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July 1st, Professor Amaya Atucha became chair of the Department of Plant and Agroecosystem Sciences. Professor Patrick Krysan served as chair for six years, guiding the department through significant growth and changes. Atucha will continue this work as she leads the new department. Read more.
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Climate change can impact complex weather patterns such as temperature, wind, and precipitation. Predicting these patterns is very useful for growers, but most weather-tracking software does not capture the level of detail needed. To help, Professor Chris Kucharik and researchers crafted Wisconet, a network of stations around Wisconsin that provide detailed weather reports. Read more.
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This spring, the Department of Plant and Agroecosystem Sciences launched a new MS and PhD program in Plant Science and Technology. The new graduate programs dive deep into the science and cutting-edge technologies behind growing the world’s food, fuel, and fiber and prepare students to lead the future of sustainable agriculture. Students can begin the programs in fall 2025. Read more.
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Agroecology graduate student Sagen Lily Quale is a farmer and a harvester of manoomin, or wild rice. She is one of the eight winners of the 2025 Storyfest competition for her video "Seeding Stories: Manoomin and Anishinaabag relations," where she shares stories about manoomin and Indigenous knowledge. Read more.
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Dharani Suresh Babu, a graduate student co-advised by Jyostna Mura and Amaya Atucha, weaves together her expertise in horticulture and computer science to create new technologies for cranberry growers. Read more.
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Events
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The Ellison Lab in the Department of Plant and Agroecosystem Sciences invites you to a field day about the latest hemp research being conducted at UW. Learn more.
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Enjoy displays, demonstrations, and learn from UW–Madison extension specialists. Learn more.
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Get a look at organic research conducted at UW–Madison and an intro to opportunities for farmers to grow climate-smart commodities. Learn more.
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This event features UW–Madison grain agronomy, field crop pathology, weed management, soils, forage, and farm economics researchers for a half-day field-based tour of the latest ongoing trials and research updates. Learn more.
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Please join us for the annual Friends of Allen Centennial Garden Fall Garden Party Fundraiser. It will be an evening of food, beverages, and entertainment hosted in the heart of campus at Allen Centennial Garden. Discover what is new in the Garden, learn about recent intern projects, and participate in fun games, auctions, and activities to raise funds in support of UW’s horticultural jewel! Purchase tickets.
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Join Allen Centennial Garden Saturday, October 4, 2025 between 12pm and 6pm to celebrate an abundant and diverse harvest. The Garden will have live music, dancing, and storytelling alongside opportunities to learn about different harvest traditions from Dejope (Madison) and around the world. This event is free and open to the public. Learn more.
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Alumni Spotlights
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Sabeel Abuhakmeh graduated spring of 2025 with a bachelor's in agronomy. Now, he has joined Dr. Rodrigo Werle's lab as an agronomy master's student. As an undergrad, Abuhakmeh competed in crops judging and weed science contests and was a member of Dr. Phillip Simon's lab. Abuhakmeh will be a SciMed GRS fellow this fall and was awarded the R. Gordon Harvey Wisconsin Distinguished Graduate Fellowship in Weed Science.
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Jaya Hafner graduated this spring with a master's in agroecology. Due to Hafner's merits, she was selected to be a flag bearer representing the Graduate School for Camp Randall's graduation ceremony. As a graduate student, Hafner studied watershed health and runoff from farms. She also helped host events for prospective agroecology students. Read more.
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Highlights
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Mark Kendall selected for the 2025 Agronomy Outstanding Graduate Student Award
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Jessica Mehre awarded CIAS Graduate Student Summer Mini-Grant for her project, Exploring perennial agriculture in east-central Wisconsin: social, political, and agronomic partnerships
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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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