{"id":194159,"date":"2021-10-26T09:32:28","date_gmt":"2021-10-26T13:32:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/?p=194159"},"modified":"2022-02-10T13:25:06","modified_gmt":"2022-02-10T18:25:06","slug":"ron-and-ryan-heiniger-carve-unique-paths-in-crop-sciences-at-nc-state","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/news\/ron-and-ryan-heiniger-carve-unique-paths-in-crop-sciences-at-nc-state\/","title":{"rendered":"Ron and Ryan Heiniger Carve Unique Paths in Crop Sciences at NC State"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
Ron and Ryan Heiniger, father and son, have a lot in common beyond their names: they share a passion for uncovering the science behind agriculture, a commitment to bringing research-based findings to growers and a propensity to talk about work at the dinner table. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe come to Thanksgiving and the conversation with one another revolves around, \u2018What was the best hybrid this year? Why was it better?\u2019\u201d said Ron Heiniger with a laugh. \u201cAnd my wife is saying, \u2018Could you guys stop talking about farming? We need to have some family time.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While this father-and-son team\u2019s common interests may contribute to easy dinner conversation, it\u2019s their differences that help them collaborate effectively and excel in their unique roles within the Department of Crop and Soil Sciences<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Ryan Heiniger, the Official Variety Testing (OVT) Program Director<\/a>, uses his background in microbiology and industry experience to determine which crop hybrids, from soybean to sorghum, grow best in which conditions across North Carolina. In contrast, his father, Ron Heiniger, a professor of corn production and management<\/a>, uses his Ph.D. in crop ecology and simulation modeling to improve understanding of the science behind growing corn, including the influence of canopy temperature and seeding rates on corn yield. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Despite their different research agendas, they embrace opportunities to collaborate with one another to advance applied research efforts and communicate with growers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n On a clear fall day in the Blue Ridge Mountain Valley of Mount Airy, North Carolina, the Heinigers\u2019 commitment to applied research and collaboration with one another is on display as they harvest corn. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Both researchers have traveled from across the state to reach this location; Ryan is based about two hours away in Raleigh, while Ron is approximately four hours away in Plymouth, North Carolina.<\/p>\n\n\n\nA Day in the Life of this Father-Son Duo<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n