Daugherty Water for Food Podcast

Food and agriculture are more connected to national security than most people realize. In this episode, host Frances Hayes sits down with Meghan Jackson, Director for Food, Agriculture and Environment Security at the National Strategic Research Institute (NSRI) at the University of Nebraska. They discuss how we can protect the nation's crops, livestock and water systems from chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear threats.

Meghan shares lessons from her background at high-security biodefense facilities; breaks down real-world examples like New World screwworm and African swine fever; and explains why redundancy and resilience are key to protecting our food supply. The conversation also covers cybersecurity risks; water scarcity; Nebraska's growing bioeconomy; and how producers and policymakers can strengthen the systems we all rely on.

Five years ago, DWFI was tapped by the U.S. Department of Energy to tackle a critical challenge: scientifically validating carbon sequestration in Midwest corn and soybean production. With this $3 million project now in its final 120-day closeout phase, DWFI Director of Research Christopher Neale discusses this initiative at the intersection of energy, agriculture and policy. He shares insights into how the team translated rigorous field-level measurements into tools that bring credibility to carbon credit markets. We discuss what carbon credits are, the importance of data-driven policy and how these markets can be a tool for producers.

When it comes to groundwater management, California was the wild west not long ago, with unrestricted pumping depleting many aquifers. But that changed in 2014 with the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act, which created about 350 Groundwater Sustainability Agencies (GSA) responsible for management of more than 140 of the state's basins. Using a framework of local control, GSAs work to sustain groundwater resources for growers, industries, residents and ecosystems.

In this episode, guest host Renata Rimšaitė, Senior Program Manager at DWFI, sits down with Matthew Beaman, groundwater regulatory manager with the Merced Irrigation-Urban Groundwater Sustainability Agency in Merced County, California. A professional geologist, Matt works on regulatory implementation, groundwater accounting, data management and other requirements of the state's groundwater law for the Merced Irrigation-Urban GSA.

Joining them is also Jim Schneider, technical expert in environmental infrastructure for Olsson, a national design and engineering firm that got its start in Nebraska. Jim is a hydrogeologist who consults for Merced and other GSAs in California and other states. He formerly served as deputy director of the Nebraska Department of Natural Resources, where he developed expertise in groundwater modeling, interstate water compacts and water policy.

Matt and Jim discuss the challenges in sustaining groundwater and how local management in California and Nebraska is helping to address them. Both are well-versed in technology that has revolutionized our ability to measure water and leverage data in ways unimaginable when California's water law was put on the books 12 years ago.

Plus, their appearance on the podcast is timely, coinciding with National Groundwater Awareness Week.

In this episode, host Frances Hayes dives into the Nebraska Master Irrigator Program, a new approach to advanced water stewardship. Joining Frances is Crystal Powers, DWFI Water and Cropping Systems Extension Educator and a co-collaborator on the new initiative. Through the Nebraska Master Irrigator Program, organizers invite participants to dig deeper and "talk shop" about the critical issues facing agricultural producers in Nebraska and throughout the U.S. The podcast discussion focuses on how this program helps farmers grow more with less, maximize existing farm investments, improve margins, and ultimately strengthen the long-term future of Nebraska's soil and water resources.

In this episode, host Frances Hayes sits down with Crystal Powers, DWFI and Nebraska Water Center's water and cropping systems extension educator, to discuss why the most revolutionary science can only drive change if it's communicated effectively. Crystal and her colleague, Ann Briggs, at the Nebraska Water Center, created the "Beyond the Data" workshop, which aims to transform researchers and conservation professionals from data presenters into compelling storytellers. We explore the critical skills scientists need today, including the importance of audience empathy and tackling the barriers created by academic jargon.

Crystal offers essential insights on communicating complex trade-offs in water management, building trust with the agricultural community and framing research on challenging topics. If you're a researcher, practitioner or stakeholder in water and food security, this episode offers insights for ensuring your science moves beyond the lab and into real-world policy and action.