News

New climate resiliency program to address long-term plant agriculture challenges in Michigan

Published on February 1, 2024
The Agricultural Climate Resiliency Program is a partnership among MSU, the Plant Coalition, and the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.
PSM's Marc Friedman and Alassane Sow explore food and sustainability issues in a new MSU Museum exhibit

Published on January 28, 2024
Exhibit on view through Jun 29, 2024 at the MSU Museum
PSM Students get weedy at annual conferences

Published on January 28, 2024
PSM weed science students placed well in poster and presentation contests at the annual meetings
Enrollment is up in Turfgrass program

Published on January 26, 2024
It’s a great time to be part of the turfgrass program! More than 30 students are currently enrolled in the undergraduate/certificate program.
New MSU research details how analyzing historical crop yields can reveal key soil health insights

Published on January 18, 2024
An MSU-led team used a novel analytical method known as yield stability zones to show the relationship between crop yield and soil health. The results can help farmers lower input costs and increase yield, while lessening environmental impact.
MMG udergrad Alassane Sow enjoys working as a research assistant in PSM

Published on January 18, 2024
Microbiology major crosses the street for his part time job as a research assistant in the Bonito lab
Welcome our new Graduate Students

Published on January 15, 2024
A fresh crop of graduate students joins Plant Soil and Microbial Sciences dept this January 2024
Michelle Hulin joins PSM faculty

Published on January 15, 2024
New plant pathologist brings fresh experience to long-term crop concern
MSU scientists featured in novel, new DOE-sponsored climate report

Published on January 10, 2024
Bruno Basso and Phil Robertson led research into how the U.S. can best manage cropland soil to capture carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
Lisa Tiemann recounts her adventures in Africa and India during her 2023 sabbatical

Published on December 8, 2023
Weekly seminar re-cap and zoom video
MSU plant pathologist awarded $3.95M USDA grant to examine fruit rot in blueberries

Published on December 5, 2023
Timothy Miles, an assistant professor in MSU's Department of Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences, is teaming up with researchers across the U.S. to further study management of Anthracnose and Botrytis fruit rot in blueberries.
Many opportunities for collaboration and outreach at the MSUE Upper Peninsula Research and Extension Center

Published on December 3, 2023
MSUE UPREC Director James DeDecker summarizes 125 years of history and research in PSM/HRT series seminar
MSU-led research team receives $946K grant to study alfalfa autotoxicity

Published on November 28, 2023
The project is funded by USDA NIFA's Alfalfa Seed and Forage Systems program.
CSS Freshman Caden Wade wins top participant award at national FFA competition

Published on November 24, 2023
At the 96th Annual FFA Convention, Caden was named the National Top Participant Winner in the Farm and Agribusiness Management competition with his chapter ranking third overall.
New Publications

Published on November 22, 2023
Long-term, large-scale analysis shows decline in soybean resistance genes over time
New PSM Staff Member

Published on November 22, 2023
Matthew Chansler, research assistant, joins Dr Grace Fleming as a much-needed full-time lab manager as her program grows.
Blueberries get a $3.9 million + boost with a multi-disciplinary, multi-institution project based right here in PSM with Dr Tim Miles

Published on November 20, 2023
Dr Tim Miles and team take on biggest blueberry project ever
Weekly beet Newsletter for 13 November 2023

Published on November 13, 2023
PUBLISHED ON OCTOBER 9, 2023
PSMs Molly Irvin Takes First with Poster at the BIC Meeting

Published on November 10, 2023
Molly Irvin was awarded 1st place in the grad student poster competition at the Bean Improvement Cooperative Biennial Meeting in Greenville, SC reecently
Research team led by MSU scientist receives $6M USDA grant to study pest-management strategies for potato systems

Published on November 10, 2023
Zsofia Szendrei, a professor in MSU’s Department of Entomology, is leading a team of researchers from across the U.S. in finding solutions to controlling potato pests without using neonicotinoids.
News from PSM participation in ASA, CSSA, & SSSA Meeting 2023 St Louis MO

Published on November 3, 2023
PSM students are the big winners at this year's ASA, CSSA, & SSSA Meeting in St Louis MO.
AgBioResearch releases Project GREEEN’s RFP FOR 2024!

Published on November 3, 2023
View details on the newly released RFP from MSU AGBioResearch.
PSM Soil team kicks up the dust at the recent ASA Region 3 Soils Contest

Published on November 3, 2023
Along with Coach Wessel, the team includes Bernie Frantz and Chris Baish as assistant coaches, and the Soil Judgers who competed were Isabella Rabac, Ben Bridge, Grace Beem, and Andrew Wade.
PSM WEEKLY NEWS BEET 10-30-23

Published on October 30, 2023
Weekly beet for OCTOBER 30, 2023
Weekly beet Newsletter 10/16

Published on October 16, 2023
Weekly beet for OCTOBER 16, 2023
Weekly beet Newsletter

Published on October 9, 2023
PUBLISHED ON OCTOBER 9, 2023
PSM graduate student Ojo Olorunsogo Paul takes sustainability to the next level

Published on October 9, 2023
Student invited to join the 2023 cohort of MSU Cloud Computing Fellows.
Improving soil bulk density and carbon estimates in inland wetland histosols

Published on October 6, 2023
New Project: The Wessel Lab prepares to re-map Michigan wetland soils.
Beal seed viability experiment yields a hybrid surprise

Published on October 6, 2023
A new paper authored by Dr Margaret (Grace) Fleming (Assistant Professor PSM) describing the results from the 16th Beal bottle was accepted by American Journal of Botany and is NOW available online.
Plant science recruiting initiative kicks off

Published on October 4, 2023
MSU will extend its agriculture education leadership through a Plant Science Excellence hiring initiative.
Weekly beet Newsletter for 2 October 2023

Published on October 2, 2023
PUBLISHED ON OCTOBER 2, 2023
LTAR has a field day!

Published on September 29, 2023
Sustainable Cropping Systems for the Future is the theme at the Long-Term Agroecosystems Research LTAR field day, which took place recently on the grounds of the field station.
Dr. Foster awarded for dedication and achievement

Published on September 22, 2023
Dr. Eunice Foster was awarded with the Extraordinary Excellence in Diversity Award for her dedicated years of coordinating, teaching, research and leadership.
Four PSM Researchers to receive the 2023 CANR Excellence in Research Awards

Published on September 18, 2023
Michigan State University College of Agriculture and Natural Resources is proud to announce 4 of the the recipients of the 2023 CANR Excellence in Research Awards are part of the Dept of Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences
Dr Ravi Singh of CIMMYT, “Leadership in Plant Breeding for Global Food Security” seminar series

Published on September 8, 2023
A leading scholars in the field of wheat agriculture, Dr Sing has contributed to development, release, and cultivation of over 550 wheat varieties in pursuing his goal of feeding the future. Still has a moment for graduate students at MSU.
Please welcome Dr. J. Alejandro Rojas back to PSM

Published on September 5, 2023
Alejandro Rojas returns to PSM as an assistant professor, bringing his family, 3 students, and a passion for learning more about the role of fungi and oomycetes on plant health and how their genetic makeup shapes those interactions.
A century of soil testing in Michigan

Published on August 31, 2023
Jon Dahl discusses the changes and challenges of soil testing in Michigan for almost a century.
New MSU study shows innovative machine learning techniques more accurately monitor PFAS in Michigan drinking water

Published on August 30, 2023
Researchers sought to create regional models that take into account factors unique to Michigan.
Welcome New Graduate Students 2023!

Published on August 28, 2023
A great new group of students joins PSM
MSU and USDA celebrate 100 years of cooperative research and Extension

Published on August 25, 2023
On Wednesday 25 August 2023 at the Saginaw Valley Research and Extension Center, all the big names in MSU USDA Sugarbeet research were on hand to reflect, review and plan for the future.
New Study shows how plant myo-inositol transport influences bacterial colonization phenotypes

Published on August 18, 2023
Plants grown in distinct environments often harbor similar microbiomes, which suggests highly conserved mechanisms for the establishment and maintenance of specific plant-microbe interactions.
MSU team to use $611K USDA grant to explore heavy metals in crops

Published on August 17, 2023
Intended to serve as a resource for growers, food industries and policymakers, the project has three overarching objectives aimed at uncovering the circumstances that lead to heavy metal uptake and what can be done to mitigate it.
Turfgrass Field Day Showcases PSM Science

Published on August 14, 2023
It was a beautiful day on the green for hundreds of guests, staff, and researchers who enjoyed brilliant presentations, lunch al fresco, and ample sunshine.
PSM Hosts hands on workshops for Local School Teachers

Published on August 10, 2023
PSM Helps Middle and High School Teachers Get Hands-On Experience with Agricultural Science
How does genetic structural variation affect herbicide resistance?

Published on August 7, 2023
New Nature Communications paper reveals how genomic structural variation effects evolution and ultimately—herbicide resistance—in weeds.
Michigan State Wheat Breeding and Genetics published 2023 Wheat Variety Performance Trials

Published on August 4, 2023
MSU's Wheat Breeding and Genetics worked with 7 cooperators in 7 Michigan counties to test the performance of 102 wheat varieties from 11 different organizations.
Africa Engagement Workshops continue far-reaching impact

Published on August 3, 2023
Workshop participant and Lansing School District High school student is selected as a delegate to the Global Youth Institute.
MSU soil scientist recognized for outstanding environmental quality research

Published on August 3, 2023
Professor Hui Li will be honored Oct. 30 at the American Society of Agronomy's annual meeting.
Highlights from Turfgrass Field Day 2023

Published on July 28, 2023
MSU Turf spreads the word about developing better grass for big events – and more
Plant Genomics @ MSU REU Research Symposium

Published on July 24, 2023
Summer REU students talk about their research and their experiences this Friday!
Three MSU projects receive seed funding for sustainable agriculture collaborations

Published on July 20, 2023
Grants seek to lay foundation for continued research for advancing food system health
Weeds Have a Field Day

Published on July 18, 2023
PSM Scientists and Students engage with attendees on all things weeds
Center for PFAS Research positions MSU scientists as leaders in field

Published on July 12, 2023
Michigan State University researchers are partnering with colleagues across the state, country and worldwide to address PFAS contamination.
MSU researchers receive $750K grant to study soil health amid changing rainfall patterns

Published on July 11, 2023
The funding comes from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Institute of Food and Agriculture.
MSU Wheat Field Day 2023

Published on June 27, 2023
Dennis Pennington, Eric Olsen, Cristy Sprague, Manni Singh and Marty Chilvers presented their research to a diverse group of industry members at the 11th Annual MSU Wheat Field Day.
PSM Researchers take part in Dairy Day

Published on June 23, 2023
More than 30 Michigan non-agricultural science teachers and dairy association representatives were in attendance to learn about soil health, planting technologies, forage production and weed control.
Black truffles grown in eastern U.S. may be less valuable lookalike species

Published on June 21, 2023
Researchers at Michigan State University and the University of Florida, have discovered that truffle producers in the eastern U.S. may be inadvertently cultivating a less flavorful species of truffle.
MSU formalizes International Associated Laboratory partnership with INRAE

Published on June 19, 2023
The Intl. Associated Laboratory agreement will facilitate the sharing of human resources and materials to implement a jointly defined research program investigating molecular mechanisms involved in plant mineral nutrient adaptation to climate change.
Tiedje Recieves Lifetime Achievement Award

Published on June 19, 2023
James P. Tiedje, University Distinguished Professor and Director of the Center for Microbial Ecology received the 2023 Award for Lifetime Achievement from the American Society for Microbiology.
New $1.95M USDA grant to support training of diverse agriculture professionals in soil organic carbon assessment

Published on June 1, 2023
The grant is funded through USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service.
CANR provides rankings on department, unit initiatives around DEI

Published on May 3, 2023
The College of Agriculture and Natural Resources and Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion will honor the 2023 Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Badge Awards recipients at the CANR Faculty and Staff Reception on May 11.
PSM May News

Published on May 1, 2023
PSM Department news for the Month of May 2023
MSU researchers awarded $750K grant to develop sustainable management for potato early die complex

Published on May 1, 2023
The grant is provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Institute of Food and Agriculture
MSU researchers at forefront of efforts to halt spread of oak wilt

Published on April 17, 2023
Lab provides novel methods to protect trees against infection of deadly tree disease
Multi-institutional team of weed scientists helping build genomic resources for agriculture industry, scientific community

Published on April 10, 2023
The International Weed Genomics Consortium is geared toward assembling genomes to combat weed issues in plant agriculture and develop a greater understanding of plant functions.
PSM Celebrates student and faculty achievement

Published on April 4, 2023
PSM students recently brought home awards for poster and oral presentations. Faculty Updates on Krista Isaacs and Lisa Tiemann. Learn more about the department members' accomplishments.
MSU research examining ways to control destructive hop diseases

Published on April 3, 2023
Overcoming issues in a rapidly emerging Michigan industry
Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center receives funding renewal

Published on March 23, 2023
The U.S. Department of Energy has awarded the Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, another five years of funding to develop sustainable alternatives to gasoline, diesel and other hydrocarbon fuels as well as products currently made from petroleum.
Michigan State University a ‘pioneer’ in plant pest and disease response

Published on March 21, 2023
MSU Plant & Pest Diagnostics supports plant agriculture in Michigan and the Great Lakes States through comprehensive diagnostic network
MSU researchers identifying corn tar spot management strategies

Published on March 13, 2023
A team of MSU scientists is working with regional and national partners to mitigate damage from corn tar spot, a disease that can drastically reduce yields.
Natali Gonzalez shares the best part of CSUS is finding a supportive community

Published on March 5, 2023
Natali Gonzalez, Environmental Studies and Sustainability (ESS) major in CSUS, shares why she chose ESS- exploring the interconnectedness of the environment and society.
New MSU research helps better quantify soil carbon stock changes

Published on February 27, 2023
In a new paper published in Scientific Reports, MSU professor Bruno Basso shows how scientists must use a correction calculation to accurately quantify changes in soil carbon stocks over time.
PSM’s Lisa Tiemann will return to Kenya with her Fulbright U.S. Scholar Award

Published on February 13, 2023
PSM’s Lisa Tiemann will return to Kenya with her Fulbright U.S. Scholar Award
Krista Isaacs awarded $250K grant from North Central SARE

Published on February 2, 2023
PSM researcher's project was one of 17 selected for funding for the 2022 Research and Education competitive grant program.
January News Summary

Published on January 31, 2023
New PSM People - January 2023
Khanh Nguyen retiring

Published on January 24, 2023
He retires this week with over 26 years working to keep research equipment humming along in the Plant and Soil Sciences Building
Interdisciplinary team investigates the impact of fungus on the microbiome in human-impacted soils.

Published on December 13, 2022
PSM’s Dr Gregory Bonito, Dr Adam Brown, professor in MSU’s College of Art, Art History and Design, and their colleagues have teamed up to investigate how fungi and bacteria work together to pull metals from soils
PSM Milestones

Published on December 1, 2022
Five Faculty retiring from PSM this year. We wish them all well in their retirements. Read more about their time and experiences at MSU.
Sowing Seeds of diversity

Published on December 1, 2022
Ecotek students come to PSM to learn about life in the lab
December News Summary

Published on December 1, 2022
New disease publication; Student gives first presentation at national meeting; Bean and beet diagnostic day a big success; students and faculty outreach
Passion for strawberries sparks grad student’s education and career goals

Published on November 28, 2022
Plant, Breeding, Genetics and Biotechnology Ph.D. student Ashley Wright has a research focus on strawberries and a teaching focus on improving scientific literacy in non-STEM majors.
PSM welcomes James O’Sullivan: post-doc researcher in Dr Alexandra Kravchenco’s lab.

Published on November 15, 2022
Dr. O' Sullivan joins us directly from his PhD program at La Trobe University in Melbourne, Australia.
The 2022 Michigan Dry Bean Performance Trials report is now available

Published on November 3, 2022
The 2022 dry bean performance trials report is available for download.
MSU-led team studying expansion of controlled environment culinary herb production across US

Published on October 18, 2022
A new $3.4M USDA grant is supporting research and outreach.
Sustainability Made simple

Published on October 5, 2022
PSM researchers shine a light on soil carbon in MSU Museum exhibit: 1.5 Degrees Celsius
CANR undergrad experience helps student find passion in agriculture and food, outreach education

Published on September 12, 2022
Crop and Soil Sciences senior Rachel Drobnak plans to pursue career path in MSU Extension after learning importance of agriculture to food systems.
Dr. Leonardo Volpato Receives NAPB Early Career Award

Published on August 18, 2022
The National Association of Plant Breeders has awarded Dr. Leonardo Volpato the Early Career Award.
Dr Kurt Thelen named American Society of Agronomy Fellow

Published on August 18, 2022
Dr Kurt Thelen has been Awarded the Highest ASA Recognition
Bringing the Beal Seed Experiment into the modern era

Published on August 18, 2022
Dr, Margaret Fleming conducts research to answer questions about the longevity of 140-year-old seeds from the Beal Seed Experiment.
FAA grant supports MSU researchers studying PFAS remediation at Grand Rapids airport

Published on August 18, 2022
Five MSU researchers are part of the team that received a $1.2M grant from the Federal Aviation Administration and the Gerald R. Ford International Airport.
Dr. Kyungmin "Alyssa” Kim (Kravchenko, Dec 2021) won the Truog Dissertation award.

Published on July 18, 2022
“Change of Soil Micro-Environments During Plant Decomposition and its Effect on Carbon and Nitrogen Dynamics” awarded Soil Science Society of America's highest grad student honor.
Creating sustainable crops in a changing climate

Published on July 15, 2022
How does elevated CO2 affect a plant’s ability to take up nutrients? And Why does the nutritional content affect a plant’s ability to thrive and fight disease?
MSU College of Agriculture and Natural Resources receives state funding for updated dairy, greenhouse facilities

Published on July 8, 2022
The university will receive $53 million in state funding to update the dairy and greenhouse facilities.
MSU receives $590K USDA grant for corn tar spot resistance research

Published on July 7, 2022
Addie Thompson, an assistant professor of maize genetics and genomics, leads the project.
PSM Welcomes New Faculty Member Barret Wessel

Published on July 6, 2022
Meet Dr. Barret Wessel, Ph.D., a new faculty member who recently joined PSM as an assistant professor.
MSU AgBioResearch, Extension to host in-person 2022 field days

Published on May 27, 2022
From June to September, MSU AgBioResearch and MSU Extension researchers and outreach specialists will be presenting at field days across the state, covering topics from hops and wheat to dairy and regenerative agriculture.
PSM scholarship awards announced for 2022-23 academic year

Published on May 19, 2022
PSM scholarship awards announced for 2022-23 academic year
Welcome Margaret Fleming

Published on May 19, 2022
Margaret Fleming joins PSM as an Assistant Professor.
Eric Olson awarded $100K matching funds for purchase of equipment

Published on April 27, 2022
Summary
CANR provides rankings on department, unit initiatives around DEI

Published on April 26, 2022
The College of Agriculture and Natural Resources and Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion announced the 2022 Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Badge Awards recipients at the CANR Faculty and Staff Reception on Apr. 21.

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