University of Georgia
UGA College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences Department of Crop & Soil Sciences
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Faculty Expertise


Outstanding Educator
Basinger Named Outstanding Educator

Congratulations to Nick Basinger, Associate Professor of Weed Science, on receiving the Southern Weed Science Society's "Outstanding Educator Award" at their annual meeting held January 20-23 in Charleston, SC.

The SWSS Outstanding Educator Award (OEA) is presented annually to a weed scientist in recognition of outstanding contributions to the Society and Weed Science through education. The Award is given in recognition of a broad range of activities including formal classroom teaching; outreach and public service or extension including workshops, seminars, short courses, or other means of communication; mentoring undergraduate and graduate students; publication of scholarly work in journals, books, or reviews.

Well done, Dr. Basinger!

Contributions to Science
Branch named National Academy of Inventors Fellow

William “Bill” D. Branch, Georgia Seed Development Professor in Peanut Breeding and Genetics in the Department of Crop and Soil Sciences, has been elected as Fellow for the National Academy of Inventors (NAI).

Branch is the 17th UGA faculty member to receive this honor, which recognizes inventors whose innovations have had a significant impact on society, economic development and quality of life.

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CRSS & Climate
What the warmest year on record means for agriculture in 2025
As the new year gets underway, let’s look back at the climate conditions of 2024 and look forward to what last year's trends may indicate for 2025. Data shows that 2024 was the warmest year on record since official global tracking began in 1880. Three main factors controlled the climate last year: the warming trend across the world caused by greenhouse warming of the planet, the El Niño that dominated the eastern Pacific Ocean in the first half of the year, and the unusual warming of the Atlantic Ocean.
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Ag Dawgs At Work event logo
Ag Dawgs at Work with Clint Tolbert (CRSS Alum)

Join us for our second Ag Dawgs at Work for the spring semester on Friday, March 14th at 11:30am in Conner Hall Room 103 with Clint Tolbert (BSA ’02).

Clint Tolbert is the Chief Agronomy Officer for the Dormie Network, which is an exclusive membership for golf enthusiasts that redefines private destination golf with unforgettable experiences made for connecting. With seven clubs featuring luxury overnight accommodations and courses designed by world-renowned architects, Clint with agronomy teams across the network to plan, implement, and execute short- and long-term agronomic initiatives, construction projects, and maintenance priorities.

Clint grew up in a farming community in Commerce, GA and the came to the University of Georgia where he dual majored in turfgrass management and soil sciences while working alongside Dr. Ronnie Duncan.

Student Life


Student Spotlight
Susanna Berg and Payton Jackson

Our new Undergraduate Spotlight Series highlights the inspiring journeys of current and former students, showcasing their remarkable academic accomplishments and active engagement on campus.

Each profile offers a glimpse into their unique stories of growth, leadership, and outstanding achievements.

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Grad Students Willis and Subedi Receive Awards at 2025 SSSGA Annual Meeting

UGA graduate students Madelyn Willis and Anish Subedi tied for first place in the poster contest at the Soil Science Society of Georgia annual meeting on February 25, 2025.

Madelyn's poster was entitled "​​Soil Mapping Strategies for Precision Agriculture in the Georgia Coastal Plain​" and Anish's poster was entitled "Can Fertilizer Legacy and Drainage Class Influence Vertical Distribution of Carbon, Nitrogen, and Phosphorus in Grazed Pastures ."

Congratulations to both of them!

Student Achievement
Begitschke Receives Award of Excellence

Erick Begitschke, a doctoral student in the Department of Crop and Soil Sciences, is the recipient of the 2025 Musser International Turfgrass Foundation Award of Excellence. The Musser International Turfgrass Foundation is proud to support "exceptional students destined to become the leaders of the turfgrass industry."

Begitschke joins a prestigious group of notable turfgrass scientists and educators who have received the honor, along with a substantial financial award.

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Student Honors & Awards
CRSS Students Win Big at Beltwide Cotton Conferences

Congratulations to the following Crop and Soil Sciences students on receiving honors and awards at the 2025 Beltwide Cotton Conferences held in New Orleans, LA January 14 - 16:

Agronomy, Physiology and Soils Conference 
  • Joshua Lee (Advisor: John Snider)
    2nd Place, PhD Oral Competition
  • Emmanuella Bredu (Advisor: John Snider)
    3rd Place, PhD Poster Competition
  • Jayson Wisekal (Advisor: John Snider)
    3rd Place, MS Oral Competition
  • Lance Wortman (Advisor: Camp Hand)
    2nd Place, MS Oral Competition
  • Amie Jones (Advisor: Camp Hand)
    2nd Place, Undergraduate Poster
Cotton Engineering Systems Conference
  • Ashbin Bhat (Advisor: John Snider)
    3rd Place, MS Oral Competition
More Awards
  • Iago Schardong (Advisor: Peng Chee)
    1st Place, Presentation Competition
  • Samantha Wan (Advisor: Peng Chee)
    2nd Place, Presentation Competition

Contact Us

Main Office: 706-542-2461

Fax: 706-542-0914

Miller Plant Sciences Building
120 Carlton Street
Athens GA 30602


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