Ag Progress Days spotlights spotted lanternflies, plant diseases, robots in ag

July 19, 2019

Spotted lanternflies, invasive plant diseases, robots in agriculture and education, and foreign animal diseases will be among the topics highlighted in displays and presentations at the College of Agricultural Sciences Exhibits Building and Theatre during Penn State's Ag Progress Days, Aug. 13-15.

Penn State scientists expanding work to help farmers learn about industrial hemp

June 27, 2019

With the passage of the 2018 farm bill and new regulations that allow the crop to be grown for sale for a range of uses, hemp production in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania has taken off, with more than 300 permits approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture this year. Even before hemp was green-lighted by the federal government, Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences was at the forefront of industrial hemp research in Pennsylvania.

Grant funds citrus greening resistance research

June 14, 2019

Tim McNellis, an associate professor in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences, received a $171,000 grant from the Citrus Research and Development Foundation to research citrus greening resistance.

Industry groups award funding for fruit research and extension projects

June 14, 2019

New and ongoing tree-fruit research in Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences received a boost with the recent awarding of funds totaling more than $261,000 by the State Horticultural Association of Pennsylvania and the Pennsylvania Apple Program.

Walls successfully defends thesis

June 11, 2019

Joseph Walls successfully defended his thesis on June 10, 2019.

May successfully defends dissertation

June 10, 2019

Sara May successfully defended her dissertation on June 10.

PPEM welcomes new courtesy faculty member

June 7, 2019

The Department of Plant Pathology and Environmental Microbiology recently welcomed Assistant Professor of International Agriculture, Melanie Miller Foster.

Annual Penn State Flower Trials is a labor of love for organizers, volunteers

June 6, 2019

Each May, Sinclair Adam, Alyssa Collins, and a pack of faithful staff and volunteers at Penn State’s Southeast Agricultural Research and Extension Center pull off a logistical — and exhausting — feat, all for the love of flowers.

NIFA awards grant for microbial stress tolerance research

May 31, 2019

The National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) recently awarded Kevin Hockett $453,000 to assist in research focusing on how microbes tolerate distinct stresses.

Faculty Awarded General Education Microgrant

May 28, 2019

The Office for General Education recently awarded a General Education Microgrant to Timothy McNellis, an associate professor of Plant Pathology and Environmental Microbiology in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences, in the amount of $500.

Happy 99th Birthday to the Mushroom Master, Leon Kneebone

May 28, 2019

A World War II veteran who nearly died in battle, a world-renowned mushroom researcher and a volunteer who has has had a huge impact on the Centre County community — today Leon Kneebone turns 99 years old.

Workshop series provides foundation for writing

May 24, 2019

The Department of Plant Pathology and Environmental Microbiology in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences recently concluded a seven-session writing productivity workshop on April 28, 2019.

Pecchia Promoted to Associate Research Professor

May 20, 2019

John Pecchia has been promoted to the rank of associate research professor, effective July 1, 2019.

Peter Promoted to Associate Research Professor

May 20, 2019

Kari Peter has been promoted to the rank of associate research professor, effective July 1, 2019.

Collins Promoted to Associate Research Professor

May 20, 2019

Alyssa Collins has been promoted to the rank of associate research professor, effective July 1, 2019.

Klee receives Alumni Association Dissertation Award

May 14, 2019

Sara Klee, a doctoral student in the Department of Plant Pathology and Environmental Microbiology and USDA NIFA Predoctoral Fellow, has been selected as a recipient of the 2019 Alumni Association Dissertation Award.

Plant pathology, environmental microbiology doctoral student receives NSF award

May 13, 2019

Laura Kaminsky, a doctoral student in Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences, will be able to advance her research interests in plant pathology after receiving a grant from the National Science Foundation.

Ge successfully defends thesis

May 13, 2019

Siyi Ge successfully defended her thesis on May 10, 2019.

Gugino Promoted to Full Professor

May 10, 2019

Beth Gugino has been promoted to the rank of full professor, effective July 1, 2019.

Student entrepreneur takes blood tests from the waiting room to the living room

May 9, 2019

Using Penn State’s entrepreneurial resources, biology student Sherveen “Shevy” Karbasi is bringing complete blood count testing out of the clinic and onto a smartphone.

Penn State graduate students visit Capitol Hill, discuss science-based policy

May 6, 2019

Members of the Penn State Science Policy Society recently visited Washington, D.C., where they met with officials from several congressional offices and nongovernmental organizations to discuss the promotion of science and evidence-based policy.

Penn State Extension marks milestone in outreach to Spanish-speaking growers

May 6, 2019

Penn State Extension recently celebrated 10 years of providing bilingual agricultural education at the Mid-Atlantic Fruit and Vegetable Convention, held annually in Hershey.

Wallace Passes Oral Qualifying Exam

April 29, 2019

Congratulations to Emma Wallace for passing her oral qualifying exam on April 26.

Ehau-Taumaunu awarded newly established Phytobiomes Fellowship

April 24, 2019

Hanareia Ehau-Taumaunu, doctoral candidate in the Department of Plant Pathology and Environmental Microbiology in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences, has been selected as the recipient of the Phytobiomes Fellowship for the 2019-20 academic year.

Professor's genome editing technology leads to Research Innovators Award

April 17, 2019

Yinong Yang, professor of plant pathology, is the 2019 recipient of the Research Innovators Award, given by Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences to recognize faculty and staff who have commercialized intellectual property generated by their Penn State research.

Klee Successfully Defends Dissertation

April 12, 2019

Sara Klee successfully defended her dissertation on April 12.

Something is rapidly killing young apple trees in North American orchards. Scientists are stumped

April 1, 2019

Six years ago, an unpleasant surprise greeted plant pathologist Kari Peter as she inspected a research orchard in Pennsylvania. Young apple trees were dying—and rapidly. At first, she suspected a common pathogen, but chemical treatments didn't help. The next year, she began to hear reports of sudden deaths from across the United States and Canada. In North Carolina, up to 80% of orchards have shown suspicious symptoms. "Rows of trees collapse for what seems like no reason," says Peter, who works at the Pennsylvania State University Fruit Research and Extension Center in Biglerville.

Remembering Professor Emeritus John M. Skelly

March 25, 2019

John M. Skelly, 78 Sr., Ph.D., 78, passed away Friday, March 22, 2019.

Klee receives College of Agricultural Sciences Outstanding Dissertation Award

March 18, 2019

Sara Klee, doctoral student in the Department of Plant Pathology and Environmental Microbiology and USDA NIFA Predoctoral Fellow, has been selected as a recipient of the 2019 College of Agricultural Sciences Outstanding Dissertation Award.

PA farm show provides opportunity to network

February 28, 2019

The 103 PA Farm Show took place on January 5 – 12 and was held at the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex & Expo Center in Harrisburg. Members from the Department of Plant Pathology and Environmental Microbiology, along with other members of the College of Agricultural Sciences and members of the Mushrooms Framers of Pennsylvania (MFPA) volunteered at the event.