Penn State Extension program for beginning farmers wins national accolades

November 20, 2018

With a total economic impact of nearly $136 billion annually, the agricultural industry is essential to Pennsylvania's future. Yet, the farming population is aging, and with 16,000 Pennsylvania farmers projected to retire in the next 10 years, many are wondering who will fill their shoes. Those concerns prompted the creation of a Penn State Extension project aimed at supporting the next generation of farmers -- "Supporting Pennsylvania Farmers in the Start-Up, Re-strategizing and Establishing Years" -- an initiative that recently received an award for excellence from the National Association of County Agricultural Agents during its annual conference in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

Penn State agribusiness students gauge consumer acceptance of robotic lawnmowers

November 5, 2018

Will customers of lawn-mowing services accept robotic, autonomous lawnmowers cutting the lawns at their homes with no human operator nearby? Eichenlaub Inc., an upscale landscape firm in Pittsburgh, is counting on agribusiness management students in Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences to find out.

Go West for animal agriculture in Pennsylvania

November 5, 2018

To comply with nutrient-reduction goals in the Chesapeake Bay watershed, Pennsylvania may want to consider the establishment of animal agriculture operations in the western part of the state, according to a team of Penn State researchers.

Penn State agribusiness major lands White House internship

November 1, 2018

Tony Rice, a senior in agribusiness management in Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences, was one of a select group of students who was given the opportunity to develop leadership skills and gain experience in the public-service sector as an intern at the White House and in the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative.

Special Session on Rural Areas in Pennsylvania

October 31, 2018

Stephan Goetz, Professor of Agricultural and Regional Economics and Director of The Northeast Regional Center for Rural Development, convened a special session on Rural Areas in Pennsylvania for the PA Chapter of the American Planning Association 2018 Annual Conference, Erie, PA, October 15.

Students gain valuable insights at national agriculture conference

October 26, 2018

Three students from Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences traveled to Hartford, Connecticut, in September for the annual meeting of the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture.

Challenges Facing Rural America Deeply Rooted In Economic And Social Distress, Researchers Say

October 24, 2018

Ann Tickamyer, professor of sociology at Penn State, was one of the presenters at the 26th National Symposium on Family Issues.

Katherine Zipp, Penn State, "Feeling the burn: The optimal timing of prescribed fires for recreational benefits"

October 22, 2018

Study of Northeast food system advances understanding of regional potential

October 18, 2018

After seven years of analyzing a number of consumption, distribution, production, and other aspects of the Northeast U.S. food system, researchers from Penn State and 10 other universities and organizations have made significant gains in understanding the extent to which the region can increase production of certain foods, and potentially better meet the food needs of low-income populations in the locations they studied.

Teams sought to develop innovative research programs using Twitter data

October 17, 2018

"...CSA Director Guangqing Chi, associate professor of rural sociology and demography and public health sciences, says that Twitter data has potential for expanding social science research because it includes a large amount of individual information that is longitudinal and georeferenced...)

The Engagement Tool Project holds Workshop

October 15, 2018

The Engagement Tool project held a workshop on September 12 about teaching public engagement in research at Penn State. Frans Padt explained the showcases they are developing this semester. Speakers included: Mike Zeman (Student Engagement Network), Michele Halsell (The Sustainability Institute),Walt Whitmer (Penn State Extension), Tom Hogan (School of Labor and Employment Relations), and Mallika Bose (Landscape Architecture.)

Chapel intern finds passion for data through summer internship

October 9, 2018

A summer internship at Bates White Economic Consulting opens opportunities for Gregory Mitchell. Mitchell is a Community, Environment and Development major also co-enrolled in the Energy, Environmental, and Food Economics master’s program; both programs are within the Department of Agricultural Economics, Sociology and Education.

Agribusiness Management Club provides insight into professional world

October 9, 2018

Providing students with a glimpse into the world of business and professional development is the main goal of the Agribusiness Management Club in Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences. "Our purpose is to help our members excel in their professional and academic lives," said club president Tess McNamara, a junior agricultural science major from Pottstown, Pennsylvania.

Alumnae of College of Agricultural Sciences to be honored by peers

October 8, 2018

The National Association of Agricultural Educators has recognized four alumnae of Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences for their contributions to agricultural education.

R&D-heavy firms thrive in diverse economies

October 1, 2018

Economists have long studied the economic benefits that result when businesses locate near one another, or agglomerate, and these agglomerations can fall into two different categories, according to Stephan Goetz, professor of agricultural and regional economics, Penn State, and director of the Northeast Regional Center for Rural Development

Global Teach Ag to receive the Penn State Ag Council Leadership in Action Award for 2018

September 25, 2018

Global Teach Ag has been nominated and chosen to receive the Penn State Ag Council Leadership in Action Award for 2018. This award was created to recognize an organization, group, event, program, activity, strategy, advocacy, etc. that successfully advances leadership in agriculture and/or the future of agriculture in Pennsylvania. The Award will be presented at the Penn State Ag Council Fall Delegate Meeting on October 25, 2018. The mission of the PSU Global Teach Ag! Initiative is to develop capacity in agriscience teachers and agriscience education programs for global impact in food, fiber, and natural resources through youth development and education programming. aese.psu.edu/teachag/global facebook.com/TeachAgPSU

Poor mental health days may cost the economy billions of dollars

September 24, 2018

Featured research by Stephan Goetz, professor of agricultural and regional economics, Penn State, and director of the Northeast Regional Center for Rural Development.

Katherine Zipp, Assistant Professor of Environmental and Resource Economics, was part of a team that received a grant from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service through the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative for $800,000

September 21, 2018

Katherine Zipp, Assistant Professor of Environmental and Resource Economics, was part of a team that received a grant from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service through the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative for $800,000 to understand and prevent the spread of invasive species in Pennsylvania and support the efforts of Pennsylvania’s Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) Management Plan.

Ag Sciences Career Day, internship program lead to career success

September 7, 2018

As an undergraduate in Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences, Casey Branstetter participated in a unique scholars program, an experience that she said was instrumental in launching her professional career with AgChoice Farm Credit.

Engagement Tool Workshop

August 28, 2018

You are invited for the Engagement Tool workshop on September 12, 2018 from 12-2 PM in the Stuckeman Building Jury Space. Information can be found on http://sites.psu.edu/psuengagementtool

College of Agricultural Sciences names Harbaugh Faculty Scholars

August 28, 2018

Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences has awarded funding to three individuals and two teams to support the development of innovative curricula under the college's Harbaugh Faculty Scholars program.

Farmer Field School addresses food insecurity, gender inequality in Honduras

August 27, 2018

Researchers in Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences are among an interdisciplinary team dedicated to elevating Hondurans — especially women — by teaching them how to diversify their farm operations to improve family diet and income, while advancing gender equality.

Research commercialization leader joins College of Agricultural Sciences

August 20, 2018

Maria Spencer has joined the Entrepreneurship & Innovation team in Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences as the first John and Patty Warehime Entrepreneur in Residence.

Using social media to solve social problems

August 16, 2018

A National Science Foundation-funded Penn State project will evaluate the accuracy of using Twitter data to represent populations across different demographic groups.

Well-being of 'left behind' children in Kyrgyzstan focus of study

August 7, 2018

Growing up can be hard no matter what a family's circumstances, but it is often more so for children living in the Kyrgyz Republic in Central Asia, one of the poorest countries in the world, known for its dry environment, high mountains, nomadic culture and animal-husbandry heritage. Isolation, poverty and food insecurity are among the hardships children live with, but perhaps most distressing is separation from their parents, many of whom live away from home for months and even years to work in countries like Russia, Kazakhstan and Turkey. Understanding the economic, health, behavioral and educational effects of labor migration on children is one aspect of a three-year, interdisciplinary research project that is being carried out by researchers in Penn State's Colleges of Agricultural Sciences, Liberal Arts, Earth and Mineral Sciences, Health and Human Development, and Education.

Saving the Bay - Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences takes a lead role in cleaning up the Chesapeake

July 17, 2018

When Matt Royer teaches undergraduates about nutrient pollution, he calls it a next-generation environmental problem. “I start with a history of the environmental movement,” says Royer, director of Penn State’s Agriculture and Environment Center. “Most of our current law was born out of those televised images from the 1960s, images of rivers catching on fire, smog inversions, oil spills on California beaches. Things that are easy to see, that have drastic, immediate impacts.” Nutrient pollution is not like that. Its impacts mount gradually, and they can be difficult to spot. But it’s a major issue affecting water quality around the world: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency names it “one of America's most widespread, costly and challenging environmental problems.”

Researchers discuss importance of gender in international agriculture research

July 5, 2018

Gender researchers from around the world converged at Penn State in June to discuss the importance of incorporating gender concepts into international agricultural research. Sponsored by the College of Agricultural Sciences' Gender, Agriculture and Environment Initiative, the events kicked off June 6-7 with the initiative's inaugural event, the Gender, Agriculture and Environment Symposium, which provided participants with an opportunity to learn from gender researchers and practitioners who are leaders in gender scholarship and policies. Symposium sessions addressed how gender intersects with factors such as climate change, land and water use, biodiversity, access to agricultural value chains and technologies, sustainable agriculture practices, and divisions of labor. Following the symposium, many attendees remained at Penn State for the Gender Research and Integrated Training program, a three-week series of workshops led by faculty in the College of Agricultural Sciences. The training is funded by a two-year grant from the CGIAR Consortium of International Agricultural Research Centers. The CGIAR Consortium consists of 15 centers around the world.

Analysis of post-recession job trends suggests existence of 'two Pennsylvanias'

June 11, 2018

An analysis of employment change in the state since 2001 suggests the existence of "two Pennsylvanias" during the period from 2001 to 2017, according to economists in Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences. The newly released report shows a sharp divide between southeastern Pennsylvania, with mainly job growth, and the rest of the state, with primarily job decline.

Penn State gives voice to youth through social science research

April 9, 2018

Penn State undergraduate students, State College Area High School students, and youth from the Philadelphia Chapter of HOPE Worldwide/Saturday Academy will come together for the first Penn State Youth as Researchers Exposition on Friday, April 13, beginning at 6:30 p.m. in the Ruth Pike Auditorium, Biobehavioral Health Building, University Park campus.

Investing in public education earns high marks for greater upward mobility

April 2, 2018

Investing in education may help boost economic opportunities for the next generation, according to a team of economists. In a study, researchers suggest that investing in public education can lead to more upward economic mobility and lower teen pregnancy rates, as well as provide a way to ease income inequality.