Dr. Miranda Medrano is a Ph.D. graduate student in the Veterinary Medicine program at the University of Minnesota. Her interests are in swine epidemiology and health policy development. With support from a SARE grant, Medrano has been surveying producers to learn more about the farming, management, biosecurity, and marketing practices used on farms that raise pigs outdoors.
Photo of Miranda Medrano courtesy of the University of Minnesota Swine Extension Program.
NCR-SARE is pleased to announce the projects selected for the 2023 Graduate Student Grant Program. Twenty-two projects were awarded more than $323,000 through this NCR-SARE grant program. The Graduate Student Grant program is a competitive grant program to fund graduate student projects that address sustainable agriculture issues.
The awarded projects are in order by state and then by the graduate student’s last name:
- Carly Strauser, along with Dr. Ajay Nair at Iowa State University in Ames, IA, was awarded $14,879 for the project, “Evaluating Efficacy of Organic Herbicides on Common Weed Species in the North Central Region.”
- Finnleigh Woodings, along with Dr. Andrew Margenot at the University of Illinois in Urbana, IL, was awarded $14,492 for the project, “Unearthing the Scent of Soil Health: A Validation of Smell through Odorant VOCs for Farmer Assessment.”
- Harsh Pathak, along with Dr. Dennis Buckmaster at Purdue University in West Lafayette, IN, was awarded $14,901 for the project, “Improving Nitrogen Efficiency in Corn Production Systems with Data and Modeling.”
- Abagael Pruitt, along with Dr. Jennifer Tank at the University of Notre Dame in Mishawaka, IN, was awarded $14,917 for the project, “Quantifying the Impact of Cover Crop Implementation on Sediment and Nitrogen Export in Small Agricultural Watersheds and Beyond.”
- Dylan Ryals, along with Dr. Brock Harpur at Purdue University in West Lafayette, IN, was awarded $14,999 for the project, “Developing A Genomic Breeding Program for Indiana Bee Breeders.”
- Julia Wooby, along with Dr. Ian Kaplan at Purdue University in West Lafayette, IN, was awarded $14,974 for the project, “Synergistic Effects of Entomopathogenic Nematodes and Trap Cropping on Adult and Larval Flea Beetle Population.”
- Alec Adam, along with Dr. Sarah Lancaster at Kansas State University in Manhattan, KS, was awarded $14,795 for the project, “Harvest Weed Seed Control: An Integrated Approach to Sustainable Weed Management in Western Kansas.”
- Cesar Guareschi, along with Dr. Chuck Rice at Kansas State University in Manhattan, KS, was awarded $11,863 for the project, “Understanding the Effects and Relationship of Regenerative Agriculture Practices on Grains Nutritional Quality.”
- Sabita Ranabhat, along with Dr. Kun Yan Zhu at Kansas State University in Manhattan, KS, was awarded $14,993 for the project, “Integrating Long-Lasting Insecticide Netting Tactics into Integrated Pest Management Programs for Food Facilities.”
- Rabin KC, along with Dr. Sieglinde Snapp at Michigan State University in East Lansing, MI, was awarded $14,999 for the project, “Can Low-Cost NIR Reflectometers Predict Potential Mineralizable Nitrogen in Organic Farms?”
- Laura Marmolejo, along with Dr. Zsofia Szendrei at Michigan State University in East Lansing, MI, was awarded $14,988 for the project, “Develop Grower-Appropriate Plant Residue Management Methods to Reduce Asparagus Beetle Damage.”
- Christina Perez, along with Dr. Mary Rogers at the University of Minnesota in Saint Paul, MN, was awarded $14,946 for the project, “Investigating Mulches to Suppress the Invasive Swede Midge in Urban Agriculture.”
- Hannah Walsh, along with Dr. Julie Grossman at the University of Minnesota in Saint Paul, MN, was awarded $14,996 for the project, “Assessing High Tunnel Soil Health Under Prolonged Cover Cropping Methods.”
- Waqas Ahmad, along with Dr. Greta Gramig at North Dakota State University in Fargo, ND, was awarded $14,525 for the project, “Integrated Weed Management of Herbicide Resistant Kochia in North Dakota.”
- Lillian Hoffart, along with Dr. Sabrina E. Russo at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in Lincoln, NE, was awarded $15,000 for the project, “Evaluating Smooth Sumac (Rhus glabra) Management in Rangelands through Development of High-Resolution GIS Maps.”
- Vinicius Zuppa, along with Dr. Cody Creech at the University of Nebraska in Sidney, NE, was awarded $14,850 for the project, “Investigating Wheat Stem Sawfly's Impact on Winter Wheat Residue, Soil Health, Soil-Water Storage, and Corn Yield in a Dryland Cropping System.”
- Prabhjot Singh, along with Dr. Matthew Hamilton at The Ohio State University in Columbus, OH, was awarded $15,000 for the project, “How Farmer Cognition of Complexity in Agroecosystems Affects Decision-Making about Cover Cropping.”
- Jaden Tatum, along with Dr. Ajay Shah at The Ohio State University in Columbus, OH, was awarded $13,636 for the project, “Utilizing Shallow Geothermal Resources for Low-Cost Season Extension of Controlled Environmental Agriculture: Performance Evaluation and Design Tool.”
- Ana Fochesatto, along with Dr. Adena Rissman at the University of Wisconsin in Madison, WI, was awarded $14,999 for the project, “Strengthening Community Connections in the Regenerative Poultry Value Chain.”
- Tanner Judd, along with Dr. Matthew Ruark at the University of Wisconsin in Madison, WI, was awarded $14,993 for the project, “Direct Quantification of Manure Derived N Retention in Cover Crops After Fall Applications via 15N Enrichment.”
- Justine Nguyen, along with Dr. Chelsea Cook at Marquette University in Milwaukee, WI, was awarded $14,930 for the project, “Investigating the Effect of a Commonly used Apiculture Antibiotic on Honeybee Colony Thermoregulation and Health.”
- Gretchen Peckler, along with Dr. Sarah Adcock at the University of Wisconsin in Madison, WI, was awarded $15,000 for the project, “Characterizing Husbandry Practices on Dairy Sheep Farms in the North Central Region.”
View NCR-SARE’s recently funded projects and their descriptions—including the Farmer Rancher, Youth Educator, Partnership, and Professional Development grants awarded earlier this year—online at https://northcentral.sare.org/grants/apply-for-a-grant/ (scroll to the bottom of page).
NCR-SARE’s Administrative Council (AC) members decide which projects will receive SARE funds. A collection of farm and non-farm citizens, the AC includes a diverse mix of regional agricultural stakeholders. Council members hail from regional farms and ranches, the Cooperative Extension Service, universities, federal agencies, and nonprofit organizations.