Researchers at Auburn University recently developed new methods for...
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Alumnus takes animal sciences degree to the Last Frontier
By Chris Anthony Far from the rolling plains of Alabama, the tiny mountain community of Haines, Alaska, (population 1,700) might be the last place you would expect to hear a hearty “War Eagle” as an eagle soars overhead. But that is slowly changing with Gabe Hallmark...
Double Up Food Bucks Alabama: Making healthy eating a SNAP
Double Up Food Bucks Alabama is enhancing communities by making fresh local produce more affordable and accessible at select grocery stores and farmers markets. The program is funded in part by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) with matching funds from state...
Auburn research focuses on more uniform, high-quality cotton fibers
A fierce battle is being waged between cotton and polyester, with polyester edging ahead as the most widely used fiber in the world, for now. In fact, synthetic materials account for more than half of today’s overall market share.
BATM major combines agriculture, technology to create workforce of future
By Amy Weaver Auburn University often adds academic programs in response to workforce demand and societal needs. One of the latest additions is a major in biological...
Alumnus takes animal sciences degree to the Last Frontier
By Chris Anthony Far from the rolling plains of Alabama, the tiny mountain community of Haines, Alaska, (population 1,700) might be the last place you would expect to...
Geoff Williams named director of new Bee Center
Geoff Williams, associate professor, graduate program officer and longtime director of the AU-Bees Lab, is director of the new Auburn University Bee Center, effective Tuesday, April 1. In February, the Board of Trustees approved the establishment of the Auburn...
Innovating solutions to agricultural challenges
A team of both doctoral and undergraduate biosystems engineering students is tackling the age-old problem of precise fertilizer application with cutting-edge drone technology. According to NASA, they’re tackling it well.
Decoding Dicamba
Auburn researchers help farmers adapt to EPA changes This year, major regulatory changes enacted by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will affect farmers nationwide, specifically herbicide use for soybean and cotton producers. For 2025, dicamba herbicide...
Developing high-performing genetic lines and hybrids for the catfish industry
Better breeding ability would make catfish farming more efficient and profitable The $437 million U.S. catfish industry is in need of better genetic and breeding technologies to be competitive with foreign imports. Recently, Auburn scientists have made advances in...
Weed Bionomics Lab leads fight against No. 1 crop pest
Imagine a weed that can produce 600,000 seeds per plant and grow as much as 2.5 inches per day. Such a weed exists, and it’s not being grown somewhere in a secure lab — it’s widespread in the fields of Alabama farmers and throughout the United States. This “super”...
Agricultural grants address problems on Alabama farms
Is growing a cover crop on Alabama farms a solution or a problem for growers in the state who are trying to prevent soil and water erosion losses? A grant funded through the Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station research program for the current fiscal year will...
New Alabama Extension specialist for cotton to start in July
Effective July 1, 2025, Josh Lee will join Auburn University and the Alabama Cooperative Extension System as an extension specialist for cotton. His responsibilities will include in-service training for extension agents, conveying information about new developments...
The Comer 150 Campaign: Rebuilding a legacy for tomorrow
As the College of Agriculture at Auburn University celebrated 150 years in 2022, it also announced plans to renovate its administrative building, Comer Hall. Last November, the Board of Trustees approved a comprehensive renovation of the building, including project...
Fueling a winner
The Southeastern Conference (SEC), on Feb. 24, named Sushil Adhikari as Auburn’s honoree for the SEC Faculty Achievement Award.
Auburn hosts forum on data science and AI in production agriculture and natural resources
Forum to be held 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday, April 21 Auburn University faculty researchers from the Colleges of Agriculture, Sciences and Mathematics, and Engineering seek to advance innovations in agriculture and natural resources. Together, they are hosting a...
Adhikari to serve as interim associate dean, associate director
Sushil Adhikari will serve as the Auburn University College of Agriculture’s interim associate dean for research and interim associate director of the Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station, effective Feb. 16. He replaces Arthur Appel, who stepped into the role of...
Board of Trustees approves two agriculture projects at February meeting
Children’s garden, new Auburn University Bee Center approved Two transformational projects for the Auburn University College of Agriculture were approved by the Board of Trustees at its meeting on Friday, Feb. 7. First, the board approved phase one of a new children’s...
Experiment Station researchers leading nutrient management study with $1.3 million grant
Each year, the Alabama poultry industry produces two fully loaded Nimitz-class aircraft carriers’ worth of poultry litter, or about 3.6 billion pounds. Poultry litter is rich in nitrogen and phosphorus, and much of the waste product is applied to farmland as a...
Beck earns two awards for academic advising excellence
Mallory Beck, academic advisor for the Auburn University College of Agriculture’s Department of Animal Sciences, recently received two awards recognizing her excellence in her profession. Beck received the Outstanding New Advisor Award from the Provost’s Office’s 2025...
$4 million grant takes efficient crop management practices to the farm
Auburn University researchers and Alabama Extension specialists are taking their expertise from labs and small experimental plots to Alabama farmers’ fields with a $4 million grant from the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). The grant aims to increase...
Better than he found it: Patterson steps down as agriculture dean, experiment station director
As 2024 draws to a close, Paul Patterson is stepping away from his roles as dean of the College of Agriculture and director of the Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station, effective Jan. 1. He led both to record numbers in the areas of teaching, research and outreach since he assume the positions in March 2016…
National survey indicates highest bee colony losses in 14 years
The annual U.S. Beekeeping Survey, designed and administered by Auburn University and Apiary Inspectors of America, indicates the highest colony losses since the 2010-11 beekeeping season, when colony loss rates were first determined. U.S. beekeepers lost an estimated...
Three Auburn ag researchers to present at January regional farming conference
Auburn University’s Kip Balkcom, Eddie McGriff and Simerjeet Virk will be among the researchers presenting at the National Conservation Systems Cotton and Rice, Southern Soybean and Corn, Delta States Irrigation and Southern Precision Ag conferences being held Jan. 27...
Researchers study potential savings from reducing time on feed for weaned pigs
Research made possible by $300,000 USDA-NIFA grant The scale of pork production in the U. S. is such that reducing the average pig’s time on feed by just one day can put $76 million back into pork producers’ pockets. Animal scientists at Auburn University are...
Networking in action: poultry science students explore Aviagen’s research center
Networking with industry professionals is a crucial step to success for any undergraduate student. It is especially important for students studying poultry science at Auburn University, as the broiler industry is Alabama’s top agricultural commodity. Making...
Graduation marshal Rachel Robinson sets sights on vet school
Auburn University Marching Band member Rachel Robinson has one more march to make. The animal sciences (pre-vet) major is the student marshal for the College of Agriculture at the 2024 winter commencement ceremony on Saturday, Dec. 14. Robinson’s time as an...
Auburn works to bring bold breakthroughs in blueberry research
Blueberries, a superfood rich in antioxidants, vitamins, and essential nutrients, are widely celebrated during July for National Blueberry Month. Recognizing the potential within these small yet mighty fruits, researchers at Auburn University work to promote the positive health benefits of blueberries.
Promoting blueberry production in Alabama
As the U.S. celebrates National Blueberry Month in July, researchers in the Auburn College of Agriculture and the Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station are looking for ways to boost blueberry production in the state by introducing more profitable cultivars for both field and protected cultivation.
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.
Mullenix named animal sciences department head
Kim Mullenix will serve as the next head of the Auburn University Department of Animal Sciences, effective Aug. 19.
Auburn scientists begin project to build robot to help ornamental plant growers
An AI-powered robot will be able to inventory thousands of plants while also collecting data on plant growth, pests and diseases.
Sustainable beef production system could improve profitability
Sometimes, one Auburn University researcher says, it makes sense to increase input costs in one part of the system if it means costs are decreased somewhere else or the profit margin of the system is increased.
Auburn faculty redefining possibilities for use of biochar products in farming
For researchers studying environmentally friendly farming practices, biochar is a game-changer.
Biochar, a charcoal-like substance created by heating plant waste, is a groundbreaking innovation in the field of sustainable farming. It is beneficial for improving soil quality, recycling organic plant material and capturing greenhouse gas emissions from the agricultural industry.
Horticulture’s Kaylen Anderson wins Employee of the Year
“It’s a dream to work for Auburn. I love Auburn,” Anderson said. “I’m forever grateful for the experience, the amazing people I’ve met and the friendships I’ve made.”
Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station purchases property in Autaugaville
The Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station closed on a new 904-acre property in Autaugaville May 16. The $5.15 million purchase was…
Endowed Professor Nannan Liu demonstrates excellence in research
A seasoned researcher and administrator in the Auburn University College of Agriculture and one of the top 2% of entomologists in the world got her start in the field because of the kindness of a neighbor.
The Market at Ag Heritage Park to return to campus May 23
Auburn University’s only farmers’ market returns to campus on Thursday, May 23…
$750K grant allows faculty to help rural Alabamians
Farmers often lament the land lost to suburban sprawl, but across the South, a land mass roughly the size of New Jersey is stuck in a legal limbo known as heirs’ property.
Corley Williams selected spring 2024 College of Agriculture student marshal
The spring 2024 graduation marshal for the Auburn University College of Agriculture is a Blountsville, Alabama, native with farm management plans on the horizon.
Three ag faculty members complete national LEAD21 program
Three faculty members from the Auburn University College of Agriculture were among 88 nationally to complete the 2023-24 LEAD21 leadership-development program. They were Jeremiah Davis, professor and director of the National Poultry Technology Center; Kim Mullenix,...
Chera Howard places second in Tiger Cage Pitch Competition
College of Agriculture student Chera Howard placed second in a competition that started with 21 student-led business startups competing for $80,000 in seed funding. The 2024 Tiger Cage Business Pitch Competition concluded on March 29 when the six teams who advanced to...
Variety testing program’s stakeholders to benefit from new collaboration
By Henry Jordan Thanks to a grant from the National Peanut Board, a new multistate collaboration will allow the Auburn University Official Variety Testing (OVT) program to provide its stakeholders access to new data. The OVT first contracted with Medius Ag, a...
Rodrigues wins early career award for young professionals
An Auburn University assistant professor and Alabama Extension specialist earned an early career award for her research and extension work to address the needs of the local and regional fresh produce industry. Camila Rodrigues — a researcher for the Alabama...
Dennis Brothers honored with SAEA Outstanding Extension Project Award
Dennis Brothers received the Southern Agricultural Economics Association’s Outstanding Extension Project Award at its annual meeting in early February. Brothers is an associate extension professor in the university’s Department of Agricultural Economics and Rural...
Celebrating Black History Month: Auburn Alumni Who Are Making Strides in Ag
starting as an Assistant Professor of Entomology this Fall at Ohio State University.In coordination with Auburn University’s Office of Inclusion and Diversity (OID), Auburn Agriculture is taking the month of February to recognize the past, present and future...
Tian awarded NOAA grant for improving U.S. precipitation observations using AI
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration awarded Auburn University’s Di Tian a two-year, $313,420 grant to develop improved long-term, high-resolution precipitation data over the United States. Tian is an associate professor in Auburn’s Department of Crop,...
Handbook Edited by Auburn Faculty Shows Why Microfinance Matters
"The Handbook of Microfinance, Financial Inclusion and Development," edited by Valentina M. Hartarska, Alumni Professor in the Department of Agricultural Economics & Rural Sociology, details the conceptual frameworks for financial inclusion, the importance of how...