Raymond C. Ward

Dr. Ray Ward founded Ward Laboratories in 1983 alongside his late wife, Joleen. Dr. Ward holds certifications as a Professional Agronomist (CPAg), Professional Soil Scientist (CPSS), and Certified Crop Advisor (CCA). He earned his Ph.D. in Soil Fertility from South Dakota State University in 1972, following a B.S. and M.S. in Agronomy from the University of Nebraska in 1959 and 1961, respectively.

Ray’s contributions to agriculture have been widely recognized, including the Soil Science Industry Award (2005) and Soil Science Professional Service Award (2007) from the Soil Science Society of America, the J. Benton Jones, Jr. Award (2011) at the 12th International Symposium on Soil and Plant Analysis in Greece, and the Henry Beachell Distinguished Alumni Award (2016) from Nebraska Ag Alumni. He was also honored with the 2019 No-Till Innovator Award, the 2022 Silver Eagle Award from Nebraska Farm Bureau, and the 2023 Honoree Award from the Nebraska Hall of Agricultural Achievement.

A passionate advocate for sustainable agriculture, Dr. Ward is dedicated to helping producers use resources efficiently, promote soil health, support environmental stewardship, and provide reliable laboratory data to improve agricultural productivity and decision-making.