Lee Briese receives 2016 Consultant of the Year Award
Lee Briese, a current DPH student, received the 2016 Consultant of the Year award from the National Alliance of Independent Crop Consultants (NAICC) at their annual meeting in St. Louis, Jan. 18-21, 2017. There were two winners this year, Griffin Vlestra and Lee. Lee was nominated for the work he does with his farmer customers, for his continued pursuit of education, his involvement as chairman of the North Dakota board for the Certified Crop Adviser (CCA) program and his advocacy for conservation and integrated management.
Lee has given presentations to farmers, bankers and the general public in 3 states on soil conservation, herbicide resistant weed management and cover crops. He tries to encourage farmers, consultants and scientists to proactively manage farms and challenges such as weeds, insects and disease as complete ecosystems rather than as independent problems.
Lee and Dr. Hein also presented updates on the DPH program at the NAICC business meeting.
Salvador Ramirez II Receives APS Foundation Award
The APS Foundation Board has awarded Salvador Ramirez II the 2017 J. Artie and Arra Browning Plant Medicine Health Travel Fund Award. Salvador will use the award to cover travel expenses while he attends the 2017 tri-societies meetings in Tampa, FL this October. Congratulations Salvador!
DPH Students Receive Degrees at December Commencement
Congratulations to our new Doctor of Plant Health recipient, Dr. Joshua Miller, who received his DPH degree on Friday, December 9th at the Pinnacle Bank Arena. Joshua Jay Miller presented his Doctoral Seminar, “The Role of Interdisciplinary Scholarship and Research To Meet the Challenges Facing Agriculture in the 21st Century” on Tuesday, November 29, 2016. He will be working on his PhD in Plant Pathology with the intention to graduate in May of 2017.
Congratulations to Sarah Marie Blecha on receiving her MS in Agronomy on December 9th, 2016. Sarah started the DPH program in the fall of 2016, and will continue working on her DPH degree.
Joshua Miller to present Doctoral Defense Seminar
DPH student Joshua Miller will present his Doctoral Defense Seminar, “The Role of Interdisciplinary Scholarship and Research to Meet the Challenges Facing Agriculture in the 21st Century”, on Tuesday, November 29, 2016 at 1:00 p.m. in Keim 150. Refreshments will be served.
DPH Students Receive The William J. Curtis Fellowship Award
Congratulations to Adam Striegel, Sarah Blecha, Aaron Sedivy and Emily Stine (not pictured)-all current DPH students-on receiving The William J. Curtis Fellowship Award. They were recognized at the Distinguished Fellowships and Awards Luncheon on November 8, 2016.
New online tool developed by DPH student Josh Miller helps soybean farmers
Salvador Ramirez presents poster at 2016 Plant Science Retreat
Sal Ramirez, a current DPH student, presented a poster at the 2016 Plant Science Retreat that was held on October 14th, 2016 at the Lied Lodge and Conference Center in Nebraska City. The title of his poster is: “Increasing diversity of crop rotations alters soil microbial communities under variable rates of nitrogen fertilization”.
Sal characterized soil microbial communities and how they were influenced by four different crop rotations and three rates of nitrogen fertilization. He will be presenting his work in November at the ASA-CSSA-SSSA meetings in Phoenix, Arizona.
Dr. Gary Hein Attends ICE 2016
Dr. Gary Hein, PhD., Director of Doctor of Plant Health Program, attended ICE 2016, the XXV International Congress of Entomology, under the theme Entomology without Borders, September 25th-September 30th, 2016 in Orlando, FL. The event brought together the largest delegation of scientists and experts in the history of the discipline. It was an opportunity to make important connections with entomologists and scientists from around the world and showcase our program to an important global audience.
Dr. Hein and Sage Thompson from the University of Florida Doctor of Plant Medicine Program, co-hosted an information booth about both programs while in Orlando.
Justin McMechan, DPH Graduate, Receives Award
Justin McMechan, a recent DPH Graduate, received the John Henry Comstock Award at the ICE 2016 XXV International Congress of Entomology Conference in Orlando, FL. The conference was held September 25th-30th, 2016.
The John Henry Comstock Award goes to one student each year in each regional Branch of the Entomological Society of America (North Central Branch in this case) who has performed through their graduate career at an exemplary level.