Farm Progress

Emerson Nafziger retires from University of Illinois

With nearly 36 years of work and research under his belt, Emerson Nafziger heads into retirement. Here, he reflects on what brought him to Illinois.

Holly Spangler, Prairie Farmer Senior Editor

December 28, 2017

1 Min Read
FIELD DAY: Emerson Nafziger is best known for his work in many areas of crop and soil management, including plant populations, planting timing, rotations, tillage and developing nitrogen management practices based on current research.

After nearly 36 years at the University of Illinois, Emerson Nafziger has retired, effective Dec. 31. Nafziger grew up on a farm in northwestern Ohio and earned agronomy degrees from Ohio State University, Purdue University and U of I, where he’s been a professor and Extension agronomist since 1982.

Nafziger is best known for his work in crop and soil management, including plant populations, planting timing, rotations, tillage and nitrogen management practices. He’s been to every county in Illinois and says he came here because of the soils.

“I have come to love the land, the prairie and its vistas — and especially when corn and soybean plants blanket the land. We farm land that is the envy of the world,” Nafziger says.

“I’m not alarmist about the land being ‘unhealthy’ like some are today — we wouldn’t see productivity like this if that were true. But our soil is a precious resource that needs protection and good management, with an eye always toward ways to improve and protect it. That means looking for ways to be a little less intrusive, and to let the soils contribute what they have to offer to the yields that we get.”

Nafziger will still be around, finishing up research projects that run through 2018 and speaking at meetings. He also has a fair amount of research data to summarize and publish. In his words: “I’ll stay as busy as I want to be, doing the things that I enjoy doing.”

Nafziger’s name, work and recommendations have graced the pages of Prairie Farmer for much of the past 36 years. Prairie Farmer is grateful for his expertise and dedication to Illinois agriculture, and wishes him well in retirement!

About the Author

Holly Spangler

Prairie Farmer Senior Editor, Farm Progress

Holly Spangler has covered Illinois agriculture for more than two decades, bringing meaningful production agriculture experience to the magazine’s coverage. She currently serves as editor of Prairie Farmer magazine and Executive Editor for Farm Progress, managing editorial staff at six magazines throughout the eastern Corn Belt. She began her career with Prairie Farmer just before graduating from the University of Illinois in agricultural communications.

An award-winning writer and photographer, Holly is past president of the American Agricultural Editors Association. In 2015, she became only the 10th U.S. agricultural journalist to earn the Writer of Merit designation and is a five-time winner of the top writing award for editorial opinion in U.S. agriculture. She was named an AAEA Master Writer in 2005. In 2011, Holly was one of 10 recipients worldwide to receive the IFAJ-Alltech Young Leaders in Ag Journalism award. She currently serves on the Illinois Fairgrounds Foundation, the U of I Agricultural Communications Advisory committee, and is an advisory board member for the U of I College of ACES Research Station at Monmouth. Her work in agricultural media has been recognized by the Illinois Soybean Association, Illinois Corn, Illinois Council on Agricultural Education and MidAmerica Croplife Association.

Holly and her husband, John, farm in western Illinois where they raise corn, soybeans and beef cattle on 2,500 acres. Their operation includes 125 head of commercial cows in a cow/calf operation. The family farm includes John’s parents and their three children.

Holly frequently speaks to a variety of groups and organizations, sharing the heart, soul and science of agriculture. She and her husband are active in state and local farm organizations. They serve with their local 4-H and FFA programs, their school district, and are active in their church's youth and music ministries.

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