College of Ag Sciences faculty member receives NACTA Murray Brown Award

September 22, 2022

Daniel Foster, associate professor of agricultural and extension education in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences, is the 2022 North American Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture (NACTA) Murray Brown Award recipient.

Penn State’s Stories from the Field conversation series returns for fall

September 15, 2022

Penn State’s “Stories from the Field” conversation series is returning this fall with three new sessions. Each was designed to bring together academics and practitioners to discuss the challenges and opportunities of applied research and community engagement.

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.

Local food boon spurred by pandemic may be short-lived, new research reports

September 6, 2022

The COVID‐19 pandemic affected American households in countless ways, but according to researchers, some of the most tangible shifts are taking place in the food system.

'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.

Ag Sciences, PR student selected as Agricultural Future of America ambassador

August 24, 2022

Leah Welk, a third-year student double-majoring in agricultural science and public relations, has been selected as an ambassador for Agricultural Future of America at Penn State.

Mandatory labeling on genetically engineered foods may reduce customer purchases

August 22, 2022

Labels alerting customers that products contain ingredients from genetically engineered plants may reduce sales, at least in the short term, according to a new study from a research team including an agricultural economist in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences.

After a two-year hiatus, College of Ag Sciences resumes study abroad programs

July 28, 2022

After a two-year pause due to the pandemic, students in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences once again are taking advantage of study abroad opportunities. In the spring semester, students visited countries around the world, including Spain, Ireland, Germany and Kenya.

Harbaugh Faculty Scholars named in College of Agricultural Sciences

July 7, 2022

Two faculty members in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences have received funding to support the development of innovative curricula under the college’s Harbaugh Faculty Scholars program. Justine Lindemann, assistant professor of community development and resilience, and Ricky Bates, professor of horticulture, received awards under the program, which was created by a gift from Penn State alumnus Earl Harbaugh and his wife, Kay.  

Penn State scientists examine the effects of child maltreatment on survivors

July 1, 2022

Benjamin Bayly, assistant professor in family studies, child and youth development in the College of Agricultural Sciences, led a study examining how different types of childhood maltreatment were associated with depressive symptoms and heavy episodic drinking between the ages of 14 and 30.

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.

Advancing global food security education one classroom at a time

May 17, 2022

Penn State students were among those selected for an immersive teaching experience offered through a partnership among Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences, the University of Idaho, and the World Food Prize Foundation, funded by a $280,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture.

Community, Environment and Development Club helps break world record

April 28, 2022

As part of a nationwide Earth Day celebration, members of the Community, Environment and Development Club in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences helped break a Guinness World Record on NBC’s “Today” show.

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.

Penn State researchers support social science through COSSA Advocacy Day

April 25, 2022

Five Penn State researchers recently participated in Social Science Advocacy Day, held virtually by the Consortium of Social Science Associations, to discuss the value of the social and behavioral sciences to issues of importance to policymakers.

COVID-19 impact on gender, agriculture and food systems inspires new book

April 20, 2022

“Gender, Food, and COVID-19: Global Stories of Harm and Hope” is a new book co-edited by Paige Castellanos, Carolyn Sachs and Ann Tickamyer, gender scholars in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences.

Penn State students engage with local Latino farmworker community

April 15, 2022

An innovative community service-learning course, “Community Engaged Learning with Pennsylvania Farmworkers,” offered by Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences, brings students of all disciplines together to teach and engage with immigrant farmworkers living in Centre County.  

Using tweets to predict real-time food shortages

April 11, 2022

The sentiments and emotions expressed in tweets on Twitter can be used in real time to assess where supply chain disruptions due to a pandemic, war or natural disaster may lead to food shortages, according to researchers at Penn State and the Hamad Bin Khalifa University in Qatar.

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.

Study examines if there is something 'fishy' happening with seafood imports

April 4, 2022

Reducing tariffs on imported goods is meant to remove trade barriers, but it doesn’t seem to be helping the seafood industry, which has experienced the same — if not more — import rejections and notifications at borders, according to research guided by an agricultural economist at Penn State.  

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.

Faculty in College of Agricultural Sciences lauded for excellence in teaching

March 16, 2022

Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences has recognized five faculty members for outstanding teaching in 2021.

Conference at Penn State to focus on the importance of intergenerational links

March 10, 2022

In collaboration with Penn State Extension and organizations and agencies throughout the state, the College of Agricultural Sciences will hold the “Pennsylvania Intergenerational Conference: Intergenerational Approaches for Living, Learning and Growing in Pennsylvania" in July  —  the first conference of its kind in the state.

Founder of Penn State Extension’s Better Kid Care was a visionary in education

February 23, 2022

James Van Horn, an esteemed faculty member in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences and the founder of Penn State Extension’s Better Kid Care program, is being remembered by colleagues as an innovator in childhood development and education. Van Horn died on Feb. 8.

Karen Fisher-Vanden in College of Ag Sciences named distinguished professor

February 16, 2022

Karen Fisher-Vanden, professor of environmental and resource economics and public policy in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences, has been named a distinguished professor by Penn State’s Office of the Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs.

Penn State names 21 new distinguished professors for 2022

February 15, 2022

Penn State's Office of the Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs has named 21 distinguished professors for 2022.

Study examines connection between availability of healthy food options, health

February 15, 2022

Limited availability of affordable and healthy foods can contribute to poor health outcomes, especially for residents of rural and low-income regions, according to an agricultural economist at Penn State who examined the food environment for residents in the Mississippi Delta, a region that has one of the highest obesity rates in the U.S.

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.

Consumer support of food-waste solutions focus of agricultural economist's study

February 2, 2022

When it comes to reducing food waste, consumers most favor solutions that involve making food donations easier and establishing standards for food date labels. That is one finding of a study — among the first to examine support and perceived effectiveness for popular food waste solutions — led by an agricultural economist in Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences.

Integrated modeling of climate impacts on electricity demand and cost

January 17, 2022

A team of researchers led by Penn State has developed a coupled water–power–economy model to capture how the impacts of climate-related water stress and temperature changes can cascade through energy systems.