By Scout Nelson
The University of Nebraska-Lincoln's Department of Agronomy and Horticulture is helping cultivate future seed industry leaders through its Seed Industry Scholars (SIS) program, as highlighted by Lauren Stanick. The initiative provides students with specialized training and hands-on experiences in seed science and agricultural business.
The program was developed in response to concerns about the retirement of experienced seed industry professionals and the limited number of agronomists receiving formal training in seed science. Leaders from the Nebraska Crop Improvement Association (NCIA) and the university recognized the need to strengthen the industry's future workforce.
A key contributor to the program is Kelsey McCullough, an online lecturer in seed science and entrepreneurship. She helped develop courses focused on variety selection and seed industry operations, giving students practical knowledge and career-focused training.
“Buying seed is the most important investment decision a producer makes each season, yet the university lacks opportunities for agronomists to specialize in seed science,” McCullough said. “Without proper training, there’s no one to offer advice to farmers and producers.”
The SIS program blends classroom instruction with real-world experience. Through scholarships and internships, students learn about genetics, plant breeding, seed production, marketing, logistics, and other key aspects of the seed industry.
Industry engagement plays a major role in the program's success. During a two-day field tour, students visited Rob-See-Co, Green Cover, and Corteva Agriscience, where they explored seed genetics, drone technology, cover crop research, hybrid testing, seed production, and distribution processes.
Students also toured production facilities and farms to gain a better understanding of how seed moves from development to commercial use. These experiences provided valuable insight into the planning, technology, and collaboration required across the seed supply chain.
Program leaders plan to expand the initiative, secure additional funding, and eventually establish it as an academic minor. Future coursework may include entrepreneurship, statistics, financial analysis, and high-value Nebraska commodity crops to attract a broader range of students.
“If you’re an agronomy student -or a high schooler interested in studying agronomy — I can’t recommend this program enough,” Daberkow said. "It's letting me discover which areas of agriculture interest me the most."
Photo Credit: gettyimages-studio
Categories: Nebraska, Business, Crops, Education