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!
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