SIPS Soil & Crop Sciences Section
Our mission is to generate and communicate knowledge about agroecosystems and their sustainable management in the face of accelerating global change. We achieve this by educating students for stewardship of agro-ecosystems, conducting scientific research on sustainable land management, and using our extension and outreach programs for the benefit of our stakeholders.
Many faculty conduct programs focusing on New York and the northeastern United States region, as well as in many countries around the world having temperate, sub-tropical and tropical environments. Learn more about the history of our section and the vision of our school.
Soil & Crop Sciences
Our section addresses the challenge of developing environmentally sustainable agricultural systems to produce food for a growing world population, mitigating the impacts of climate change, increasing nutrient use efficiency and improving soil health.
Research Areas in Soil & Crop Sciences
Graduate and undergraduate training
Soil & Crop Sciences offers degrees and training opportunities at all stages of the educational pipeline
Graduate field of soil & crop sciences
Students interested in obtaining an M.S. or Ph.D. degree in the graduate field of soil & crop sciences can select from four concentrations.
- Agronomy
- Field crop science
- Soil science
- Environmental information systems
Master of Professional Studies
Our MPS programs are one-year, course-based degrees, ideal for individuals interested in in-depth study of the issues and advancements in plant and soil sciences. Choose from specializations in Controlled Environment Agriculture, viticulture, public garden leadership, hemp science, plant protection, geospatial applications and more.
Undergraduate — plant sciences major
Undergraduates majoring in the plant sciences can choose to concentrate in soil science, preparing them for careers in soil health, conservation and agriculture, whether in private industry or public government/university sectors.
Undergraduate — agricultural sciences major
Undergraduate students have the opportunity to major in agricultural sciences, an interdisciplinary program to which Soil and Crop Sciences faculty and staff contribute significant instruction and research opportunities.
Undergraduate — soil science minor
Undergraduate students in diverse majors can add a minor in soil science, and gain in depth knowledge of this discipline.
Undergraduate — crop management minor
Undergraduate students in diverse majors can add a minor in crop management, providing a strong foundation in this area.
Undergraduate research — Microbial Friends & Foes
Microbial Friends & Foes undergraduate research experience is sponsored by the Cornell Institute of Host-Microbe Interactions and Disease. Participants are placed in host labs at Cornell working on many different aspects of microbial interactions with plants and animals.
Undergraduate research — other
The Office of Undergraduate Research provides information about exploring the wealth of research opportunities at Cornell.
The Honors Program in Biological Sciences is designed to offer advanced training in laboratory and field research through the performance of an original research project under the direct guidance of a member of the Cornell faculty.
News from the SIPS Soil & Crop Sciences Section
Learn more about recent developments in our research, outreach, and education
News
Ryan Maher, a research, extension, and soil health specialist for the Cornell Small Farms Program since 2013, has assumed a new leadership position as Organic Coordinator for the Cornell University Agricultural Experiment Station (Cornell AES)...
Field Note
Multimedia
For the past two years, Annika Rowland, a graduate student in the Sustainable Cropping Systems Lab at Cornell University, has been studying how to manage weeds in soybean production without the use of herbicides or cultivation. Rowland’s...
News
Cornell weed science researchers and graduate students brought home numerous awards at the joint annual meeting of two major societies January 30 in Arlington, Va. From the Northeastern Weed Science Society (NEWSS): Lynn Sosnoskie, assistant...
News
Cornell AgriTech is leading a multidisciplinary research project to increase the sustainability of the organic dry bean industry in the Northeast and upper Midwest by overcoming production challenges while developing improved management...
News
Michael A. Gore, professor and chair of the School of Integrative Plant Science Plant Breeding and Genetics Section, and collaborators are working to create an open-source digital ecosystem to optimize food crops, starting with maize, with help...