Bioresource and Agricultural Engineering Commons^™

Behavioral Insights Impacting Preweaning Mortality, Md Towfiqur Rahman, G. A. Rohrer, S. R. Sharma, Y. Shi, S. M. Leonard, Tami M. Brown-Bandl

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Faculty Publications

Conclusions

This study investigated the average time spent on posture behaviors (lying, kneeling, sitting, standing) of sows by analyzing the effects of time segments, farrowing crate types, parity, heat lamp configurations, and mortality groups. Sow posture behaviors were significantly influenced by mortality, parity, crate type, heat lamps, and day category. High mortality sows spent less time lying and more time standing events. Parity 1, 2, 3 sows were more active, spending more time kneeling in transitions, lying, and sitting events. Sows in TSL crate had longer lateral right lying and standing events, while ESCSL crates sows had longer sitting events. …

Future Of Bse Days 2025: Growing A Regenerative Bse, Derek M. Heeren, Santosh Pitla, Jennifer R. Keshwani, Mark Stone

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Presentations and White Papers

The Future of BSE Days 2025: Growing a Regenerative BSE brought together over 150 faculty, staff, students, and partners to envision the next quarter-century of the Department of Biological Systems Engineering. The event emphasized regeneration—not only of resources and ecosystems, but also of ideas, learning models, and relationships. Across seven major sessions—three Spark Talks and four Pillar Workshops—participants explored how BSE can thrive amid technological disruption, demographic change, and societal transformation.

Key Outcomes

Redefining Impact: This session challenged participants to evolve from counting outputs to valuing relationships, collaboration, and community well-being.

Adaptive Learning Models: This discussion introduced design studios, micro-credentials, …

Crop2cloud Platform: Real-Time Data Integration For Agricultural Water Monitoring, Bryan Nsoh, Abia Katimbo, Kendall Dejonge, Wei-Zhen Liang, Hongzhi N. Guo, Yufeng Ge, Derek M. Heeren, Yeyin Shi, Xin Qiao, Daran R. Rudnick, Hope Njuki Nakabuye, Birru Girma, Isa Kabenge, Joshua Wanyama

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Faculty Publications

Efficient water management is vital for sustainable agriculture, yet integrating real-time data for precise irrigation remains a challenge. This study designed the Crop2Cloud (C2C) platform, a system that leverages advanced sensors using Internet of Things (IoT), edge and cloud computing techniques, and computed Water Stress Indices (WSIs) and machine learning models (i.e., fuzzy logic), to provide scalable and real-time irrigation decisions. The C2C platform aggregates several data including Volumetric Water Content (VWC) from TDR sensors (Acclima Inc., US) installed at four multiple depths, canopy temperatures (Tc) measured by Infrared Radiometers (IRTs) (Apogee Instruments, US), as well as weather information and …

Nutrient Transport By Overland Sheet Flow On Sites Containing Swine Slurry, John E. Gilley

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Faculty Publications

Nutrients in agricultural runoff may cause offsite environmental impacts. The objective of this investigation was to examine nutrient transport by overland sheet flow on sites containing swine slurry. Data examined in this study was collected during field rainfall simulation tests conducted on cropland sites in southeast Nebraska, USA. Inflow was added to the top of experimental plots in four successive increments to simulate runoff rates occurring at greater downslope distances. Runoff rates on the experimental sites ranged from 2.3 to 21.2 L min⁻¹ and maximum equivalent downslope distances varied from 5 to 108 m. Phosphorus (P) and nitrogen (N) …

Leaf-Based Varietal Categorization Of Sweetpotato (Ipomoea Batatas L. Lam.), A Potentially Healthful Vegetable, Using Image Processing And K-Means Clustering, Shahidul Islam, Md Towfiqur Rahman, Md Hamidul Rahman, Abdul Momin

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Sweetpotato (Ipomoea batatas Lam) leaves contain higher concentrations of phenolic compounds, flavonoids, and carotenoids that are remarkable in health promotion. However, the nutrient content in sweetpotato leaves varies from variety to variety, and leaf shape and color are the key identifying factors for the varietal classification of sweetpotatoes. So, detecting sweetpotato leaves is essential for the in-situ identification of sweetpotato varieties and for developing intelligent agricultural systems. This study aimed to create a leaf-shape-based varietal classification technique for sweetpotato using image processing techniques coupled with a K-means clustering algorithm. 38 leaf images (RGB) of two sweetpotato cultivars were collected …

In-Season Nitrogen Mmanagement: Leveraging Data Visualization For Precision Agriculture, Chathurika Harshani Narayana

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Effective nitrogen management is vital for sustainable agriculture, impacting both crop yield and environmental health. Traditional methods often use fixed application rates set before planting, which do not adapt to changing crop needs during the season. This can lead to over- or under-application, reducing efficiency and sustainability. While modern tools like sensors, satellites, and UAVs provide valuable real-time data on crop and field conditions, integrating and using this data to guide timely nitrogen decisions remains a major challenge. In-season nitrogen management offers a solution by allowing for dynamic adjustments to nitrogen applications, addressing crop needs as they arise. This approach …

Transport Of Nutrients By Overland Flow On Sites Containing Beef Cattle Manure, John E. Gilley, Ryan P. Mcgehee, Kenneth M. Wacha

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Faculty Publications

In an inductive metastudy, we investigated the effects of varying rates of overland sheet flow on the transport of phosphorus (P) and nitrogen (N) from sites containing beef cattle manure. The analyzed data were collected during previously reported field rainfall simulation investigations conducted on cropland sites and a beef cattle feedlot in the US state of Nebraska. During the experiments, inflow was incrementally added to the top of the experimental plots to simulate runoff rates occurring at greater downslope distances. Runoff rates on the experimental plots ranged from 2.9 to 22.9 Lmin⁻¹, and the maximum equivalent downslope distances …

Scalable Machine Learning Framework For Adaptive Irrigation Management Of Maize And Soybean In The U.S. Midwest, Precious N. Amori, Derek M. Heeren, Yeyin Shi, Eric Wilkening, Ivo Z. Goncalves, Guillermo R. Balboa, Daran R. Rudnick, Abia Katimbo, Randall S. Ritzema

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Faculty Publications

Conventional soil water balance (SWB) irrigation scheduling tools, such as FAO-56-based Spreadsheets and the Spatial Evapotranspiration Modeling Interface (SETMI), rely heavily on manual inputs and periodic field measurements, leading to delayed recommendations and missed opportunities to prevent crop stress. More critically, these tools lack the computational scalability and adaptability to leverage the high-frequency, high-volume datasets now available through modern sensing technologies. As precision irrigation increasingly depends on integrating spatially and temporally nuanced field information, there is a pressing need for decision-support systems that can process Big Data efficiently and respond in real-time. To overcome these limitations, we developed and validated …

Firelog: An Open-Source, Low-Cost System For Temperature Logging During Wildland Fires With High Spatial And Temporal Resolution, Nipuna Chamara, Yufeng Ge, Sabrina E. Russo

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Faculty Publications

Measuring flame, air, and soil temperatures during wildland fires, including wildfires and controlled burns in land management contexts, is crucial for research and applications in fire ecology, safety, and management in a wide array of ecosystems, from grasslands to forests. However, open-source and commercial systems are needed for measuring and logging flame and air temperatures that are user-friendly, economical, modular, and customizable. This paper details the design, development, and validation of the FireLog system. Laboratory validation experiments demonstrated high measurement accuracy, with a minimum coefficient of determination (R2) of 0.98 and the highest observed root mean square error (RMSE) of …

Impact Of Irrigation Systems On Water Use And Water Productivity: A Case Study Using Aquacrop In Khartoum, Sudan, Abdalhakam Almagzoop

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Masters Project Reports

Water scarcity significantly challenges agricultural productivity in arid regions like Khartoum, Sudan. This study evaluates the impact of three irrigation systems—furrow, sprinkler, and surface drip—on the water use and productivity of sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.) under different climatic conditions using the AquaCrop model. Simulations were conducted for three representative years: a wet year (2022), a normal year (2015), and a dry year (2018). The results demonstrate that irrigation substantially improved water use efficiency and crop yield compared to non-irrigated (rainfed) conditions. Rainfed crops resulted in lower biomass, harvest index, and yield, particularly in the dry year, highlighting the importance …

Enhancing Water Sustainability In North Africa: Literature Review And Synthesis Of Current Knowledge Gaps In Sudan, Osman M. A. Adam

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Masters Project Reports

This study delves into the critical role of groundwater in addressing global water challenges, with a focus on the Nubian Sandstone Aquifer System (NSAS) in north Africa. Groundwater constitutes a source of potable water, irrigation, and industrial use, especially in arid regions where surface water is limited. We analyzed the status of water quantity, withdrawals, recharge, and geological characteristics in the NSAS, specifically in Sudan, Egypt, and Libya. Though the NSAS is largely an untapped resource, water withdrawals from the NSAS in Egypt, Sudan, and Libya are projected to increase substantially from 2000 to 2100 due to population growth, with …

Growing Industry-University Partnerships: Virtual Workshop On Industry Sponsored Research, Mark Stone, Santosh K. Pitla

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Presentations and White Papers

The Department of Biological Systems Engineering (BSE) at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) hosted a virtual workshop on developing capacity for industry-sponsored research (ISR). This dynamic event brought together faculty, researchers, industry leaders, and students to explore innovative strategies for advancing ISR.

The workshop addressed four key themes: (1) fostering sustainable industry-academic partnerships; (2) tackling intellectual property (IP) challenges; (3) building institutional and individual capacity for ISR, and (4) empowering students as critical contributors to industry research. Through expert-led presentations, an engaging panel discussion, and interactive brainstorming sessions, participants identified actionable steps and articulated a vision for the future of …

Internet Of Things-Based Automated Solutions Utilizing Machine Learning For Smart And Real-Time Irrigation Management: A Review, Bryan Nsoh, Abia Katimbo, Hongzhi Guo, Derek M. Heeren, Hope Njuki Nakabuye, Xin Qiao, Yufeng Ge, Daran R. Rudnick, Joshua Wanyama, Erion Bwambale, Shafik Kiraga

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Faculty Publications

This systematic review critically evaluates the current state and future potential of real-time, end-to-end smart, and automated irrigation management systems, focusing on integrating the Internet of Things (IoTs) and machine learning technologies for enhanced agricultural water use efficiency and crop productivity. In this review, the automation of each component is examined in the irrigation management pipeline from data collection to application while analyzing its effectiveness, efficiency, and integration with various precision agriculture technologies. It also investigates the role of the interoperability, standardization, and cybersecurity of IoT-based automated solutions for irrigation applications. Furthermore, in this review, the existing gaps are identified …

Development Of Crop2cloud: An Iot-Integrated Platform For Automated Irrigation Scheduling Using Multi-Source Stress Indices, Bryan Nsoh

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Efficient water management in agriculture is critical, as irrigation accounts for 70% of global freshwater withdrawals. While precision agriculture technologies offer potential solutions, integrating diverse data streams for real-time irrigation scheduling remains challenging, particularly in combining plant and soil-based stress indicators. This research addresses these challenges through three interconnected studies.

A systematic review first examined the current state and future potential of IoT-based automated irrigation management systems, analyzing how these technologies can enhance agricultural water use efficiency and crop productivity. The review identified critical gaps in data integration and real-time processing while highlighting opportunities for combining multiple stress indices for …

Targeted Weed Management Of Palmer Amaranth Using Robotics And Deep Learning (Yolov7), Amlan Balabantaray, Shaswati Behera, Cheetown Liew, Nipuna Chamara, Mandeep Singh, Amit J. Jhala, Santosh Pitla

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Faculty Publications

Effective weed management is a significant challenge in agronomic crops which necessitates innovative solutions to reduce negative environmental impacts and minimize crop damage. Traditional methods often rely on indiscriminate herbicide application, which lacks precision and sustainability. To address this critical need, this study demonstrated an AI-enabled robotic system, Weeding robot, designed for targeted weed management. Palmer amaranth (Amaranthus palmeri S. Watson) was selected as it is the most troublesome weed in Nebraska. We developed the full stack (vision, hardware, software, robotic platform, and AI model) for precision spraying using YOLOv7, a state-of-the-art object detection deep learning technique. The …

Irrigation Pumping Plants: Energy Consumption And Pumping Plant Performance [Class Handout], Derek M. Heeren, Saleh Taghvaeian, Abia Katimbo, Xin Qiao

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Faculty Publications

Irrigation can be a large contributor to energy consumption on an irrigated farm. It is important to understand factors that impact irrigation energy use and to identify opportunities to reduce energy consumption. This class handout introduces a set of equations for calculating energy consumption for an irrigation pumping plant based on flow conditions and pump efficiency. It also presents typical values for motor performance (including both electric motors and internal combustion engines) in both SI and USCS units. Finally, the handout introduces the concept of a field evaluation of an irrigation pumping plant along with the Nebraska Pumping Plant Performance …

Gsp-Ai: An Ai-Powered Platform For Identifying Key Growth Stages And The Vegetative-To-Reproductive Transition In Wheat Using Trilateral Drone Imagery And Meteorological Data, Liyan Shen, Guohui Ding, Robert Jackson, Mujahid Ali, Shuchen Liu, Arthur Mitchell, Yeyin Shi, Xuqi Lu, Jie Dai, Greg Deakin, Katherine Anna Frels, Haiyan Cen, Yufeng Ge, Ji Zhou

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Faculty Publications

Wheat (Triticum aestivum) is one of the most important staple crops worldwide. To ensure its global supply, the timing and duration of its growth cycle needs to be closely monitored in the field so that necessary crop management activities can be arranged in a timely manner. Also, breeders and plant researchers need to evaluate growth stages (GSs) for tens of thousands of genotypes at the plot level, at different sites and across multiple seasons. These indicate the importance of providing a reliable and scalable toolkit to address the challenge so that the plot-level assessment of GS can be …

Assessing Soil Properties & Suitability For Optimized Irrigation Development In Sudan, Northern Africa, Suhib O. Hamid

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Masters Project Reports

In Chapter 1, soil properties essential for efficient irrigation are thoroughly assessed. Factors such as soil texture, infiltration rates, and nutrient content are analyzed to provide insights into the selection of modern irrigation systems. Utilizing data collected from 3,192 locations through GPS and laboratory analyses, alongside sophisticated ranking systems, the research determines the most suitable irrigation methods for specific soil series. Findings highlight the remarkable efficiency of drip irrigation across various soil types, contrasting with the consistently lower performance of surface irrigation. The chapter emphasizes the significance of considering soil variability, evapotranspiration, and investment factors in selecting irrigation methods for …

Assessing Even Flat-Fan Nozzles For Spot Spray Herbicide Applications, Thiago H. Vitti

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

Herbicide efficiency in row-crop agriculture can be improved using precision technologies for controlling weeds and minimize agronomic, economic, and environmental impacts. Site-specific weed management technologies, such as spot-sprayers, allow herbicides to be sprayed only where weeds are present in the field. Understanding application parameters and their influence on weed control for site-specific spot-spray applications is essential. This research involved laboratory and greenhouse studies to investigate the coverage and coefficient of variation (CV) of even flat-fan spray nozzles under different spot-spray application scenarios, as well as the effect of weed size and application method on the control of various weed species …

Development Of An Egg-Specific Mass Spectrometry Targeted Method For Processed Food Matrices, Liyun Zhang

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

Egg is a major food allergen in the United States, causing symptoms from mild reactions to severe anaphylaxis. An egg-free diet remains the only management approach for egg allergy. Therefore, individuals and families living with egg allergies rely heavily on allergen statements on packaged food products for informed food choices. Currently, no labeling regulations exist for unintentionally introduced allergens, posing risks to consumers with egg allergies. Therefore, it is critical to have an accurate and reliable detection method in allergen control and management to determine the concentration of total protein from allergenic food sources. Traditional enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays are routinely …

Integration Of Matlab And Machine Learning To Accelerate Evaluation Of Biological Activity In Agricultural Soils And Promote Soil Health Improvement Goals, Andrew Stiven Ortiz Balsero

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Traditionally, assessments of soil biological activity have been confined to laboratory settings, creating a disconnect with practical in-field methods. To bridge this gap, cotton fabric degradation has been used to illustrate soil microbial activity under different management practices. While effective, these demonstrations are subjective and labor-intensive.

Researchers have explored using image processing software like ImageJ and Adobe Photoshop to streamline this process. Although these tools accurately quantified fabric degradation under varying soil conditions, the methods remained labor-intensive and complex. Consequently, these methods were still not ideal for on-farm use by agricultural practitioners.

To further address labor and complexity limitations, the …

Optimized Gadolinium-Do3a Loading In Raftpolymerized Copolymers For Superior Mr Imaging Of Aging Blood–Brain Barrier, Hunter A. Miller, Aaron Priester, Evan T. Curtis, Krista Hilmas, Ashleigh Abbott, Forrest Kievit, Anthony J. Covertine

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Faculty Publications

The development of gadolinium-based contrast agents (GBCAs) has been pivotal in advancing magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), offering enhanced soft tissue contrast without ionizing radiation exposure. Despite their widespread clinical use, the need for improved GBCAs has led to innovations in ligand chemistry and polymer science. We report a novel approach using methacrylate-functionalized DO3A ligands to synthesize a series of copolymers through direct reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization. This technique enables precise control over the gadolinium content within the polymers, circumventing the need for subsequent conjugation and purification steps, and facilitates the addition of other components such as targeting ligands. …

The Growth Of Ethanol In Brazil: Sugarcane, Corn, And A Few Other Things, Fabio Mattos

Cornhusker Economics

Although we can expect more ethanol produced from corn in the coming years, it is unclear whether it will keep expanding at the same pace as in recent years or how much it will contribute to total ethanol production.

One point to keep an eye on is the typical dynamics of markets. If supply and demand conditions and price movements make corn-ethanol more profitable, ethanol plants in Brazil will keep increasing their production. If it makes more economic sense to produce corn-ethanol (as it happened recently), they will use more corn to produce ethanol.

Supply and demand conditions for ethanol, …

Enhancing Water Sustainability In North Africa: Literature Review And Synthesis Of Current Knowledge Gaps In Sudan, Osman M. A. Adam, Aaron R. Mittelstet, Derek M. Heeren, Troy E. Gilmore

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Presentations and White Papers

This study delves into the critical role of groundwater in addressing global water challenges, with a focus on the Nubian Sandstone Aquifer System (NSAS) in North Africa. Groundwater constitutes a source of potable water, irrigation, and industrial use, especially in arid regions where surface water is limited. We analyzed the status of water quantity, withdrawals, recharge, and geological characteristics in the NSAS, specifically in Sudan, Egypt, Libya, and Chad. Though the NSAS is largely an untapped resource, we evaluated various scenarios to determine the quantity of cropland that can be sustainably irrigated. The NSAS is located in an arid region, …

Assessing Soil Properties For Optimized Irrigation Development In Sudan, Northern Africa, Suhib Hamid, Derek M. Heeren, Aaron R. Mittelstet, Saleh Taghvaeian, Randall S. Ritzema

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Presentations and White Papers

Sustainable irrigation methods maximize agricultural productivity in Northern African countries like Sudan. This project evaluates soil properties to develop optimized irrigation strategies for Sudan's arid and semi-arid climate. Assessing soil characteristics such as texture, infiltration rates, and nutrient content informs the selection of modern irrigation systems. Data from 3,192 locations, collected using GPS and ring infiltrometers for infiltration rates, alongside laboratory analyses for soil properties, were employed. A ranking system determined suitable irrigation systems for specific soil classes, considering factors like slope, wind, crop tolerance, available water capacity (AWC), drainage, germination, capital cost, labor cost, maintenance, and evapotranspiration (ET). The …

Integrating Remote Sensing And Machine Learning To Determine Past, Current And Future Crop Water Use From The Nubian Sandstone Aquifer System, Moaz Ishag

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

The agriculture sector is a significant consumer of water, and sustainable water use begins with monitoring irrigated land. Delineating irrigated land supports decision-makers and promotes the sustainable use of this crucial resource. This study focuses on the Nubian Sandstone Aquifer System (NSAS), the largest aquifers in the world, which spans Egypt, Sudan, Libya, and Chad. The study aims to: 1) quantify the increase in irrigated hectares (both pivot and non-pivot) from 2000-2001 to 2023-2024; 2) identify major irrigated crop types and their water requirements; and 3) quantify groundwater crop water use from the NSAS using remote sensing via the Google …

Sensitization Of Europium Oxide Nanoparticles Enhances Signal-To- Noise Over Autofluorescence With Time-Gated Luminescence Detection, Hunter Miller, Jessica Q. Wallace, Hui Li, Xing-Zhong Li, Ana De Bettencourt-Dias, Forrest Kievit

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Faculty Publications

Clinical translation of nanoparticle-based therapeutics has been limited, and a lack of preclinical delivery characterization is partly to blame, limiting our understanding of the mechanisms of failure. The improvement of the preclinical delivery assessment requires nanoparticles with higher detectability. This work focused on the exploration of several aromatic carboxylic ligands (terephthalic acid, quinaldic acid, and kynurenic acid) for the sensitization of europium oxide nanoparticles with a long emission lifetime to overcome cellular autofluorescence, a key confounder of detection in luminescence-based bioimaging. A facile one-pot synthesis and ligand exchange process generated and sensitized ultrasmall Eu₂O₃ cores. As reflected …

Fabrication Of A Low-Cost Drum Seeder For Paddy, Muhammad Rashed Al Mamun, Md Rejaul Karim, Md Towfiqur Rahman, Md Janibul Alam Soeb, Md Imranul Alam

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Faculty Publications

Rice is a staple food crop. Bangladesh produces it extensively which raised the nation into the fourth-largest rice-grower in the world. Transplanting or direct seeding is a major task in rice cultivation where the manual transplanting method requires a huge labor cost which is beyond control in a peak season. Although mechanical rice transplanters become popularization land preparation and seedling rising as a pre transplanting task is costly and labor-intensive. On the other hand, manual broadcasting and machine seeding direct method still exist due to the above method’s problem. Considering spacing accuracies for intercultural operation, drum seeders are an easy …

Identification Of Compounds That Cause Axonal Dieback Without Cytotoxicity In Dorsal Root Ganglia Explants And Intervertebral Disc Cells With Potential To Treat Pain Via Denervation, Fei San Lee, Uyen N. Nguyen, Eliza J. Munns, Rebecca A. Wachs

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Faculty Publications

Low back pain, knee osteoarthritis, and cancer patients suffer from chronic pain. Aberrant nerve growth into intervertebral disc, knee, and tumors, are common pathologies that lead to these chronic pain conditions. Axonal dieback induced by capsaicin (Caps) denervation has been FDA-approved to treat painful neuropathies and knee osteoarthritis but with shortterm efficacy and discomfort. Herein, we propose to evaluate pyridoxine (Pyr), vincristine sulfate (Vcr) and ionomycin (Imy) as axonal dieback compounds for denervation with potential to alleviate pain. Previous literature suggests Pyr, Vcr, and Imy can cause undesired axonal degeneration, but no previous work has evaluated axonal dieback and cytotoxicity …

Design Of Small-Scale Milk Processing Facility, Luke Bond, Robert Stenzel, Ry Steffen, John Van Nieuwenhuyse, Rossana Villa-Rojas, Terry Howell Jr., Tami M. Brown-Brandl, Forrest Kievit

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Masters Project Reports

This project was intended to investigate the feasibility of a proposed modular dairy processing facility collocated with a small dairy on the University of Nebraska–Lincoln’s Innovation Campus. Priority was placed upon cost savings for equipment to be used in processing. Process flow diagrams, floor plans, production schedules, risk assessments, and plans for wastewater treatment were all developed to address the needs of the plant should it be built. A Monte Carlo simulation was conducted to evaluate the timeline for breaking even financially, resulting in the potential for a payback period of 4.5 years. The 4.5-year payback period was based on …