IANR Land Grant Legacy Celebration

The UNL Libraries celebrate the 150th anniversary of the signing of the first Morrill Act and the achievements of the University of Nebraska, the state’s land grant institution.

To commemorate this important anniversary, please enjoy the following highlights (below) of just a few of the contributions of the University of Nebraska to the state, the nation, and the world.

Food

Animal and Veterinary Sciences

Supporting the health and productivity of Nebraska’s livestock industry.

In 2011, Nebraska led the nation in commercial red meat production and ranked second in all cattle and calves.

– Nebraska Agriculture Fact Card, February 2012

Cover for Animal Pathology and Hygiene Laboratories Dedication (1920)

Animal Pathology and Hygiene Laboratories Dedication (1920) and Bulletin first page of text

Four students with cows, Fall 1939

Animal Sciences (1939)

Animal Science and Animal Science Building, 1st page of dedication program, 1988

Animal Sciences Building Dedication (1988)

Crop and Plant Sciences

Meeting the research and educational needs in our state, nation, and the world.

Farmers in a learning space

Distance Education

Distance education from the University of Nebraska began more than 90 years ago, with the delivery of printed course materials.

Plant Genetics graphic

Plant Breeding and Genetics Online Professional Certificate

Today, the University provides educational opportunities to students in all 93 of Nebraska’s counties, in all 50 U.S. states, and in more than 135 countries worldwide.

http://online.unl.edu/About.aspx

Fuel

Small tractor and large caterpiller tractor face to face with two students

Nebraska Tractor Test Laboratory

The Nebraska Tractor Test Laboratory is the official tractor testing station for the United States, testing tractors according to the codes of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development.

Tractor with three students

First Tractor Tested and Report

Founded in 1920 - and 2,052 tractors later - the Laboratory provides unbiased information about power output, fuel economy, and emissions. The Laboratory does not endorse or recommend any tractor it tests.

http://tractortestlab.unl.edu

Beadle Center algae bags

Algal biofuels

Algae may be the next frontier for biofuels, and the University of Nebraska–Lincoln is poised to be among the nation’s leaders in this research.

Cover of Sweet Harvest report overlay with grain being harvested and refinery

Sweet Sorghum

Sweet sorghum is a relative to other common sorghums grown in Nebraska grain sorghum and forage sorghum. Yet instead of harvested for grain or its forage, sweet sorghum is harvested for its sugar content in the stems. The sugar can be directly fermented in ethanol like sugar cane ethanol. This direct squeeze to fermentation provides a benefit in cost as no cook process or costly enzymes are needed like in corn ethanol production.

In 2011, Nebraska had the second largest ethanol production capacity (2.2 billion gallons).

– Nebraska Agriculture Fact Card

Water

Lewis Ezra Hicks Lewis Ezra Hicks

Lewis Ezra Hicks and his students discovered the Ogallala (High Plains) aquifer as they dug for geological samples in the Nebraska Sandhills.

Nebraska ranks first in the nation in irrigated land harvested – 8,558,559 acres, or 46% of the total cropland harvested. There are more than 92,000 registered irrigation wells in the state. The state is aquifer-rich.

– Nebraska Agriculture Fact Card

Image: – Denison University Archives

Irrigation Demonstration 1940

Irrigation – Method Demonstration, Minden, Kearney County, April 12 1940. Early spring irrigation prior to planting.

– Archives and Special Collections, UNL Libraries

National Drought Mitigation Center

Established at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 1995, the National Drought Mitigation Center helps people and institutions develop and implement measures to reduce societal vulnerability to drought, stressing preparedness and risk management rather than crisis management.

The Center works with states and tribal governments across the United States and with national governments around the world to develop better drought risk management strategies related to monitoring, early warning, and planning. It also maintains an extensive website with resources for monitoring, assessing impacts, planning, and K-12 education.

http://drought.unl.edu

Water for Food logo

Growing More Food with Less Water

The Water for Food Institute (and the UNL Water Center, part of the Institute) is a research, education and policy analysis institute committed to helping the world efficiently use its limited freshwater resources, with particular focus on ensuring the food supply for current and future generations.

http://waterforfood.nebraska.edu

Dominic Gross talking to school Merrick County, Dec. 1939

Irrigation Demonstrations, Merrick County, Dec. 1939; Dominic Gross talking to school (Nebraska Rainfall chart).

– Archives and Special Collections, UNL Libraries

Drought Monitor Map

Current U.S. Drought Monitor

The U.S. Drought Monitor is produced in partnership between the National Drought Mitigation Center at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, the United States Department of Agriculture, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

http://drought.unl.edu

Landscapes

AutoCAD capture

Landscape Architecture

The Landscape architecture program educates future design professionals in the field of Landscape Architecture, who will have the ability and are committed to an interdisciplinary approach to crafting the environment. Whether it be addressing land based, urban or rural design problems or focusing on the analysis of natural resource issues, the graduates of this program will have the skills and knowledge, using state of the art technology, to synthesize various forms of data and collaboratively develop solutions to design problems in the built and natural environment. This program is taught collaboratively by the Architecture, Horticulture and Agronomy, and Community and Regional Planning programs.

http://landscapearchitecture.unl.edu

Strobe capture of golf swing

PGA Golf Management

The PGA Golf management program is a four-and-one-half year college curriculum that provides students with the opportunity to acquire the knowledge and skills necessary for success in the golf industry through extensive classroom studies, internship experience and player development.

http://pgm.unl.edu

People

Farm Campus 1914

Smith-Lever Act (1914), Cooperative Extension Service

The University of Nebraska is proud to provide Extension services to the state’s 93 counties from 83 offices.

Backyard Farmer

Backyard Farmer celebrates its 60th broadcasting season as a source for reliable home gardening information.

Backyard Farmer 60 Seasons with panelists Wayne Whitney, Bob Roselle, John Wiehing and John Furrer. Pictured left to right are BYF panelists Wayne Whitney, Bob Roselle, John Wiehing and John Furrer.
1904 North Platte Experiment Station rows of autos

Hatch Act (1887)

The Hatch Act established agricultural experiment stations in each state. North Platte was the first Experiment Station established in Nebraska (1903).

1904 Autos going through the hills

– Archives and Special Collections, UNL Libraries

Outreach Centers in NE

View ARD Research Sites in a larger map

  • A. Panhandle Research and Extension Center
  • B. High Plains Agricultural Laboratory
  • C.  Gudmundsen Sandhills Laboratory
  • D.  West Central Research and Extension Center
  • E.  Barta Brothers Ranch
  • F.  South Central Agricultural Laboratory
  • G.  Northeast Research and Extension
  • H.  Haskell Agricultural Laboratory
  • I.   Southeast Research and Extension Center
  • J.  Agricultural Research and Development Center
  • K.  Dalby Halleck Farm
  • L.  Horning State Farm

http://ard.unl.edu

Libraries

Architecture Hall 1903

– Archives and Special Collections, UNL Libraries

An Architectural Tour of Historic UNL

The Libraries – from the time of its first building dedication in 1895 to the present – underpins the teaching, learning, research, and extension activities at the University of Nebraska. Our work continues:

Digital Commons logo

DigitalCommons offers worldwide access to UNL’s research

UNL's Institutional Repository is the nation’s second-largest, making 58,986 publications freely available (4.9 million downloads this year).

LibGuides, Professor Suping Lu with student

Online delivery of information and instructional support

From custom Subject and Course Guides to scheduling classes for instruction in research sources and techniques.

Dell DX Object Storage

New research support efforts and data management planning

The Libraries partners with Information Services and the Office of Research and Economic Development to offer support to UNL researchers who need help creating data management plans.

Electronic Scholarship Center

New learning spaces

UNL Libraries' recently renovated information literacy teaching facility offers a flexible and student-centered learning spaces.