand some of the improvements that have been added to their manure management system over the past few years. I was able to observe how, in trying economic times for the dairy industry, this family farm has modified their manure management system to get the most out of precious resources – water and nutrients.