Agriculture Commons^™

Examining Potential Trade-Offs Between Pest Management And Pollination To Sunflower Production In Nebraska, Luis Ochoa Cadena

Department of Entomology: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Sunflower (Helianthus annuus) is cultivated for oil and seed production worldwide, and the United States produces 2.5% of the world’s oilseed sunflower primarily grown in the Great Plains. In 2022, oilseed and confectionary U.S. sunflower production increased by 48 and 44%, respectively, compared to last year's records. However, sunflower production can be seriously compromised by insect pests. The red sunflower seed weevil (Smicronyx fulvus LeConte) is considered the most serious pests in North America and causes severe economic damage yearly. On the other hand, native bees contribute substantially to sunflower yield. Currently, insecticide applications are the primary tool to suppress …

Ecology And Host Manipulation By An Egg-Larva Parasitoid Of Chrysodeixis Includens (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), Daniel V.C. Neves, Renata R. Pereira, Julia N.D. Campos, Rodrigo S. Ramos, Paulo A.S. Junior, Daiane G. Carmo, Marcelo C. Picanço

Department of Entomology: Faculty Publications

Parasitoids are among the main natural enemies of crop pests. Copidosoma truncatellum (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) is a parasitoid of Chrysodeixis includens (Walker) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae: Plusiinae), which is an important pest of soybean, bean, cotton, sunflower, tomato and potato. Copidosoma are parasitoids of lepidopteran egg-larva, especially those of the subfamily Plusiinae. The embryonic development of the Copidosoma parasitoid begins in the lepidopteran egg, and this development extends to the beginning of the host larval stage of the parasitized lepidopteran. However, the rate of parasitism is a complex ecological relationship affected by climatic elements and age of the host. Thus, the present study …

Assessing Functional Biodiversity For The Future Of Plants, Planet, And People, Ali Loker

Doctor of Plant Health Program: Dissertations and Student Research

Biodiversity plays a critical role in supporting life in global ecosystems and its links to ecosystem services and sustainability are recognized by scientific and non-scientific communities. Growing awareness of the importance of biodiversity is accelerated by discussions of its loss, and how to design interventions to conserve and mitigate a biodiversity crisis. Stakeholders are funding and implementing assessment strategies at various scales to help direct conservation efforts. There is also growing interest in measuring and communicating biodiversity outcomes.

Functional biodiversity characterizes the multiplicity of life forms into groups based on their diverse contributions to natural and agro-ecosystems. Assessing functional biodiversity …

Palatability, Consumption, And Physiological Effects Of The Green Microalgae Chlorella Sp. As A Feed Substitute For The Western Honey Bee Apis Mellifera In A Laboratory Setting, Benjamin J. Nichols

Department of Entomology: Distance Master of Science Projects

Western honey bees Apis mellifera are vital pollinators which play a significant role in global food security. Honey bees are faced by numerous environmental pressures including lack of forage which lead to large losses annually of managed honeybee colonies. To offset these pressures, many beekeepers manage colonies with the addition of artificial diets, many of which contain products that do not meet the nutritional requirements needed by honey bees or require large amounts of resources to grow. Recent literature has indicated that algae may be a viable nutritional resource for honey bees, meeting the nutritional requirements needed, requiring less resources, …

First Line Of Defense: Role Of Surface Waxes In Sorghum Defense Against Aphids, Juan David Betancurt Cardona

Department of Entomology: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Since 2013, the sugarcane aphid (SCA; Melanaphis sacchari) has become a devastating pest in sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) in the United States. Efforts to mitigate this pest and contain its rapid population growth have increased recently. Host plant resistance (HPR) is an effective and environmentally friendly strategy to reduce aphid populations in this crop. Many factors make SCA a challenging pest to control. For example, SCA can overcome drastic climatic changes, which allows them to successfully colonize sorghum plants at different developmental stages.

Epicuticular waxes (EW) constitute the first point of contact between plants and their environment. EW …

Interactions Between Resistance Genes In Wheat Triticum Aestivum L. And Wheat Curl Mite Populations Aceria Tosichella Keifer (Eriophyidae), Tran Kim Ngan Luong

Department of Entomology: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Wheat curl mite (WCM) (Aceria tosichella Keifer) is a major pest of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), being the only known vector of three damaging plant viruses, Wheat streak mosaic virus, Triticum mosaic virus, and High Plains wheat mosaic virus. This wheat-mite-virus complex causes significant yield loss globally. Management has been mostly through cultural practices to reduce mite build up in volunteer wheat, thereby reducing the spread of viruses. Host plant resistance to WCM has also been used as an important management strategy for this wheat-mite-virus complex. However, WCM is a cryptic species complex, resulting …

Nebline, March/April 2022

NEBLINE Newsletter Archive from Nebraska Extension in Lancaster County

Become a Groundwater Steward

4 Ways to Celebrate National Nutrition Month

Recipe of the Month

Selecting Fruit Trees for Eastern Nebraska

Garden Guide: Things to Do This Month

2022 Chemigation Trainings

Lancaster County Ag VIP Awards

Upcoming Early Childhood Trainings

Aleyna Cuttlers Participated in National 4-H Congress

4-H Horse Judging Team at Nationals

Meet 2021–22 4-H Council

Meet 2021–22 4-H Teen Council

Hear of 4-H Volunteer Award: Sherry Kubicek

Hear of 4-H Volunteer Award: Angie Root

4th & 5th Grade Fun Night, March 4

Rabbit Show, March 19

UNL Chick Days, March 26

Bucket Calf Workshop, March 27

Dressage Schooling …

Stink Bug (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Pentatomidae) Ecology In Nebraska Agroecosystems, Blessing Ademokoya

Department of Entomology: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Stink bugs (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Pentatomidae) have gained considerable attention in Nebraska in the last decade due to increasing densities of native stink bug and spread of invasive species in the Midwest. Little is known about stink bug dynamics in Nebraska cropping systems. Based on data from a recent field survey, specimens at the University of Nebraska State Museum and the diagnostic lab of the Entomology Department at the University of Nebraska Lincoln, as well as published literature, we present a checklist of 72 species and subspecies of Pentatomidae (55 Pentatominae, 13 Asopinae, 3 Podopinae and 1 Edessinae) that occur in …

Cardenolide, Potassium, And Pyrethroid Insecticide Combinations Reduce Growth And Survival Of Monarch Butterfly Caterpillars (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae), Annie J. Krueger, Emily A. Robinson, Thomas J. Weissling, Ana M. Vélez, Troy D. Anderson

Department of Entomology: Faculty Publications

The monarch butterfly, Danaus plexippus L., has evolved to be insensitive to milkweed cardenolides via genetic modifications of Na⁺/K⁺-ATPase. There is concern for insecticide exposures near agriculture, with little information on monarch caterpillar toxicology. It is unclear how cardenolide insensitivity may affect the sensitivity of monarch caterpillars to pyrethroid insecticides. Additionally, potassium fertilizers may affect monarch caterpillar physiology and cardenolide sequestration. Here, we investigated the growth, survival, and development of caterpillars exposed to the cardenolide ouabain, bifenthrin, and potassium chloride (KCl) alone and in combination. Caterpillars were either exposed to (1) ouabain from third- to fifth-instar …

Evidence Of Western Corn Rootworm (Diabrotica Virgifera Virgifera Leconte) Field-Evolved Resistance To Cry3bb1 + Cry34/35ab1 Maize In Nebraska, Jordan Reinders, Emily E. Reinders, Emily Robinson, Brian W. French, Lance J. Meinke

Department of Entomology: Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: Western corn rootworm (WCR; Diabrotica virgifera virgifera) field-evolved resistance to transgenic maize expressing the Cry3Bb1 protein derived from Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) has been confirmed across the United States Corn Belt. Although use of pyramided hybrids expressing Cry3Bb1 + Cry34/35Ab1 has increased in recent years to mitigate existing WCR Bt resistance, susceptibility of Nebraska WCR populations to this rootworm–Bt pyramid has not been assessed. Plant-based bioassays were used to characterize the susceptibility of WCR populations to Cry3Bb1 and Cry3Bb1 + Cry34/35Ab1 maize. Populations were collected from areas of northeastern Nebraska with a history of planting Bt maize that expressed Cry3Bb1 …

American Burying Beetle, Plant Richness, And Soil Property Responses To Collapse Of Juniperus Virginiana Woodlands With Fire, Alison Ludwig

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Grasslands are declining in the Great Plains due to land use changes, woody plant encroachment, and loss of historic fire cycles. Prescribed burn associations have utilized prescribed fire to collapse invading woodlands and allow the restoration of grasslands. This fire is considered “extreme” because it is capable of changing the structure and function of an ecosystem. Our study site is the Loess Canyons Experimental Landscape, a long-term, ecoregion-scale experiment to apply prescribed fire across the region to restore grasslands. The Nebraska Natural Legacy Project established the Loess Canyons ecoregion as a Biologically-Unique Landscape in 2005 with the state’s wildlife action …

Nebline, Nov./Dec.2021

NEBLINE Newsletter Archive from Nebraska Extension in Lancaster County

Holiday Food Tips

Recipes of the Month

Traditions Rituals and Routines During a COVID-19 Holiday Season

Wise Use of Private Water and Wastewater Systems Can Make the Holidays More Peaceful

Dormant Lawn Seeding

Garden Guide: Things to Do This Month

4-H Thanks 2021 Sponsors

Farmland Trends and Lease Considerations for 2022 Workshop

Upcoming Early Childhood Trainings

Ag Society Annual Election & Meeting

Heart of 4-H Volunteer Award, Jamie Wood

Heart of 4-H Volunteer Award, Julia Plugge

Slime, Jelly Worms & Goo: Food Science 4-H Workshop, Dec. 4

Finger Knit 4-H Workshop, Dec. 11

2021 4-H Horse Awards Night

4-H Announcements …

Nebline, Sept./Oct. 2021

NEBLINE Newsletter Archive from Nebraska Extension in Lancaster County

4-H Youth Help Celebrate 150 Years of Lancaster County Fair

Farm to School Connections in Lancaster County

Recipe of the Month

Uses of Compost

Garden Guide: Things to Do This Month

GroBigRed Virtual Learning Series

Medically Important Spiders in Nebraska: The Black Widow and Brown Recluse

Herd Health Vaccinations

4-H Announcements for enrolled 4-H'ers or 4-H volunteers

4-H State Public Speaking Top Results

Eight Lancaster 4-H Clubs Receive Governor’s Ag Excellence Awards

Sam’s Club Donates $1,000 to 4-H Council

Heart of 4-H Volunteer Award: Tim & Jenny Higgins

Heart of 4-H Volunteer Award: JJ & Amy Frink

Youth Science Day …

Nebline, August 2021

NEBLINE Newsletter Archive from Nebraska Extension in Lancaster County

The Myths & Facts of Head Lice

Coping with Picky Eating

Recipes of the Month

6 Common Composting Questions

Garden Guide: Things to do this Month

Tips for a Fun and Educational Day at the Fair

Kissing Bugs in Nebraska

Lancaster County Super Fair, July 29-Aug. 7, 2021

Heart of 4-H Volunteer Award

4-H Teen Council Invites New Members

4-H Gold Tournament Fundraiser, Oct. 3

4-H’ers Test Family and Consumer Science Skills at Life Challenge

4-H Clover College: 48 Workshops of Hands-on Learning!

4-H’ers Test Their Knowledge of Animals and Decision-Making Skills at PASE

4-H District Horse Results

4-H Announcements …

Nebline, July 2021

NEBLINE Newsletter Archive from Nebraska Extension in Lancaster County

Smart Techniques Conserve Water in Your Yard

Building a Healthy Community: What Lincolnites Say

Recipe of the Month

Saving and Sing and Storing Garden Seeds

Garden Guide: Things to Do This Month

Naturally Occurring Elements in Groundwater: Last in a Series - Uranium

UNL East Campus Discovery Days

Nebraska 4rs Nutrient Stewardship Field Day

Ants in the Home & Landscape

Lawn Care and Young Children: Creating a Safe and Fun Place to Play

Heart of 4-H Volunteer Award: Marti Thomson

Summer Programming 4-H Interns

4-H Announcements for 4H'ers and Volunteers

Extension News

Extension Calendar

Nebline, June 2021

NEBLINE Newsletter Archive from Nebraska Extension in Lancaster County

Choosing Quality Child Care: Guidance For Parents

Eastern Carpenter Bees

Eating for Brain Health

Recipe of the Month

Naturally Occurring Contaminants, Part 4 of a Series — Arsenic

Efficiency Is Key To Profit On Stocker Cattle

Common Grub Control Questions

Garden Guide: Things to do This Month

Heart of 4-H Volunteer Award: Jen & Jesse Metcalf

4th Graders Learn About “Farm to Fork” During Virtual Ag Festival

Statewide 4-H Companion Animal Challenge Results

Extension News

Extension Calendar

STEM Zoom Workshops in June

Seeking Lancaster County Fair Historic Memorabilia and Stories

Investigating The Role Of Spiders In Integrated Pest Management For Biological Control Of Nebraska Crop Pests, Samantha Daniel

Department of Entomology: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

As generalist predators, spiders are capable of fulfilling a wide variety of ecological niches allowing them to intercept and prey upon an array of insect species. This characteristic could be particularly advantageous within agricultural ecosystems. This project sought to reveal the composition and abundance of spider communities within cornfields in western Nebraska and the impact of agronomic practices on those communities as well as determine the potential for spider predation upon two key pests of corn. Spiders were collected from eight corn fields from May to August 2017 and four corn fields from May to August 2018. Additionally, the populations …

Participatory On-Farm Research During Graduate School: Challenges And Opportunities, Fernanda Souza Krupek, Carlos Bonini Pires, Gabriela Inveninato Carmona

Department of Entomology: Faculty Publications

Including farmers, growers, and ranchers (hereinafter referred to as producers) as active participants in the development of knowledge, through extension and on-farm research programs, is an effective method of agricultural technology and innovation transfer. The emerging interest in understanding agricultural systems’ complexity has fostered collaborations between producers and land grant universities, particularly across graduate programs focused on applied research. While the concept of on-farm research is not new, the scale and impact of on-farm studies conducted by researchers in partnership with producers are expanding (Kyveryga, 2019). Can master’s and Ph.D. research projects be conducted at the farm scale and generate …

Nebline, May 2021

NEBLINE Newsletter Archive from Nebraska Extension in Lancaster County

Building Health Equity in Lincoln: Extension Launches Health Equity Coalition

Recipe of the Month

Intensive Gardening Techniques

Garden Guide Things to Do This Month

Naturally Occurring Elements in Groundwater--Part 3 of a Series — Fluoride

Cash Rent Survey

Preparing for the Inevitable: Japanese Beetles

Challenge Accepted! Children Thrive Outside

Heart of 4-H Volunteer Award: Rusty & Heidi Hanley

4-H Announcements for 4-H'ers and Volunteers

Clover College: June 15–18, 2021

EXTENSION CALENDAR

4-H’ers Qualify for State Speech & PSA Contest

4-H Horse Stampede Results

Soybean Gall Midge In Nebraska, Anthony J. Mcmechan, Thomas Hunt, Robert J. Wright

Eastern Nebraska Research, Extension and Education Center

Soybean gall midge (Resseliella maxima Gagné) was described in 2019 as a new insect species in Nebraska, due to observations of widespread early season injury in eastern Nebraska, eastern South Dakota, western Iowa, and southwest Minnesota soybean fields (Gagné et al., 2019). Since its discovery, soybean gall midge has been causing significant injury and yield losses in soybean in eastern Nebraska. Although only recently identified, soybean gall midge is not likely new to the north- central region of the U.S. In 2011, orange larvae were documented in some isolated fields in northeast Nebraska that had received hail damage during the …

Nebline, March 2021

NEBLINE Newsletter Archive from Nebraska Extension in Lancaster County

Naturally Occurring Elements in Groundwater - Part 1 of a Series — Calcium and Magnesium

Celebrate National Nutrition Month

RECIPE OF THE MONTH

2021 All-America Selections Vegetable Winners

Starting Seeds Indoors

Garden Guide Things to Do This Month

Planning for Spring Calving Season

Chemigation Trainings

2021 Nebraska On-Farm Research Annual Results Update Meetings

Houseplants: Simple Solutions to Plant Pests

Heart of 4-H Volunteer Award: Whitney Lehn

Meet 2020–2021 4-H Council

4-H Announcements for 4-H'ers and Volunteers

Private Pesticide Applicator Trainings by Zoom

EXTENSION CALENDAR

Upcoming Early Childhood Trainings

Nebline, February 2021

NEBLINE Newsletter Archive from Nebraska Extension in Lancaster County

Staying active in winter

Nebraska Extension’s Physical Activity Resources

At-Home Workout: No Equipment Needed

Recipe of the Month

2021 Flower All-America Selections Winners

Garden Guide Things to Do This Month

ProHort Lawn & Landscape Update

Know Your Bugs Before You Treat: Bed vs. Bat

More Than Counting: Incorporating Math Into Daily Interactions With Preschoolers

Pesticide Applicator Trainings

Total Coliform Bacteria in Drinking Water

HEART OF 4-H Volunteer Award, Laura Cook

Meet 2020–2021 4-H Teen Council

4-H Club Gives Youth With Special Needs Opportunity to Show Lambs

Pick-A-Pig Club Accepting New Members

Companion Animal Webinar Series

4-H Rabbit Show, March 20 …

Nebline, January 2021

NEBLINE Newsletter Archive from Nebraska Extension in Lancaster County

2020 Extension Highlight Highlights Responding as Local Needs Changed

Helping People Solve Real-World Problems

20,311 Youth Engaged in 4-H Programs

Make Your New Year’s Resolutions Stick

Recipe of the Month

Crop Production Clinics, Jan. 7, 14, and 21

Pesticide Applicator Trainings

Extension’s 2021 Master Gardener Trainings, Two Sites Available

Upcoming Green Industry Conferences

Garden Guide Things to do This Month

HEART OF 4-H VOLUNTEER AWARD: Emalea Dean

PASE Results

4-H Thanks Sponsors

4-H Announcements for 4-H’ers and Volunteers

4-H Thanks Volunteers

EXTENSION CALENDAR

EXTENSION NEWS

Women In Beekeeping: Impacts Of A Beekeeper Educational Program, Bridget Gross

Department of Entomology: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

The decline in honey bee populations over the past two decades in the United States is alarming. The management provided by beekeepers to their honey bee colonies influences the survival of the colony. However, there is a lack of information on the experiences of beekeepers, specifically women beekeepers. The Center for Rural Affairs (CFRA) in Nebraska hosted the “Honey Bees on the Farm: Connecting Women Beekeepers and Women Farmers for Environmental and Economic Benefit” program that provided informal, educational events to women beekeepers and landowners. Using a convergent mixed methods design, the first research question examines the impacts of the …

Nebline, Nov./Dec. 2020

NEBLINE Newsletter Archive from Nebraska Extension in Lancaster County

Nebraska Extension Celebrates 20 Years of School Enrichment Nutrition Kits!

Recipe of the Month

Fun Winter Gardening Projects

Garden Guide: Things to Do This Month

Be a Master Gardener!

Upcoming Green Industry Conferences

Helping Foster a Growth Mindset in Young Children

Pesticide Applicator Trainings

Landlord/Tenant Lease & Crop Budget Workshops

Extension News

4-H Announcements for enrolled 4-H'ers or 4-H volunteers

Heart of 4-H Volunteer Award: Jodi Gabel

Heart of 4-H Volunteer Award: Sarah Lanik-Frain and Mike Frain

2020 4-H Horse Awards

Extension Calendar

Outgoing 4-H Council Members

Youth Science Day for Homeschooled Youth

Ag Society Annual Election & Meeting

Super …

Nebline, Sept./Oct. 2020

NEBLINE Newsletter Archive from Nebraska Extension in Lancaster County

Fall Invaders: What You Can Do

Extension Partners With LPS on Handwashing Videos

Plant A Row for the Hungry

Recipe of the Month

Pruning Everbearing Raspberries

Seasonal Needle Drop on Evergreens

Garden Guide: Things to Do This Month

Disasters Don't Wait. Make Your Plan Today!

Extension Offers Training for Emergency Preparedness and Coping

Upcoming Early Childhood Trainings

Nitrate in Drinking Water

Heart of 4-H Volunteer Award: Tracy Pracheil

Heart of 4-H Volunteer Award: Amy Vander Woude

4-H Announcements for enrolled 4-H'ers or 4-H volunteers

4-H Information Night

State 4-H Horse Expo Top Results

4-H at Super Fair a Blend of …

Evaluation Of Zerofly® Hermetic Storage Bags For Protection Of Maize Against Insect Pests In Ghana, Augustine Bosomtwe, Enoch Adjei Osekre, Georgina Bingham, George Opit

Department of Entomology: Faculty Publications

High post-harvest loss of maize due to stored product insect pests remains a food security challenge in Ghana. This field study evaluated the effectiveness of a novel technology, ZeroFly® Hermetic storage bags with different inner liners, to protect maize against infestation by Sitophilus zeamais Motschulsky and Prostephanus truncatus Horn. The study was carried out in the Department of Crop and Soil Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Ghana, during the period September 2017 to March 2018. Maize pre-fumigated with Phostoxin® was stored in 50-kg ZeroFly® Hermetic storage bags. Experimental treatments were 20-μm High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) inner liner …

Nebline, August 2020

NEBLINE Newsletter Archive from Nebraska Extension in Lancaster County

Be an Active Family with Outdoor Activities

EXTENSION OFFICE OPEN

Recipes of the month

What You Need to Know About Having a Well Drilled

Almost Time for Fall Lawn Seeding

Chiggers: Itching in all the Wrong Places

Collect – Share – Practice: Family Emergency Communication Plans

August Blooming Perennial Flowers

Garden Guide: Things to Do This Month

Creating Reading Routines During the Summer Months

HEART OF 4-H

4-H Youth and Volunteers Sew 1,789 Hats and Masks for Bryan Health

4-H’ers Problem Solve Real-Life Situations at County Life Challenge

Virtual State Public Speaking Contest Results

State Fair to Focus on Showcasing …

Nebline, June/July 2020

NEBLINE Newsletter Archive from Nebraska Extension in Lancaster County

Top 5 Ag Topics From 5 Years

7 Tips for Successfully Baking as a Family

Recipe of the Month

Timing Your Fruit Harvesting Apples, Pears & Plums

Paper Wasps and Yellow Jackets

Severe Weather Preparedness and COVID-19

Time to Look for Bagworms

Garden Guide: What to Do This Month

5 Tips for Working Remotely from Home and Caring for Children During COVID-19

HEART OF 4-H VOLUNTEER AWARD: Grace Kim

HEART OF 4-H VOLUNTEER AWARD: Greater Lincoln Obedience Club

4-H/FFA Livestock Booster Club Scholarships Due July 6

Video Companion Animal (and Cat and Pet Rabbit) Showmanship Entries Due Aug. 10

Horse …

Nebline, May 2020

NEBLINE Newsletter Archive from Nebraska Extension in Lancaster County

Vegetable Gardening for Beginners

"Sewing for Hospitals" Community Service Project

Extension Postponements, Cancellations & Changes

Making a Meal With What's on Hand

Recipe of the Month

2020 Cash Rent Survey

Pesticide Applicators: Deferment of License Recertification

When Thunder Roars or Lightening Flashes, Go Indoors!

Sleep Impacts Mental and Physical Health

2020 Perennial Plant of the Year

Garden Guide: Things to Do This Month

Composting How-To Videos

Spending Time in Nature is Beneficial to Children and Adults

4-H Announcements for enrolled 4-H'ers or 4-H volunteers

Heart of 4-H Volunteer Award: Mary Burroughs

Clover College Workshop Descriptions

Extension Calendar

Support Local 4-H …