Ag Advocate invests in peers while pursuing passion for animal science

March 5, 2026

Emma Uhlman, a junior majoring in animal science in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences, is determined to make her time on campus count — supporting fellow students while preparing for a career that improves the health and well-being of animals.

Inaugural Penn State-Ghana Seed Grant Program awardees announced

March 5, 2026

The inaugural Penn State-Ghana Research Partnerships Seed Grant Program has awarded nine projects to fuel global impact, including crop disease surveillance, removing heavy metals from mining wastewater and understanding multimodal traffic streams.

2026-27 Huck Seed Grant Program opens call for proposals

March 4, 2026

The Penn State Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences announced a call for 2026-27 Seed Grant Program funding proposals, due by May 1. Huck seed grants foster innovative, interdisciplinary and collaborative life sciences research with the potential to drive scientific breakthroughs and generate new research directions leading to impactful externally funded research.

College of Ag Sciences alum, champion receives APLU Lifetime of Service Award

March 3, 2026

Jim Shirk was recently honored with the Lifetime of Service to the Council for Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Award from the Association of Public and Land Grant Universities.

Ten Penn Staters honored with 2026 Alumni Achievement Award

March 2, 2026

Ten Penn Staters will be honored with the 2026 Alumni Achievement Awards. Recipients will return to the University Park campus to share their expertise with students and be honored at an award ceremony on March 20.

10 Penn Staters honored with 2026 Alumni Achievement Award

March 2, 2026

Ten Penn Staters will be honored with the 2026 Alumni Achievement Awards. Recipients will return to the University Park campus to share their expertise with students and be honored at an award ceremony on March 20. 

Penn State alumna creates guide for the new generation of plant pathologists

February 26, 2026

A new teaching guide — created by Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences alumna Sadie Seaman along with the support of her thesis adviser — is making bacterial genome sequencing more accessible for students just getting started in the lab.

Let's give a 'We Are!' to these Penn Staters — Feb. 26

February 26, 2026

As part of our regular “We Are!” feature, we recognize 19 Penn Staters who have gone above and beyond what’s asked of them in their work at the University.

Penn State Berkey Creamery serves up heated competition during 'Flavor Madness'

February 26, 2026

The temperature is getting warmer, which means the traditional Penn State Berkey Creamery’s "Flavor Madness" competition is right around the corner. Ice cream fans can soon begin rallying behind their favorite Penn State Berkey Creamery ice cream flavor.

Students make an impact on and off the dance floor through Outreach and THON

February 25, 2026

Penn State students Kellyn Roth and Rayner Raynor joined more than 16,500 of their peers in channeling a passion for service into THON’s fight against childhood cancer. Their commitment at THON reflects the work they’ve been doing all along to lift others up, serve families and strengthen communities through Penn State Outreach.

The 'Spirit of Chocolate' celebrates chocolate as both science and story

February 25, 2026

On Valentine’s Day, the Palmer Museum of Art became a tasting room and a classroom all at once. “The Art of Chocolate: A Guided Tasting Experience,” presented by the Arboretum at Penn State in partnership with Penn State’s Cacao and Chocolate Research Network, paired research with sensory discovery and chocolate with cheese.

Foodborne illness wastewater monitoring continues with new FDA funding

February 25, 2026

Penn State and the Pennsylvania Department of Health researchers will continue monitoring household sewage at dozens of municipal plants around the commonwealth for foodborne illness pathogens, with new funding from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The grant, anticipated to amount to more than $500,000 over five years, will complement related work funded by the FDA since 2016.

Q&A: How can microbiome science solve problems in agriculture?

February 25, 2026

Microbiome — referring to the community of microorganisms inhabiting a specific organism — science may help solve problems facing agriculture, but prior research findings have not yet been translated to practical recommendations for growers, according to a team of scientists in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences that has offered some ways to accelerate the transition.

Ag sciences professor elected fellow in American Academy of Microbiology

February 24, 2026

Andrew Patterson, John T. and Paige S. Smith Professor in the College of Agricultural Sciences, has been elected as a fellow in the American Academy of Microbiology.

Some pesticides can slip under natural protection into streams, researchers find

February 24, 2026

Penn State researchers and their colleagues found that vegetative buffers, like shrubs or grasses, likely reduces the amount of specific pesticides from reaching a stream. However, the buffers are not protective against all pesticides entering waterways.

Daniel F. Perkins in College of Ag Sciences named distinguished professor

February 23, 2026

Daniel F. Perkins, professor of family and youth resiliency and policy in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences, has been named a distinguished professor by Penn State’s Office of the Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs.

Feb. 25 seminar: 'Effectiveness of mobile app to improve household food access'

February 17, 2026

Ran Li, assistant professor of agricultural economics, will discuss the effectiveness of the mobile app Too Good To Go as a potential complement to public food assistance by reallocating surplus food into low-cost consumption opportunities. His talk is scheduled for noon on Wednesday, Feb. 25, in 157 Hosler Building on the Penn State University Park campus.

Penn State Extension earns grant to develop microcredentials for ag workers

February 17, 2026

Penn State Extension recently was awarded a competitive national grant to build a microcredentialing system aimed at strengthening the agricultural workforce and formally recognizing job-ready skills.

Emergency preparedness at farms the focus of Penn State Extension workshop

February 16, 2026

First responders and farm workers looking to build safety and preparedness for farm emergencies can attend an upcoming Penn State Extension workshop on April 11 covering hazardous materials, livestock behavior, biosecurity and applications during a farm visit.

Leveraging data in equitable land-planning will be focus of Feb. 18 webinar

February 16, 2026

Those interested in learning how to leverage local data and knowledge to set priorities, identify effective approaches to change, and craft action plans that align with community values and promote equity in land-use planning can attend an upcoming Penn State Extension webinar.

Penn State turfgrass science students win national titles

February 16, 2026

Recently, students in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences earned top honors at two national turfgrass industry competitions, claiming multiple first-place finishes and $25,000 in awards.

Penn State names 14 new distinguished professors for 2026

February 16, 2026

Penn State's Office of Faculty Affairs has named 14 new distinguished professors for 2026, recognizing outstanding academic contribution to the University.

Penn State Block and Bridle Club wins awards at group’s national convention

February 13, 2026

Penn State’s Block and Bridle Club won three awards at the National Block and Bridle Club’s 105th Convention, which took place Feb. 3-5 in Nashville, Tennessee. This year’s event was hosted by Middle Tennessee State University in conjunction with CattleCon, the largest annual event and trade show for the U.S. cattle industry.

Ag student named fellow by Golf Course Superintendents Association of America

February 12, 2026

Zachary Newsome, a graduate student in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences, has been named a 2025 Dr. James Watson Fellow by the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America.

Sour grapes? Taste, experience of sour foods depends on individual consumer

February 12, 2026

Biting into a tart green apple is a different taste and sensory experience than sucking juice from a lemon. Now, Penn State researchers have found that while some of that sour taste and experience difference comes from individual perceptions, the acids themselves vary in sourness, even at the same concentrations.

College of Ag Sciences faculty awarded Pennsylvania Soybean Board grants

February 11, 2026

Paul Esker and John Boney, faculty members in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences, have received grants from the Pennsylvania Soybean Board. 

Penn State Extension to offer free virtual walking program

February 10, 2026

Anyone interested in developing healthy habits and increasing stamina can benefit from a free Penn State Extension virtual walking program called “Everybody Walk Across Pennsylvania.” The statewide program will take place from April 6 through June 1.

Growing with the Penn State Extension Master Gardener Program

February 10, 2026

The Penn State Alumni Association's Virtual Speaker Session connects Penn Staters to University faculty who are leaders in their respective fields. The next event in the series is set for noon on Tuesday, Feb. 24, and will focus on the Penn State Extension Master Gardener Program, a statewide, volunteer-driven program that advances the land-grant mission of translating research-based horticultural science into meaningful community education and service.

Master Watershed Steward’s lifelong passion helps restore riverbanks

February 10, 2026

A longtime nature enthusiast, Stephen Hinds, of Delaware County, has spent the past few years volunteering with Penn State Extension’s Master Watershed Steward program, working hands-on to restore and stabilize streambanks at Smedley Park, a county park near his hometown, using a technique known as “live staking.”

SAFES to present seminar series focusing on data centers in Pennsylvania

February 10, 2026

The Institute for Sustainable Agricultural, Food, and Environmental Science in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences will hold its first talk in the new seminar series “Water, Energy, and Data Centers in Pennsylvania” on Feb. 24 at University Park. 

Media Contacts

Amy Duke
  • Associate Director of Communications
Jeff Mulhollem
  • Public Relations Specialist/Science Writer
Katie Bohn
  • Science and News Writer
Alexandra McLaughlin
  • Penn State Extension Writer (Marketing Communications Specialist)
Sean Duke
  • Marketing/Communications Specialist

Media Contacts

Amy Duke
  • Associate Director of Communications
Jeff Mulhollem
  • Public Relations Specialist/Science Writer
Katie Bohn
  • Science and News Writer
Alexandra McLaughlin
  • Penn State Extension Writer (Marketing Communications Specialist)
Sean Duke
  • Marketing/Communications Specialist