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Photo by Sirtaj Grewal/SMPH Media Solutions
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Chris Kucharik, a professor in plant and agroecosystem sciences, has been selected to lead the RISE-EARTH Collaboration Headquarters (HQ) at UW-Madison. This initiative strengthens UW-Madison's work creating more economically and environmentally sustainable systems. Kucharik was selected to lead due to his extensive work in interdisciplinary research and mentorship experience. Read more about Kucharik and RISE-EARTH.
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Steven Hall and Jed Colquhoun, faculty in plant and agroecosystem sciences, are working with growers in Wisconsin's Central Sands to help protect groundwater from nitrate leaching. Their research teams are focusing on more economically and environmentally sustainable solutions such as cover cropping and intercropping. Using a network of lysimeters, their research teams are able to track long-term trends in nitrate leaching. Read about Hall and Colquhoun's research.
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Sarah Lloyd, value chain coordinator in plant and agroecosystem sciences, and Randy Jackson, professor in plant and agroecosystem sciences, recently collaborated with Clean Wisconsin, the Savanna Institute, and the Michael Fields Agricultural Institute to publish a roadmap for achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions for Wisconsin agriculture. The report demonstrates that interventions like cover crops and no-till applied to 100% of Wisconsin’s current annual cropping systems would reduce Wisconsin's agricultural emissions only about 6%, but that net-zero emissions are possible with significant landscape transformation to perennial agroecosystems. Explore the roadmap.
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In June of 2025, Rajdeep Khangura joined plant and agroecosystem sciences as an assistant professor to study the genetic basis of agronomically relevant traits in cereal crops. However, Khangura's ties to UW-Madison began as an elementary schooler. Growing up, Khangura would help his family's farm and dairy operation, where he would often perform the Babcock test - a means of measuring milk fat content. Upon arriving on campus, he discovered the Babcock test originated over a century ago at UW-Madison. Read more.
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Mason Von Borchardt is an undergraduate student in plant and agroecosystem sciences graduating this spring with a bachelor’s in horticulture. In his three years at UW-Madison, he has worked closely with Allen Centennial Garden, D.C. Smith Greenhouse, and the GreenHouse Learning Community. In his work, he has woven together art and plant science to cultivate gardens and enrich his projects on campus. Read the Q&A.
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Events
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Join us for Family Gardening Day on May 2, 2026! From 10 a.m. - 1 p.m, visit Allen Centennial Garden, D.C. Smith Greenhouse, Steenbock Library, and the Wisconsin Energy Institute. Enjoy hands-on opportunities to work with seeds, pot plants, examine soil, handle a bug, paint rocks, and more. Attendees can take home a pasta pack of tomatoes, peppers, basil, and oregano plants while supplies last. Learn more about Family Gardening Day.
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Allen Centennial Garden hosts a series of workshops, tours, and bouquet building opportunities. On select Saturdays, the Garden hosts drop-in and sign-up workshops featuring dying clothes, creating watercolors with plants, flower pounding, and more. Explore the workshops.
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Enjoy free concerts this summer in Allen Centennial Garden. Concerts are select Sundays from 5 p.m.-6:15 p.m. See the concert schedule.
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Highlights
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Erick Amaya Aguilar awarded Frank B. Koller Cranberry Fellowship
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Erica Kirchhof awarded Commercial Flower Growers of Wisconsin Distingushed Graduate Fellowship
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Jillian Abendroth-McGhee awarded Gabelman-Shippo Wisconsin Distinguished Graduate Fellowship
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Sabeel Abuhakmeh awarded the R. Gordon Harvey Wisconsin Distinguished Graduate Fellowship
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Giving
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Our department is very grateful for the generous support our alumni and donors have provided to our programs over many years. Your contributions help us provide a high-quality education for our students, recruit and retain hardworking staff and faculty, and research solutions to important challenges in agriculture.
If you would like to support us, you may make a donation directly through the UW Foundation.
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If you'd like to learn more about giving opportunities or have other questions related to the UW Foundation, please contact Emily Vaillancourt by email at emily.vaillancourt@supportuw.org or by phone at 608-308-5336.
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