Last year was an unusual year for Nebraska agriculture. A very favorable growing season for much of the state resulted in record yields and record total production for our major crops. However, it also was a year of low prices for most Nebraska crop and livestock producers. This unusual convergence of low prices for most of the commodities produced in Nebraska had a tremendous impact on the state's net farm income.

The development of essential new knowledge and technologies is especially important for producers during times of low prices and slim margins. These trends require producers to keep their production costs at a minimum. They must be excellent managers and skilled marketers.

Land-grant universities are key players in this effort, as our research provides new knowledge and technology to crop and livestock producers. Here at the University of Nebraska, much of our agricultural research is directed specifically at reducing production costs and increasing production efficiency, thereby improving the profitability and competitiveness of our producers. We also have major programs directed at finding new uses for our commodities and identifying new crops for the state.

Some examples of current research that can increase the profit potential of Nebraska producers are detailed in this issue of Research Nebraska, including:

• Research on how best to interseed legumes with brome grass to improve pasture production and minimize addition of nitrogen fertilizers.

• Plant diseases are costly both in terms of yield losses and treatment costs. That is why IANR's dry bean development team works on breeding cultivars with multiple disease resistance. They've succeeded and a new NU-released great northern bean cultivar that resists several diseases should be available to growers next year.

• Studies showing how root pruning of shelterbelts increases soybean yields.

• Harnessing new technology, such as global positioning systems, to help producers learn how to more efficiently use manure as fertilizer while protecting groundwater.

• IANR plant breeders have developed a grain-type pearl millet adapted to modern agriculture that offers producers another cropping option for certain dryland situations. This work also led to a high-yielding forage pearl millet.

More agricultural research now is conducted by private companies than by land-grant universities and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The focus of most private-sector research is the development of new products that can be sold to producers as inputs to their enterprises.

Public-sector research, on the other hand, is largely directed at finding ways to more efficiently use resources, thereby lowering production costs or improving the quality of the product.

We hope that our research addresses most of your production and marketing issues. If you have input regarding research needs, we welcome your suggestions.

Darrel W. Nelson
Dean and Director
Agricultural Research Division

Darrell Nelson