by Lana Koepke Johnson
Mitchell Montgomery, a University of Nebraska–Lincoln research technologist for agronomy and horticulture, received the Nebraska Crop Improvement Association Presidential Award of Excellence at the NCIA conference in Lincoln Jan. 15-17. This award recognizes those who have made special contributions to the Nebraska Seed Industry.
Montgomery received a bachelor’s degree in plant science with an emphasis on production from North Dakota State University in 1992. He moved to Nebraska to work for P. Stephen Baenziger, professor of agronomy and horticulture and Wheat Growers Presidential Chair, in 1998.
Montgomery manages the small grains – winter wheat, winter barley and winter triticale – breeding greenhouses and field operations where he nurtures seeds to mature plants for plant crossing purposes. This process requires planting the greenhouse fall and spring pots, pollinating, harvesting and cleaning the seed. This new seed is then planted in plots across Nebraska and harvested.
“Mitch has been a tireless worker who is invaluable to the small grain project. No variety in recent years has been released that he did not help make the cross or help with the planting, note taking, and harvest,” said Baenziger.
Many improvements have been made to the greenhouse under Montgomery’s management. Setting up an automated watering system to reduce manual water times is an example. He has trained and worked with many greenhouse employees and graduate students.
Montgomery is also host to numerous groups touring the small grains breeding greenhouses including Nebraska Wheat Board, Nebraska Wheat Growers Association, Bayer Crop Science, agronomy classes, potential graduate and undergraduate students and Nebraska FFA students from across the state.