Lori Hoagland (see photo) started this spring as an Assistant Professor in the newly created Specialty Crop Production Systems position in the Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture at Purdue University. Lori earned her bachelor’s degree in Natural Resource Sciences with an emphasis in Agroecology from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL). After assisting in the development of an organic seed cooperative, she returned to UNL to pursue an interdisciplinary master’s degree focused on Agricultural Systems.

Her master’s research identified opportunities for improving the economic and environmental sustainability of family-sized corn-soybean operations through integration of supplementary specialty crop enterprises. After completing her M.S., Lori moved to Washington where she earned her doctorate in Soil Science and served as a Post-Doctoral Research Associate at Washington State University. Her doctoral research evaluated the capacity for cover crops, mulches and biological amendments to enhance soil quality, supplement nitrogen fertility and suppress weeds in an organic apple orchard. Her post-doctoral research investigated the impact of wheat cultivar and soil conditions on beneficial soil microbial communities that enhance nutrient uptake and suppress soil-borne pathogens.

The goal of Lori’s new research program at Purdue is to develop production strategies that will enable growers to lower input costs, improve plant health and productivity, and enhance the overall sustainability of their operations. Her specific research interests include identification of alternative crops and crop cultivars uniquely suited to low-input and organic production systems, and development of effective management strategies for the use of biologically based resources. On-going research project include evaluation of annual and perennial wheat cultivars for biological control of apple replant disease, and cover crop and nitrogen management in organic hop production systems. She is interested in working with local growers and extension educators to help identify research needs and conduct on-farm participatory research. Lori can be contacted at (765) 494-1426, or via e-mail at: lhoaglan@purdue.edu

NAN welcomes Lori Hoagland!