Back

Discover CALS

See how our current work and research is bringing new thinking and new solutions to some of today's biggest challenges.

Search for News & Stories

headshot of ashley randle

Field Note

This year, Ashley E. Randle ’11, commissioner of the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources, led the effort to launch the first “Year of Youth in Agriculture” in Massachusetts, with the goal to engage youth in farming. The initiative...
  • Animal Science
  • Agriculture
  • Animals
Rebecca Stup in front of a field

Field Note

Rebecca Stup ’23, MS ’26, is a master’s student in the lab of Antonio DiTommaso , a weed ecologist and associate dean and director of the Cornell University Agricultural Experiment Station (Cornell AES). DiTommaso’s lab has been exploring...
  • Cornell University Agricultural Experiment Station
  • School of Integrative Plant Science
  • Agriculture
Sabine Paz-Le Draoulec headshot

Field Note

Sabine Paz-Le Draoulec ’26, an environment and sustainability major from Hastings-on-Hudson, New York, spent her summer in Washington, D.C., with the United States Department of Agriculture through its Future Leaders in Public Service Internship...
  • Agriculture
  • Environment
a man crouches in front of a line of dairy cows

Field Note

Haowen Hu ’26 is a doctoral student in the Animal Science Department working under the supervision of Kristan Reed, former Animal Science faculty member and the scientific director of the RuFaS project. His main research focuses on the Ruminant...
  • Animal Science
  • Digital Agriculture
  • Dairy
Jason Londo examines a tree impact by extreme weather.

Field Note

As unpredictable weather continues to disrupt growing seasons, associate professor of horticulture Jason Londo is uncovering its deepening impact on apple orchards — from long-term tree decline to subtle changes in fruit finish that influence...
  • Cornell AgriTech
  • School of Integrative Plant Science
  • Horticulture
Standing on the UN floor next to table cards that read "President" and "Panama"

Field Note

Sofia Herrera ’27, a global development major from Panama City, Panama, shares her experience serving her home country as a summer intern with the United Nations. Why I chose this path This summer, I had the privilege of interning at the...
  • Global Development
Ann Jie Teo ’27

Field Note

This summer Ann Jie Teo ’27, an international student from Ipoh, Malaysia, studying nutritional sciences, traveled to Nome, Alaska, to intern with Norton Sound Health Corp. Here, she talks about her experience in the Bering Strait region...
  • Nutritional Sciences
  • Health + Nutrition
A man reaches onto a shelf. He is wearing a lab coat.

Field Note

Originally from Ecuador, Cristhian Said Galvez Espinoza came to work with the Nutrient Management Spear Program last fall as an intern from Zamorano University. Earlier this year, he rejoined the team for eight months as a research technician...
  • Animal Science
  • Crops
  • Soil
Four people stand with their faces inside a Cornell CALS themed frame.

Field Note

This fall, four interns from Zamorano University, in Honduras, joined the Nutrient Management Spear Program (NMSP) team to sharpen their research skills before they graduate this November. Hailing from a number of different countries, these...
  • Animal Science
  • Environment
  • Soil
Two people standing in a field with equipment.

Field Note

Originally from Belize, Aidan Villanueva was finishing up his studies at Zamorano University in Honduras when he joined the Nutrient Management Spear Program (NMSP) for a 3-month internship. Later, he returned to work with the team from January...
  • Animal Science
  • Agriculture
  • Environment
aerial view of fairway with rising sun

Field Note

Sustainability in turfgrass science can be measured through input efficiency, reduced labor, lower emissions, biological pest control, environmental protection and even the social benefit of keeping recreational greenspaces open to the public...
  • School of Integrative Plant Science
  • Horticulture
a woman crouches to pet a dog

Field Note

As biodiversity declines and many wildlife species face extinction, the need for innovative conservation solutions has never been more urgent. Among those leading this effort is Jennifer Nagashima ’09, PhD ’15, whose research bridges...
  • Animal Science
  • Animals
Students walk on the Ag Quad

Field Note

Why do cats purr when they are happy? Can I still eat that pizza I left out overnight? What is the carbon footprint of a football game? CALS courses are designed to help you seek answers to your everyday questions, leading you to build knowledge...
  • Animal Science
  • Department of Entomology
  • Microbiology
Picture of Melissa Baideme

Field Note

Melissa Baideme had never worked in the food and beverage world until she jumped in the deep end and started CK Natural Fruit Juice in 2021. Four years later and she’s been named New York State Small Business Person of the Year by the U.S. Small...
Headshot of Joe Ganley

Field Note

Joseph Ganley joined our CoE team in July as a business development specialist. As part of our business development team, Joe works with our member entrepreneurs and businesses to help them start and grow their enterprises here in New York. Joe...
  • Center of Excellence in Food and Agriculture
  • Cornell AgriTech
A man smiles in front of a background of greenery.

Field Note

What inspired you to pursue agronomy? I am Brazilian, and I was raised on a third-generation farm in São Miguel do Iguaçu, Paraná, a small town near the tri-border area with Paraguay and Argentina. As a child, I developed a deep interest in...
  • Animal Science
  • Field Crops
headshot of adam murray

Field Note

Rising global food demand has forced beef producers to face significant challenges. Climate adaptation, the increased cost of raising cattle to market and consumer misperception of agricultural practices are just some of the issues they must...
  • Cornell Cooperative Extension
  • PRO-LIVESTOCK
  • Animal Science
Lena Wilson, a Ph.D. student, examines berries in a research tunnel.

Field Note

Lena Wilson is a Ph.D. student in professor Courtney Weber’s lab at Cornell AgriTech, where she focuses on raspberry breeding and genetics. Originally from San Francisco, her path to agricultural science began with a college job at a plant...
  • Cornell AgriTech
  • School of Integrative Plant Science
  • Horticulture
A woman crouches in a field looking at a tablet housed in a case.

Field Note

Originally from Bulingtar, Nepal, Asmita Gautam recently joined the Nutrient Management Spear Program (NMSP) as a postdoctoral research associate. Read on to learn more about Gautam’s origins and what she hopes to learn from this position. Why...
  • Agriculture
  • Field Crops
  • Climate Change
a flock of birds fly over a blue track and compost pile

Field Note

Jean Bonhotal, director of the Cornell Waste Management Institute, has been helping farmers and regulatory agencies deal with the toughest organic waste disposal issues for the past 35 years. Here, she explains how she’s helping farmers and...
  • Cornell University Agricultural Experiment Station
  • Environment