Mixed cover crops capture carbon in soil, could help mitigate climate change

September 21, 2022

When it comes to adding carbon to the soil, all cover crops don’t perform equally, according to a team of researchers whose new study revealed the disparity for the first time.

No-till management may reduce nitrous oxide gas releases, fight climate change

September 14, 2022

Scientists have long known that no-till farming reduces erosion and lessens water and nutrient runoff from crop fields, but now a new study by a team of Penn State researchers suggests that limiting soil disturbance may also diminish releases of nitrous oxide.

Microbiome Center announces inaugural Interdisciplinary Innovation Fellows

September 13, 2022

The first-ever round of Interdisciplinary Innovation Fellowships will support the work of Microbiome Center members and allow them to acquire knowledge and techniques to then share with other University colleagues.

'Growing Impact' podcast discusses solar irrigation pump effects on FEW nexus

September 2, 2022

A team of researchers is investigating a government policy that increases solar-powered irrigation pumps in India and how the use of solar irrigation pumps may impact India’s highly exploited groundwater reserves and the country’s food and energy production.

Alumna honors mother through scholarship, memorial tree, seat wall at Arboretum

August 15, 2022

To honor her mother’s legacy, Tina Terrell committed $80,000 to create the Lucille Terrell MANRRS Scholarship in the College of Agricultural Sciences, designate a scarlet oak in The Arboretum at Penn State as “Lucille’s Tree” and name one of the Arboretum’s future Fountain Garden seat walls in her honor.

Researchers get $2M NSF grant to develop Africa water-food-energy network

July 29, 2022

A team of Penn State researchers has received a $2 million grant from the National Science Foundation to lead a three-institution team developing the “SustainFood Network,” which will link scientists, communities and policymakers in addressing challenges at the nexus of water, energy and food security in Africa.

Researchers get $2M NSF grant to develop Africa water-food-energy network

July 27, 2022

A researcher in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences has received a $2 million grant from the National Science Foundation to lead a three-institution team developing the “Sustainfood Network,” which links scientists, communities and policymakers to address challenges in Africa at the nexus of water, energy and food security.

Torrey pine genetic research may benefit efforts to save chestnut, ash trees

July 20, 2022

A new genomic study of the rarest pine tree in the world, the Torrey pine, aimed at bolstering the case for a genetic rescue of the species barely surviving in the western U.S., revealed the complexity and risk associated with the endeavor. However, a tree geneticist at Penn State who oversaw the research suggests it may benefit efforts she is involved in to save other species in the East.

Water community introduces new council members, director of research

July 18, 2022

New members were elected to the Penn State Water Council and a new director of research was announced for the emerging Water Consortium.

Alumnus creates College of Ag Sciences’ first general graduate fellowship

July 7, 2022

Fueled by a desire to help those who otherwise may not be able to afford to pursue their education, Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences alumnus Tom Donaldson committed $400,000 from his future estate to create the T.D. Graduate Fellowship in Agricultural Sciences.

College of Ag Sciences planning new embedded course with travel to Antarctica

June 29, 2022

Penn State students will have the chance to explore Antarctica through a new embedded course, “Antarctica: Human Impacts on a Fragile Environment,” offered in the fall 2023 semester.

Secrets of reptile and amphibian aging revealed

June 23, 2022

An international team of 114 scientists, led by Penn State and Northeastern Illinois University, reports the most comprehensive study of aging and longevity to date comprising data collected in the wild from 107 populations of 77 species of reptiles and amphibians worldwide.

Forest ecologist Marc Abrams retires from College of Ag Sciences after 35 years

June 14, 2022

Marc Abrams, professor of forest ecology and physiology and the Nancy and John Steimer Professor of Agricultural Sciences at Penn State, will retire at the end of June as one of the world’s leading forest ecologists.

Three honored for their commitment to diversity in College of Ag Sciences

June 2, 2022

Three individuals are the recipients of the 2022 Dr. William Henson Diversity Achievement Award from Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences, which recognizes distinctive and outstanding teaching, research, extension, or creative work advancing diversity in the college.

Ethnobotanist gets grant to improve conservation of Pa. medicinal, edible plant

May 18, 2022

Eric Burkhart, associate teaching professor of ecosystem science and management, has received a $31,600 grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources to study and compile wild plant use by foragers in the state.

Future of deer management clouded by coming steep decline in hunter numbers

May 10, 2022

Because so many deer hunters are aging out of the sport — and new hunters are not being recruited to replace them — deer management strategies will need to change to manage populations of whitetails in many states, according to Penn State's Duane Diefenbach, one of the leading white-tailed deer researchers in the country.

Center for Private Forests at Penn State renamed to honor founder Jim Finley

April 28, 2022

Penn State and its College of Agricultural Sciences have renamed the Center for Private Forests at Penn State in honor of its founder, the late James C. (Jim) Finley, an outstanding academic scholar and teacher whose pioneering work at the interface of people and forests reached hundreds of thousands of people.

Student wins award, will present work on water and nutrient management solutions

April 27, 2022

Penn State student Dana Sanchez will advance her interest in environmental education when discussing water and nutrient management solutions for Pennsylvania farms impacting the Chesapeake Bay as a presenter at a national conference. 

SAFES seed funding boosts agricultural research data capabilities

April 25, 2022

Four research teams in the College of Agricultural Sciences have tapped in to the computing and software engineering expertise at the Institute for Computational and Data Sciences' Research Innovations with Scientists and Engineers (RISE) team. Agricultural Sciences faculty are invited to apply for the 2022 SAFES-RISE Seed Grant Program; applications are due May 10.

Novel study of small fish in Icelandic waters sheds new light on adaptive change

April 25, 2022

Innovative research showing that populations of a small fish that live in both Iceland’s lakes and marine waters, respond more quickly and differently to predators after they invade freshwater lakes, demonstrating how some animals can adapt rapidly to changes in their environments and may be able to adapt to climate change.

Leites earns 2022 Rosemary Schraer Mentoring Award

April 11, 2022

Laura Leites, associate research professor of quantitative forest ecology in the College of Agricultural Sciences, is the recipient of the 2022 Rosemary Schraer Mentoring Award.

Gamma Sigma Delta lauds outstanding College of Ag Sciences faculty, students

April 5, 2022

The Penn State chapter of Gamma Sigma Delta, the agricultural honor society, recognized Penn State faculty and students during its annual meeting, which was held March 31.

How would a nuclear winter impact food production?

March 29, 2022

Effects of a nuclear winter or other sky-darkening global catastrophes on farming and agriculture make it "imperative that we better understand our food production, supply and value chains to make them less vulnerable and more adaptable in times of crises," according to Penn State researchers who recently published a timely study on "Food Resilience in a Dark Catastrophe."

Penn State's 'Living Filter' to be the focus of wastewater reuse conference

March 28, 2022

More than a half-century of research on the use of treated wastewater for irrigation and groundwater recharge will be the focus of a three-day conference hosted by Penn State April 5-7 at the Wyndham Garden hotel in Boalsburg. The conference will highlight Penn State's "Living Filter," a year-round spray irrigation system that recycles the University's treated effluent.

Red-backed salamanders possess only limited ability to adjust to warming climate

March 25, 2022

If average temperatures rise as projected in eastern North America in coming decades, at least one widespread amphibian species likely will be unable to adjust, and its range may shift northward, according to a new study led by Penn State scientists.

Researchers to devise new, innovative strategies to manage Philadelphia’s soils

March 21, 2022

A team of Penn State researchers will develop a long-term solution for the testing and management of urban soils for the safe production of garden and food crops in urban settings, funded by a $100,000 grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture.

New Goddard Chair finding Pennsylvania connections to his international work

March 3, 2022

Christopher Scott's vast experience and expertise in water, climate change, energy, policy, sustainability and agriculture has led to Scott’s appointment to the Maurice K. Goddard Chair of Forestry and Environmental Conservation at Penn State.

Youngs pledge estate gift to create scholarship, support Arboretum at Penn State

February 23, 2022

Tom and Mary Jo Young pledged a $3.2 million estate gift to create the Woodland Gardens at The Arboretum at Penn State with a supporting endowment, as well as an undergraduate scholarship in the Department of Ecosystem Science and Management.

Ag. Sciences students top all US universities with $1.1M in USDA funding

February 14, 2022

Seven students in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences have received predoctoral fellowships from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture. The students received a combined total of nearly $1.1 million — the most received for this year's fellowships among U.S. universities.

Geneticists close to grasping how plant communities may adapt to climate change

February 8, 2022

A century after scientists first noted that the environment contributes to the evolution of adaptive differences among plant populations, scientists are on the verge of figuring out how that adaptation happens — by combining results from huge “common garden” experiments with genomic sequencing.