Penn State Awarded $500K for Agricultural Research Efforts

By Blake Jackson

Researchers at the Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences will receive more than $500,000 in funding through grants supported by the USDA Specialty Crop Block Grant Program and administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture. The funding will support six research projects aimed at improving specialty crop production, sustainability, and profitability across Pennsylvania.

The funded projects address a range of agricultural priorities, including pest and disease management, orchard sustainability, soil health, value-added product development, and market expansion. The research is designed to provide practical solutions that help growers respond to evolving production challenges.

One project, led by Michael Wolfin, received $111,537 to develop integrated pest management strategies for controlling mushroom phorid flies. The research will evaluate the use of predatory mites and insecticide netting to reduce crop losses, improve yields, and lower pesticide use.

Another project, supported with $89,793, will examine cover crop practices for orchard systems. Led by Suzanne Fleishman, Shan Kumar, and Donald Seifrit, the study aims to improve soil health and tree performance while providing growers with practical management recommendations.

Researchers are also investigating environmentally friendly approaches to disease control in vegetable crops. Monica Kersch-Becker received $78,457 to develop virus-monitoring and biological control strategies that can reduce aphid-transmitted diseases and improve crop resilience.

To support sustainability and grower profitability, Steve Chmely and Juliana Vasco-Correa received $88,798 to explore converting spent mushroom substrate into valuable carbon-based products. The project could create new revenue opportunities while reducing agricultural waste.

Additional funding will support market development and soil health research. A team led by Yizao Liu, Claudia Schmidt, and Kathleen Kelley received $83,037 to study marketing strategies for Pennsylvania maple products, while Luis Duque received $65,189 to investigate how soil conditions influence potato root growth and yields.

These projects highlight Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences commitment to advancing specialty crop agriculture through research that promotes innovation, sustainability, and economic growth for Pennsylvania growers.

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