Lori Abendroth

Abendroth is the Project Manager for a USDA-NIFA funded Coordinated Agricultural Project since 2011. The multi-state team is assessing the environmental, economic and social impacts of long-term climate variability on corn-based cropping systems in the Midwest. She manages a diverse, transdisciplinary team comprised of 140 scientists, research staff, educators, and graduate students across 9 states and 11 institutions.

Professionally and personally, Abendroth is passionate about equipping and empowering others in addressing challenges and working towards a better world for every single individual. She has been involved with small to large production systems in efforts to improve sustainability, agricultural productivity, and resiliency. She believes that agronomists have a unique opportunity to employ science-driven, practical solutions in addressing the challenges facing our global society. 

Abendroth is from eastern Nebraska and has been involved with her family’s farming operation throughout the years. She has spoken in over 150 meetings to farmers, agronomists, scientists, and students and been a primary or contributing author to more than 100 extension newsletters, extension publications, reports, and refereed journals. From 2005-2011, Abendroth was an Associate Corn Agronomist at Iowa State University. Abendroth has earned BS degree in Agronomy (2001) and MS degree in Crop Physiology and Production (2004) from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and is currently in the PhD program at Iowa State University in Crop Production and Physiology.