Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology

Ingenuity in agriculture requires collaboration, and seed funds, to make an impact.

That’s the mindset behind Engineering Applications in Agriculture, an innovation accelerator created with funding from the University of Arkansas College of Engineering, the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station and the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences.

“This initiative was designed to foster collaboration and create opportunities for significant impact” said Sandra D. Eksioglu, associate dean for research in the College of Engineering. “The two criteria used for selecting proposals to fund through this program were intellectual merit and broader impacts.”

On July 1, five winning teams in the first Engineering Applications in Agriculture program were awarded $25,000 each to carry out their projects. Over the next year, they’ll conduct research to put their ideas into action.

Mary Savin, head of the horticulture department, said the overarching goal of the program is for researchers to develop new collaborations with colleagues from other colleges and to assist them in developing proof-of-concept outcomes that have “strong potential to secure future external funding.”

“When the teams later submit their work to the National Science Foundation, or the U.S. Department of Agriculture, they will be better positioned to make a compelling case and have a higher chance of receiving funding,” added Eksioglu, who is also professor of industrial engineering and Hefley Professor in Logistics and Entrepreneurship.

During the spring semester, Savin and Eksioglu organized two workshops to bring together faculty from both colleges, providing them with a platform to network, share research and form teams aimed at pursuing external funding. Next, they established the Engineering Applications in Agriculture program, an internal seed funding program, to support the newly formed teams.

The winning teams and projects for the first Engineering Applications in Agriculture program include the following faculty members, with principal investigators and their co-principal investigators, respectively:

*Wan Shou, assistant professor in the mechanical engineering department; and Ali Ubeyitogullari, assistant professor in the food science department, and the biological and agricultural engineering department. They will work to develop novel, multifunctional materials for food packaging to increase the shelf-life of foods.

*Ben Runkle, associate professor in the biological and agricultural engineering department; and Shannon Speir, assistant professor of water quality in the crop, soil and environmental sciences department. They will work on a project to evaluate the ecological consequences of “climate smart agriculture.”

*Thi Hoang Ngan, assistant professor of computer science and computer engineering in the electrical engineering and computer science department; and Cengiz Koparan, assistant professor of precision agriculture technology in the agricultural education, communications and technology department. They will work to develop computational models to translate satellite-view imagery to unmanned aerial vehicles to assess water quality.
*Fiona Goggin, professor in the entomology and plant pathology department; Khoa Luu, assistant professor and director of the Computer Vision and Image Understanding Lab in the electrical engineering and computer science department; and collaborator Rich Adams, assistant professor in the Center for Agricultural Data Analytics and the entomology and plant pathology department. They will work on an artificial intelligence enabled “multi-omics” approach to improve plant health and productivity.
*Wen Zhang, associate professor in the civil engineering department; and Young Min Kwon, microbiologist in the poultry science department, will work to improve early detection of emerging pathogens in poultry.

Photo: Mechanical engineering master’s student Justin Dykstra, left, works with Cengiz Koparan, assistant professor of precision agriculture technology in the Department of Agricultural Education, Communications and Technology. Koparan is one of 10 faculty members recently awarded $25,000 in the first Engineering Applications in Agriculture seed funding program.

(story by John Lovett, photo by Paden Johnson)

https://t.ly/E4KAO





Department of Food Science, University of Arkansas Agricultural Education, Communications and Technology Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology University of Arkansas Poultry Science Department University of Arkansas: Department of Biological & Agricultural Engineering The College of Engineering at the University of Arkansas Agricultural Engineering Agricultural Engineering American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE) Office of Entrepreneurship and Innovation Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station

Microwaves do more than cook burritos and popcorn. They can also kill w**d seeds below the soil surface. Read more about the study to curb herbicide resistance using low-frequency microwaves at https://aaes.uada.edu/news/microwave-w**d-killer/

U.S. Department of Agriculture The Cotton Board Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology Ag Is America

Could electric toothbrushes be the next breakthrough for artificial pollination at the heart of crop development? A study that included Rupesh Kariyat, Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology associate professor, found these were more durable, obtainable and cost-effective than the traditionally used tuning forks, and they collected just as much pollen.

Read more about the experiment at https://bit.ly/3z4DuA9 just in time for , a celebration of the significant role pollinators play for crops and our ecosystems observed this year from June 17 through 23.

Cartoon by Annette Diaz, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley

The Pollinator Partnership
Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences

We are hiring!!! Position Announcement for Instructor - Plant Health Clinic Diagnositician.

See here for more details and to apply: https://uasys.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/UASYS/job/Instructor---Plant-Health-Clinic-Diagnostician_R0057091

Do YOU know where we are located? 📍

Extension agents and specialists have worked to improve the lives of Arkansans for over 100 years! We are part of the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture and are located in all 75 counties.

Our county agents take the researched recommendations from our specialists and give you practical advice to improve your life. Our mission is to strengthen agriculture, communities, and families by connecting trusted research to the adoption of best practices.

We make the research work for YOU!

We use the results of scientific research, much of it conducted at the University of Arkansas System colleges and our research stations, to help you improve your life and your community. We're basically a go-between between you and the scientists. We take the guesswork out of the research and present the science-based techniques to you in a way that's helpful in YOUR life.

❓ We answer YOUR questions.

Whether it's a new crop variety, information about keeping your food safe, how to have a positive influence on kids, or how to develop your small business, we take what the scientists and experts tell us and use it to share information you can use, to answer your questions and to create programs that will make a difference all at a very low cost or free of charge.

Find your county office at uaex.uada.edu/counties!

The latest edition of Short Talks From the Hill, a podcast produced by the U of A, features an interview with instructor Austin Jones from the Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology.

Jones discusses cicadas. Why? This spring and summer, Jones and other scientists will observe an extremely rare phenomenon, the co-emergence of two specific broods of periodical cicadas.

This coincidental event happens only every 220 years.

Jones helps explain the rarity and importance of this event.

Listed to the interview by U of A's Matt McGowan.

https://t.ly/EdOWF





Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology Entomological Society of America Entomology Arkansas Entomology KUAF 91.3 Public Radio KXUA The Arkansas Traveler UATV News Fayetteville Flyer Arkansas Insects and Bug's BugGuide EntoHub The Bug Chicks University of Arkansas insect identification Insect Identification Entomology Insects Today Insect Week Insect Wars Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station Arkansas Department of Agriculture Arkansas Farm Bureau Federation

First-year Plant Pathology master’s student Anmol Kaur is working with assistant professor Asia (Joanna) Kud to investigate the molecular interactions between plants and nematodes to better understand how a plant protects itself from root-knot nematode infection, a major concern for farmers in Arkansas and across the United States.

Her research is part of a larger project in Dr. Kud's lab to examine how plant genes defend themselves from infections and disease.

One of Anmol’s favorite things about being a grad student are the “new opportunities to interact with people and acquire new knowledge about science."

Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology

India is the second-largest producer of fruits and vegetables in the world, but its lack of disease-free propagation material limits its yield potential, says Ioannis Tzanetakis, director of the Arkansas Clean Plant Center.

Tzanetakis was recruited by the Asian Development Bank to serve as a consultant on a $200 million project called the Clean Plant Program of India to establish 10 clean plant centers in India over the next seven years. The program aims to improve farmers’ access to certified disease-free planting materials to boost yields, crop quality and long-term climate resilience.

“If this project lands right, the increase in yield will be as high as 500 percent in some crops,” Tzanetakis said. “India is a lower-middle-income country, and we’re doing something that will make a difference.”

In addition to his role leading the Arkansas Clean Plant Center, Tzanetakis is a professor of plant virology in our Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology. He also serves as the graduate coordinator for plant pathology.

His research focuses on plant virus epidemiology and virus-vector interactions, diagnostics and bioinformatics.

His teaching includes plant virology, virus transmissions, virus epidemiology and bioinformatics.

(story by John Lovett)

https://t.ly/rcR1k





Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station National Clean Plant Network Asian Development Bank Asian Development Bank Partnerships India Clean Plant Program -CPP The American Phytopathological Society Plant Science 9 Plant Sciences American Society for Virology American Society for Virology - ASV American Society of Plant Biologists (ASPB) The Plant Cell University of Arkansas Graduate School and International Education

Rupesh Kariyat - Protecting Crops from Insects | Behind the Discovery Kariyat has been intrigued by insects since he was a kid. Now he's an associate professor of...

The Hospitality and Friends Career Fair, organized by the hospitality management program in the School of Human Environmental Sciences and the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences, is scheduled for Tuesday, March 5, from 2-4 p.m. The event takes place in the Verizon Ballroom of the Arkansas Union.

This career fair is a unique opportunity for both local and national employers to connect with potential candidates for existing job openings and internships. Conceived by a dedicated group of hospitality students, this event was planned under the guidance of associate professor Kelly Way.

"Employers rely on us to link them with qualified students possessing the skills demanded by the industry today," Way said. "This isn't just a casual meet-and-greet; it's a recruitment event where companies are actively seeking to fill positions."

Students attending the fair will have the chance to engage with employers from various sectors related to all majors in the School of Human Environmental Sciences as well as other majors on campus. To make the most of this opportunity, students are advised to dress professionally, bring copies of their current resume, their student ID and ensure they are registered on Handshake.

Over 50 reputable companies will be present, including Northwest Arkansas Naturals, The Alotian Club, B-Unlimited, Dillard's, Omni Hotels and Resorts, Northwest Arkansas Children's Shelter, Ropeswing Hospitality Group, Down Syndrome of Northwest Arkansas, Ronald McDonald House, Buckle, Motto by Hilton, UADA Cooperative Extension and many more.

For additional details, interested individuals can follow .hospitality.career.fair on Instagram or reach out via email at [email protected].

(story by Carlie Malone)

https://t.ly/nb8XJ





School of Human Environmental Sciences, University of Arkansas University of Arkansas Human Development & Family Sciences University of Arkansas Hospitality Management Hospitality Management Alumni at University of Arkansas Arkansas Hospitality Association B-Unlimited Omni Hotels & Resorts Ropeswing Hospitality Group Catering Motto by Hilton Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service Agricultural Education, Communications and Technology Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness, University of Arkansas Department Of Animal Science - UA Crop, Soil, & Environmental Sciences (CSES) at the University of Arkansas Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology Department of Food Science, University of Arkansas Uark Horticulture University of Arkansas Poultry Science Department

Apply today! 🐗 https://ow.ly/ZB3q50QGi9Z

Ruby-throated hummingbirds will be here soon! Many of us in Mississippi will be seeing ruby red-throated hummingbirds by the end of March.

They will remain here until November before returning to Central and South America. Ruby-throated hummingbirds generally only migrate throughout the eastern half of the U.S. Other species of hummingbirds may appear in our area, but the ruby-throated is the most common.

Tips for attracting hummingbirds:
🔸Prepare a homemade nectar for them to feed on. Mix four parts water and one-part sugar and boil for two minutes. Allow the mixture to cool to room temperature before filling the feeder. The mixture will spoil in the heat, so change the mixture every three to five days.

🔸Always clean the feeders well with hot soapy water and rinse before the first use and each time you refill them throughout the season to help reduce bacteria growth. You can store any leftover mixture in the refrigerator for easy use.

🔸Putting red food coloring into the homemade nectar to help attract hummingbirds to the feeder is not necessary and provides no benefits to the hummingbirds. Most feeders are red, and that helps attract the birds.

🔸Hummingbirds are pollinators and feed on a variety of plants commonly found in landscapes. Plants like begonia, petunia, nasturtium, and zinnia are great annuals to incorporate into your yard. Other perennials and shrubs hummingbirds are fond of include butterfly w**d, lantana, azaleas and salvia.

🔸They also need a water source. Consider purchasing a mister to attach to your water hose or a shallow birdbath with perching rocks.

We want to hear from you!

Please share your thoughts at https://bit.ly/UADA-Stakeholder-Survey for our new strategic plan.

Take our survey by Feb. 15 and enter our drawing to win front-row stadium seats to a 2024 Arkansas Razorbacks football game, a hotel stay in the Governor's Suite at DoubleTree by Hilton Little Rock, a gift card or other great items.

The 2024-25 scholarship application cycle closes Feb. 15.

There's still time.

Apply here: https://t.ly/ozcjp

Also check out the Arkansas Alumni Association scholarships: https://t.ly/4YKJ1





Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness, University of Arkansas Agricultural Education, Communications and Technology Department Of Animal Science - UA Crop, Soil, & Environmental Sciences (CSES) at the University of Arkansas Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology Department of Food Science, University of Arkansas Uark Horticulture School of Human Environmental Sciences, University of Arkansas University of Arkansas Human Development & Family Sciences University of Arkansas Poultry Science Department Arkansas Agricultural Education & FFA Arkansas 4-H Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service

Part of the University of Arkansas’s land-grant mission is to provide life-changing opportunities that lead to building a better world. As a pillar of the university’s 150 Forward strategic plan, student success is at the forefront of that mission and U of A graduates are leaving better prepared for leadership and success, according to a new ranking.

TIME Magazine named the U of A as one of the Best Colleges for Future Leaders in the United States, ranking it in the Top 60 out of 100 schools, Top 30 of public institutions, and ahead of fellow SEC schools, Florida and Kentucky.

TIME and Statista analyzed the resumés of 2,000 top leaders in the U.S. — politicians, CEOs, union leaders, Nobel winners, and more across sectors — to assemble a list of the universities and colleges where they received their degrees. The list is also weighted for school size.

(story by John Thomas)

https://t.ly/giX5v



Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness, University of Arkansas Agricultural Education, Communications and Technology Department Of Animal Science - UA Crop, Soil, & Environmental Sciences (CSES) at the University of Arkansas Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology Department of Food Science, University of Arkansas Uark Horticulture School of Human Environmental Sciences, University of Arkansas University of Arkansas Human Development & Family Sciences University of Arkansas Poultry Science Department

Students, two opportunities to visit with new Dean Jeff Edwards:

*Tuesday (tomorrow), 8-10 a.m., Waldrip Student Center (Agri 205) *Tuesday, Jan. 30, 8-10 a.m., AFLS Atrium.

Stop by, grab a donut and meet Dean Edwards. He's looking forward to visiting with you!



Agricultural Education, Communications and Technology Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness, University of Arkansas Department Of Animal Science - UA Crop, Soil, & Environmental Sciences (CSES) at the University of Arkansas Department of Food Science, University of Arkansas Uark Horticulture School of Human Environmental Sciences, University of Arkansas University of Arkansas Human Development & Family Sciences Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology University of Arkansas Poultry Science Department