Our monthly newsletter "Inside Ag" is archived here. For accessibility purposes, we have uploaded both a PDF file and a full-text web version of the newsletter. 

"Inside Ag" is published on the first Monday of every month during the academic year. Newsletter submissions can be emailed to Reagan Cotton at reagan.cotton@montana.edu. 

Please note: We recommend viewing the PDF version for the best viewing experience.

2026 Inside Ag Newsletters

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In this Issue

  • College of Ag in the News
  • Faculty of the Month
  • Accomplishments and Highlights
  • Recent and Upcoming Events
  • Publications and Grants

College of Ag in the News

Faculty of the Month

The February Faculty of the Month is Dr. Mensur Dlakić of the Department of Microbiology and Cell Biology! Dr. Dlakić received an impressive and heartfelt nomination from a student:

"I am nominating Dr. Dlakić because of his exceptional mentorship, his genuine investment in student development, and the significant impact he has had on my undergraduate career. Even with his busy schedule, he always explains concepts thoroughly so I understand not just the steps, but the reasoning behind them. After hearing him discuss his research, I was inspired to join his lab and became a research assistant.

Dr. Dlakić truly wants his students to learn and succeed. I have especially appreciated his willingness to share academic and professional opportunities with me, which has contributed greatly to my growth and confidence as a developing researcher and future medical student. Dr. Dlakić truly embodies what it means to be a Bobcat by upholding the values MSU strives to promote. Dr. Dlakić’s commitment to mentorship, education, and student success truly sets him apart.”

Accomplishments and Highlights

Four College of Ag students were recognized at the Founders Day Student Awards on February 17, along with their faculty mentors!

  • Cody Johannes, animal science livestock management and industry, Worden. Mentor: Liz Greenfield.
  • Grace Lerner, environmental science land rehabilitation, Taos, New Mexico. Mentor: Lisa Rew.
  • Mandy Ly, microbiology, Kalispell. Mentor: Jovanka Voyich.
  • Carly Jensen, microbiology, Billings. Mentor: Jovanka Voyich.

Recent Events

Pre-vet adviser Jamie Arndt will host informational sessions for students who are ready to apply or who recently applied to veterinary school. Upcoming sessions will be held March 11, April 8 and April 22 - please encourage interested students to attend! More information is available at ag.montana.edu/students/prevet/current.html.

The Dan Scott Ranch Management Program hosted its annual Spring Gather on February 26, bringing together all Ranching Systems students for program updates and a keynote presentation from James Stuart, manager of AU Ranches, a Nevada operation that oversees livestock across more than 1 million acres. Stuart and his wife Kenda shared their journey from growing up on the edges of agriculture to earning degrees in Rangeland Resource Management from Utah State and a master’s degree from Texas A&M. James offered an engaging and candid look at the highs and lows of building a career in ranch management, blending humor with encouragement and a healthy reality check. Members of the DSRMP Advisory Board and managers from several partner ranches also attended.

On February 10, equipment purchased with a grant from the MAES Multi-Use Equipment proposal was installed in Marsh Laboratory, and several sessions of on-site training of faculty, staff and students was completed. This proposal was supported by PSPP, LRES and ARS Departments. This new equipment will allow imaging of microstructures of insects, plants and fungi for research and support graduate education in the College. (Principal investigators: Drs. Michael A. Ivie and Tiziana Oppedisano; Cooperators: Drs. Jessica Kansman, Silvia Kinosian, Chance Noffsinger, Hayes Goosey, William Wetzel, David Weaver, Robert Peterson.)

Announcements

Publications and Funding Opportunities

Recent Grants

  • MAES Equipment Grant: “Bioprocessing of Rangeland Biomass: Enhancing nutritional value while reducing toxic load of invasive weeds in Montana” submitted by Dr. Wilmer Cuervo and Dr. Carol Vasco has been funded. From Dr. Cuervo: "The grant will give us the opportunity to purchase a Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry Detector for the Department of Animal and Range Sciences which will enhance the scope of our research , allowing us to determine a wide variety of compounds such as grasses, rangeland species, milk, meat and grains, and more importantly, to reduce the costs and time of processing samples."
  • Dr. Michael Giroux (PSPP) and Dr. Chengci Chen (DRC) were awarded a USDA NIFA grant.
  • Rachel Johnston and Dr. Cahya Prihatna (PSPP) received a Montana Department of Agriculture grant.
  • Dr. Jessica Kansman (PSPP) received a Montana Department of Agriculture grant.
  • Dr. Aritra Roy Choudhury (PSPP) received a Montana Department of Agriculture grant.
  • Dr. Clain Jones (LRES/Ext) and Dr. Hayes Goosey (ARS/Ext) received $25,000 from General Mills to write one Extension document on the effects of perennial forages on soil health, and a second on alfalfa management.

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In this Issue

  • College of Ag in the News
  • Faculty of the Month
  • Accomplishments and Highlights
  • Recent and Upcoming Events
  • Publications and Grants

College of Ag in the News

Faculty of the Month

The February Faculty of the Month is Dr. Joe Atwood of the Department of Agricultural Economics and Economics! Dr. Atwood received a number of nominations from students. Comments included:

  • "Teaches the most applicable class in the college of ag"
  • "Cares more about his students than any other professor I've had"
  • "Joe is the most caring professor who takes time out of his day to meet with students who have questions about anything, from class to life and grad school. I feel Dr. Atwood's class is one everyone should take in order to save, buy a house, retire and more.”

Congratulations, Dr. Atwood!

Accomplishments and Highlights

We gave several new faces in the College of Ag!

  • The Department of Animal & Range Sciences welcomes a familiar face, Dr. Noah Davis, as assistant professor of grazing ecology and management.
  • In Conrad, the Western Triangle Ag Research Center welcomes Dr. John Cardoso, assistant professor of agronomy!
  • The Plant Growth Center has a new manager! Welcome to Connor Schmitz - be sure to stop by the PGC and say hello.
  • Shivali Banerjee joins the Department of Land Resources and Environmental Sciences as an assistant professor in agricultural engineering and bioeconomies.

Announcements

  • Reminder: Please continue to submit impact statements for your research projects! These short summaries help to reinforce the importance of agricultural sciences to governmental and funding agencies. Submission takes five minutes, and you can complete it by scanning the QR code or visiting this webpage.

  • Towne's Harvest CSA shares are available for 2026! Learn more and grab yours on the THG website.

Publications and Funding Opportunities

Recent Publications

  • Berrios-Ortiz, L., Kubinski, E., Lattes, S., Menalled, F., Ebel, R. "The edible weeds feast: an experiential assignment for agroecology, food systems, and weed science higher education." Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems.
  • Hannay, D., Chorak, G.M., Harkess, A., Clevenger, J., Cuperus, J.T., Hale, H., Akozbek, L., Meharg, Z., Carey, S., Myers, Z., Queitsch, C., Stamatoyannopoulos, A., Thum, R.A. "Trait Mapping Utilizing a Newly Constructed Genome for Allohexaploid Invasive Eurasian Watermilfoil Reveals a Non-Target Site QTL Associated with Fluridone Resistance." Evolutionary Applications.
  • Smalling, K.L., Bradley, P.M., Romanok, K.M., Doyle, J.T., Eggers, M.J., Martin, C., Barnhart, E., Binette, P., Castro, E., Chavez, M., Ewing, S., Gordon, S.E., Fields, M.W., Gray, J.L., Groshong, A.M., Hwang, C., Kanagy, L.K., LaFrance, J. W., Loftin, K.A., Long, C.M., McCleskey, R.B., Meppelin, S.M., Richards, C.L., Schreiner, M.L., Shikany, J.I., Tesfamariam, M. "Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and other contaminants of concern in tribal waters of Montana." Environmental Science: Processes & Impacts.
  • Romanok, K.M., Bradley, P.M., Smalling, K.L., Doyle, J.T., Eggers, M.J., Gray, J.L., Hladik, M.L., Kanagy, L.K., McCleskey, R.B., Meppelink, S.M., Richards, C.L., and Roth, D.A. "Target-chemical concentrations and microbiological results in surface water and tapwater, Montana, 2022-23." U.S. Geological Survey data release.
  • Romanok, K.M., Smalling, K.L., Bradley, P.M., Barnhart, E.P., Eggers, M.J., Doyle, J.T., Meppelink, S.M., and Schreiner, M.L. "Concentration results for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) analyzed in fish tissue, bed sediment, and biofilm samples, Montana, 2023." U.S. Geological Survey data release.
  • Breyre, A. M., Merkle-Scotland, E. J., Yang, D. H., Hanson, K., Jagani, S., Tolkoff, A., & Gunaga, S. "Do not resuscitate (DNR) emergency medical services (EMS) protocol variation in the United States." The American journal of emergency medicine.
  • Gunaga, S., Yang, D. H., Hanson, K., Merkle-Scotland, E. J., Jagani, S., & Breyre, A. M. "Statewide and Regional Variation in Hospice and Palliative Care Protocols in Emergency Medical Services in the United States." Prehospital Emergency Care, 1-7.
  • Dylan G Stewart, Jared T Beaver, M Lucas Cooksey, Chad Grantham, Brian L Pierce, Roel R Lopez, Stephen L Webb. “Effects of drop net and helicopter net-gun capture on movement, space use, and survival of white-tailed deer.” PLoS One.
  • Lauren M. Porensky, Sally E. Koerner, Amanda R. Williams, Megan L. Van Emon, Kevin R. Wilcox, Kimberly J. Komatsu, John D. Dietrich, Kurt O. Reinhart. “Multi-year drought has persistent forage quality and quantity effects that can be intensified by heavy grazing in semiarid rangelands.” Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment.
  • DG Stewart, JT Beaver, ML Cooksey, C Grantham. “Does Temporary Baiting Affect White-Tailed Deer Space Use and Movement? New Insights Leveraging Subhourly Location Data.” Ecology and Evolution.

Recent Grants

  • Wilmer Cuervo Vivas, Faculty Excellence Grant: "Developing a cost-effective and rapid method to quantify in vitro methane emissions using a portable sensor."

Funding Opportunities

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In this Issue

  • A Message from the Dean
  • College of Ag in the News
  • Accomplishments and Highlights
  • Publications and Grants

College of Ag in the News

Accomplishments and Highlights

  • Dr. Lisa Rew of the Department of Land Resources and Environmental Sciences was awarded the Western Society of Weed Science Outstanding Weed Scientist Award in the public sector category. This well-deserved award is in recognition of her significant contributions to the discipline. Congratulations, Dr. Rew!

  • Students in LARC 432 Site Design Studio II partnered with the City of Bozeman Parks and Recreation, InContour Landscape Architecture and the new Hyalite View neighborhood to develop Master Plan ideas for Cedarview Park, a 4.5-acre neighborhood park that will be getting a new playground and trail system.

    At a neighborhood meeting in December, associate professor Rebekah VanWieren and eight landscape design majors presented four park concepts and facilitated activities to gather feedback and develop a shared vision for the space. This community-engaged teaching and learning project also resulted in four design posters and a 100+ page report and partnered with MSU's Geospatial Core Facility to use UAV data in the design process.

Announcements

  • Reminder: Please continue to submit impact statements for your research projects! These short summaries help to reinforce the importance of agricultural sciences to governmental and funding agencies. Submission takes five minutes, and you can complete it by scanning the QR code or visiting this webpage.
  • Did you know the COA is on YouTube? Check out our channel for the latest updates, including a recent series on integrated weed management!

Publications and Funding Opportunities

Recent Grants

  • Carrie Ashe (Extension) received an Intermountain Health grant.
  • Wilmer Cuervo Vivas (ARS) was awarded an MSU Faculty Excellence Grant.
  • Gregory Gilpin and
  • Wendy Stock (DAEE) received a grant from Arnold Ventures.
  • Michael Giroux (PSPP) and Douglas Holen (PSPP; Foundation Seed Program) were awarded a Montana Wheat and Barley Committee grant.
  • Michael Ivie (PSPP) was awarded an MSU Faculty Excellence Grant.
  • Matheus Noguera (ARS) was awarded an MSU Faculty Excellence Grant.
  • Agnieszka Rynda-Apple (MCB) received NIH funding as part of a collaboration with Integral Molecular Inc.
  • Anna Schweiger (LRES), Dr. Seth Walk (MCB), and Dr. Stephan Warnat (Mechanical & Industrial Engineering) were awarded a USDA grant.
  • Patrick Secor (MCB) was awarded NIH funding as part of a collaboration with the University of Montana.
  • Jerod Skyberg (MCB) received NIH funding as part of a collaboration with the University of Missouri.

Funding Opportunities

  • COA/MAES is pleased to announce a multi-use equipment RFP to benefit programs or facilities that support multiple research projects.  Applications are due Tuesday, January 20 at 5 p.m. Funding period: 21 January 2026 - 15 April 2026. To Apply: Please fill out the application on InfoReady and attach equipment quote.
  • Western SARE has two grant opportunities open: the Sabbatical Research and Education program and Graduate Student Research and Education program. The deadline for both programs is March 6, 2026. Please check the Western SARE website for full details. If planning to submit a proposal, PIs should notify the OSP Research Administrator for Western SARE, Jennifer Nesbitt. For general inquiries, please email wsare@montana.edu.

 

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