May 12, 2026
An international project led by a Penn State team is helping to identify how community-based bioeconomies in the Brazilian Amazon can support forest conservation while increasing income opportunities for the traditional and Indigenous communities that protect and manage these landscapes.
May 12, 2026
Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences welcomed a delegation from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, or FAO, to University Park last week to mark the first anniversary of the World Food Forum Youth Food Lab North America at Penn State partnership and to explore opportunities to deepen collaboration on global agrifood systems, innovation and education.
May 11, 2026
The Penn State Sustainable Labs Program continues to expand its reach across campuses while advancing efforts to reduce the environmental impact of research spaces. The 2025–26 cohort included 20 labs spanning multiple colleges, with seven labs recertifying after participating in the program’s inaugural 2022–23 cohort. The program supports research teams in adopting sustainable practices without compromising scientific discovery, with participation remaining free to all labs.
May 5, 2026
Suat Irmak, professor and head of Penn State’s Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, received the prestigious Royce J. Tipton Award from the American Society of Civil Engineers at the 2026 World Environmental and Water Resources Congress, held April 26-29 in Mobile, Alabama.
April 17, 2026
As questions about water quality grow more complex across Pennsylvania, Penn State is working to strengthen how research connects with communities. “The Confluence: Water Research and Extension In-Service Day” recently brought together researchers and Penn State Extension educators to learn, plan and network.
April 7, 2026
Six Penn State faculty members have received the 2026 George W. Atherton Award for Excellence in Teaching.
March 12, 2026
The community of Juniata Terrace has been plagued by stormwater runoff for years, but a group of students in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences is working on a design that could help greatly improve the situation.
February 24, 2026
Penn State researchers and their colleagues found that vegetative buffers, like shrubs or grasses, likely reduces the amount of specific pesticides from reaching a stream. However, the buffers are not protective against all pesticides entering waterways.
February 6, 2026
The Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences recently celebrated 26 faculty and staff members who have been with the college for 25 years.
February 5, 2026
Implementing novel management practices in dairy farming, one of the commonwealth’s major agricultural industries, could help alleviate a large source of both nutrient pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, according to a multidisciplinary team led by researchers at Penn State.
February 2, 2026
Governments and organizations that provide mental health support to farmers dealing with depression, anxiety and isolation have traditionally focused on overcoming the stigma associated with getting help — but that isn’t the barrier farmers face, according to a new study by a research team led by rural sociologists at Penn State. The bigger issues, they found, are rural health care shortages, long wait times for appointments and travel time, as well as high health care costs.
January 6, 2026
Congratulations to our 2025 Fall Graduates!
December 4, 2025
To help apple growers achieve such precise management, researchers at Penn State are developing an automated, robotic weed-management system.
December 3, 2025
Drew Trostle, of Mercersburg, is looking forward to a career in the agricultural equipment industry. The fourth-year student is pursuing a major in biological engineering and a minor in off-road equipment, both in the College of Agricultural Sciences. Trostle said he credits the Penn State Pullers club with providing real-world knowledge beyond the classroom.
November 20, 2025
In this video, join President Neeli Bendapudi as she visits the College of Agricultural Sciences to learn about an experiential learning experience made possible through the power of partnership that is connecting ag students with a hands-on opportunity in sustainable farming. Watch the video for a behind-the-scenes look at this unique student opportunity.
November 18, 2025
Students from across Penn State had the opportunity to engage directly with engineers, alumni and recruiters from CNH, an equipment and services company focused on agriculture and construction, during CNH Engineering Day, held Oct. 7 at Penn State University Park. The event highlighted real-world applications of engineering, hands-on problem-solving and pathways to careers in sustainable technology and equipment design.
November 12, 2025
Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences recognized exceptional achievements in research during its fourth annual Research Awards Ceremony held Oct. 28 at the Hintz Family Alumni Center on the University Park campus.
October 14, 2025
In spring 2026, the College of Agricultural Sciences’ Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering will launch ABSM 497: Conservation Management, a course designed to help students understand natural resource concerns across Pennsylvania’s landscape, with an emphasis on soil and water conservation.
October 6, 2025
Roughly a quarter of adults in the U.S. are caring for elderly family members or children with an illness or disability — and sometimes both at the same time. Researchers at Penn State led an expansive study of caregiver well-being and found that the type of geographic location and individual circumstances can impact a caregiver’s health, comfort and happiness even more than their state’s family care policies.
September 19, 2025
Fall is the time of year when thousands of Pennsylvania residents head to forests and woodlots with chainsaws to cut firewood to heat and enhance their homes over the coming winter months. Judd Michael, professor of agricultural and biological engineering, who recently published a study on chainsaw injuries, recommended precautions for those who use the powerful, dangerous tools in this Q&A.
August 22, 2025
Faculty and students in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences will soon have expanded opportunities for hands-on learning and research with the addition of New Holland’s fully methane-powered tractor.
August 19, 2025
Congratulations to all of our 2025 Summer Graduates!
August 8, 2025
Florence Becot, Nationwide Insurance Early Career Professor in Agricultural Safety and Health in the Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, received the Jim Williams Early Career Achievement Award from the International Society for Agricultural Safety and Health at the organization’s recent conference in Portland, Maine.
August 1, 2025
Engineering students from Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences and College of Engineering stood out at the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers annual international conference held recently in Toronto.
August 1, 2025
Sibel Irmak, research professor of agricultural and biological engineering, received the IDEA (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Access) Award from the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers for her efforts helping and encouraging young scientists and underrepresented minority students, making significant contributions to creating a welcoming and equitable environment in academia.
July 28, 2025
Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences has launched the Land Grant Research Impact Fellows program. This new initiative recognizes and supports faculty whose research addresses pressing challenges in Pennsylvania and beyond.
July 16, 2025
A grant program in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences aims to enhance student learning by empowering faculty and students to design immersive, hands-on projects that bridge classroom knowledge with real-world partnerships.
July 14, 2025
Visitors to Penn State’s Ag Progress Days, Aug. 12-14, can learn about agricultural safety topics during a full schedule of demonstrations and hands-on educational programming at the Farm Safety Demonstration Area and the Rural Health and Safety Tent.
June 25, 2025
The Penn State Agricultural Safety and Health Program in the Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering — which also is affiliated with Penn State Extension — released the annual “Pennsylvania Farm Fatal Injury Summary” for 2024 this spring. Researchers and extension educators use these data to identify hazards and risks associated with agricultural production and to inform the development of trainings and resources.
June 16, 2025
To better understand potential contamination of the groundwater feeding the 3.5 million people served by private well systems in Pennsylvania, a team of researchers from Penn State conducted a novel three-year citizen science study of per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) — often referred to as forever chemicals — in 167 private wells across the commonwealth.
