We meet with our advisory panel at a minimum of once a year for input on how we might improve our management of these sustainable cropping systems and how we might increase farmer adoption of some of the sustainable practices used. Our panel consists of researchers from other successful agricultural systems trials, farmers, and extension agents.
Michel Cavigelli
Role in Sustainable Dairy Cropping Systems:
- Shares his experiences associated with running a long-term agricultural research project
- Provides information from the FSP for educational materials
- Works with Tom Richards and Steven Mirsky in conducting energetic analysis of the FSP
Coordinator of Research at the Beltsville Long-Term Farming Systems Project (FSP) / Research Soil Scientist
USDA-ARS, Beltsville, MD
Phone: 301-504-8327
Email: Michel.Cavigelli@ars.usda.gov
Scott Harkcom
Role in Sustainable Dairy Cropping Systems:
- Provides advice to the Project as the Agronomy Farm Manager for Penn State
- Helps with cropping system maintenance, including planting, spraying, and harvesting crops
Farm Manager, Penn State Agronomy Research Farm
Phone: 814-692-7955
Email: wsh1@psu.edu
Byron Hawthorne
Role in Sustainable Dairy Cropping Systems:
- Provide practical advice to the project from actual experiences performed on his own farm.
Dairy Farmer: Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania (milking 80 cows)
Scott Heckman
Role in Sustainable Dairy Cropping Systems:
- Provide advice to the project based on practical experience in the field
Director of the Centre/Clinton County National Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Office
Phone: 570-726-3196
Email: Scott.Heckman@pa.usda.gov
Jude Maul
Role in Sustainable Dairy Cropping Systems:
- Share his research experiences comparing how microbial communities influence greenhouse gas fluxes, organic matter cycling, and plant decomposition in organic and conventional farming systems
Research Ecologist (Plant/Soil Ecology & Biogeochemistry of Ag Ecosystems)
USDA-ARS, Beltsville, MD
Phone: 301-504-9068
Email: Jude.Maul@ars.usda.gov
Steven Mirsky
Role in Sustainable Dairy Cropping Systems:
- Share insights about responses we might find in our various cropping systems from weed and cover cropping management employed
- Develop information from the Long-term Beltsville Farming Systems Project (FSP) that will be included with information to be shared with farmers in the region
Cropping Systems Scientist / Long-term Beltsville FSP
USDA-ARS, Beltsville, MD
Phone: 301-504-5324
Email: Steven.Mirsky@ars.usda.gov
Joel Myers
Role in Sustainable Dairy Cropping Systems:
- Provide advice to the project based on practical experience in the field. Also, has worked with Penn State Cooperative Extension on Applied Research on the farm to evaluate cover crops in a No-Till crop rotation.
Farmer: Co-owner with brother of a cash crop farmer in Centre County. No-Till Alliance Coordinator, Retired Pennsylvania USDA NRCS Agronomist
Phone: 814-574-1319
Email: joelmyers@myersfarm.com
Rita Seidel
Role in Sustainable Dairy Cropping Systems:
- Apply research results from Rodale's long-term Farming Systems Trial to the new Sustainable Dairy Cropping Systems project
- Assist in outreaching research results via Web- and print-based educational materials and field days
Project Leader for Rodale Institute's Long-term Farming Systems Trial (FST)
Rodale Institute, Kutztown, PA
Phone: 301-504-5324
Email: rita-seidel@rodaleinst.org
Dan Ulmer
Role in Sustainable Dairy Cropping Systems:
- Provide practical advice to the project from actual experiences performed on his own farm.
- Local Seed distributor who understands seed technology and variety selection.
Dairy Farmer: Centre County, Pennsylvania (milking 180 cows)
Email: G-pfarm@Juno.com
