Long-time Illinois agronomist gets ready to leave the field

Nat Williams
Sep 8, 2017
Sep 8, 2017 Updated Oct 19, 2017

Emerson Nafziger has provided farmers with useful information about crop production for 35 years. This will be his last, as he is planning for retirement.
Photo by Nat Williams

Facebook
Twitter
Bluesky
WhatsApp
SMS
Email
Print
Save

Editor’s note: Reporters rely on experts in the field for the best information. This series introduces our go-to sources for crop, livestock and ag tech news.

k9C ^m

kAmt>6CD@? }27K:86C 92D E96 E6?56?4J E@ 36 2 3:E =@?8\H:?565] qFE 9:D 2F5:6?46 FDF2==J 5@6D?’E >:?5]k^Am

kAm%92E’D 3642FD6 E96 &?:G6CD:EJ @7 x==:?@:D AC@76DD@C 92D =@?8 366? C682C565 2D @?6 @7 E96 7@C6>@DE 6IA6CED @? 4C@A AC@5F4E:@? :? E96 |:5H6DE] p?5 96 23DE2:?D 7C@> D4:6?E:7:4 ;2C8@? 2?5 E649?@\3233=6[ :?DE625 8:G:?8 72C>6CD :?7@C>2E:@? E96J 42? FD6 :? E6C>D E96J F?56CDE2?5]k^Am

kAm&?7@CEF?2E6=J[ E96J H@?’E 92G6 >F49 @AA@CEF?:EJ :? E96 7FEFC6 E@ 962C E92E 7@=<DJ G@:46 E92E DE:== 9@=5D EC246D @7 2? ~9:@ 2446?E] }27K:86C H:== D@@? C6E:C6 27E6C 2 42C66C DA2??:?8 bd J62CD]k^Am

kAmw6 >2J ?@E =@@< =:<6 2 72C>6C[ FDF2==J 4=25 :? D=24<D 2?5 2 3FEE@?\5@H? D9:CE H:E9 2 A@4<6E 7F== @7 A6?D] qFE }27K:86C <?@HD H92E :E’D =:<6 E@ 86E 9:D 92?5D 5:CEJ] w6 8C6H FA @?6 @7 `a 49:=5C6? @? 2 D>2== 72C> :? ?@CE9H6DE6C? ~9:@[ H96C6 E96 <:5D H6C6 6IA64E65 E@ H@C<]k^Am

kAm“(:E9 ?:?6 3@JD :? E96 72>:=J[ E96C6 H2D 2 =@E @7 =23@C 2G2:=23=6[” 96 D2:5]k^Am

kAmw6 =67E E96 72C> 7@C D49@@=[ @3E2:?:?8 2 32496=@C’D 568C66 2E %96 ~9:@ $E2E6 &?:G6CD:EJ 2?5 8C25F2E6 568C66D 7C@> !FC5F6 2?5 E96 &?:G6CD:EJ @7 x==:?@:D] q6EH66? 24256>:4 AFCDF:ED[ 96 >2CC:65 9:D H:76[ rJ?E9:2[ 2?5 DA6?E 7@FC J62CD :? q2?8=256D9 2D A2CE @7 2 |6??@?:E6 >:DD:@? H96C6 96 96=A65 :?EC@5F46 D@J362?D 2?5 @E96C 4C@AD E92E 4@F=5 36 8C@H? 5FC:?8 E96 H:?E6C]k^Am

kAmw6 3682? 9:D 42C66C 2E E96 &?:G6CD:EJ @7 x==:?@:D :? `hga 27E6C 86EE:?8 9:D !9]s] E96C6 :? 28C@?@>J 2?5 H665 D4:6?46] $:?46 E96?[ 96 92D 366? 2 7:IEFC6 2E 4@?76C6?46D E9C@F89@FE x==:?@:D 2?5 36J@?5[ D92C:?8 C6DF=ED @7 C6D62C49 2?5 AC@G:5:?8 2DEFE6 @3D6CG2E:@?D @7 H92E H@C<D[ H92E 5@6D?’E 2?5 H92E :D H@CE9J @7 2 D64@?5 =@@<]k^Am

k9C ^m

kAmkDEC@?8m}27K:86C C646?E=J D92C65 D@>6 E9@F89ED H:E9 xu% 23@FE H92E 96 92D D66? :? 9:D 42C66C 2?5 H92E >2J 4@>6 :? E96 7FEFC6]k^DEC@?8mk^Am

kAmkDEC@?8mxu%ik^DEC@?8m %96C6 92D 366? EC6>6?5@FD 492?86 :? 28C:4F=EFC6 5FC:?8 J@FC E6?FC6[ :?4=F5:?8 25G2?46D :? D665 E649?@=@8J[ AC64:D:@? 72C>:?8 6BF:A>6?E 2?5 A=2?E AC@E64E:@?] (92E H@F=5 J@F D2J 92D 925 E96 >@DE :>A24E @? AC@5F4E:@? @G6C2==nk^Am

kAmkDEC@?8m}27K:86Cik^DEC@?8m %96 82:?D :? J:6=5 92G6 366? E96 C6DF=ED @7 2 “A24<286” @7 E9:?8D[ :?4=F5:?8 86?6E:4 :>AC@G6>6?E[ :>AC@G65 6BF:A>6?E 2?5 E96 >2?286>6?E ?66565 E@ >2<6 E96 DJDE6> H@C<] q6EE6C >2?286>6?E >62?D 3@E9 <?@H=6586 E@ >2<6 8@@5 564:D:@?D 2?5 2=D@ 4@?7:56?46 :? FD:?8 E96 ?6H “E@@=D” E92E 96=A AFE E9:?8D E@86E96C]k^Am

People are also reading…

Beef lovers try new farming approaches
Tractor Museum showcases farm history
Century Farm continues family’s legacy
Bocks build soil, raise crops together with faith, family
Hunting access made easy
Fabricating the future: FFA alum builds metalwork business, FFA welding kits
Online tool helps take guess-work out of planting
Southeast Iowa family proud of farm longevity
Family support propels Iowa Shorthorn ranch success
Harrisburg FFA member preserves chapter history through student project
US blockade a concern for China, soybeans
Soil sampling project to track residual nitrogen
Farmers puts conservation tax to work
Back Home
Spring and fall calving strategies differ

kAm(6’G6 86?6C2==J 925 D@>6 96=A 7C@> 8@@5 H62E96C 2D H6==[ 2D H6 H6C6 C6>:?565 3J E96 J:6=5 =@DD 7C@> E96 5C@F89E @7 a_`a] qC665:?8 92D >256 E96 4C@AD >@C6 E@=6C2?E @7 DEC6DD]k^Am

kAm(9:=6 E96 23:=:EJ E@ 5@ “AC64:D:@?” 72C>:?8 92D 4@>6 H:E9 :>AC@G6>6?ED :? 6BF:A>6?E 2?5 6=64EC@?:4D\32D65 E649?@=@8J[ :E’D =6DD 4=62C 9@H >F49 E9:D 92D 96=A65 :>AC@G6 J:6=5D] (6 46CE2:?=J 42? <?@H E@52J H92E :D 92AA6?:?8 :? 6G6CJ A2CE @7 2?J 7:6=5[ 2?5 6BF:A>6?E 4@?EC@= 92D 364@>6 G6CJ D@A9:DE:42E65] qFE E96D6 4@>6 2E 2 4@DE[ 2?5 :E’D ?@E 2=H2JD @3G:@FD E92E >2?286>6?E 2?5 J:6=5D 2C6 :>AC@G65 6?@F89 E@ A2J E9:D 4@DE 2?5 >2<6 >@C6 AC@7:E]k^Am

kAmkDEC@?8mxu%ik^DEC@?8m pD 28C:4F=EFC6 92D 364@>6 >@C6 D@A9:DE:42E65[ 2C6 72C>6CD <66A:?8 FA H:E9 E649?@=@8J @C 72==:?8 369:?5nk^Am

kAmkDEC@?8m}27K:86Cik^DEC@?8m }6H6C E649?@=@8J :D :>AC@G65 E649?@=@8J[ 3FE :E’D ?@E 2=H2JD E96 42D6 E92E[ D2J[ 2 ?6H A=2?E6C :D D@ >F49 36EE6C E92? 2 A=2?E6C E92E’D d @C `_ J62CD @=5 E92E A2J:?8 EH@ E@ E9C66 E:>6D 2D >F49 7@C E96 ?6H A=2?E6C H:== 36 4@DE\67764E:G6]k^Am

kAmx>AC@G6>6?ED :? E9:?8D =:<6 A=2?E6C E649?@=@8J E6?5 E@ 36 :?4C6>6?E2=j :E’D 46CE2:?=J ?@E A@DD:3=6 E@ 5C:G6 x==:?@:D C@25D 27E6C E96 4C@A :D 6>6C865 :? E96 DAC:?8 2?5 E@ 36 23=6 E@ E6== E96 286 @7 E96 A=2?E6C 3J 9@H E96 DE2?5 =@@<D] (6 42? E6== :7 v!$\2FE@DE66C H2D FD65 3642FD6 E96 C@HD 2C6 DEC2:89E6C[ 2?5 H6 42? E6== :7 E96C6 H2D F?:E\D9FE@77 4@?EC@= 3J 9@H 72C :?E@ E96 6?5 C@HD E96 =@?8 C@HD 4@>6] qFE :7 DE2?5D 2C6 8@@5 2?5 D665 A=246>6?E H2D 42C67F= 2?5 :?E@ 2 8@@5 D665365[ E96 286 2?5 D@A9:DE:42E:@? @7 E96 A=2?E6C H:== 92G6 =:EE=6 67764E @? J:6=5]k^Am

kAmkDEC@?8mxu%ik^DEC@?8m w@H 5@ J@F 766= 23@FE E96 C6=2E:@?D9:A @7 AC:G2E6 4@>A2?:6D 2?5 AF3=:4 @C BF2D:\AF3=:4 6?E:E:6D[ :?4=F5:?8 28 4@==686D 2?5 4@>>@5:EJ @C82?:K2E:@?Dnk^Am

kAmkDEC@?8m}27K:86Cik^DEC@?8m |@DE @7 FD H9@ 92G6 8@EE6? D@>6 7F?5:?8 7@C E6DE:?8 4@>A2?J AC@5F4ED 5FC:?8 E96:C 56G6=@A>6?E 92G6 925 E96 6IA6C:6?46 @7 D66:?8 @FC C6DF=ED 2AA62C @? 2 4@>A2?J H63D:E6 @C :? 4@>A2?J =:E6C2EFC6 :? 2 H2J E92E 5@6D?’E 7F==J C6AC6D6?E H92E H6 7@F?5]k^Am

kAm~?6 C6DA@?D6 E@ E9:D :D E@ D2J E92E E:>6D 92G6 492?865[ E92E AC@5F4ED @C AC24E:46D @7 F?<?@H? FE:=:EJ H:== 2AA62C H96E96C @C ?@E F?:G6CD:EJ C6D62C496CD 6G6C D66 @C E6DE E96>[ 2?5 E92E D92<J AC@5F4ED H@?’E =2DE :? E96 >2C<6E H:E9 @C H:E9@FE 2?J :?G@=G6>6?E @7 ?6FEC2= 6G2=F2E@CD @FED:56 E96 4@>A2?J]k^Am

kAmkDEC@?8mxu%ik^DEC@?8m x? J@FC G:6H[ H92E :D E96 3:886DE 492==6?86 :? 28C:4F=EFC6 8@:?8 7@CH2C5[ 2?5 H92E 492?86D 5@ J@F 7@C6D66nk^Am

kAmkDEC@?8m}27K:86Cik^DEC@?8m }@E E@ 36 ?665=6DD=J 2A@42=JAE:4[ 3FE H6 >2J 86E E@ E96 A@:?E H96C6 :? >2?J 2C62D 72C>6CD 4@?4=F56 E92E[ 5F6 E@ 2 4@>3:?2E:@? @7 7:?2?4:2= 2?5 6?G:C@?>6?E2= 724E@CD W2 =@?8\E6C> 5C@F89E[ D2J[ @C :?23:=:EJ E@ DE6> E96 @FE7=@H @7 ?FEC:6?ED 7C@> 72C>65 =2?5 E@ H2E6CX[ >2?J H9@ ?@H 72C> 2C6 F?23=6 @C F?H:==:?8 E@ 4@?E:?F6 E@ 5@ D@]k^Am

kAm%9:D H@?’E >62? E92E >@DE x==:?@:D =2?5 H:== ?@ =@?86C 36 72C>65 — :E’D E@@ AC@5F4E:G6 7@C E92E E@ >2<6 D6?D6] qFE :E 4@F=5 =625 E@ >@C6 C@F?5D @7 4@?D@=:52E:@? :?E@ G6CJ =2C86 72C>:?8 4@>A2?:6D[ H:E9 E96 23:=:EJ E@ 5@ E9:?8D =:<6 :?DE2== :CC:82E:@? 2?5 :?:E:2E6 6?8:?66C65 4@?EC@= @7 ?FEC:6?E 2?5 A6DE:4:56 @FE7=@H]k^Am

kAm~? E96 @E96C D:56 @7 DF49 2 492==6?86 H:== 36 9:896C 7@@5 AC:46D 2?5 >@C6 @AA@CEF?:EJ 7@C D>2==\D42=6 6?EC6AC6?6FCD E@ DE2CE 4@>A2?:6D E@ AC@5F46 9:89\G2=F6 7@@5[ :?4=F5:?8 :?5@@C^8C66?9@FD6 2?5 @C82?:4 AC@5F4E:@?]k^Am

kAmkDEC@?8mxu%ik^DEC@?8m *@F H:== D@@? 36 6?5:?8 J@FC 42C66C H:E9 E96 &?:G6CD:EJ @7 x==:?@:D] (92E 2C6 J@FC A=2?D 7@C C6E:C6>6?Enk^Am

kAmkDEC@?8m}27K:86Cik^DEC@?8m x? E96 ?62C E6C> x A=2? E@ 4@?E:?F6 5@:?8 C6D62C49 2?5 C6A@CE:?8 E96 C6DF=ED @7 7F?565 AC@;64ED[ >@DE @7 H9:49 2C6 :? E96 2C62 @7 ?:EC@86? 76CE:=:EJ :? 4@C?] x >2J E2<6 @? D@>6 @FED:56 4@?DF=E:?8 H@C<[ 3FE E92E H@?’E E2<6 AC:@C:EJ @G6C EC2G6= 2?5 D66:?8 8C2?549:=5C6?]k^Am