Education

Ph.D. 2012 University of Wisconsin, Madison – Agronomy/Soil Science Dissertation: Agroecosystem land management and its effect on soil organic carbon stocks and dynamics in the Mollisols of southern Wisconsin

M.S. 2007 University of Wisconsin, Madison – Agronomy Thesis: Dairy slurry in corn based systems: impacts on soil compaction and profitability

B.A. 2002 New College of Florida – Biology/Field Botany Thesis: The Flora of Bailey’s Cay, Roatan Honduras

Description

I work as a Research Scientist and Senior Lecturer in the UW-Madison Department of  Agronomy. I traveled around the world growing up but was very fortunate to spend each summer on our small family dairy farm in the beautiful rolling hills of Viola, WI. My summer experiences growing up always stuck with me, and after graduating from New College of Florida in 2002 with a B.A. in Biology (Field Botany) I turned my sights toward farming. My professional development has included private sector agricultural research in Florida, working on one of Wisconsin’s largest and most diversified organic vegetable farms, designing and implementing over 20 on-farm research trials, and more than a decade of experience with long-term, large-scale cropping systems experiments at the University of Wisconsin’s Research Stations.

Curriculum  Vitae

Current Projects

I oversee all farming and experimental operations at the Wisconsin Integrated Cropping Systems Trial (WICST) in addition to managing a network of bioenergy cropping systems trials throughout WI. WICST is a long-term (29 y), large scale (60 ac) cropping systems experiment designed to evaluate the trade-offs of alternative agricultural productions strategies and issues of agricultural sustainability in organic and conventional farming systems. My current work involves analysis and publication of data from WICST and the bioenergy trials as it pertains to the productivity, profitability, and environmental impact of alternative agricultural production strategies for feed and fuel.

In addition to my research responsibilities I teach two courses for the University of Wisconsin’s 132 year old Farm and Industry Short Course. These courses cover the production and management of grain crops (corn, soybean, wheat) and forage crops (alfalfa, clovers, pasture).

Research and Professional Interests

My primary research interests revolve around the idea of sustainable intensification in Agriculture. Under a model of sustainable intensification the goal is to maintain or increase agricultural productivity while simultaneously improving the ecosystem services provided by an agricultural system (e.g. water filtration, carbon sequestration). There are many approaches and practices that fit this model such as re-integrating crop and livestock production, using cover crops, planting perennial crops such as alfalfa or grasses, and reducing tillage. I am interested in what combinations of such management practices optimize production and sustainability in both organic and conventional cropping systems.

Presentations and Lectures

2015 – Present

• Nuffield Farming Scholars: “The Wisconsin Integrated Cropping Systems Trial (WICST) – 28 years of research in agricultural sustainability” (2017)
• IPM Field Crop Scout Training Class: “Corn growth and development” (2017)
• UW-Madison Agronomy Colloquium “The Wisconsin Integrated Cropping Systems Trial: 26 years of research in agricultural sustainability” (2016)
• GLBRC – All Science Retreat: “Productivity of bioenergy crops on marginal lands”
• IPM Field Crop Scout Training Class: “Corn growth and development” (2016)
• Wisconsin Public Radio – the Larry Meiller Show: “Sustainable Biofuel Research in Wisconsin” (2016)
• Iowa County Grazing Network: “Grasslands, Grazing, and Soil Quality” (2016)
• Biomass and Energy Crops V: Association of Applied Biologists, Brussels, Belgium: “Comparative productivity of maize, switchgrass, miscanthus, poplar, prairie, and other cellulosic bioenergy crops in the North Central US” (2015)
• UW Agronomy/Soils Field Day: “Managing Organic Cropping Systems for Carbon” (2015)
• UW Organic Agriculture Field Day: “The Wisconsin Integrated Cropping System Trial: Productivity, Profitability, and Ecosystem Services” (2015)
• Bethel Lutheran Church – Science Fellowship: “Productivity of alternative biomass crops” (2015)

Abstracts and Posters

• “The Wisconsin Integrated Cropping Systems Trial – 26 years of research in agricultural sustainability”:Valuing long-term sites and experiments for agriculture and ecology, Association of Applied Biologists, New Castle, UK (2015)
• “Productivity of biomass cropping systems in the upper Midwest: yields from Wisconsin and Michigan (2008-2013): Department of Energy GLBRC site review, Madison, WI (2014)
• “Productivity of biomass cropping systems in the upper Midwest: yields from Wisconsin and Michigan (2008-2012): GLBRC sustainability retreat, Hickory Corners, MI (2013)
• “Effect of double crop and dual-use management on biomass production and theoretical ethanol yields of switchgrass in the North Central U.S.A.”, Switchgrass II Conference, Madison, WI (2013)
• “Establishment-phase productivity of biomass cropping systems in the upper Midwest”, American Society of Agronomy, San Antonio, TX (2011)

Professional Positions and Responsibilities

Associate Scientist

Management of the Wisconsin Integrated Cropping Systems Trial (WICST). WICST is a long-term (29 y), large scale (60 ac) cropping systems experiment designed to evaluate the trade-offs of alternative agricultural productions strategies and issues of agricultural sustainability in organic and conventional farming systems. Analysis and publication of data derived from WICST and other bioenergy related cropping systems trials in Wisconsin and Michigan. Development of independent research related to sustainable intensification of agricultural systems with an emphasis on perennialization of annual cropping systems, cover crops, and integrated crop-livestock systems.

Senior Lecturer

Responsible for curriculum development and instruction of two courses covering grain crop production and management and forage production for the UW’s 133 year old short course program. Average enrolment is between 50 and 60 students per course.

Honors, Grants and Fellowships

• UW-GLBRC Critical Compensation Fund award 2013
• Outstanding Staff Award – Department of Agronomy, UW- Madison 2011
• Dwayne A. Rohweder Forage Extension Fellowship – Department of Agronomy, UW-Madison 2007