After completing a bachelor’s in dairy science and in agronomy from UW-Madison and a master’s in plant agriculture at the University of Guelph, I returned to my alma mater to pursue a PhD in the Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies. Currently, my research with Dr. Randy Jackson and Dr. Gregg Sanford explores how we can create truly sustainable agricultural systems filled with healthy soils, clean water, and vibrant rural communities. As a transdisciplinary scholar, I am pursuing mechanistic soil science research at the Wisconsin Integrated Cropping Systems Trial to isotopically trace the fate of carbon in cropping systems under various levels of agroecological intensification. In addition, I employ a theory of place-making in east-central Wisconsin to explore, with community members, the barriers to and opportunities for transforming the agricultural landscape into one that works for local communities, including farmers. My dissertation research dovetails with that of Grassland 2.0 (https://grasslandag.org/) and seeks to support new and emerging Learning Hubs across the Midwest.
Mehre, J., K. Schneider, S. Jayasundara, A. Gillespie, and C. Wagner-Riddle. 2024. Adaptive multi-paddock grazing increases soil carbon stocks and decreases the carbon footprint of beef production in Ontario, Canada. Journal of Environmental Management 371:123255 https:/doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.123255