Milos Zaric
Originally from Sevojno, a small town in western Serbia, I developed a strong interest in addressing farmers' agronomical challenges in my home country. I pursued this passion at the University of Belgrade with Dr. Sava Vrnicanin, earning B.S. and M.S. degrees in Plant Protection and Weed Science. During my studies, I interned at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 2015 under Dr. Greg Kruger, an experience that deepened my interest in precision agriculture and pesticide application technologies. This led me to return to Nebraska to complete an M.S. degree under Dr. Kruger, where my research examined the impact of sub-lethal dicamba doses on non-dicamba-tolerant soybean varieties, achieved through simulated tank contamination in combination with post-emergence herbicide programs. In addition to this work, I was able to work on how application parameter selection, as well as integration of different spray additives, influence one-dimensional and multi-dimensional spray patterns.
I continued my academic journey by pursuing a Ph.D. under Dr. Sam Wortman, expanding my research to include various aspects of pesticide application technology in row and specialty crops. My doctoral work focused on application parameter selection, off-target movement modeling (physical drift), and crop safety. These efforts aim to optimize pesticide application efficacy, improve decision-making, and reduce environmental impacts, with the broader goal of advancing sustainable agricultural practices.
My work integrates scientific research with practical solutions, supporting farmers in adopting precision technologies to maximize yields and ensure environmental stewardship. Through these efforts, I strive to contribute to developing resilient and efficient cropping systems in Nebraska and globally.
Jeff Golus
My role is to manage field trials relating to crop water use, crop rotation, hybrid/variety evaluations, fertilizer, rainfed and irrigated cropping systems.
I received a B.S. degree from UNL in 1995 and started working for Bob Klein at West Central in early 1996, mainly focused on crop variety testing (irrigated and rainfed corn, soybeans, winter wheat, sunflowers, grain sorghum, dry edible beans) throughout southwest Nebraska. The program expanded in the areas of herbicide and adjuvant efficacy, spray nozzle evaluation for drift management and herbicide efficacy and spray droplet analysis with a laser diffraction system. With continued growth in both areas (crop field trials and spray application) in 2012 I became more focused on field trials, predominantly at North Platte and Brule locations.
I grew up in a small agricultural community in the Texas panhandle. My family had a dryland/irrigated farm between Hereford and Adrian, Texas where we grew wheat, grain sorghum, corn and sugar beets. I went to Texas Tech University where I earned a B.S. in entomology, a M.S. in plant physiology and a Ph.D. in Weed Science. I worked as a Research Associate at the Texas A&M Experiment Station in Lubbock with Dr. John Abernathy and Dr. Wayne Keeling in the weed science group.
I joined American Cyanamid as a Research Biologist in their Discovery Labs in Princeton New Jersey troubleshooting new products and formulations for weed control. I also worked in Product Development focused on a baculovirus for control of Gypsy Moth in the Northeastern United States. I eventually moved to the Midwest as a Technical Service Rep in Kansas, Missouri and Illinois working with growers and dealers on weed control and application technology in corn and soybeans. I moved back to the east coast when BASF purchased American Cyanamid and became the Technical Marketing Manager for the Southwestern United States working in cotton, rice, peanuts and sugar cane. After working as the Technical Training Manager for the U.S. sales team at BASF, I moved to the Midwest and worked as a Field Agronomist for Pioneer Hi-Bred in west central Nebraska in North Platte. I eventually took a position with Dekalb/Asgrow as a Technical Agronomist and worked a 30 county territory helping our sales team to place hybrids and troubleshoot product issues. In November of 2021, I joined the team at the West Central Research, Extension and Education Center; University of Nebraska as the Research Facility Coordinator and will be focused on the Pesticide Application Technology Lab, the Agroecosystems Entomology Lab and , of course, our producers in west central Nebraska.
Kasey Schroeder
I am a dedicated agricultural science and laboratory management professional originally from North Platte, Nebraska. My academic and career journey reflects a commitment to exploration and practical application, with expertise in agricultural technology, pesticide application, and experimental research.
I earned a Bachelor’s degree in Biology with a minor in Spanish from the University of Nebraska Kearney. I later completed a Bachelor’s degree in Clinical Laboratory Science at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. This biological and clinical expertise combination provides a comprehensive perspective that drives my contributions to agricultural research and laboratory operations. My career with the University of Nebraska began in 2011 as a summer assistant in the Cropping Systems Lab, laying the foundation for my enduring association with the institution. I contributed to the Weed Science Department for several years before joining the Pesticide Application Technology Laboratory in 2016, where I focused on advancing research in pesticide application technologies.
I currently manage three PAT Lab greenhouses and oversee various research projects, including studies on experimental chemicals, pesticide efficacy, and application methods. I also manage field trials related to herbicide performance, nitrogen application, hybrid development, and product testing. My leadership and expertise are pivotal in developing innovative agricultural practices and contributing to enhanced pest control strategies and sustainable crop production.