NC State University - Department of Crop & Soil Sciences

🍾🥂100 Years! We're celebrating this entire semester.

To start... alumni, help us mark this momentous occasion by checking in: https://go.ncsu.edu/cssc-alumni.

We want to feature ALL our impressive graduates. So howl back and tag a Crop and Soil friend! 🐺

Turf Club shows out at Turfgrass Field Day 2024. Love those hats! Thanks to all who supported them today.

We're delighted to welcome Erin Rivers to NC State's Department of Crop and Soil Sciences as our new Water Quality Specialist! Erin is eager to tackle North Carolina's unique water challenges, bridging urban and rural needs.

Her commitment to protecting our precious water resources aligns well with our mission of Growing the Future. Join us in celebrating Erin's new journey and the impactful work ahead!

Read more about Erin's role and the future of our sediment and erosion workshops.

https://cals.ncsu.edu/crop-and-soil-sciences/news/erin-rivers-joins-cssc-as-water-quality-specialist/

🌿 Meet Brynna Bruxellas, an award-winning Crop and Soil Science master's student working to speed turfgrass research with drone technology. 🛩️📊

Using drone imagery, Brynna's research aims to streamline turfgrass quality assessments, making the process faster and less biased.

Read more on our website about her journey with GIS (starting with a fascinating undergraduate project) and where her path in AI may lead next. 🛣

Smart spray and precision planting equipment depend on robust imagery databases to train their decision-making algorithms - something the self-driving car market is ahead on.

N.C. PSI platform director Chris Reberg-Horton's team is using a new third-generation imaging robot to build an open-source database that could power applications from w**d control to precision cover crop seeding.

Read about the robot and the behemoth computer power needed to wield the volumes of data.

https://cals.ncsu.edu/crop-and-soil-sciences/news/n-c-psi-advances-ai-for-agriculture/

🧬🌽 Celebrating groundbreaking research! Nicole Choquette’s Ph.D. research on adapting tropical corn to temperate climates earned the prestigious Kenneth R. Keller Research Award. One of the first in crop science in quite some time.

Congratulations Nicole! We couldn't be prouder of our students' accomplishments and contributions to agricultural innovation. 🙌

Read about how her work may help future corn breeders more quickly adapt varieties to climate change.

https://cals.ncsu.edu/news/kenneth-r-keller-research-award-recipients-2024/

🎉👏 We are delighted to see David Crouse, every Crop and Soil student's trusted guide, chosen to lead the college's academic programs. The energy, wisdom and family-style encouragement he brought to our department's students will now be felt throughout CALS.

What a great pick Dean Fox! 🙌

https://cals.ncsu.edu/crop-and-soil-sciences/news/cals-names-new-associate-dean-and-director-of-academic-programs/

🥜 Batter up! Did you know that nearly all the peanuts enjoyed at baseball games come from NC State University's peanut breeding program?

Who knew that beauty was in the eye of the peanut beholder?

Read more about the traits breeder Jeff Dunne strives for and how NC growers bring the taste of summer to stadiums every time you hear 'Play Ball!" ⚾🥜

https://cals.ncsu.edu/crop-and-soil-sciences/news/growing-a-homerun-peanut/

🎉🐺Congratulations to 7 of our faculty who earned milestone promotions this month:

Rachel Vann
Matthew Ricker
Kevin Garcia
Luke Gatiboni
Jeff Dunne
Amy Johnson
Alex Woodley

Proud that they teach, research and inspire for our department! They do the heavy lifting for us to keep Growing the Future. 💪

A big thank you to Dean Fox for coming present CALS swag to the recipients! 🎁

Any guesses of what’s in the bags?? 👀🍨🐺

Looking for a specialized career in environmental science? 🌏 If you like to be hands-on in the field, soil science can be a great fit.

For professionals, our soil science certificate program provides all the academic coursework necessary to prepare for the NC Soil Science board exam.

Bonus? Simplified admissions and online and in-person options! 🐺 🖥

https://cals.ncsu.edu/crop-and-soil-sciences/news/licensed-to-drill-educating-the-professional-soil-scientist/
NC USDA NRCS

From Jamaica to Raleigh, agroecology student Jaleel Hewitt sees the potential for agroecology to feed communities, support a business and share a public message that small farms matter.

HIs journey at NC State has taken him from the classroom to the research field and is fueling his dream to return home to expand the family farm.

Read his story to hear him mythbust common agroecology assumptions and discuss the role it can play in building stronger local food systems.

https://cals.ncsu.edu/crop-and-soil-sciences/news/jaleel-hewitt-growing-caribbean-dreams/

NC State College of Agriculture and Life Sciences

Jaleel Hewitt: Growing Caribbean Dreams NC State's Jaleel Hewitt is a senior majoring in agroecology in Crop and Soil Sciences. He's got big plans to enhance sustainable agriculture in the Caribbean starting with his family farm in Jamaica.

🐺❤️ Thank you to our Day of Giving friends! You helped Crop and Soil Sciences raise over $4,700 for our student competition teams.

These student experiences make our graduates more confident and career-competitive. Thank you to all our donors! 🙌

💪

Wolfie time! 🤘 You can help Crop and Soil Sciences win bonus Day of Giving funds today just by posting a photo holding up your Wolfies or wearing NC State gear.

Here's how:

1️⃣ Post your photo publicly on Facebook, LinkedIn, X or Instagram
2️⃣ Tag and NC State University - Department of Crop & Soil Sciences
3️⃣ Use

Day of Giving Funds go to fund Crop and Soil Sciences' student competition teams - like our W**d Science Students. Go Pack!

When our Pack responds. 🫶🐺

AGI Alums! Whether you graduated last year or were one of the first graduating classes, we want to hear from you!

Please comment where you are currently working, your job title, and graduating class. If you're retired, let us know what you were doing beforehand!

Tomorrow is Day of Giving at NC State!

The Department of Crop and Soil Sciences is more than a collection of passionate students and expert faculty, we are family! ❤️ 🐺

From a student's first steps into Williams Hall for a Spend a Day at State visit to their final dissertation, we run as a Pack.

Day of Giving funds our student competition teams that give our students the experience and camaraderie that drive them to Think And Do.

Will you join us tomorrow in Giving Pack? Whether you join a social media challenge or make a financial gift, we appreciate you! 🙌

🎉 Congratulations to Ph.D. student Julia Janson for winning a Women In Science prize from The Story Exchange. Julia's passion for soils collided head-on with the challenges coastal NC growers face from saltwater intrusion.

Her research is laying the groundwork for field tools for growers to make in-season decisions about soil salinity.

Read about the discovered 'tipping point' for soil flooding and how Julia plans to plow her prize money deeper into the research.

THIS is Think And Do, and it's what our graduate students are doing daily. 🙌 🐺

https://cals.ncsu.edu/crop-and-soil-sciences/news/soil-science-ph-d-student-janson-wins-2023-women-in-science-prize/

It doesn't get much better than when impactful Extension agents are also alumni. So proud to see Mikayla Berryhill helping growers interact and embrace digital tools! 🌱

From crop sciences student to Extension Agent with the N.C. Plant Sciences Initiative, she's bringing innovation to agriculture and fostering connections between researchers and growers. 🚜 🐺

https://cals.ncsu.edu/crop-and-soil-sciences/news/strengthening-connections/

Not sure who needs to hear this today ...

I'm proud of you! Be safe next week.

❤️ Mom

What did you do in class today? Bob Patterson’s crop science lab got a preview of ’s See & Spray w**d technology that is being tested in Wes Everman’s research program. Stirring discussions about environmental responsibility and economic feasibility. Guest appearance from Nash County. This is for our students.
@ **dscience

🎉We are delighted to announce our department's TWO newest William Neal Reynolds Distinguished Professors, professor of soil physics Josh Heitman and professor of w**d science Ramon Leon!

This is well-deserved recognition and serves as one of ' highest honors. 🍻 Cheers to you and all of your impact that is Growing the Future!

https://cals.ncsu.edu/crop-and-soil-sciences/news/william-neal-reynolds-distinguished-professors-announced/

🥳 Congratulations to our and platform director, Rachel Vann, for being named a University Faculty Scholar!

She is a non-stop force who works tirelessly to improve knowledge for NC growers! 🎉🙌

2023-24 University Faculty Scholars Named NC State’s 2023-24 class of University Faculty Scholars was announced today. These 22 early- and mid-career faculty receive this designation in recognition of their outstanding academic achievements and contributions to NC State through their teaching, scholarship and service to the university and...

Can grazing cover crops jumpstart soil health for new organic farms? 🐮🌱

Ekrem Ozlu & 4 partner groups will investigate in a new NIFA-funded study to accelerate the transition to organic systems and measure greenhouse gas emissions.

What's most unusual? Their findings are heading to a surprisingly young audience via school curriculum. Read about the project and future curriculum to introduce organic agriculture as a STEM subject.

https://cals.ncsu.edu/crop-and-soil-sciences/news/organic-accelerator-new-study-investigates-grazing-living-mulches-for-soil-health/

Congratulations to our student winners from the NC W**d Science Society Meeting. We're so proud to see your hard work recognized! 🐺👏

Masters Section 2
• 2nd Place – Jackson W. Alsdorf, North Carolina State University (“North Carolina Survey of Herbicide Resistant Italian Ryegrass Populations.”) CSSC

• 1st Place – James H. Lee, North Carolina State University (“Investigating Herbicide Tolerance on Cosmos bipannatus.”) CSSC

Masters Section 3
• 1st Place – Avi S. Goldsmith, North Carolina State University (“Measuring W**d-crop Leaf Area Ratios with UAV Imagery to Predict Yield Loss in Corn.”) CSSC

Ph.D Section 1
• 1st Place – Jose H. de Sanctis, North Carolina State University (“Cover Crops and Fall-applied Residual Herbicides for Managing Herbicide-resistant Italian ryegrass in North Carolina.”) CSSC

Ph.D Section 2
• 2nd Place – Estefania Gomiero Polli, North Carolina State University (“Investigating Triclopyr Drift Under Roadside Conditions.”) CSSC

• 1st Place – Colton Blankenship, North Carolina State University (“Effect of Application Timing of the W**d Zapper on Palmer amaranth (Amaranthus palmeri) Control and Sweetpotato Yield and Quality.”) Horticulture

Ph.D. Section 3
• 2nd Place – April M. Dobbs, North Carolina State University (“Mapping Predicted Biomass in Rye Using 3-D Imaging.”) CSSC

Poultry litter can be an excellent soil amendment, but the nutrient profile can vary from lot to lot. Here's a great article on Dr. Steph Kulezsa's guidance on litter application and crop planning. 🐔🌽

Know your poultry litter before you apply NCSU professor: Evaluating litter type and contents will help you get the most out of poultry manure for fertilization.

You're invited! The Graduate Student Plant Breeding Club is hosting their 7th Biennial Plant Breeding Symposium on Thursday, 2/1/2024 in the Talley Student Union. The event is titled “Breeding for Balance: Plant and Human Wellbeing” and will feature five guest speakers on a variety of horticultural and row crops.

Registration required: https://plantbreeding.ncsu.edu/plant-breeding-symposiums/

Dr. kulesza talking about manure management at NC commodities conference

🚰 When you turn on the water tap, you expect clean, drinkable water. But a surprising number of North Carolina wells may be impacted by natural deposits of soil contaminants, like arsenic.

Read how Owen Duckworth's lab studies the movement and forms of soil contaminants that profoundly impact human health. And how his lab collaborates with the UNC Superfund Research Program on arsenic distribution across NC soils and how best to remediate it.

Unearthing Soil Solutions for Arsenic Remediation | Crop and Soil Sciences | NC State University Owen Duckworth’s Crop and Soil Sciences lab collaborates with the University of North Carolina’s Superfund Research Program to understand the distribution and effects of naturally occurring arsenic in North Carolina.

If your favorite turkey day 🦃 side dish is football 🏈, you're in a for a great week. During the games, keep an eye on the fields. Every one of them is credit to an athletic groundskeeper and team who work tirelessly behind the scenes to make the playing surfaces safe and beautiful.

We're proud of NC State turfgrass alumnus Danny Losito of the Carolina Panthers, who manages two synthetic and two natural turf fields for professional football and soccer. 🤩

Read about Danny's pathway to Crop and Soil Sciences and some of the lessons he uses every day.

https://magazine.cals.ncsu.edu/i-am-cals-danny-losito/