The Land-Grant Ledger: April 2022

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Dean's Message

Dear stakeholders and supporters of TSU’s Land-Grant Programs,

It has been a busy month with many in-person activities and experiences for our students, faculty, and administrators in the College. Our students participated and won several awards in a variety of local and national meetings (see details inside). We are planning to bring back in-person activities involving community participation on the campus including regular gatherings of hemp growers’ association, community gardens, annual small farm event, and others based on current COVID-19 trends. We are excited to comeback to a world of normalcy after two-year hiatus.

The cover picture shows the largest ever participation of Tennessee State University faculty, students, and staff at the historical 20th biennial research symposium of 1890 universities in Atlanta, GA during April 2-6, 2022. This is the largest symposium that 1890 universities have ever organized with more than 1100 participants including 500 students, several governmental agencies, and agricultural industry. Our students and faculty made 47 scientific presentations, while as the Chair of the 1890 Research Directors, I played a significant role for the success of this historical symposium. We are proud to be part of the big 1890 family!

Chandra Reddy, Dean, Director of Research and Administrator of Extension

Influential Policy Discussions at Tennessee Ag Day on the Hill

By Janiece M. Pigg

TSUAg attended Ag Day on the Hill, an agricultural advocacy and policy summit hosted during National Agriculture Week, March 20 - 26, at the Tennessee State Capitol in downtown Nashville. Collegiate leadership and faculty including, Dean, Dr. Chandra Reddy, Associate Dean of Extension, Dr. Latif Lighari, and a plethora of faculty got the opportunity to speak with influential Tennessee lawmaking representatives such as Governor, Mr. Bill Lee, and Commissioner of Agriculture, Dr. Charlie Hatcher.

TSU Extension Collaborates to Advance Small Scale Poultry Production

By Janiece M. Pigg

Dr. Pramir Maharjan, TSUAg assistant professor and Extension poultry specialist, hosted a virtual professional development webinar in collaboration with University of Arkansas faculty, Dr. Dustan Clark. The webinar featured best practices and methods to manage diseases and enhance biosecurity measures for small poultry production systems in the southern region of the United States.

For more information on small poultry flock management, please feel free to reach out to TSUAg assistant professor and Extension poultry specialist, Dr. Pramir Maharjan at pmaharja@tnstate.edu.

Collaborative Conference Sparks Innovative Connections

By Janiece M. Pigg

Professor, Dr. Matthew Blair, along with Dr. Hui Li, post doctoral research associate, and a team of interdepartmental graduate students, hosted and facilitated a rigorous, three-day hybrid conference titled, New Crops for the Southeast USA. The conference, conducted in collaboration with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), connected international research and extension faculty with innovative production methods and research about crop varieties significant to the southeastern United States region.

TSUAg Awarded at American Phytopathological Society Meeting

By Dr. Fulya Baysal-Gurel

Dr. Fulya Baysal-Gurel, TSUAg associate dean for research, is currently serving as president of the Southern Division of the American Phytopathological Society and hosted the 99th annual meeting March 7 - 10, 2022 in Chattanooga, TN. The Southern Division is one of six regional divisions of the American Phytopathological Society.

The meeting included student research competitions, virtual poster presentations, professional development, career exploration workshops, graduate student meetings, business meetings, awards banquet, and special tours.

One of the highlights of the Southern Division meeting has always been the Graduate Student Research Oral and Poster Competitions. Graduate students from TSU, Sandhya Neupane and Madhav Parajuli, were awarded second and third place, respectively, in the poster competition.

TSUAg Students Shine at MANRRS Conference

TSUAg was well represented by a cohort of remarkable students at the Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resource, and Related Sciences (MANRRS) 36th Annual National Conference in Jacksonville, Florida. In addition to networking and discussing relevant issues in agriculture with distinguished industry professionals, TSUAg students won numerous national honors throughout the duration of the conference.

In the Masters Division, Krishna Neupane and Kabirat Nasiru won first place awards in the Three Minute ThesisCompetition. In the Doctoral Division, Bhawana Ghimire won a second place award in the Three Minute Thesis Competition. Emmanuel Wallace was elected by his peers as the Undergraduate Vice-President for MANRRS Region Five. Additionally, Kaylin Hughes, Kerrington Howard, Justin Walker, and Emmanuel Wallace all won prestigious scholarships from industry organizations.

For more information on MANRRS at TSU, feel free to contact organizational advisor Dr. De'Etra Young at dyoung23@tnstate.edu.

94th Tennessee FFA Convention TSUAg Showcase

By Janiece M. Pigg

Representatives from TSUAg Agricultural Leadership, Education and Communication (ALEC), including professor, Dr. John Ricketts, coordinator of online curriculum development, Janiece Pigg, graduate assistant, Jeiel Ballard, and Dean's Scholar, Gabrielle Cameron, showcased student opportunities, degree programs, and scholarships at the 94th Annual Tennessee FFA Convention in Gatlinburg, TN.

THANKS FOR TUNING IN THIS MONTH

Thank you most especially to our featured colleagues and students, Dr. Pramir Maharjan, Dr. Matthew Blair, Dr. Hui Li, Dr. Fulya Baysal-Gurel, Sandhya Neupane, Madhav Parajuli, Krishna Neupane, Kabirat Nasiru, Bhawana Ghimire, Emmanuel Wallace, Kaylin Hughes, Kerrington Howard, Justin Walker, Dr. John Ricketts, Janiece Pigg, Jeiel Ballard, and Gabrielle Cameron, for their outstanding work to further our land-grant mission of education, research, and outreach. Without such amazing staff, faculty, and students, the College of Agriculture would not be able to foster active innovation through instruction, research, and public service.

We would also like to thank all of our cooperating organizations that are a vital part of the success of the College of Agriculture at Tennessee State University. Thank you to all of the countless international, national, and local sponsors that allow our programs to flourish throughout the state ofTennessee.