2024 Student Blog
University of South Florida, FL
Mentor: Katie Black
PI: Dr. Nathan Meyer
Date: August 13, 2024
Assessing the adaptation strategy of improving soil health by observing earthworm presence
Greetings! I am an intern under the Minnesota Climate Adaptation Partnership, which is part of UMN’s extension. MCAP’s work aims to support and train various communities in the midwest to adapt to the impacts of climate change. My research is to understand how commercial corn and soybean farmers are adapting to Minnesota’s extreme weather and climate events. These events are expected to become more intense and frequent due to climate change, and it is vital to support these farmer’s adaptation efforts since corn and soybeans are important to Minnesota’s agricultural economy!
Our research aims to support farmers and their advisors assess climate-related agricultural risks and take action to prepare for extreme weather impacts. MCAP is developing an Agricultural Scenario Planning Tool to provide best practices for managing challenges like increased pest pressure, flood damage, and heat stress for crops and farmworkers. We conducted six semi- structured interviews with climate conscious farmers to ensure this tool will be useful and relevant! One farmer emphasized the importance of “learning by seeing” which highlights the value of engaging directly with those we aim to help to ensure equitable support.
Also, I’ve been developing some of the content and maps for the climate summaries, which document the impact of climate change across Minnesota’s nine climate regions. These summaries are to inform individuals, organizations, and provide information for those who are advocating for climate impact conscious policies. Researching and writing about the climate impacts on Minnesota’s tourism, public health, indigenous ways of life, and more has helped me have the necessary background information for my Agricultural Scenario Tool project. Additionally, learning to visualize the climate projections MCAP’s climate modelers built (CliMAT) in ArcGIS has been an exciting part of this work!
Site visit to examine extreme weather and climate damages to farm
Analyzing climate adaptation concerns data from a focus group conducted in St Cloud
Analyzing drone footage for extreme weather damages
Brainstorming session for the Agricultural Scenario Planning tool landing page layout
Resilient cover crop sprouts emerging after cover crop failure previously!
Michigan State University, MI
Mentor: Nora Pearson / Morgan Smith
PI: Dr. Nic Jelinski
Date: August 13, 2024
Hello everyone! First of all I want to say congratulations to everyone on completing their amazing poster presentations! Everyone looked amazing (and so did your posters)! It was incredibly rewarding to get the chance to share all of the work that we have been compiling and put so much effort into all summer.
I had a great experience at the Summer Undergraduate Research Expo (SURE). I was placed right next to Kylie Hansen which was a great experience not only to hear more in depth about her research but to have a comforting face nearby. It was also very exciting to be next to some people who weren't in SOAR and had very different topics. Around us had everything from pilgrimage to protein analysis to cancer screening in somali communities. It was very interesting to see such a wide range.
In talking about my research, I had a lot of people who were from agricultural backgrounds but also people who just knew about what microplastics were. This made it so every conversation was slightly different which challenged me to make sure I was connecting with my audience. Talking to professors was fun but challenging because the questions were much more in depth and specific and sometimes I didn't know the answer. But in general it was very fun to just share my knowledge with everyone.
My whole lab came to cheer me on, which was great! I got to share my poster with them and take pictures with my amazing mentors who I will miss so much! Overall I had a great experience at SURE and was glad I got to share my research with other programs and students!
Volunteer State Community College, TN
Mentor: Samikshya Subedi
PI: Dr. Bryan Runck
Date: August 13, 2024
This summer I worked with the Runck Lab under GEMS Informatics. The goal of GEMS Informatics is to collect, analyze and integrate short and long term data of agri-food systems. This research is the foundation to inform and empower scientists, farmers, legislators, economists, the public, etc so they can make actionable decisions regarding climate change influenced problems. The use of sensors as a secondary measuring instrument for properties such as evapotranspiration, soil moisture, and air temperature etc. are the basis of all projects done in the Runck lab.
Real-time sensing can aid farmers in monitoring soil health as climate change continues to impact crops. The objective of my individual experiment is to determine the correlation between soil permittivity and soil organic matter (SOM) in annual tilled soy/corn fields and perennial zero-tilled turfgrass fields to aid in soil health evaluation. My research project began by working closely with my lab on developing and fine tuning a proposal that included creating an objective and hypothesis, methodology, and timeline for my project. Composite soil samples were taken at five randomized locations within a corn, soy, and turf field on the St. Paul Campus and then sent to the UMN Soil Testing Laboratory for SOM analysis. To measure permittivity, an Acclima TDR 315H soil sensor was inserted into three sub locations within a square meter of the randomized locations. Exploratory data analysis was performed within RStudio by coding the statistical test, ANOVA, followed by Tukey HSD post hoc test. Visualization took the form of correlation plots and boxplots from RStudio and also maps from ArcGIS. Future implementation of this protocol could lead to a more cost-effective and less labor-intensive evaluation of soil health and could lead to more environmentally conscious practices such as reducing usage of fertilizer, irrigation, and pesticides.
When I was not working on my project I was attending lab meetings where other members of the lab gave reports on their projects. I also aided my mentor, Samikshya, in either taking down or raising her LiCor sensors that are measuring evapotranspiration in corn, soy, and potato fields at the research farm in Becker. Alec, another undergrad researcher, and I cleaned, reorganized, and helped inventory sensors and loggers that will be sent out to golf courses this fall for the lab’s “overwinter turf kill project”. I also assisted the lab manager, Ann, with maintenance on sensors at the Becker, TROE Center, and St. Paul Farm. This involved tightening guy wires, replacing batteries, and readjusting solar panels. As agri-food systems continue to evolve under the pressure of climate change, so does the need to continuously and quickly collect, analyze, and model data. I am thankful my experience in the Runck lab has introduced me to this increasingly important sector of agriculture.
Atmosphere and soil sensor in potato field for Pepsi Co. project
Sensors and loggers cleaned and organized for Winterturf project
Soil sampling and sensor measurements in turf
Soil sensor and GEMS logger
Smith College
Northampton, MA
Mentor: Gabriela Hidrobo
PI: Dr. Julie Grossman
Date: August 13, 2024
Last Tuesday we were given another workshop by Brian Sostek titled Narrative Structure: Why and How To Tell a Good Story. With only a week out before our poster session, we received valuable advice on how to present our research using the art of storytelling. Not only did Brian tell us how to craft compelling stories from simple facts, but he used storytelling himself throughout the workshop to keep us engaged.
Brian taught us to tell stories instead of telling facts. We began with an icebreaker activity that included the facts of our background (name, major, home state) and a story from childhood. By the end, we had both practiced telling a story and observed how listening to a story helped us recall details from others’ lives and kept us interested. His story about being pulled out of class in elementary school created images in our mind and prompted many questions.
Stories help our audience create images, remember important details, and make connections between our research and to their own emotions and the world around them. Many types of stories—the “Hero’s Journey,” a comedy, a tragedy, or a mystery—can be used. Even little stories throughout our presentations can keep our audience engaged.
To help us practice crafting a story from our research, Brian told us to use a simple storytelling structure: and, but, therefore. For example—scientists often wish to convey their research to a layman audience and are given the opportunity to do so through presentations, but scientific research can be filled with jargon that makes it unapproachable, therefore scientists should use storytelling to reframe their research into an easily consumable narrative.
Brian was clearly a seasoned storyteller and his workshop was as entertaining as it was informative. Using his strategies will make the presentations feel less daunting and even fun as we craft stories to relate to our audience this week.
Utah State University, UT
Mentor: Hannah Rusch
PI: Dr. Jake Jungers
Date: August 2, 2024
Hi everyone! This is Kylie reporting on fun research activities. This summer, I am researching the impact of alfalfa stem lignin content on roots with Jake Jungers and Hannah Rusch. Lignin in stems is often a target of alfalfa breeding programs because it impacts digestibility. Low lignin lines are more digestible to cattle, whereas high lignin is less digestible. The alteration of stem lignin content has clear impacts above-ground, but the story of the below-ground counterpart is unknown. My research aims to understand how roots are affected by varying stem lignin content in relation to carbon and nitrogen cycling, root Klason lignin, and root architecture traits.
After a lot of planning, I started playing in the soil by collecting tap and fine roots of five alfalfa lines that vary in stem lignin content from St. Paul and Rosemount, MN. Unearthing these specimens left me with an intense sunburn (thanks for taking care of me, Aralyn) and a huge appreciation for shovels.
The second phase of my project involved scanning the fine roots using WinRHIZO to measure traits related to root architecture. This program helps identify the root sample's total length, surface area, and volume. At this stage, the variation between alfalfa lines was apparent due to the differences in biomass and traits listed above. The third step involved analyzing chemical components. I have spent the past couple of weeks resembling a stock photo scientist while mixing my ground tap root samples with various acids and bases. Only slight mishaps occurred, like spilling bases on my lab coat, but it has been an overall success.
As a final part of my project, we buried the fine roots from these alfalfa varieties to measure decomposition over time. This was a fun final field day after a lot of lab work. This summer has been super educational, and I really appreciate Hannah and Jake for helping me learn more about their research and connecting me with people to collaborate with.
Alfalfa taproot
Testing the uronic acid levels of alfalfa roots
Burying litter bags with fine roots inside to measure decomposition over time
University of Florida, FL
Mentor: Kat LaBine /
Leah Hallett
PI: Drs. Jessica Gutknecht /
Anna Cates
Date: August 2, 2024
Last Thursday, we got together for a Graduate Student Panel. I was really excited for this event and am glad to be writing about it because graduate school has been a major topic of indecision for me as my cohort likely knows!
The panel consisted of Hannah Walsh, a masters student in land and atmospheric sciences, Lucas Roberts, a PhD candidate in applied plant sciences, and Emily Moore a masters student in plant breeding and genetics. The panel was mediated by Julie and began with questions surrounding each student’s background and introduction to agriculture. I was delighted to hear that they came from varieties of upbringings ranging from farm life to little exposure to the sciences. They also shared what their projects are and their passion for them, more logistical things like how to find advisors and programs, and tips for success. Here are some of my favorite tips from each student:
Hannah Walsh: Don’t let your lack of background deter you! If you are determined, consistent, and can find an advisor who sees the potential in you, there is nothing you can’t do. Visualization can be a great tool for bolstering your confidence and bridging the gap between where you are and where you want to be.
Lucas Roberts: Research is a small community. Do your best to talk to professors and get to know them, talk to other lab members and your cohort, form study groups! Learning together helps you to reach higher competencies (especially if you can teach topics to others). Don’t be afraid to ask for help.
Emily Moore: When cold emailing, make sure you follow up! This shows dedication and real interest. Don’t be afraid to be blunt with prospective advisors about advising styles, funding, and interest in working with them. Be willing to be flexible and to show that you can be resourceful and help make projects happen.
It was great to hear about their journeys and all of the resources that are available for agricultural graduate study. The cohort also had the opportunity to ask the panel questions about how reaching out to professors works, applications, and touring. The panel also gave reassuring input on how their work feels fulfilling and impactful outside of the immediate science community. This was a very valuable experience and I feel more keen on graduate school than I have before! I am excited for the future of the panel’s roles in science as well as all of ours.
Michigan State University, MI
Mentor: Nora Pearson / Morgan Smith
PI: Dr. Nic Jelinski
Date: July 26, 2024
Hello everyone! This summer I am working in the Jelinski Pedology and Soil Management Lab. This lab has a multitude of projects across the US with main categories being permafrost soils and urban soils. The two main urban soils projects that I have spent time on were the Shredded Cardboard Mulch Project and the Twin Cities Metro Area Urban Soil Mapping Project.
The shredded cardboard mulch project is in partnership with Urban Farm and Garden Alliance in the Twin Cities. The goal is to assess the performance of shredded cardboard mulch in urban farms and gardens due to the increase in cardboard packaging seen during the COVID-19 pandemic. The project I Twin Cities Metro Area Urban Soil Mapping is in partnership with the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) to complete a soil survey update. Much of the soil in urban areas is not mapped as anything besides “Urban Land”. This doesn't include what a profile with soil horizons would look like, or the properties of that soil. Image 1 depicts the drafted areas of interest for the project.
My specific project has been looking at the South Saint Paul Parks samples from the urban soil mapping, and quantifying the microplastics in them. To say this has been a challenge would be an understatement. After researching microplastics in soil, testing a prior protocol, and joining other UMN lab meetings focusing on quantifying microplastics, I soon realized that a standardized methodology to quantify microplastics in soil samples does not exist.
Soil samples were collected from 14 parks in South Saint Paul using a Dutch auger and going down 150cm (or as far as possible before hitting a ton of rocks). Once a profile is laid out in a gutter its color, texture, structure, effervescence, consistency and fragments are recorded for each horizon of the profile. If there are concentrations such as carbonates or redoximorphic features like iron or manganese these are also included. A description of the location is also included and one to one and a half cups of each horizon is collected for sampling.
To quantify the microplastics I have tried a variety of methods such as changing the reagents samples are in, the amount of sample used, the addition of hydrogen peroxide (to oxidize organic matter) filtration paper used, and if placed onto a slide or on filter paper. I look forward to finding out what works best for quantification and sharing that with you all! I have thoroughly enjoyed working with my PI and Mentors (they're the best!!) and am excited to dive more into the importance of soil in sustainable food systems as I continue my academic journey.
AOI Draft Image N. Jelinski
My first soil profile!!
Full 150cm profile next to the auger hole
Density-separated samples, preparing to be decanted and filtered
University of South Florida, FL
Mentor: Katie Black
PI: Dr. Nathan Meyer
Date: July 26, 2024
It was a beautiful day to be on a tractor led wagon riding through St Paul’s research plots! This tour was led by Dr. Eric Watkins, and our journey consisted of four researchers sharing their work. This was to show the SOAR REEU cohort what other researchers on our campus are doing, and have students think about future research opportunities!
The wagon first drove to Dr. Tom Michaels, who is a plant breeder growing hemp, dry beans, and sweet sorghum. He is interested in working with non-traditional and exotic crops that fall outside of industrial agriculture. His joy of selecting plants that are appealing to the eye and capture one’s imagination shows this career has an element of creativity and artistic expression. He discussed how careful selection can lead to properties such as beans having stronger root systems or producing seeds speckled with pretty colors. It made me think back to the dragon tongue beans that I’ve been carefully saving at my home institution, because they are covered with stunning specks of purple!
Next we heard from Dr. Jessica Gutknecht, who is a soil ecologist interested in growing a grain called Kernza. She discussed how strength and climate resiliency starts with the soil. She showed us a demonstration on what happens with healthy soil systems held by deep Kernza roots, versus overly tilled soil under extreme precipitation events. The experiment proved how easily erodible overly tilled soil is, because the soil immediately washed into the jar. A project of hers is seeing how Kernza reacts to extreme drought and precipitation conditions, which she describes as “dry vs wet wars”. Kernza truly has the ability to revolutionize the future food system due to its resilience to extreme climate conditions!
After that, researcher Dr. Matthew Gullikson shared his work with testing the effectiveness of MGK, which is an organic insecticide that can terminate tarnished plant bugs (TPD’s) from day-neutral strawberries. He passed around a vial containing this small green pest, which is what is damaging the strawberries. They hope to test MGK’s formula on TPD’s to improve the marketability of strawberries. Finally, we visited Ryan Murphy, who studies urban tree resilience to pest pressures and heat stress. Some resilience strategies we observed were covering apples with mesh looking cinch bags to avoid pest damage, and placing trees in gravel beds to preserve root moisture before transportation. He showed us trees that were braided together to create a living arch, which was stunning to see!
From someone who does social science research, it was great to see what fieldwork dependent research looks like.
University of Florida, FL
Mentor: Kat LaBine /
Leah Hallett
PI: Drs. Jessica Gutknecht /
Anna Cates
Date: July 19, 2024
Hey, y’all. This summer I’m working with Jessica Gutknecht and Anna Cates in their respective Soil and Ecosystem Ecology for Climate Resilient Systems (SEECRS) and Soil Health labs. Their labs focus on measuring soil health and investigating management techniques that will promote more resilient agro-ecosystems. This ranges from studying soil organic matter pools and cycling to studying soil microbial ecosystem dynamics. Extension is also a big part of Dr. Cates’ work.
My research focus area is on erosion mats. Erosion mats are 6 inch by 6 inch pieces of layered fabric that are used to measure in-field soil erosion. The idea is that water causes soil to runoff along the slopes of fields and that these amts can catch some of that sediment. Soil erosion is a huge issue for farmers since extreme weather events create more loss of topsoil and topsoil is essential for farming. It is often difficult to accurately measure how much soil is being eroded from fields. Typical techniques include edge of field monitoring, and that equipment is expensive and not widely accessible to farmers.
This project involves working with erosion mats at different farms and comparing soil movement data from in the field with data collected from the edges. Results will help us learn more about the accuracy of the erosion mat method. One reason why monitoring erosion is important is because of programs that reward farmers for regenerative practices and carbon sequestration. If you lose topsoil due to events you can’t control, you want to account for the compensation you might lose.
The design of the project also allows us to examine the impact of different management styles and crops (e.g. Kernza - Forever Green Initiative) on soil erosion since mats were placed at different operations ranging from pasture to row crops to demonstrative cover crops. My work for this project so far has included collecting and deploying mats in the field, taking soil samples, cleaning mats and measuring soil collected, ball grinding my samples, and microscaling my samples for C:N analysis. I will get to help run the C:N analysis soon (which requires a big fancy machine that I am excited to see work).
Other work that I have done in the lab includes nitrate extractions and analyses (lots of pipetting!) and doing aggregate stability tests for a different project’s samples. I’ve gotten to see the crop services facilities and many of the resources at the disposal at the U. I’ve also enjoyed talking to the members of my labs about what they do, how they find their work meaningful, and the conditions at UMN which have been generally positive! This has been a good but challenging experience so far. I enjoy the cities and thinking about how I can work towards a career that I believe in and a world that’s more liveable.
Erosion mat at corn field in Redwood, Minnesota with eroded sediment on it
Marathon, Wisconsin (pasture) site with mats and flags in the field
Soil sample from the Farm at the Arb
Aggregate stability machine
Ventura Community College, CA
Mentor: Fang Wang
PI: Dr. Laura Shannon
Date: July 19, 2024
Last week we visited the Winfield United Innovation Center, a facility that works to develop products that aid in productive, efficient agricultural practices. Winfield is one of four businesses owned by Land O’Lakes; alongside Dairy Foods, Purina, and Truterra. The Innovation Center consists of chemistry labs, a seed lab, a wind tunnel, and controlled plant growth environments. Their team is comprised of chemists, plant scientists, engineers, marketers, and other professionals.
After a brief presentation on Winfield and their company objectives, we began our tour at the chemistry labs. We were introduced to some common concerns they consider in product development, and received a quick lesson on how they approach supplying high quality solutions for their products. The next stop was the seed lab, in which we learned about the genetic potential of crops and the variety of factors that often prevent farmers from achieving the maximum theoretical yield. To aid in the development of their numerous plant nutrition treatments and pesticides, Winfield maintains a wind tunnel that utilizes lasers to analyze droplet size and formation. This data allows them to adjust product ingredients and nozzles to ensure the application and droplet size are appropriate for the intended subject. We then viewed the greenhouses and plant growth chambers in which plant phenotyping and growth trials are held. Lastly, a bioproduct engineer from Truterra delivered a presentation on the sustainability efforts and goals that their branch strives to achieve. They maintain programs that fund farmers who implement sustainable agricultural practices to encourage climate friendly efforts.
It was interesting to see the different careers, skill sets, and technologies that go into developing agricultural products at Winfield. We were challenged to think about topics such as the supply chain, product shelf stability, product efficacy, and sustainability at a large scale. These conversations triggered my thoughts about the direction I want to go in my career, and provided insight into the daily operations involved in a prominent agricultural business.
Winona State University, MN
Mentor: Cristina Perez
PI: Dr. Mary Rogers
Date: July 12, 2024
I’m Cameron, working alongside my PI and mentor to study sustainable agriculture practices. Our lab focuses on developing integrated pest management (IPM) solutions for organic farming systems. We are currently investigating the effectiveness of mulch soil covers as a pest management method. Our experiment involves four Brassica species: Novantina broccoli (Brassica rapa), Gypsy broccoli (B. oleracea var. italica), White Russian Kale and Red Russian Kale (B. napus). This selection allows us to account for variability among different cultivars used in field conditions. We’re testing three treatments: reflective cover, black plastic, and bare soil. Mulch covers are expected to keep pest damage away from crops. The field trial evaluates two main insect groups using a scoring system: flea beetles and moths (cabaggeworm, cabbage looper and diamondback moth). The latter one being counted by the number of larvae (caterpillars) spotted on the crops.
Our tasks alternate throughout the week: documenting caterpillars on Tuesdays, harvesting on Thursdays, and weeding on Fridays. I've also spent considerable time at the Student Organic Farm (SOF). When not in the SOF, I am dedicated to entering collected data into Google Sheets in the lab. Tools like JMP, R, and Python facilitate quick data entry and analysis. In addition to my work in the Rogers lab, I've been assisting mentor Jonathon Dregni and his student Grayshalie Melendez. We collect Swede Midge traps from local gardens in the Twin Cities area and analyze the collected sticky cards in the laboratory.
As a newcomer to natural science research, much of what I'm currently studying and experimenting with is new to me. The SOAR-REE program allows me to apply my data analysis and statistical skills to address horticultural issues that negatively impact our food production. My favorite aspect has been utilizing my data analysis skills in horticulture and then constructing a narrative based on the statistical results.
Volunteer State Community College, TN
Mentor: Samikshya Subedi
PI: Dr. Bryan Runck
Date: July 12, 2024
It is important for researchers and scientists to share their reports and findings; yet in the realm of science, an effective communicator has more challenges to overcome than stage fright or jargon. In the modern age of misinformation, email/zoom, and short form content creation, navigating how to connect and influence audience members with scientific research has become increasingly difficult.
University of Minnesota Alumni, Brian Sostek, spoke with SOAR-REEU participants on how to become more immersive and informative with scientific presentations. With a background as an award-winning writer and performer, Brian has found a niche way of combining the sciences with the arts by teaching creativity, collaboration, and communication workshops with students, researchers, and educators. Brian initiated the seminar by encouraging conversation, feedback, questions, and participation from the undergraduates. The group was led through the challenges of communication as well as the two main obstacles that scientists face that other professions do not. Why do corporations, the government, the public or even other scientists not understand scientific analysis and discoveries? The answer lies with the knowledge deficit model and emotional thinking. As Brian pointed out it is difficult to understand and act on information when you do not trust the speaker. Through Brian’s lively storytelling and crowd work he guided the undergraduates to understanding the importance of a clear objective and alluring presentation that creates conversation and action. In order to showcase the advantages of poster/oral presentations over a paper the group was encouraged to participate in a theatrical mental exercise by picturing a destination you want your friends to travel to. The exercise once again builds upon the importance of being present and passionate about your objective and the journey to get there by making yourself consider if you would rather guide your friends in person or with printed directions.
The seminar ended with the 4 A’s (Audience, Authority, Authenticity, Approachability) and the 4 E’s (Enticing, Engaging, Enjoyable, Effective) on how to make a research presentation a conversation instead of a monologue. Brian perfectly executed the motto: “practice what you preach” by supplying comedic relief to the serious and stressful topic of science communication fabricating a more memorable and engaging experience.
If someone were to say, “The pedosphere is a heterogeneous, porous, and unconsolidated natural material composed of mineral and organic particles that develops at the Earth's surface through physical, chemical, and biological processes,” would you know what they were talking about? Instead, what if they said, “Soil is the layer of loose material covering the Earth's surface, made up of tiny pieces of rock, minerals, and organic matter.” By changing the wording the likelihood of audience comprehension is increased.
Berea College, KY
Mentor: Alisha Hershman
/ Hunter Klugel
PI: Dr. Megan McCaghey
Date: July 5, 2024
Hello everyone! This summer, I am working in a plant pathology lab that focuses on Sclerotinia sclerotiorum which is a type of fungus that causes white mold in over 400 species of plants. White mold is a disease that can significantly decrease crop yields when conditions are favorable (the fungus prefers cool, moist conditions). Lettuces, brassicas, common beans, and other legumes are most at risk due to their high canopy cover. In conducive conditions, yield loss can exceed 20 percent due to the mold. For my research, I am working to evaluate the efficacy of biocontrol agents in managing this mold in canola. Canola, also known as rapeseed, is a Brassica with heavy canopy cover and harvested for its oil-rich seeds.
We are interested in looking at methods to manage the mold outside of chemical applications because S. sclerotiorum has been described to build resistance to fungicides when applied in low doses for prolonged periods of time. Furthermore, biocontrol methods are often better for the environment than their chemical counterparts. Biocontrol has been proven to be effective in other crops in the past, but little research has looked into their efficacy in canola. A few of the biocontrol agents we are testing are Coniothyrium minitans (Contans) which is another fungus, Bacillus amyloliquefaciens (Double Nickle LC), and Bacillus subtilis (Serenade OPTI) which are both types of bacteria.
Some of the activities I have been doing in the lab are for my project, but I also help with different aspects of other projects in the lab such as weeding the bean fields, cleaning soybean seedlings, sterilizing samples, and entering data into excel. Much of the work I have done in the lab has been to prepare me for the lab protocols I will be doing with my project. So far, I have made multiple protocols for the field portion of the project such as an apothecia scouting protocol and a disease assessment protocol. Apothecia are the little mushrooms that grow from sclerotia in the soil, and the sclerotia are the hard structures of the fungus.
Apothecia are the little mushrooms that grow from sclerotia in the soil, and the sclerotia are the hard structures of the fungus. Sclerotia can live in the soil for up to 5 years, and when conditions are favorable, apothecia will germinate from the sclerotia and produce ascospores that get carried via wind and infect other plants. We scout for these little guys because we want to see if the sclerotia is germinating. In the lab, I have made PDA media, sterilized the sclerotia samples, plated the sclerotia on cultures, and assessed their viability. I plated them on PDA (potato dextrose agar) so we can look to see sclerotinia mycelium growth (the white fuzzy part) or any other growth of a different organism that may be present.
Overall, I have learned so much already and I really enjoy working in this lab. I hope everyone has been adjusting to their lab okay and I can't wait to hear about other's projects!
Canola at 30% bloom
Weeding in field K10
Sclerotinia mycellium growth in PDA media
Sclerotinia sclerotiorum under a microscope
Setup for the Sterilization Protocol
Utah State University, UT
Mentor: Hannah Rusch
PI: Dr. Jake Jungers
Date: July 5, 2024
This past Thursday, we had the pleasure of visiting Kurt Kimber’s family farm to discover more about local operations from the grower himself. Kurt’s farm is located on Native American property that his family aims to maintain through sustainable farming actions such as intercropping, minimizing soil erosion, and organic agriculture. There were many methods to the madness to achieve these things, such as using the crop Kernza®. Kernza® is the domesticated grain produced by intermediate wheatgrass that Minnesota researchers and growers are at the forefront of developing. Kernza® has many benefits, including its robust, over 10-ft long root system that helps minimize soil erosion and acts as a net sink for atmospheric carbon. Kurt highlighted that Kernza® has a limitation of lower market sales, but he is excited that it has grown in popularity. SO, support this crop by purchasing Kernza® flour to bake sweet treats today!! I have consumed numerous Kernza® products and can report they were all scrumptious.
Other things we saw on the 240-acre farm were barley and pea intercropping, alfalfa and Kernza® intercropping, prairie strips to minimize soil erosion, well-loved equipment, and traditional crops such as corn and soybeans. It was clear that Kurt loved his operation and truly believed that agriculture could become more sustainable. He shared some philosophy with the group about his climate change activism and his aim to make a difference by supporting land-owning widows with their farming operations. This visit improved the group's morale when we became gopher hole hunters, and I, for one, want to be Kurt when I grow up.
Pea/wheat intercropped fields
Kurt showing some of the Kernza countour plots
SOAR-REEU students by prairie strips
University of Puerto Rico at Utuado
Mentor: Jonathan Dregni
PI: Dr. Cindy Tong
Date: June 28, 2024
Hola! This week we have all been working hard in our labs, with out mentors helping us figure out our projects and really getting in-depth with it all. My project is about a pest insect called swede midge, a little fly from the Cecidomyiidae family that has been found damaging the leaves and heads of brassicas, affecting broccoli, kale, and cauliflower. As there are only chemical ways to manage swede midge, Dr Cindy Tong, my PI, has set-up mitigation kits, using cloth cages as an organic way to protect brassica crops from this pest. These are placed in small plots in community gardens and one of my goals is to figure out if they effectively keep the adult insects away from the crop by comparing damage in control plants outside and inside the mitigation kit.
Other activities in this study consist of catching swede midge in sticky traps that contain lures to attract males, and then counting them. We collect and replace traps every Monday and Friday. We aim to compare insect population from four community gardens in St. Paul: St. Anthony Park, Merriam Station, Midway Green Spirit, and Eleanor Graham from this and prior years. Sticky traps were also placed in four organic farms, two in Wisconsin and two in Minnesota, with the intention of comparing swede midge’s population and broccoli damage against the community gardens.
Aside from my project I’ve helped Christina Perez with her swede midge colony by watering cauliflower plants, selecting healthy non-infected plants and putting them into cages where the colonies are, and rating damage made by the pest to the plants.
I love my project, I have been learning so much about brassicas, the swede midge, meeting farmers that inspire me to work hard until I have my own farm and discovering new sights, animals and places. I’m so excited to see what everyone else is working on!
Swede Midge damage in Broccoli (crumpled leaves)
Mitigation kits (white square mesh) in community garden plot
Lure and sticky trap
Sticky traps in farm
Broccoli florets in farm
Pretty flowers
Dog in brassica farm
Berea College, KY
Mentor: Alisha Hershman,
Hunter Klugel
PI: Dr. Megan McCaghey
Date: June 28, 2024
What type of jobs are available in the field of agriculture? What should my next steps be after undergrad? Is going to grad school worth it? These are just a few of the questions occupying our minds daily; questions we are trying to seek answers to through internships like this one. At the non-academic careers round table discussion, we heard responses to some of these questions and gained valuable insight on what it would be like working in industry.
The mix of representatives included Patrice Bailey who works for the Minnesota Department of Agriculture as an associate commissioner, Dr. Chaochih Liu who works for PepsiCo as a computational biologist and data scientist, Emma Wielinski who works for the Minnesota Farm Bureau in agricultural communications and Michael Miller who works for Seneca Foods in plant breeding, genetics, and food canning. Each of these representatives have diverse backgrounds of education and different paths on how they came to their roles in the field of agriculture. Through their experiences and lessons learned, they offered pieces of advice to our cohort, so I will share what I feel resonated the most:
Make connections! Dr. Chaochih Liu expressed the importance of building your network through your educational journey. Making connections is crucial to learning about careers, landing jobs, and discovering what you are passionate about.
Learn as much as you can in school and in your field of work. Grad school is a great opportunity to do this. Going to grad school will help you specialize in a particular category of science. In undergrad, most of the majors offered are extremely broad, (like environmental science or biology). Grad school will allow you to delve into more specific topics (like plant breeding and genetics, plant pathology, or wildlife conservation just to name a few). However, it is still fully possible to obtain a good career without going to grad school too, it just comes down to personal preference.
Its okay to not know what you want to do right away. The background you come from does not define what your future career should be. Once you find your passion, it will become easier to know what job you want or what field of work you want to be a part of. A couple of the representatives had no agricultural background whatsoever until finding it in college and now seem as though they have flourished in their agricultural roles.
Overall, each representative contributed to a deeper knowledge of jobs in industry as well as valuable advice to deciding our next steps post undergrad.
Ventura Community College, CA
Mentor: Fang Wang
PI: Dr. Laura Shannon
Date: June 21, 2024
Hello! This summer I am studying blackspot bruise in potatoes. Blackspot bruise is a dark discoloration that occurs under a tuber’s skin when its cell membranes are damaged, triggering the formation of melanin. This damage is the result of handling and mechanical stress during and post-harvesting when tubers experience physical impacts. It is important to understand the development of bruise as it is a major concern of growers, costing the potato industry an estimated $298 million annually.
My project focuses on developing a protocol that induces blackspot bruise in a time and labor efficient manner. My mentor, Fang Wang, and I are evaluating how different storage temperatures, storage durations, and tumbling times affect the development and incidence of blackspot bruise. Once the potatoes have undergone tumbling that simulates mechanical stress, they are then peeled and photographed in a lightbox. Once the protocol is optimized, the Shannon lab will implement the procedures to screen for bruise resistance in their breeding program, allowing them to make efficient selections and develop resistant varieties. This data will then be integrated into the Shannon lab’s image analysis program, TubAR, that objectively measures potato traits. By providing farmers with more bruise-resistant varieties, we hope to help mitigate losses associated with bruise. When I am not roughing up potatoes, I have been learning R programming and hope to be able to help out in the beautiful greenhouses and fields soon.
I hope everyones’ projects are off to a positive start; I look forward to learning more about our respective interests together this summer!
Winona State University, MN
Mentor: Cristina Perez
PI: Dr. Mary Rogers
Date: June 21, 2024
During our visit to The Good Acre (TGA), Nikki Warner, Director of Communications and Government Affairs, presented on how this food hub strengthens connections between food producers and consumers. We learned about TGA's various programs that aim to reduce the environmental footprint of food transportation across the country. Their main focus is championing small-farmer businesses and diversifying the sector by purchasing from small family-owned farms, with a majority of their budget invested in BIPOC-owned farms around the Twin Cities area.
The Good Acre prioritizes customers' healthy diets over profits and markets organic food to a wider audience. They work with local farms, primarily minority-owned, to provide various ethnic-specific herbs and vegetables not typically grown on regular Minnesotan farms. By partnering with local diaspora communities, TGA brings these unique products to general markets and stores. Minority groups like the Hmong, Somali, and Ethiopian communities in the Twin Cities manage many of the small farms in the state but often lack warehouse partnerships - this is where TGA steps in.
Our tour of TGA facility was insightful and educational. It broadened my understanding of the food system, including the relationships between farms, food banks, food hubs, and supermarkets. One of the most interesting facts I learned was about TGA's exponential growth in total sales, starting from around $600,000 in 2015 to nearly $2,000,000 in 2021. This rapid financial growth demonstrates the effectiveness of their program and its appeal to the broader public. Each member of our group left with new knowledge about agricultural processes and food systems. The trip was a valuable learning experience, and we look forward to applying these insights to future projects.
Mrs. Warner explains the usage and the functions of the warehouse facility to our REU cohort.
The entire REU cohort stands for a selfie, taken with Carah’s iPhone. (I’m the one in the light violet shirt with my face positioned such that it is blocked)
Smith College
Northampton, MA
Mentor: Gabriela Hidrobo
PI: Dr. Julie Grossman
Date: June 14, 2024
Hello! I’m excited to share my first week in the Grossman lab this summer. I spent much of the first few days meeting everyone, including my mentor Gaby Hidrobo who will be guiding me throughout the research process.
As a student in the social sciences, I have had many firsts this week. I was introduced to the “dirty” lab, where researchers process soil samples to prepare for testing, and the “clean” lab, where reagents are contained and protocols using chemicals take place. In the dirty lab, I weighed soil samples to be used in a POX-C protocol to measure the amount of labile carbon in the soil. In the clean lab, Gaby and Hannah led me through this protocol where we prepared a plate of samples to be run through a spectrophotometer. I felt like a real scientist in my lab coat!
This process is part of the 100 Farms project which aims to assess the soil health of small-scale vegetable farms in Minnesota, particularly the prevalence of excessive phosphorus in the soil that can harm the environment. We are working with 200 samples of soil from 100 farms across the state, both from open fields and high tunnels. I am working on testing the amount of labile carbon in each sample to then look at correlations with other soil analytical tests such as organic matter content.
Another highlight of this week was attending the dissertation defense of another grad student in the Grossman lab, Rebecca Fudge, who studied the symbiotic association between rhizobia and hairy vetch. It was an honor to witness the culmination of five years of hard work, and to see an example of everyone in the lab supporting one another’s accomplishments.
University of Puerto Rico at Utuado
Mentor: Jonathan Dregni
PI: Dr. Cindy Tong
Date: June 14, 2024
First week of the program went by like a breeze, don’t you agree? We had a very eventful schedule, between orientations introducing the program to us, getting a tour of the St. Paul agriculture terrains and buildings, getting introduced to our PI and mentor, talking in depth about campus security, health insurance and gym facilities.
This week I mostly walked around, explored and got lost so many times in the facilities and campuses which is why I can proudly say I have mastered Google Maps. I use it every day now to get everywhere since I’m still not used to the maze this big city is. Also, the GopherTrip app has been a life saver for me, and the best part is it’s so easy to use.
As to our projects, because some of us started working on them early, we just went through safety training for the labs, some of us were helping mentors with their research, others were reading, learning and just figuring out what the basics for our projects are.
That’s a sum up of what we have been up to for the first week of this amazing Summer Program. Every activity has been great, everyone has been so nice and inviting and I really hope everyone is enjoying it as much as I am!