Lagger Chosen to Lead Nutrient Council
The Illinois Nutrient Research and Education Council (NREC) has named Scott Lagger to lead the research committee for 2024. He replaces Matt Duncan, who is cycling off the NREC board of directors.
Lagger, who represents Certified Crop Advisers (CCAs) works as an agronomy sales representative for CHS Elburn. In that role he works directly with growers at the farm gate around all of their inputs.
Scott’s area includes northeastern Illinois. Scott joined the NREC board in 2021 and has always served on the research committee.
“The dynamics of new innovative concepts for nitrogen use efficiency will be challenging over the next few years. It’s the role of the Research Committee to look at all possibilities – always bearing in mind that the ultimate goal is to achieve alignment with the 4R concepts of the Right Product, in the Right Place, in the Right Form, and at the Right Time,” Lagger said in a press release.
Matt Duncan leaves the NREC board and is one of the original board members.
“NREC-funded researchers have made giant leaps to learn how to maximize nutrient use efficiency – from keeping nutrients in the soil to determining the best application rates and timing,” Duncan said in the release.”
“It was an honor to serve on this board and to be part of the efforts to meet the Illinois Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy.” Duncan is the Sr. Sustainability Science Lead with Truterra.
Dr. Shani Golovay, Research Manager for NREC, said they have many innovative projects from talented researchers to consider for 2024.
Three of the new projects focus on cover crops. With continuous, but slow, adoption of cover crops in Illinois several government and non-government organizations are offering incentives for farmers to incorporate cover crops into their management practices.
NREC’s research results gives farmers guidance on what cover crops can provide and how their use can influence yield and the amount of nitrogen left behind to reduce costs of applied nitrogen.
One project from Southern Illinois University will look at innovative practices for dry dams and WASCoBs to address water quality concerns in southern Illinois. Another project looks specifically at the use of controlled-release N fertilizer on efficiency, water quality, green house gas emissions and yield in a strip-till corn field.
In total, NREC has 26 active multi-year projects totaling $4,123,126