Effective July 1, 2025, Josh Lee will join Auburn University and the...
Crop, Soil & Environmental Sciences Articles
Latest
Lawson part of team shaping Alabama’s State Wildlife Action Plan
By Kelley Young Alabama is home to unique ecosystems like the Appalachian Plateau, the Mobile-Tensaw Delta and the Black Belt Prairie, and protecting these delicate environments is crucial to maintaining biodiversity across the state. That’s why Auburn University’s...
Understanding the role of the soil microbiome in plant health
Long-term security of U.S. food and fiber production depends upon healthy soils to produce healthy plants. While scientific understanding of the importance of healthy soils has increased greatly, there remains a knowledge gap when it comes to how the soil microbiome...
Lawson part of team shaping Alabama’s State Wildlife Action Plan
Auburn University’s Kelly Homan and Katelyn Lawson have joined forces to assist the state of Alabama in the creation of its 2025 State Wildlife Action Plan (SWAP) revision.
Understanding the role of the soil microbiome in plant health
Soil scientist Audrey Gamble is working to improve sustainability of cotton production by improving soil microbial structure and function.
Maity awarded $300,000 in support of plant research and agricultural production systems
The USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) recently awarded Aniruddha Maity a $300,000 grant to….
Guertal tapped to lead Auburn’s strategic plan process
Auburn University President Steven Leath has tapped Beth Guertal, professor in the Department of Crop, Soils and Environmental Sciences, to lead a strategic planning process that will bring 500 new tenure-track faculty in the next five years.
Bowen, McElroy college’s newest Alumni Professors
Only 16 of Auburn University’s 1,330 faculty members currently hold the prestigious title of Alumni Professor, and six of those 16 are in the College of Agriculture. As is often the case, the college boasts more Alumni Professors than any other college or school on...
College’s Auburn Ag Online distance ed program ranks 2nd among online degree programs
The Auburn College of Agriculture’s distance education program, Auburn Ag Online, has been ranked the second best online agriculture degree program in the nation by guidetoonlineschools.com.
Alabama’s McMichen Farm breaks 100-bushel soybean barrier
By Eddie McGriff McMichen Farm has become the first farm in Alabama to make and break the 100-bushel soybean barrier with just more than 102 bushels per acre. The Cherokee County farm—located near Centre in northeast Alabama—has been in the McMichen family since 1842....
NRCS funds to demonstrate and promote best irrigation practices in Alabama
By Paul Hollis The latest numbers tell the irrigation story: In Alabama, only 15 percent of the land currently available for farming is irrigated, a far cry from Mississippi’s 61 percent of cropland and Georgia’s 40 percent. Over time, that lack of irrigation...
Cutts recognized as UGA outstanding alumni
Auburn agronomist Trey Cutts, Department of Crop, Soil and Environmental Sciences assistant professor and extension cotton specialist, is one of seven University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences graduates that the college’s alumni...
College, fertilizer institute partner to offer online training worldwide
An innovative contract between the College of Agriculture at Auburn University and the International Fertilizer Development Center, or IFDC, Auburn University College of Agriculture Dean Paul Patterson and J. Scott Angle, president and CEO of the International...
Auburn researchers showcase their work at Wiregrass
By Paul Hollis From a new, high-yielding peanut variety to advanced weapons against a menacing weed species, Auburn University researchers showcased a broad range of their work during Alabama 2nd District Congresswoman Martha Roby’s recent tour of the Wiregrass...
New AAES grant program addresses critical agricultural needs
By Paul Hollis Long-term research is vital to the future of U.S. production agriculture, but farmers can’t always afford to wait for solutions to their most pressing problems. That’s why a new Auburn University funding program is providing shorter-term grants that...
Crops tour celebrates 40 years of informing farmers
By Paul Hollis The Central Alabama Crops Tour has been an annual happening on the region’s farm scene for just shy of 40 years now, with Auburn University researchers and extension specialists and county and regional agents updating producers on the latest in...
New teaching garden to strengthen ag's on-campus presence
By Jamie Creamer The College of Agriculture has launched a project to establish a highly productive, on-campus teaching garden that will give greater visibility to active agricultural fieldwork at Auburn and enhance the legacy of the historic Old Rotation. Faculty...
Guertal named Rowe Endowed Professor
Beth Guertal, professor of turfgrass and nutrient management, has been named the Auburn University College of Agriculture’s first Rowe Endowed Professor. The endowed professorship was established by 1978 Auburn alumni Mike and Leann Rowe to support tenured faculty who have demonstrated strong commitment to students, teaching, research and service.
Auburn scientists work to mitigate drought in peanuts
By Paul Hollis A research team led by Auburn University is working to help peanut farmers maintain and improve their production in a changing environment that’s certain to include increasingly limited water resources. “Adequate water availability for all crops is an...
Federal research funding pays hefty dividends
By Paul Hollis By most any standard, a $1.85 return on an initial investment of $1 is a good deal. According to a recent study, that’s what federal investments into agricultural research pay back through additional investments from state, local and private-sector...
Faculty members recognized with promotions, mentoring award
Three College of Agriculture faculty members have been awarded promotions, and one of the three also has been recognized university-wide for his exemplary support of undergraduate student researchers. The latter is Sushil Adhikari in the Department of Biosystems...
$5 million grant addresses Southeastern water issues
By Paul Hollis Auburn is joining with three other Southeastern universities in a $5 million research effort to help ensure water for agricultural production while maintaining healthy rivers and springs. The project—funded by a five-year grant from the United States...
Cover crops evaluated for herbicide tolerance
By Steve Li Cover crops can provide many benefits to peanut and cotton rotations in terms of suppressing weeds, conserving soil moisture for planting, increasing soil organic matter, reducing soil erosion and more. In fields where residual herbicides are used during...
Alabama Water Watch celebrates 25th anniversary
By Ravali Bheemanathini Alabama has enough miles of rivers and streams to circle the earth five times, and for the past 25 years, a devoted group of citizen volunteers has worked to protect these bountiful water resources. The group is Alabama Water Watch, and as it...
Study points to flexibility in peanut seeding rates
By Austin Hagan Seed accounts for up to 20 percent of the total variable production cost for peanut producers, especially for larger-seeded cultivars such as Georgia-06. One option for saving money is to reduce seeding rates, but can this be done without negatively...
Guertal president-elect of Crop Science Society of America
Beth Guertal, a professor in Auburn University’s Department of Crop, Soil and Environmental Sciences, has been voted president-elect of the Crop Science Society of America, or CSSA, and will advance to the role of president at the organization’s 2018 meetings in...
Auburn to offer undergrad Ag Science degree as of fall 2017
One of the earliest undergraduate degree programs available to students at what today is Auburn University will return fall semester 2017 when the College of Agriculture begins offering a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Science. Auburn’s Department of Horticulture...
Guertal tapped to lead Auburn’s strategic plan process
Auburn University President Steven Leath has tapped Beth Guertal, professor in the Department of Crop, Soils and Environmental Sciences, to lead a strategic planning process that will bring 500 new tenure-track faculty in the next five years.
Bowen, McElroy college’s newest Alumni Professors
Only 16 of Auburn University’s 1,330 faculty members currently hold the prestigious title of Alumni Professor, and six of those 16 are in the College of Agriculture. As is often the case, the college boasts more Alumni Professors than any other college or school on...
College’s Auburn Ag Online distance ed program ranks 2nd among online degree programs
The Auburn College of Agriculture’s distance education program, Auburn Ag Online, has been ranked the second best online agriculture degree program in the nation by guidetoonlineschools.com.
Alabama’s McMichen Farm breaks 100-bushel soybean barrier
By Eddie McGriff McMichen Farm has become the first farm in Alabama to make and break the 100-bushel soybean barrier with just more than 102 bushels per acre. The Cherokee County farm—located near Centre in northeast Alabama—has been in the McMichen family since 1842....
NRCS funds to demonstrate and promote best irrigation practices in Alabama
By Paul Hollis The latest numbers tell the irrigation story: In Alabama, only 15 percent of the land currently available for farming is irrigated, a far cry from Mississippi’s 61 percent of cropland and Georgia’s 40 percent. Over time, that lack of irrigation...
Cutts recognized as UGA outstanding alumni
Auburn agronomist Trey Cutts, Department of Crop, Soil and Environmental Sciences assistant professor and extension cotton specialist, is one of seven University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences graduates that the college’s alumni...
College, fertilizer institute partner to offer online training worldwide
An innovative contract between the College of Agriculture at Auburn University and the International Fertilizer Development Center, or IFDC, Auburn University College of Agriculture Dean Paul Patterson and J. Scott Angle, president and CEO of the International...
Auburn researchers showcase their work at Wiregrass
By Paul Hollis From a new, high-yielding peanut variety to advanced weapons against a menacing weed species, Auburn University researchers showcased a broad range of their work during Alabama 2nd District Congresswoman Martha Roby’s recent tour of the Wiregrass...
New AAES grant program addresses critical agricultural needs
By Paul Hollis Long-term research is vital to the future of U.S. production agriculture, but farmers can’t always afford to wait for solutions to their most pressing problems. That’s why a new Auburn University funding program is providing shorter-term grants that...
Crops tour celebrates 40 years of informing farmers
By Paul Hollis The Central Alabama Crops Tour has been an annual happening on the region’s farm scene for just shy of 40 years now, with Auburn University researchers and extension specialists and county and regional agents updating producers on the latest in...
New teaching garden to strengthen ag's on-campus presence
By Jamie Creamer The College of Agriculture has launched a project to establish a highly productive, on-campus teaching garden that will give greater visibility to active agricultural fieldwork at Auburn and enhance the legacy of the historic Old Rotation. Faculty...
Guertal named Rowe Endowed Professor
Beth Guertal, professor of turfgrass and nutrient management, has been named the Auburn University College of Agriculture’s first Rowe Endowed Professor. The endowed professorship was established by 1978 Auburn alumni Mike and Leann Rowe to support tenured faculty who have demonstrated strong commitment to students, teaching, research and service.
Auburn scientists work to mitigate drought in peanuts
By Paul Hollis A research team led by Auburn University is working to help peanut farmers maintain and improve their production in a changing environment that’s certain to include increasingly limited water resources. “Adequate water availability for all crops is an...
Federal research funding pays hefty dividends
By Paul Hollis By most any standard, a $1.85 return on an initial investment of $1 is a good deal. According to a recent study, that’s what federal investments into agricultural research pay back through additional investments from state, local and private-sector...
Faculty members recognized with promotions, mentoring award
Three College of Agriculture faculty members have been awarded promotions, and one of the three also has been recognized university-wide for his exemplary support of undergraduate student researchers. The latter is Sushil Adhikari in the Department of Biosystems...
$5 million grant addresses Southeastern water issues
By Paul Hollis Auburn is joining with three other Southeastern universities in a $5 million research effort to help ensure water for agricultural production while maintaining healthy rivers and springs. The project—funded by a five-year grant from the United States...
Cover crops evaluated for herbicide tolerance
By Steve Li Cover crops can provide many benefits to peanut and cotton rotations in terms of suppressing weeds, conserving soil moisture for planting, increasing soil organic matter, reducing soil erosion and more. In fields where residual herbicides are used during...
Alabama Water Watch celebrates 25th anniversary
By Ravali Bheemanathini Alabama has enough miles of rivers and streams to circle the earth five times, and for the past 25 years, a devoted group of citizen volunteers has worked to protect these bountiful water resources. The group is Alabama Water Watch, and as it...
Study points to flexibility in peanut seeding rates
By Austin Hagan Seed accounts for up to 20 percent of the total variable production cost for peanut producers, especially for larger-seeded cultivars such as Georgia-06. One option for saving money is to reduce seeding rates, but can this be done without negatively...
Guertal president-elect of Crop Science Society of America
Beth Guertal, a professor in Auburn University’s Department of Crop, Soil and Environmental Sciences, has been voted president-elect of the Crop Science Society of America, or CSSA, and will advance to the role of president at the organization’s 2018 meetings in...
Auburn to offer undergrad Ag Science degree as of fall 2017
One of the earliest undergraduate degree programs available to students at what today is Auburn University will return fall semester 2017 when the College of Agriculture begins offering a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Science. Auburn’s Department of Horticulture...