News

USAID and PSS Faculty: No-Till Farming Techniques Dramatically Increase Production in Belarus

WASHINGTON, DC (April 10th, 2008) - A Soil Science Professor in Plant and Soil Sciences, Dr Greg Schwab, was recently recognized for his volunteer work with Belarus farmers in a nationally distributed story from USAID (United States Agency International Development). The story explains: "In the summer of 2006, Dr. Greg Schwab, who is an extension [specialist] at the University of Kentucky with expertise in soil, traveled to Belarus as a volunteer through USAID's Farmer-to-Farmer (FtF) Program to introduce the concept of no-till crop production."

Dr Schwab was followed by another FtF volunteer, Mr. Jerry Grigar to provide additional training on no-till farming techniques. These visits proved very beneficial, again quoting the story: "Greg Schwab and Jerry Grigar produced tangible results that have the potential to greatly impact Belarus' agricultural economy." "When Dr. Schwab revisited Kholodon-Agro Farm in February of 2008 he discovered that in the past two years the new drill had planted more than 2,500 acres and produced excellent results for wheat and oats. No-till oat yield was double that of conventionally planted oats. He was also very pleased to learn that the no-till crops planted in the spring of 2006 got 10-15% higher yields than their conventionally planted counterparts. The increased yield was attributed to moisture conservation enabled by the no-till system. In addition to higher yields, Kholodon is spending less on fuel and labor while dramatically reducing soil erosion and the associated environmental impacts. Kholodon plans on planting more than 70% of their crops using no-till this year, which will lead to a highly profitable and more environmentally friendly production in the future."

Dr. Schwab’s work to help spread the latest farming techniques to those in need no matter where they might live is a source of pride for all of us who know and work with him here in the department.

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2008 Joint American Forage Grassland Council/Society of Range Management Annual Meeting

LOUISVILLE, KY (January 27th, 2008) - A number of faculty and students from our PSS Department attended and presented research at the Joint AFGC/SRM Conference held January 26-31, 2008 in Louisville, KY. Over 1500 people attended making this the largest Forage Conference in Kentucky since the 1980 International Grassland Congress. Attendees represented 46 states and 8 countries with 7 people traveling all the way from China. Kentucky was fortunate to take home a number of awards at this event. The Kentucky Forage and Grassland Council received the Affiliate Council Award for the top Forage Council in the USA for 2007. Two PSS graduate students, Adam Probst and Jesse Morrison competed in the AFGC Young Scientist Competition. Jesse Morrison placed 3rd for his presentation "Using Microhistological Techniques to Predict Botanical Composition of Horse Diets on Cool-Season Grass Pasture." Congratulations, Jesse (Photo 1). Dr. Ray Smith co-chaired the meeting and received a commendation award for his efforts from AFGC and a specially engraved Louisville Slugger bat from the conference, and several PSS faculty members contributed to the meeting by organizing symposium or giving talks (Drs. Glenn Aiken, Garry Lacefield, Rebecca McCulley, Lowell Bush, and Tim Phillips).

Staff Appreciation Day 2007

LEXINGTON, KY (September 26th, 2007) - Congratulations to Ted Hicks who received one of the College Staff Awards in the Technical category yesterday. Also, congratulations to Scott Kinison, Toni Kroumova, Sandy Swanson, Yvonne Thompson, Jason Walton and Glen Weinberger who were all nominated in this category. Anne Jack, Brenda Kennedy, Gene Olson and Charles Tutt were nominated from the department in the Executive category. Special thanks go out to those who worked to put together these nominations. While the competition for these awards is intense and not everyone deserving can be recognized, it is an honor to be nominated and reflects the excellent staff in the department.

Turfgrass Science Field Day 2007

LEXINGTON, KY (July 12th, 2007) - Turfgrass Science put on it's annual Field Day Thursday, July 12th at Spindletop Farm. It was a well attended and fun event! Here are some photos to prove it.

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Gamma Sigma Delta Honors KFSP Manager

LEXINGTON, KY (May 7, 2007) - Letha Tomes Drury was recently recognized for her contributions to the Kentucky seed industry and was presented with the Outstanding Alumnus Award at the annual University of Kentucky Gamma Sigma Delta banquet in March. Letha is a 1984 Master's graduate in Seed Biology from the Department of Agronomy in UK's College of Agriculture. She is a native of Edmonson County and received her B.S. degree from Western Kentucky University. Her M.S. research under the direction of Dr. Dennis TeKrony, focused on the identification of important variables in seed vigor testing. As the Manager for Kentucky Foundation Seed Project (KFSP), Letha has helped introduce improved cultivars of foundation seed for soybean, winter wheat, tobacco and grasses, which led to the production of thousands of acres of certified seed to the benefit of Kentucky farmers. For the past 20 years Letha has enthusiastically cooperated with many groups, including the Kentucky Seedsman’s Association, Kentucky Seed Improvement Association and university plant breeders on regulations, administrative procedures and production for certified classes of seed. She has helped with development of standards and policies to facilitate movement of high quality seed. Perhaps her greatest contribution to the seed industry has been bridging the gap between the university breeding programs and the producer. Although now semi-retired, the KFSP continues to thrive under her leadership and she will directly assist with release of new tobacco, hybrid sweet sorghum, white clover and wheat varieties in 2007.

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National Soybean Association Awards Conservation Efforts of Kentucky Farmer

ST. LOUIS, MO (March 15, 2007) - Sam Hancock, a resident of Fulton County Kentucky and an alumnus of the University of Kentucky, received the 2007 Northeast Regional Conservation Legacy Award.  The Conservation Legacy Awards program is designed to recognize a U.S. soybean farmer from each of the four geographic growing regions for outstanding environmental and conservation achievement.  Judges look for dedication to the land through cropland management practices, farmstead protection, and conservation and environmental management.  The award is given by the American Soybean Association and sponsored by Monsanto and The Corn and Soybean Digest.
When he received the award, Mr. Hancock said that “Conservation is not our hobby.  It’s not a cause, it’s our lifestyle.”  More information about the award can be found at: http://www.kysoy.org/news/legacyaward.htm.

Taylor Made Farm and Local High School Team Up With UK PSS

LEXINGTON, KY (December 13, 2006) - Members of PSS recently wrapped up a semester long pasture evaluation project partnership with West Jessamine High School and Taylor Made Farm, one of the area’s top Thoroughbred horse farms. By all accounts the project was a successful one and a beneficial learning experience for both students and farm management. Spearheaded by Dr. Ray Smith and coordinated by Smith and Tom Keene, Joy Lourie and Chengjun Huo, the project mirrored the highly regarded Pasture Management Program completed on more than 30 local horse farms over the past two years. The Pasture Management Project works to help Central Kentucky horse farms determine if cool season tall fescue grass could be problematic for their broodmare herds (a common and potentially harmful fungus is often found in tall fescue and can cause foal loss in mares); help farms increase productivity of their pastures; and foster stronger relationships with the equine industry and Central Bluegrass communities.For more information about this partnership with West Jessamine High School, please visit (www.ca.uky.edu/equine/press_releases.htm).

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UK College of Agriculture Recognizes PSS Research Staff

LEXINGTON, KY (November 15, 2006) - Congratulations are in order for Dr. Neil Fannin who received a 2006 College of Agriculture Outstanding Staff Award for technical/paraprofessional/skilled staff.  Neil was nominated by Lowell P. Bush for his outstanding work, commitment, and dedication.  He has developed original research projects and has presented his work at national and international meetings.  In the past 3 years, he was senior co-author of 3 papers on mass spectroscopy and alkaloid biosynthesis plus a book chapter on 'Formation of tobacco-specific nitrosamines'.  Neil has a Ph.D. in pharmacology and has contributed tremendously to the tall fescue toxicosis research efforts within the Department.  He is not only academically talented but also has the intellectual curiosity of wanting to know how and why things function the way they do.

UK PSS Undergraduate Student Wins National Student Research Symposium Contest at Tri Societies Annual National Conference

INDIANAPOLIS, IN (November 14, 2006) - We congratulate George Clements, a junior in the Horticulture, Plant and Soil Science degree program for winning the National Student Research Symposium Contest awarded by "Students of Agronomy, Soils and Environmental Sciences" - an undergraduate student organization of the American Society of Agronomy, Crop Science Society of America and Soil Science Society of America. George presented a paper entitled "Use of vegetation index to determine potential yield loss: A risk management tool for Asian Soybean rust."  His presentation was based on his undergraduate research project (PLS 395) which is part of an international, multidisciplinary study on Asian Soybean Rust being lead by his mentor, Dr. Saratha Kumudini, of the Department of Plant and Soil Sciences.

UK PSS Agronomist Recognized at Tri Societies Annual National Conference

INDIANAPOLIS, IN (November 14, 2006) - Congratulations go out to Dr. Glen Aiken for becoming a Fellow of the American Society of Agronomy in 2006. Glen is a research animal scientist and agronomist with the USDA-ARS Forage Animal Production Research Unit and is an Adjunct Associate Professor in the Department of Plant and Soil Sciences. He has been recognized for his outstanding service to the society including his research program that focuses on the plant-animal interface. He serves as a technical editor for the Crop Science Journal.

UK Soil Judging Team Takes First Place in the Southeast Regional Soil Judging Contest

BOWLING GREEN, KY (October 20, 2006) -Congratulations to the UK Soil Judging Team for taking first place in the Southeast Regional Soil Judging Contest hosted by Western Kentucky University . The team of Paul Blanche, Bryan Jacobs, Vincent Madigan and Marie Pelton was led by coach Dr. Tasos Karathanasis, a Professor in the Department of Plant and Soil Sciences. Paul Blanche also received the 1st place individual award and Bryan Jacobs placed 4th in the individual awards.