College of Agricultural Sciences offers look at ag careers for STEM program

February 21, 2018

Faculty and staff from Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences provided students at Harrisburg High School's SciTech campus with a comprehensive look at the variety of disciplines that students can pursue in the agricultural sciences.

Former ag international programs coordinator creates study abroad scholarship

February 19, 2018

During her tenure as study abroad coordinator in the Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences Office of International Programs, Marilyn McPheron changed countless lives by helping connect students with international experiences. With a recent gift to support students who embrace both agriculture and global learning, she will change countless more.

Students forge career path through Penn State CITY program

February 19, 2018

The mission of the CITY program at the Penn State Center Pittsburgh is to encourage pathways to success for high school students in the Pittsburgh area by providing opportunities outside of the classroom.

Interdisciplinary projects awarded seed grants from IEE

February 19, 2018

The 2017–18 Institutes of Energy and the Environment (IEE) seed grant recipients have recently been awarded to 16 groups of interdisciplinary researchers at Penn State. This year nearly $350,000 have been awarded to more than 40 researchers in five colleges at University Park as well as at four campuses.

Sales of Creamery flavor to support THON, fight against childhood cancer

February 16, 2018

Penn State Berkey Creamery has created a new ice cream flavor, "THON Gold Ribbon Ripple," and it's For The Kids.

Author of 'The Fracking Debate' to speak at Penn State March 1

February 16, 2018

Daniel Raimi, author of "The Fracking Debate: the Risks, Benefits, and Uncertainties of the Shale Revolution," will give a presentation at Penn State, sponsored by Penn State Law and its Center for Energy Law and Policy, Penn State Earth and Environmental Systems Institute and Penn State Marcellus Center for Outreach and Research.

Biorenewable systems senior reflects on how Penn State helped shape her future

February 16, 2018

Bunmi Akintola, a senior in Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences, credits Penn State with helping her find her purpose in the world of agriculture.

Plant pathology students reap benefits of research opportunities

February 14, 2018

Helping undergraduate students understand scientific knowledge through participation in research is a top priority for faculty in the Department of Plant Pathology and Environmental Microbiology in Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences.

Research aims to help cacao producers, chocolate makers boost profits

February 14, 2018

Through a partnership with the Fundación Hondureña de Investigación Agrícola, or FHIA, an agricultural research facility in La Lima, Cortés, Honduras, Penn State food scientists are studying how plant cultivars, climate, soil and processing methods influence flavor and aroma characteristics of cacao beans, and how consumers might respond to those characteristics.

Presence, persistence of estrogens in vernal pools an emerging concern

February 13, 2018

Estrogens in treated wastewater that find their way into temporary wetlands known as vernal pools persist for weeks or even months, according to researchers, who suggest that persistence may have implications for these critical aquatic habitats.

Unique cohort will support student exploration of agricultural microbiomes

February 8, 2018

Faculty in Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences are spearheading an initiative that will provide selected doctoral students with the opportunity for extensive study in the emerging field of agricultural microbiome research.

Penn State Berkey Creamery stands out in state cheese competition

February 8, 2018

The Penn State Berkey Creamery took home a slice of the glory in the Cheese Competition held during the Pennsylvania Farm Show in Harrisburg last month.

Webinar: Stakeholder engagement critical in energy resource discussions

February 2, 2018

The challenge and importance of finding common ground in public discussions about the ongoing implications of shale energy development will be the topic of a web-based seminar offered by Penn State Extension.

'Tide pod challenge' calls attention to home poisoning risks

February 1, 2018

In the wake of recent hype in the news and social media about the so-called "Tide pod challenge," an expert in Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences is reminding people about the dangers of look-alike products in the household.

Dairy of Distinction applications due April 15

February 1, 2018

Pennsylvania dairy producers are invited to apply for the Dairy of Distinction award from the Pennsylvania Dairy of Distinction Program. Applications must be submitted by April 15.

Webinar to focus on land-use planning with a changing climate

February 1, 2018

Helping planners better understand the relationship between land-use planning and climate change is the aim of a web-based seminar to be offered by Penn State Extension.

Agroforestry systems may play vital role in mitigating climate change

February 1, 2018

Agroforestry could play an important role in mitigating climate change because it sequesters more atmospheric carbon in plant parts and soil than conventional farming, according to Penn State researchers.

2018 Farm Machinery and Equipment Auction slated for Feb. 22

February 1, 2018

Penn State Lion Surplus will hold its annual Farm Machinery and Equipment Auction beginning at 9 a.m. Feb. 22, in the Snider Ag Arena on the University Park campus.

Food safety tips for a winning Super Bowl party

February 1, 2018

Super Bowl Sunday is like a holiday, with family and friends gathering to watch the big game and, of course, sharing many tasty foods. But without good food safety practices in play before, during and after the game, some Super Bowl revelers might end up feeling much worse than fans of the losing team, according to a food safety specialist in Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences.

Water research, education focus of Feb. 15 town hall

January 30, 2018

Faculty and staff are invited to attend a town hall meeting focused on strengthening water research, education and outreach at the University. The event runs from 3-5 p.m. on Feb. 15 in Room 233AB of the HUB-Robeson Center.

Heritage turkey production research profitable but more difficult

January 29, 2018

To meet increasing consumer demand for heritage-breed turkeys to be the centerpiece of holiday and other meals, researchers in Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences are studying methods producers can use to raise the historical birds.

Former top State Department and National Security Council legal adviser to speak

January 26, 2018

John Bellinger, the former legal adviser to the U.S. Department of State and the National Security Council under President George W. Bush, will speak at Penn State at 4 p.m. Feb. 8 in the Sutliff Auditorium of the Lewis Katz Building at University Park.

Pa. deer, like mammals worldwide, move less in human-modified landscapes

January 25, 2018

In the big woods of Pennsylvania's Northern Tier, the home range of the average white-tailed deer is more than twice as large as that of a deer in urban or agricultural areas of the state. Penn State researcher Duane Diefenbach documented that phenomenon early on in his work, but it did not occur to him it might be representative of many different mammal species around the globe.

Land-grant ag research and education highlighted during visit by USDA Secretary

January 24, 2018

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue paid a visit to Penn State's University Park campus on Jan. 24 as part of a tour through Pennsylvania to unveil the Department of Agriculture's legislative principles as Congress prepares to enact a new five-year farm bill.

Penn State Forage Bowl Team brings National Championship back to Happy Valley

January 24, 2018

For the second year in a row, representatives from the Penn State Agronomy Club, a student organization in the College of Agricultural Sciences, took first place in the National Forage Bowl competition.

Weather patterns, farm income, other factors, may be influencing opioid crisis

January 24, 2018

While the overprescribing of opioid-based painkillers may be the main driver of the increased abuse of opioids in rural America, it may be more complex than that. Economists say that other factors, including declining farm income, extreme weather and other natural disasters, may affect a crisis that is killing thousands of citizens and costing the country billions of dollars.

15 named distinguished faculty at Penn State

January 22, 2018

Penn State's Office of the Vice Provost for Academic Affairs has named 15 faculty members as distinguished professors.

Root discovery may lead to crops that need less fertilizer

January 18, 2018

Bean plants that suppress secondary root growth in favor of boosting primary root growth forage greater soil volume to acquire phosphorus, according to Penn State researchers, who say their recent findings have implications for plant breeders and improving crop productivity in nutrient-poor soils.

Duncan joins Department of Ecosystem Science and Management

January 16, 2018

Jonathan Duncan recently joined Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences as an assistant professor of hydrology in the Department of Ecosystem Science and Management.

College, community and family events highlight We Are Weekend, June 1–3

January 15, 2018

Registration will open in February for We Are Weekend, the Alumni Association’s premier summer event that’s scheduled for June 1-3.

Media Contacts

  • Senior Public Relations Specialist/News Editor
  • Associate Director of Communications
  • Public Relations Specialist/Science Writer
  • Science and News Writer
  • Penn State Extension Writer (Marketing Communications Specialist)

Media Contacts

  • Senior Public Relations Specialist/News Editor
  • Associate Director of Communications
  • Public Relations Specialist/Science Writer
  • Science and News Writer
  • Penn State Extension Writer (Marketing Communications Specialist)