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. 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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