Drew J. Lyon

Fenster Professor and Extension Dryland Cropping Systems Specialist

Panhandle Research and Extension Center, 4502 Ave. I, Scottsbluff, NE 69361
308-632-1266; Fax: 308-632-1365
dlyon1@unl.edu

EDUCATION/DEGREES

• Ph.D. Agronomy/Weed Science - 1988; University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Dissertation: A search for metribuzin tolerance in fieldbeans (Phaseolus vulgaris).
• M.S. Agronomy/Weed Science - 1985, University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Thesis: Response of fieldbeans (Phaseolus vulgaris) to reduced rates of 2,4-D and dicamba.
• B.S. Agronomy/Crop Protection - 1980, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, IL

AREAS OF INTEREST

Research and Extension responsibilities include the investigation and development of resource efficient cropping systems for dryland crops that emphasize water management, weed control, and soil conservation. A current focus is on the potential for using flexible summer fallow, a dynamic approach to the use of summer fallow in dryland crop rotations. There is increasing effort in discerning the potential for using annual forages and/or cover crops as a partial summer fallow replacement. There is continuing work to improve the delivery of Extension information via the Internet, specifically through CropWatch.unl.edu. There is also increasing research and Extension activities in dryland organic production systems.

AWARDS/HONORS

• Distinguished Achievement Award, Nebraska Crop Improvement Association, 2012
• Distinguished Specialist Award, University of Nebraska Extension Division, 2011
• Agronomic Extension Education Award, American Society of Agronomy, 2011
• Fellow, Crop Science Society of America, 2010
• Crop Science Extension Education Award, Crop Science Society of America, 2010
• Membership in the Nebraska Hall of Agricultural Achievement, 2010
• Outstanding Weed Scientist - Public Sector, Western Society of Weed Science, 2010
• Fenster Distinguished Professor of Dryland Agriculture, 2008
• Fellow, American Society of Agronomy, 2005
• Nebraska Wheat Growers Association 2001 Man of the Year Award
• 2001 Gamma Sigma Delta Research Award of Merit
• Junior Faculty Recognition for Excellence in Research Award, 1994, University of Nebraska Agricultural Research Division.

PROFESSIONAL SOCIETY MEMBERSHIPS

• American Society of Agronomy
• Crop Science Society of America
• Soil Science Society of America
• Weed Science Society of America
• Western Society of Weed Science

 RECENT SELECTED PUBLICATIONS

• Abunyewa, A.A., R.B. Ferguson, C.S. Wortmann, D.J. Lyon, S.C. Mason, S. Irmak, and R.N. Klein. 2011. Grain sorghum water use with skip-row configuration in the Central Great Plains of the USA. Afr. J. Agric. Res. 6:5328-5338.
• Lyon, D.J., and J.A. Smith. 2011. No-till dryland sugarbeet production in semi-arid western Nebraska. J. Sugar Beet Res. 48:121-136.
• Kniss, A.R., D.J. Lyon, J.D. Vassios, and S.J. Nissen. 2011. MCPA synergizes imazamox control of feral rye (Secale cereale). Weed Technol. 25:303-309.
• Setiyono, T.D., H. Yang, D.T. Walters, A. Dobermann, R.B. Ferguson, D.F. Roberts, D.J. Lyon, D.E. Clay, and K.G. Cassman. 2011. Maize-N: A decision tool for nitrogen management in maize. Agron. J. 103:1276-1283.
• Kniss, A.R., and D.J. Lyon. 2011. Winter wheat response to preplant applications of aminocyclopyrachlor. Weed Technol. 25:51-57.
• Lyon, D.J., and A.R. Kniss. 2010. Proso millet tolerance to saflufenacil. Weed Technol. 24:349-355.
• Pavlista, A.D., Lyon, D.J., Baltensperger, D.D., and Hergert, G.W. 2010. Yield components as affected by planting dryland maize in a double-skip row pattern. J. Crop Improve. 24:1-11.
• Wortmann, C.S., A.J. Liska, R.B. Ferguson, D.J. Lyon, R.N. Klein, and I. Dweikat. 2010. Dryland performance of sweet sorghum and grain crops for biofuel in Nebraska. Agron. J. 102:319-326.
• Abunyewa, A.A., R.B. Ferguson, C.S. Wortmann, D.J. Lyon, S.C. Mason, and R.N. Klein. 2010. Skip-row and plant population effects on sorghum grain yield. Agron. J. 102:296-302.
• Urrea, C.A., C.D. Yonts, D.J. Lyon, and A.E. Koehler. 2009. Selection for drought tolerance in dry bean derived from the Mesoamerican gene pool in western Nebraska. Crop Sci. 49:2005-2010.
• Blanco-Canqui, H., L.R. Stone, A.J. Schlegel, D.J. Lyon, M.F. Vigil, M.M. Mikha, P.W. Stahlman, and C.W. Rice. 2009. No-till induced increase in organic carbon reduces maximum bulk density of soils. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J. 73:1871-1879.
• Blanco-Canqui, H., M.M. Mikha, J.G. Benjamin, L.R. Stone, A.J. Schlegel, D.J. Lyon, M.F. Vigil, and P.W. Stahlman. 2009. Regional study of no-till impacts on near-surface aggregate properties that influence soil erodibility. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J. 73:1361-1368.
• Saseendran, S. A., D. C. Nielsen, D. J. Lyon, L. Ma, D. G. Felter*, D. D. Baltensperger, G. Hoogenboom, and L.R. Ahuja. 2009. Modeling responses of dryland spring triticale, proso millet and foxtail millet to initial soil water in the High Plains. Field Crops Res.113:48-63.
• Lyon, D.J., A.D. Pavlista, G.W. Hergert, R.N. Klein, C.A. Shapiro, S. Knezevic, S.C. Mason. L.A. Nelson, D.D. Baltensperger, R.W. Elmore, M.F. Vigil. A.J. Schlegel, B.L. Olson, and R.M. Aiken. 2009. Skip-row planting patterns stabilize corn grain yields in the central Great Plains. [Online]. Crop Manage. doi:10.1094/CM-2009-0224-02-RS. Available at http://www.plantmanagementnetwork.org/cm/. (Verified 25 Feb., 2009).

INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE

• Drew and his family spent five months in Toowoomba, Queensland Australia on a professional development leave from early December 2001 through early May of 2002. Drew studied crop simulation modeling using APSIM with Dr. Graeme Hammer and his colleagues at APSRU.
• Presented an invited paper, “Achievements and challenges in conservation tillage”, at the Fourth International Crop Science Congress 26 Sep. – 2 Oct. 2004 in Brisbane, Australia.
• Drew was sub-theme leader for the Third Farming Systems Design Conference held 26-29 Sep. 2011 in Brisbane, Australia.