An estimated 20,000 tons of yard waste were kept out of the landfill, saving taxpayers $556,749.

Extension educates residents on how to successfully compost yard waste in their own backyards and on the benefits of mulching grass clippings. More than 110 residents attended one of 19 composting workshops conducted by extension, and an estimated 2,000 people participated in an informal, self-guided tour of the composting demonstration site at University Place Park.

34,300 tons of biosolids were delivered and applied to 1,169 acres of crop land, worth $850,000 to farmers and saving taxpayers $340,000 by keeping this recyclable material out of the landfill.

Biosolids are organic solids separated from wastewater and biologically processed. Extension coordinates distribution and application of biosolids to agricultural cropland for the City of Lincoln Wastewater and Solid Waste Division. Studies have shown the nutrient value of biosolids worth at least $25 per acre for the first year’s crops.

9,510 pounds of pesticide containers were collected and recycled through the Pesticide Container Recycling program.

Agricultural pesticide containers are collected and ground into small chips to be recycled into parking lot tire bumpers, fence posts, traffic lane markers, pallets and more.

Research shows for every dollar of NEP funding, there is a projected health care cost savings of $2.07–$5.29.

The Nutrition Education Program (NEP) helps limited-resource families learn to prepare nutritious and safe foods while stretching their food dollars.

Last year, more than 1,800 adults, 2,289 youth and 100 seniors participated in NEP.

The average value of a termite treatment is more than $1,500. Extension’s termite control information could be worth more than $2 million to Lincoln homeowners.

Online termite resources received nearly 35,000 hits, 86 people (including 13 Realtors) attended this year’s Termite Control workshops, hundreds of people requested information and articles were published in local media. A post-workshop survey has found 82% of attendees obtained information that saved them money, 98% obtained information needed to better protect their property.

Crop producers taking the online Irrigation Home Study Course indicate an average savings of $4.22 per acre -- an estimated total savings of $3.5 million. Of the attendees at Financial Record Keeping workshops, 82% expected to make better management decisions and 58% expected to save time and/or money.

Participants of the Crop Protection Clinic estimate the value of the program to be $5.37 per acre -- a total benefit of $1.6 million.

Agricultural profitability and sustainability is an extension priority issue.

Last year, UNL Cooperative Extension in Lancaster County programs benefitted from 1,338 volunteers investing 51,925 hours of time for a total value of $892,590!*

Extension trains and supports, as well as coordinates the efforts of, a variety of volunteers: 4-H leaders and superintendents, Master Gardeners, Family Community Education (FCE) volunteers and Nutrition Education Program (NEP) volunteers. In addition, 4-H and FCE members often volunteer in community-related projects.

*Independent Sector values volunteer time at $17.19 per hour.

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