Nebraska Corn Board

Written by Rachael Whitehair, Director of Innovation & Stewardship, Nebraska Corn Board

The Nebraska Corn Board's research priorities lean heavily on partnerships with the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, where much of Nebraska’s production-focused work happens directly in Nebraska fields.

Nitrogen management is a major focus. Through multiple projects including the investigation of in-season nitrogen application and the Nebraska Nitrogen Initiative, NCB, UNL and Nebraska Extension are refining state-specific nitrogen recommendations using localized, on-farm data and supporting N-rate trials to help producers balance profitability with environmental stewardship. A related UNL study is updating decades-old sulfur fertilizer recommendations for corn-soybean systems, evaluating multiple sources and rates at 19 sites annually to help growers avoid both unnecessary input costs and yield-limiting deficiencies.

NCB is also funding applied trials that let producers test decisions before making them on their own acres. UNL's Testing Ag Performance Solutions (TAPS) program uses farm management competitions to help growers evaluate emerging technologies and input strategies in a risk-free environment. And UNL's CORN Multistate Network is testing biological products such as biostimulants and nitrogen-fixing additives at research facilities in Clay Center and North Platte to identify which deliver consistent benefits for Nebraska growers.

Below ground, a UNL project with Beck's Hybrids is examining how corn root architecture affects nitrogen use efficiency, using digital agriculture tools to give producers clearer guidance on hybrid selection and fertilizer placement.

Together, these UNL partnerships reflect where we see the greatest opportunity: rigorous, Nebraska-specific research that helps producers cut input costs, protect yields and make better-informed decisions season to season. That work directly strengthens farm profitability and the broader Nebraska agricultural economy.