The Nebraska Extension in Dodge County in Fremont and Colfax County in Schuyler will be hosting a site for a new initiative that seeks to enhance the knowledge of Nebraska corn, soybean and wheat producers on their sustainability and operational efficiency measures. Participating farmers will use a new web based tool called the Fieldprint® Calculator. Calculating “Fieldprints” can help growers to establish benchmark data on a field and track improvements overtime, set energy saving and efficiency goals and compare performance against local, state and national benchmarks.
The Fieldprint Calculator is simple to use, though the technology behind it is very complex. The new field assessment initiative led by Nebraska Extension are a hands-on workshop and participating growers will take home documentation on eight sustainability and efficiency indicators. These measures are Land Use, Conservation, Soil Carbon, Irrigation Water Use, Water Quality, Energy Use, Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Water Quality. Participants will select a representative crop field for 2014 and complete a data input sheet in advance of the Fieldprint® Calculator workshops. Meals and workshop materials are sponsored thanks to a University of Nebraska Extension Innovation grant. Computer laptops are provided to participants or bring your own.
The workshop instructors include a core team of University of Nebraska Extension Educators and Specialists. They are Randy Pryor, Gary Zoubek, Gary Lesoing, John Hay and Charles Schapiro along with local facilitating Extension Educators.
LOCAL WORKSHOP TIMES AND LOCATIONS:
FREMONT: Thursday, December 11, 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM, UNL Extension in Dodge County, 1206 West 23rd, Fremont
For more information and to pre-register by the December 5th deadline, contact the Dodge County Extension office at 402-727-2775 or email Nathan Mueller at .
SCHUYLER: Thursday, December 11, 5:30 PM – 9:00 PM, UNL Extension in Colfax County, 466 Road 10, Schuyler
For more information and to pre-register by the December 5th deadline, contact the Colfax County Extension office at 402-352-3821 or email Aaron Nygren at .
