Hoeft earns Service to Ag Award

DECATUR, Ill. — Robert G. Hoeft, interim head of the Department of Crop Sciences at the University of Illinois, has been awarded the Service To Agriculture Award by the Illinois Society of Professional Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers.

The presentation was made by Jerry Hicks, AFM, a past president of the Society. Hicks noted that Hoeft is well known as a proponent of accurate application of nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizers.

Hoeft is a native of Nebraska and received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in agronomy from the University of Nebraska. He received his doctorate in soil science from the University of Wisconsin. He has served as extension soil fertility specialist at UoI since 1973 and prior to that was an extension agronomist at South Dakota State University.

He has been recognized for his work, including the Paul A. Funk recognition award by the College of Agriculture at UoI, the Werner L. Nelson Award by the American Society of Agronomy and the Robert E. Wagner-Senior Scientist Category by the Potash/Phosphate Institute.

MSU picks ruminant specialist

EAST LANSING, Mich. — Richard Ehrhardt will be joining the faculty in the departments of Animal Science and Large Animal Clinical Sciences at Michigan State University as an extension specialist focusing on small ruminant management, effective Jan. 1, 2009.

He will be responsible for providing leadership to maintain the competitiveness of Michigan’s sheep and goat industries. This will include conducting research and working with faculty members across the MSU College of Agriculture and Natural Resources to address issues related to small ruminant production, management and health.

As part of the MSU extension system, he will work with the county-based educator network to disseminate research-based information across the state.

Ehrhardt will also work with veterinarians in the CVM Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences to train future professionals in ruminant care and with the Diagnostic Center for Population and Animal Health to address the diagnostic and medical issues facing sheep and goat owners.

Ehrhardt holds doctoral and master’s degrees in animal science from Cornell University and a bachelor’s degree in animal science from the University of Wisconsin. He comes to MSU from Cornell University, where he has served as a research associate in the Department of Animal Science investigating metabolic regulation in ruminants.

Jones to be Kiplinger Chair
WOOSTER, Ohio — An Ohio State University horticulturist has been appointed to the university’s D.C. Kiplinger Endowed Chair in Floriculture in order to advance research and education and perpetuate the profitability and sustainability of the floriculture industry.

Michelle Jones, an associate professor with the Department of Horticulture and Crop Science, will hold the position for five years.
Her term officially began on Oct. 1. Jones fills the position left vacant when former chair Anthony “Tony” Stead fulfilled his term in 2005.

Jones received her Bachelor of Science in agricultural biochemistry from Iowa State University.

She will work to increase research and extension collaborations between OSU's floriculture faculty and build collaborations with other academic and industry partners, as well as mentor and educate future leaders of the floriculture industry.