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College of Agriculture and Life Sciences 
Department of Crop and Soil Sciences

August 2020

A small, red fly on a blueberry, against a black background.

Aug 31, 2020

A New IDEA: Pairing Trainees with Computational Experts During the Pandemic

This spring in the midst of a pandemic, a committee of CALS faculty members matched graduate students and postdocs with data they needed to analyze or model computationally to computational experts with the necessary expertise. Learn more about how the collaboration is going for three trainees. 
Foreground: grassland with native flowers. Background: three metal and tarp structures with dark clouds overhead.

Aug 28, 2020

New Grants Support Microbiome and Resiliency Studies

Christine Hawkes and Kevin Garcia recently received separate federal grants to study plant and soil microbiomes to understand how the soil captures carbon and how symbiotic root fungi help legumes get potassium. This research will improve the resiliency of agriculture. 
Grain silos rise up behind soybean fields on a farm in Pasquotank County.

Aug 24, 2020

For the Next Agricultural Revolution, Look to the Microbiome

A national task force led by scientists with NC State ties says the plant microbiome could be key to unlocking the agricultural revolution needed to feed a fast-growing world population. 
sun setting over a field

Aug 19, 2020

What a Changing Climate May Mean For Crop Pests

Insects are ideal indicators of how climate change is affecting agriculture. 
Student in red hat digs in garden soil

Aug 17, 2020

STEM Careers Start with A College Major in Soil

We have one earth. It’s currently our single place in the universe on which to build our homes, feed our communities, and sustain life.  Soil is the common ground for a rich career field for anyone interested in STEM and environmental science. 

Aug 5, 2020

Agriculture Loses Longtime Advocate Dan Weathington

NC State College of Agriculture and Life Sciences is remembering friend Dan Weathington, a supporter and advocate for the North Carolina Plant Sciences Initiative. Weathington recently passed away.