Water News Archive

Friday May 9, 2025

From Manure to Mapping: Exploring Sustainable Livestock Mortality Management at Waste to Worth 2025

Jillian Bailey, an undergraduate researcher at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, explores livestock mortality management through her work in the Animal Waste Management Lab and attendance at the 2025 Waste to Worth conference. She highlights the promise of shallow burial with carbon (SBC) as a low-maintenance, environmentally conscious method for carcass disposal, emphasizing its benefits in leachate control and potential for adaptation using various carbon materials. Additionally, research involving GIS and modeling tools like HYDRUS-1D demonstrates how site-specific risk mapping can guide safer placement of mortality management systems to protect groundwater.

Friday May 9, 2025

From Sandhills to Sustainability: Exploring Aquaculture Innovation at Idaho's Hagerman Fish Culture Experiment Station

Logan Hafer, a senior at the University of Nebraska, reflects on his academic journey, research experiences with the Schmidt Lab, and active involvement in various agricultural organizations. In April 2025, he attended the Waste to Worth conference in Boise, Idaho, where he was most impacted by a tour of the Hagerman Fish Culture Experiment Station, learning about Idaho's leading role in trout aquaculture and innovative sustainability efforts like plant-based fish feed. His visit highlighted the importance of responsible water resource management and offered valuable insights into sustainable agriculture and aquaculture practices beyond his Nebraska roots.

Thursday May 8, 2025

Ten Ways to Cut Nitrogen Fertilizer Expenses

With urea ammonium nitrate in short supply, Nebraska corn growers must make every pound of nitrogen count — start optimizing your N strategy today with these UNL recommendations and tools.

Friday May 2, 2025

From Manure to Methane: A Student's Dive into Anaerobic Digestion and Sustainable Farming

Alexis Samson, a sophomore agricultural engineering student, attended the Waste to Worth Conference where she expanded her knowledge of manure management, especially in the area of anaerobic digestion (AD). She learned that while AD systems can turn waste into biogas and fertilizer, their cost-effectiveness—especially for small farms—can be improved by incorporating food waste from local sources. Presentations at the conference also highlighted advancements in converting biogas to renewable natural gas (RNG), which offers both environmental and financial benefits for producers.

Friday May 2, 2025

Efficiency’s Role in Irrigation and Nitrogen Use

Advanced tools like soil moisture sensors, variable rate irrigation, and precision nitrogen management are driving gains in input efficiency and on-farm profitability.

Thursday May 1, 2025

How much water do cattle need and what water problems should cattle producers watch for?

Water is a critical nutrient for cattle, especially during hot summer months. Lactating cows may require 20–24 gallons of water per day, while calves need 5–10 gallons. Poor water quality—caused by high nitrates, sulfates, or blue-green algae—can lead to serious health issues or even death. Producers should regularly test water sources and manage tanks and troughs to ensure clean, safe, and accessible water for all classes of cattle.

Friday April 25, 2025

Drought year causes groundwater level decline

The annual Nebraska Statewide Groundwater-Level Report from the Conservation and Survey Division in the University of Nebraska–Lincoln’s School of Natural Resources shows that groundwater levels in the eastern half of the state continue to decline following several years of persistent drought.

Friday April 25, 2025

May is Wildfire Prevention Month: Fire Smart Landscaping

Wildfires have been headline news not only in Nebraska but across the country. It’s comfortable to think a devastating wildfire can’t happen in your area, but it’s better to be aware of the possibility and be prepared. Learn the aspects of Fire Smart Landscaping including creating a defensible space, planning ahead for a fire event, and management of the surrounding landscapes to decrease potential fire damage.

Wednesday April 23, 2025

April Showers and Rain Barrels

April showers bring May flowers. They also bring valuable rainwater to harvest and temporarily store for later use in watering plants. Old fashioned rain harvesting methods, like rain barrels, have made a comeback for this purpose.

Wednesday April 23, 2025

Introducing PLAN: Mobile Irrigation Management App

Unlock real-time, in-field decision-making with UNL's new PLAN mobile app — bringing irrigation insights, crop water use and weather data straight to your fingertips.

Tuesday April 15, 2025

No Matter Where You Live, Submit a Request Before You Dig!

Spring is here and that often means its time start outdoor projects. Whether you are spading in new trees, putting in a koi pond or other excavated landscape features, drilling a new well, or installing a new onsite wastewater system, you want to make sure a ‘Locate Request’ has been submitted to Nebraska811 before digging.

Nebraska811 is the statewide one-call notification center, set up by Nebraska state law. It is the link between people who want to excavate and the underground facility owners/operators.

Thursday April 10, 2025

Using Irrigation Scheduling Tools to Save Water Without Sacrificing Yield

Results from a series of UNL field trials in 2024 that compared traditional irrigation practices with data-driven scheduling tools highlight the potential for smarter irrigation to boost sustainability and reduce costs on the farm.

Thursday April 3, 2025

100 years of Nebraska nitrogen

Nitrogen is an essential plant nutrient but increasingly found in our water. Here is a brief history:

Monday March 31, 2025

DAWN Dashboard: A Decision Support Tool for the Corn Belt

Our Nebraska Digital Ag Survey indicated that digital dashboards have been adopted by three out of 10 farmers. Digital dashboards are considered decision support tools that can guide farmers in the decision-making process in their operations with the goal of increasing efficiency, productivity and sustainability of their farms. Data-driven decisions are a key goal for digital agriculture. In this article, we are highlighting the Dashboard for Agricultural Water and Nutrient Management (DAWN), developed by a team of universities as part of a USDA NIFA grant.

Monday March 31, 2025

Nebraska Mesonet Launches Improved, Real-time Weather Data

The Nebraska Mesonet, a critical tool for weather monitoring and data collection across the state, has launched a redesigned, user-friendly website offering real-time weather data. The upgrade comes as the mesonet is growing its network of weather monitoring stations across Nebraska to offer more accurate data.

Tuesday March 25, 2025

Manure source delays and opportunities related to HPAI

Following a Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) outbreak, there may be a delay in the ability to receive manure and other products from those barns.

Monday March 24, 2025

Managing Spring Drought

According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, most of Nebraska is experiencing some level of drought, ranging from "Abnormally Dry" to "Extreme Drought". Lancaster county is currently classified with “moderate drought” conditions. To find the drought conditions for your location at any time throughout the year summer, visit droughtmonitor.unl.edu.

Is it Time to Water?

Friday February 28, 2025

Registration Open for 2025 Water for Food Global Conference

How can we ensure everyone has long-term availability of clean water and nutritious food in the face of a changing climate? With a theme of “A Resilient Future: Water and Food for All,” the Water for Food Global Conference tackles this critical question, convening global experts to explore innovative solutions and build a more resilient tomorrow. The conference will be held April 28–May 2, 2025 and is hosted by the Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute at the University of Nebraska, bringing together leaders working to solve one of the world’s most pressing issues — feeding a growing planet while preserving our precious natural resources.

Wednesday February 26, 2025

A Beginner's Guide to Manure Spreaders: Ensuring Even Application for Healthy Fields

Manure spreaders are essential tools for distributing nutrients to crops to improve fertility and improve soil health. Therefore, achieving an even application of manure is just as important as with commercial fertilizers. Proper placement ensures that every part of a field receives the nutrients needed, leading to healthier crops and soil biology. This guide explains how to use manure spreaders effectively.

Monday February 24, 2025

Be Groundwater Aware in Your Day-to-Day Life!

National Groundwater Awareness Week is March 9–15, making it the perfect time to talk about groundwater in Nebraska! What exactly is groundwater? It is the water below the earth’s surface that fills the interconnected voids and cracks in and around soil particles, sand, gravel and rock — all of this is what we call an aquifer. Groundwater is the most abundant supply of freshwater in the world and is the water source that private drinking water, irrigation, livestock and many public water-supply wells draw from.