Thierry Besançon, associate extension specialist in weed science for specialty crops, received the 2023 Outstanding Educator Award from the Northeastern Weed Science Society (NEWSS). He was also elected vice president of the NEWSS board. Besançon was characteristically modest and credited the support of his Rutgers NJAES colleagues for the recognition he received from the weed science […]
NJAES Awarded USDA Grant to Research Nickel Plant Nutrition and Soil Fertility
Nickel is one of the 18 chemical elements classified as essential for plant growth, development and reproduction. However, crops require nickel in only very small amounts. Until recently there has been very little research and extension focus on nickel soil fertility and plant nutrition. In February 2022, Joseph Heckman, extension specialist in soil fertility, postdoc […]
Celebrating National Blueberry Month and Rutgers NJAES Continuing Innovative Research
Not only is the Highbush Blueberry the state fruit of New Jersey, but this crop is also inextricably linked to Rutgers University. As we celebrate National Blueberry Month in July, we remember the early history of blueberry research and highlight Rutgers’ current research efforts to support New Jersey farmers and help sustain this agriculturally important, […]
Senior Story: Marisa Shinal (SEBS ’22), Finding Her Calling in Entomology at SEBS
As a student at J.P. Stevens High School in Edison, NJ, Marisa Shinal was interested in the biological sciences. She enrolled as a biology major at Rutgers School of Arts and Sciences, but midway through her studies, she found herself at a crossroads and recognized the need to change majors. Ultimately, she found her passion […]
NJAES Launches Soil Health Initiative as Part of Vision 2025
Rutgers School of Environmental and Biological Sciences (SEBS) and the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station (NJAES) have a long history of research and education in the field of soil science including ground-breaking discoveries such as streptomycin which saved millions of lives. In the past 20-30 years, the concept of assessing overall soil quality has developed within […]
Nick Vorsa Receives Service to Industry Award from Wisconsin Cranberry Growers
Rutgers professor of plant biology Nicholi Vorsa was named as a 2022 recipient of the Service to Industry Award at the December 2021 Board of Directors meeting of the Wisconsin State Cranberry Growers Association (WSCGA). The WSCGA awards are given to individuals for their work on behalf of the WSCGA and the Wisconsin cranberry community. […]
Baylee Carr (SEBS’17) Receives Outstanding Service Award from Northeastern Weed Science Society
Baylee Carr (SEBS’17) Agriculture & Environmental Sciences), field technician at the Philip E. Marucci Center for Blueberry and Cranberry Research and Extension Center, has been recognized for her service to the weed science community by the Northeastern Weed Science Society (NEWSS) with the M. Garry Schnappinger Outstanding Service Award. The award will be presented on […]
Change of Leadership at the Philip E. Marucci Center for Blueberry and Cranberry Research and Extension
Announcement by Laura J. Lawson, Interim Executive Dean of the School of Environmental and Biological Sciences and Interim Executive Director of the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station. Dear colleagues, Nicholi Vorsa (CC ’76, GSNB ’85), professor in the Department of Plant Biology and director of the Philip E. Marucci Center for Blueberry and Cranberry Research […]
In Memoriam: Ray Samulis, Former Burlington County Agricultural Agent
Raymond J. “Ray” Samulis, 69, of Roebling, New Jersey, passed away on February 24. He served as agriculture and natural resource agent for Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Burlington County and retired in late 2017 after 41 years of service. His primary responsibilities were vegetable crops, especially sweet corn; cranberries; and farm safety. Samulis served for […]
Rutgers professor names ‘Vasanna’ cranberry for parents
Reprinted with permission from Fruit Grower News An immigrant family’s authentic American story is behind a new model of North America’s native cranberry. Rutgers University cranberry breeder Nicholi Vorsa named his latest release, Vasanna, in memory of his parents, Vas and Anna. Immigrants from Belarus, they had few resources but encouraged him and his brother […]
