The front of Moore Hall in a snowstorm. Text reads, "In Season, Winter 2025." The Department of Plant and Agroecosystem Sciences logo is depicted in the upper right corner.

News
Two people speak in a corn field.
UW–Madison, Ho-Chunk Partner to Increase Seed Stock of Corn
Ho-Chunk tribal members recently worked with Professor Bill Tracy and other CALS crop scientists to increase the seed stock of threatened Ho-Chunk corn varieties. Read more.
Dr. Kaur smiles with a street in the background.
New Faculty: Harkirat Kaur  
Dr. Harkirat Kaur joins the Department of Plant and Agroecosystem Sciences as an assistant professor and extension specialist. Dr. Kaur works to support economically and environmentally sustainable corn production. Read more.
A person in a mountainous field holds potatoes.
Llapanchispaq – For All of Us
A team of scientists at UW-Madison including Drs. John Bamberg, Jiwan Palta, and Alfonso del Rio collaborated with researchers in Peru and farmers in the Andean-Altiplano regions. Together, they created new native potato varieties with enhanced cold hardiness and frost tolerance. Read more.
A group of people wearing forest green polos gather for a photo.
Growing the Plant Sciences Community 
This fall, the Plant Sciences Graduate Student Council (PSGSC) had their 14th Annual Symposium. Audrey Morrison, a graduate student advised by Dr. Irwin Goldman and PSGSC's 2024 president, shares more about the symposium and creating a plant science community. Read more.
Dr. Smith wears a white lab coat and conducts an experiment in a lab.
New Faculty: Rebecca Smith 
Dr. Rebecca Smith is a new assistant professor in the Department of Plant and Agroecosystem Sciences. Her program researches plant cell walls and lignin to address different challenges related to dairy sustainability. Read more.
A honey bee eats from a piece of metal covered in honey.
Honey Home: the Pollinators of Allen Centennial Garden
Allen Centennial Garden is the living laboratory and public botanical garden of the Department of Plant and Agroecosystem Sciences. Learn about the Garden's work protecting pollinators and learn about the honey collection process. Read more.

Alumni Spotlights
Rachel Bouressa smiles. She wears a blue blazer and stands in front of a vibrant blue background.
Rachel Bouressa on the Wisconsin Natural Resources Board
This fall, Gov. Tony Evers appointed Rachel Bouressa to the Wisconsin Natural Resources Board. Bouressa received degrees in agronomy and environmental science at UW-Madison and took part in the agroecology master's program. Read more.
Isaac Zaman smiles. He stands outside under a tree and wears a green Allen Centennial Garden t-shirt.
Isaac Zaman - from Madison to Minnesota
Isaac Zaman BS'22 has had a long career in our department. While earning his degree in horticulture, he worked in D.C. Smith Greenhouse. After graduating, he worked as a horticulturalist for Allen Centennial Garden. Now, Zaman has moved to Minnesota to work at Como Park Zoo & Conservatory. Our department is grateful for Zaman's work and excited for him on his new journey.
Have alumni-related news? Email us at akoscik@wisc.edu.

Highlights
Dr. Kucharik smiles and wears a light blue button up.
Chris Kucharik appointed William A. Rothermel Bascom Professor in Agronomy
Dr. Ellison smiles in front of a grey backdrop.
Shelby Ellison receives Alfred Toepfer Faculty Fellow Award
 

Giving
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.
We'd like to especially thank the Wisconsin Soybean Marketing Board (WSMB) and the Wisconsin Corn Growers Association (WCGA) for their recent donation of two plant growth chambers to the WiscWeeds lab.

Donations, such as WSMB and WCGA's, help us expand and expedite our research and increase opportunities for our students.
Three people pose and smile for a picture next to a large plant growth chamber.
Members from the WiscWeeds lab stand in front of a donated plant growth chamber.
If you would like to support us, you may make a donation directly through the UW Foundation.
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.
Donate
 
 
Plant & Agroecosystem Sciences
 
UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN–MADISON
Plant Sciences Building/Moore Hall, 1575 Linden Drive  |  Madison, WI 53706
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