Lake-effect drought? New study shows a shrinking Great Salt Lake may exacerbate Utah's drought conditions
A new study by scientists at Utah State University shows that a shrinking Great Salt Lake may exacerbate drought conditions along the entire Wasatch Front. "As the Great Salt Lake water body is shrinking, that local precipitation caused by a storm event i...
Graduating seniors seek degrees in climate change and more US universities deliver
Increasingly, U.S. colleges are creating climate change programs to meet demand from students who want to apply their firsthand experience to what they do after high school, and help find solutions.
USU Scientists Among Multi-Institution Team Receiving NASA Achievement Award
Bruce Bugbee and Lance Seefeldt are principal investigators for a multi-institution, NASA-funded team awarded a prestigious honor for foundational research efforts toward sustaining human exploration on Mars.
Researchers: Drought-Busting Spring Rains May Slow in Future
The Colorado River Basin goes through periods of severe water shortage and also flooding, adding greater uncertainty to the already complex challenge of creating water policy. Some years water managers have rejoiced at the heavy precipitation that falls w...
Climate Study Reveals Alarming Trends in Heat Wave Dynamics
A study recently published in the journal Science Advances by an international team of scientists, including Utah State University climate scientist Wei Zhang, found worrisome trends indicating
USU & NCHU join forces to tackle the complex challenges posed by wildfires in a changing climate
The high-impact research led by USU Professor Simon Wang, which revealed the increasing risks of wildfires in Taiwan due to climate change, not only garnered extensive media coverage
First iPACE-sponsored dual-degree student with NCHU to successfully complete her PhD defense
Congratulations to Mila Li-Ting Yen for being our first iPACE-sponsored dual-degree student with NCHU to successfully complete her PhD defense! Mila has shown remarkable dedication.
Forests in Silence: The Impact of Drought on Carbon Capture's Future
"When Forests Hold Their Breath", a collaboration between Academia Sinica, National Chung Hsing University, and Utah State University, investigates the severe effects of the 2020–2021 drought on Taiwan's subtropical forests.
Utah State University Collaborates with Taiwan's National Chung Hsing University to Uncover Increasing Threat of Forest Fires in Taiwan
In a fruitful collaboration, Utah State University and Taiwan National Chung Hsing University have conducted a comprehensive analysis on the future risk of forest fires under various climate scenarios.
USU and NCHU Unveil Groundbreaking 3+x Master's Program in Agribusiness
n an exhilarating development for academic collaboration, Utah State University (USU) and National Chung Hsing University (NCHU) have once again joined forces. The sister institutions are thrilled to announce their latest venture - the "3+x Master's Progr...
USU Student’s Research Paves the Way for Drought-Resilient Crops
Even with record snowfall last year, Utah still faces long-term drought impacts. With much of the state covered in dry farmland, the need for crops that thrive in dry conditions is ever-present. Kylie Hansen aims to address this critical issue.
Microbes from Native Plants Show Drought Tolerance Potential
USU junior Ty Wilson, has long been fascinated by how plants grow in extreme environments such as mountains and high deserts. His research focuses on isolating microbes from a drought-tolerant native plant, Shepherdia x utahensis ‘Torrey,’ a hybrid buffal...
The Soil Health Institute opens internship for Summer 2024
The Soil Health Institute (SHI), a non-profit organization created to safeguard and enhance the vitality and productivity of soil through scientific research and advancement, is seeking to hire a group of Soil Health Interns for Summer 2024.
USU Studying Possibility of Incorporating Beneficial Microbes From Certain Plants Into Others
Much like the human microbiome that benefits our bodies, plants also host microorganisms that can aid their growth and development in many ways. They can help in nutrient absorption, growth, and disease prevention.
Spotlight: Dr. Brian K. Warnick's Seminars at National Chung-Hsing University in Taiwan
In a collaborative initiative spearheaded by iPACE Director, Dr. Simon Wang, Dr. Brian K. Warnick, a distinguished professor and the interim Department Head for Technical Education at Utah State University, was extended a warm invitation to share his expe...
Rachel Broadbent Promoted to Senior Lecturer
Utah State University instructor Rachel Broadbent has been promoted from lecturer to senior lecturer. Broadbent is a faculty member at USU Salt Lake Center, working in the College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences.
Research Collaboration Advances Climate Prediction for Thailand's Palm Oil Industry
Kasetsart University in Bangkok, Thailand, has partnered with Utah State University in a study recently published in Environmental Research Letters that aims to advance climate prediction capabilities to support Thailand's thriving palm oil industry.
Volunteers to help create heat map for Salt Lake City this weekend
Dr. Wei Zhang, an assistant professor of climate science at Utah State University, is leading a project team of scientists and volunteers in developing heat index maps.
Restoring Navajo heritage: USU's permaculture garden highlights Navajo peaches and cultivates sustainability
Located next to the Aggie Creamery on Utah State University’s Logan campus is a garden dedicated to nurturing both the earth and humanity. The garden not only serves to promote sustainable practices but also showcases groundbreaking research on the restor...
Taiwan's National Chung Hsing University Welcomes USU Delegation After Pandemic Pause
Some of the USU delegation traveled to southern Taiwan to tour an organic cacao farm and begin discussions about possible collaborations with USU's food science department and the Aggie Chocolate Factory.
Encompass Fellowship Takes Ag Grad Student Into the Research Field, the Lab & the Halls of Congress
Tina Sullivan does outstanding research in the lab and field and has been invited to present her work at conferences with other plant and soils scientists. But she has also explained her research to members of Congress and their staffers.
USU Students Helping Refugees Start Anew With Food From Home
Students in the horticulture program at USU Salt Lake Center use the campus’ greenhouse to start these plants from seeds in the spring semester. After the plants have matured and are ready to plant in the fields in May, the crops are then given to New Roo...
Carbon farming has garnered increasing attention as a way to reduce carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
By locking carbon into the soil through agricultural practices, farmers can enrich the soil of their fields. And by paying farmers to sequester even more carbon, some companies hope to offset their own carbon emissions.
Fulbright, NAHEP Doctoral Students Bring Big Data and Ideas to USU Bioinformatics Lab
The Utah State University Bioinformatics Facility recently hosted two graduate students funded by prestigious scholarships. Simardeep Kaur came to USU on a Fulbright-Nehru Doctoral Fellowship, while Tamil Selvan received funding from the Indian Council of...
Noah Lanagenfeld Honored with Horticultural Science Graduate Student Scholarship Award.
USU Plant Science Ph.D. student, Noah Lanagenfeld, honored with the American Society for Horticultural Science Graduate Student Scholarship Award.
Student Makes El Niño Discovery After Shifting Her Focus From the Earth to its Climate
Krishna Borhara came to Utah State University with a master’s in geology and the expectation that she’d be earning a doctorate in the same field. Now she is preparing to graduate with a Ph.D. in climate science.
iPACE Empowers High School Scholars: A Lively Language Learning Adventure in Taiwan
This summer, Utah State University's 4-H extension, in collaboration with its sister institution, National Taiwan Chung-Hsing University, embarked on a trailblazing journey. Sponsored by iPACE, the first-ever high school language learning tour in Taiwan w...
The Luncheon of the USU Taiwanese Alumni Association
On May 20th, a touch of nostalgia blended with anticipation resonated in Taichung as Utah State University (USU) faculty reconnected with Aggie alumni spanning five decades, based across Taiwan. This remarkable gathering not only celebrated the rich histo...
USU and NCHU Rekindle Academic Bonds After Three-Year Hiatus
Following a three-year pause attributed to COVID-19, Utah State University (USU) and National Chung Hsing University (NCHU) in Taiwan have rejuvenated their long-standing academic partnership. Marking a significant stride since the 2018 landmark visit by ...
USU Students Dive into Taiwans Rich Agri-Culture
Utah State University (USU) students embarked on an enlightening journey to Taiwan, showcasing their robust curiosity, enthusiasm, and adaptability. They delved into the heart of Taiwan's agriculture and lifestyle, gaining invaluable insights into the pra...
USU College of Agriculture, Leading Thai University Sign Collaboration Agreement
Representatives of Kasetsart University in Bangkok, Thailand, and Utah State University's College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences have signed an agreement to establish academic exchanges and research collaborations between the two institutions.
USU Analytical Laboratories Offers Updated Soil, Feed and Water Testing
Though work at Utah State University’s Analytical Laboratories (USUAL) goes on year-round, the arrival of spring means it is soil-testing season. The lab recently updated several of the agricultural tests it offers.
Study: Ocean Surface Tipping Point Could Accelerate Climate Change
A new study found that the capacity of oceans to absorb carbon dioxide will be severely diminished by the start of the next century, leaving more carbon in the atmosphere and accelerating climate change.
Year of Intense Wildfires in Nepal May Help Scientists Predict Future Blazes
Substantial decreases in precipitation and warmer-than-normal temperatures in Nepal preceded a spring 2021 wildfire season that prompted evacuations, caused deaths, forced school closures, and canceled flights due to fire and widespread heavy smoke.
USU Professor Jeanette Norton Named Fellow of the Soil Science Society of America
Jeanette (Jenny) Norton, professor of soil microbiology and ecology in Utah State University’s Department of Plants, Soils and Climate, has been named a fellow of the Soil Science Society of America.
Scientists Gather at USU for Climate Diagnostics and Prediction Workshop
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) 47th Climate Diagnostics & Prediction Workshop recently brought national and international scientists and decision-makers to Utah State University’s Logan campus.
USU Soil & Plant Scientists Part of $15M Project to Study Carbon Farming
Record breaking scorching temperatures affecting Utah into September this year are the undeniable effects of excess atmospheric carbon. Locking carbon into soils is the main driver of a recently announced five-year, $15 million research project.
USU Professor Honored for Research, Sustainable Landscape Horticulture Program
The American Society of Horticulture Science recognized worldwide as a leading organization for horticulture science and technology, recently honored PSC Assistant Professor Youping Sun with its Early Career Achievement Award.
Utah Climate Center says Utah’s water patterns are changing
Utah’s winters are getting warmer according to Utah State University professor Robert Davies who said in a February report that particularly in lower and mid elevations snowpack has declined over the last 40 years.
Drought Monitoring: USU's Utah Climate Center Continues to Support State With Data During Drought
As Utah’s third driest year in the past 128 years of records persists, Utah State University’s Utah Climate Center continues to provide climate services and drought data to state professionals.
Agroecology Grant
Congrats to Bradley Crookston for receiving a grant of more than $200,000 from the National Institute of Food and Agriculture!
Four College of Education Undergrads to Present at Research on Capitol Hill
Organized by USU, ROCH is an annual celebration of undergraduate research that features students from Utah State University and the University of Utah, the top two research universities in the state.
USU Extends Agreement With Taiwan's National Chung Hsing University
In the years since Utah State University and National Chung Hsing University began exploring ways to work together, beginning in 2011 and formalizing an agreement in 2018, faculty and students at the two universities have developed collaborations and frie...
Seely-Hinckley Scholar Sustaining the Future of Agriculture
Justin Deakin knew he wanted to pursue a career in the agricultural industry since a young age.
The Budding Maple Syrup Industry of the Intermountain West
Maple syrup. When you picture the maple trees whose sap creates everyone’s favorite pancake condiment, are box elders the first tree to come to mind? Probably not.
Are high-pressure ridges really to blame for the West's drying climate?
A marker buoy is grounded on the dried-up shore of Echo Reservoir at Echo State Park during a drought on Sept. 16, 2021. A new report led by USU suggests the West's drought appears to be the result of fewer storms and less about patterns that block storms...
USU Student Wins Award for Research That Could Help Plants Grow in Space
USU has long been involved in research growing plants in space labs such as the International Space Station. Recently a Ph.D. student was recognized for her research here on Earth that could help researchers design the ideal conditions for growing plants ...
Scientists Find High Pressure Ridges Aren't the Main Players in the West's Drying Climate
A new report from an international team of climate scientists suggests day-to-day weather system changes have played a big role in a period of generalized drying in the western United States — and the cause wasn’t an increase in high-pressure areas but ra...
Researchers Track Origins of Toxic Catastrophe in the Himalayas
Attributing any specific instance of pollution to its source with scientific certainty, however, had proven difficult. Now, using the 2020 event as a starting place, an international team of researchers has developed a method for tracking the origins of a...
USU Bioinformatics Expert Hopes Big Data Lab Will Revolutionize More Fields of Research
Rakesh Kaundal's Contributions to Bioinformatics Push the Boundaries of Human Knowledge
Drought, wildfires, pollution: How should Utah tackle its biggest problems? Using ‘evidence,’ Gov. Cox says
"These are not Republican issues or Democrat issues, these are human issues and they are certainly Western issues," the governor said while standing in a room full of Utah State University researchers at the Gallivan Center on Tuesday.
Utah State researchers get close to $2 million to study state’s largest fruit crop
Black is leading a team of researchers from USU and Michigan State — each representing the country’s two largest tart cherry producing states — to use the nearly $2 million grant to study more efficient crop management techniques.
Utah Climate Center Winter Outlook Says More Precipitation in the North but Deepening Drought Likely
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration recently made an official declaration regarding the emergence of a second La Niña winter, meaning widespread cooling in the Pacific Ocean which impacts weather patterns far beyond its shores.
Researchers at USU awarded $1.97 Million to Study Important Utah Fruit Crop
A multidisciplinary team of researchers at Utah State University and Michigan State University have been awarded $1.97 million over 4 years from the United States Department of Agriculture to study more efficient ways of managing this major crop.
Flowers and Friends Make This Garden Grow
Most successful home gardeners begin with a plan. Few, however, go to the lengths of planning that plant science Professor Bruce Bugbee and his wife Diana West commit to each year that transforms part of their yard into a themed garden.
USU Irrigation Study in Cedar City Reducing Water Without Reducing Crops
A new irrigation study is underway at the Southern Utah University farm in Cedar City to determine how much water is needed to optimally grow crops. Utah State University Assistant Professor of Agriculture Matt Yost explains early findings in the study.
IN FOCUS Discussion: September’s climate change conversation
Matt Yost, Assistant Professor at USU talks about why he became interested in his field of study, how Utah performs with small and large-scale agriculture, what crops are affected with extreme drought and how producers are dealing with it, and more.
Newly Awarded Maple Syrup Research Grant
Youping Sun of the Plants, Soils, and Climate Department, has recently been awarded $500,000 in grant funds for a project dedicated to "Developing a Maple Syrup Industry for the Interior West Through Extension and Research".
New Research Suggests California's Wildfires Cycle has Been Superseded by Global Warming
The dominant force driving wildfires in California for hundreds of years may no longer be the key factor in the frequency or severity of these blazes.
Alumnus Honors his Father with the Dedication of the Professor A.A. Heravi Atrium
A space central to the Department of Plants, Soils and Climate in the Agricultural Sciences building has been named to honor Professor A.A. Heravi, a pioneer of scientific farming in Iran.
Students Receive Grants to Conduct Impactful Undergraduate Research
Three students working in disciplines within the College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences were awarded Undergraduate Research and Creative Opportunity Grants (URCO) to support conducting their own research in life, plant and food sciences this summer....
Data Scientists Uncovering Genes that Protect Alfalfa against Salinity Stress
Salinity is a growing critical threat to soils, water quality and food production worldwide. High levels of salts in water and soil interfere with plants’ abilities to take up the nutrients they need, create osmotic shock and ion accumulation in the plant...
PSC Awarded $36,000 for Invasive Plant Species Research
The Utah Department of Agriculture and Food has awarded Utah State University’s Department of Plants, Soils and Climate a $36,000 grant for work on medusahead and invasive mustard species.
'Best Case' Goals for Climate Warming Could Still Result in Massive Wildfire Risk
A newly published study finds even small increases in climate warming may result in significant increases in wildfire frequency and severity.
USU Undergrad Researchers Study Where Sagebrush Grows - and Heals
True-blooded Aggies love the spot where the sagebrush grows and they may have reasons to love it even more, say Utah State University undergraduate researchers David Suisse and Kayla Wasden Suisse.
Seeds Planted on the Path to Becoming Professor Creech
Although Earl Creech grew up on what his father called a “true” family farm — no hired help from outside the family and no one doing an off-farm job for income — he didn’t know until he was in college that being a scientist who helps farmers could be a jo...
Professor Jennifer MacAdam Named Fellow of the American Society of Agronomy
Jennifer MacAdam, professor of plant physiology and forage production in Utah State University’s Department of Plants, Soils, and Climate has been named a fellow of the American Society of Agronomy.
PSC Graduate Student Receives Grant
Danielle Theimann received a grant for identification of effective cover crop varieties and integrated management practices for weedy and invasive plant suppression in the Western United States.
USU Extension Co-hosts Public Hemp Seminar
USU Extension Agriculture and Natural Resources Department and the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food (UDAF) host Utah’s first ever public hemp seminar.
Soils Science Graduate Student Earns National Research Award
Idowu Atoloye, a student in USU's Department of Plants, Soils and Climate, was awarded the Nelson Yield-Limiting Factors Graduate Student Scholarship by the American Society of Agronomy at its annual conference in November.
Plant Science Students Earn Top Honors
Students in Utah State University’s Department of Plants, Soils and Climate (PSC) earned several awards at an international conference hosted by the American Society for Horticultural Science (ASHS), including Alyssa Palmer and Anthony Whaley.
Plant Scientists Build on Wheat Research with $1.9 Million NIFA Grant
Utah State University Associate Professors Jennifer Reeve and Earl Creech were recently awarded more than $1.9 million by the USDA’S National Institute of Food and Agriculture for their ongoing research on organic dryland wheat.
PSC Student Named UServe Utah's August Member of the Month
USU's plant, soils and climate systems student Josh Martin was selected as the August 2019 UServe Utah's Member of the Month.
Soil is Not Dirt
This summer, Emma Thompson participated in international competition at the 21st World Congress of Soil Science in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil. She judged individually and with a team representing the U.S.
USU Scientists Among Funding Recipients to Study Wise Use of Fertilizers
The Fertilizer Institute (TFI) recently announced that the Foundation for Agronomic Research has awarded nearly $2.7 million in grants to universities, including Utah State University, to conduct field research and demonstration projects.
Leading Atmospheric and Oceanographic Scientist to Give Seminar at USU
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Senior Scientist Michael McPhaden will give a seminar, “Understanding and Predicting El Niño: Why was the 2015-16 El Niño so Strong?” on Monday, June 10.
Climate History in Tree Rings Builds Understanding of Climate Future
Steve Voelker, assistant professor in USU’s Department of Plants, Soils and Climate, is the lead author of a paper published in Scientific Reports (a Nature Research publication) in March.
Hemp Research Underway at Utah State University
Scientists at Utah State University are studying cultivation practices to optimize the yield and quality of hemp for botanical medicines.
A plant named 'kochia' could help NM ranchers survive drought, changing climate
As weather patterns change causing the need for re-vegetation and livestock producers are looking for ways to provide nutritional forage for their animals, NMSU researchers are searching for forage plants that will adapt to the changing weather patterns....
Scott Jones Named Fellow of the Soil Science Society of America
USU soil science Professor Scott Jones was named a fellow of the Soil Science Society of America during the organization’s annual conference in early January.
Competing with Cheat Grass and Wild Fires--How One Plant Could Level the Playing Field
Researchers in Utah are working to introduce more fire-resistant plants into western landscapes to reduce the damage.
Hidden Climate Records Within Tree Rings
Researchers from Utah State University and two other institutions recently published a study that uses tree rings to link climate variability to long-term patterns in temperature.
Farming Mars
Bruce Bugbee recalls that on July 20, 1969, his mother called him and his friends to come inside because Apollo II astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin were about to become the first humans to walk on the moon. It was possibly the only thing that cou...