Agribusiness Professor Speaks at U.S. Department of Agriculture

Cal Poly Agribusiness Assistant Professor Dan Scheitrum recently spoke at the U.S. Department of Agriculture headquarters on the rising concentration in U.S. meat production. Scheitrum finds increased consolidation has lead to higher prices and lower wages, which are topics covered in the courses he teaches at Cal Poly including agricultural policy and agricultural economics.

Grant to Study Regenerative Organic Horticultural Practices

Matthew Grieshop, director of the Grimm Family Center for Organic Production and Research, and Associate Professor Charlotte Decock were awarded a $150,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Institute of Food and Agriculture to evaluate how novel regenerative organic horticultural practices affect soil health, insect and disease incidence, weed occurrence and crop yield of common Central Coast vegetables.

The project is inspired by test fields established by Braga Fresh in the Salinas Valley exploring a bedless vegetable production system that maintains both a rye and clover cover crop, along with a transplanted cash crop. Working in collaboration with Braga Fresh, Grieshop and Decock will replicate a multi-year study and develop unique field-based learning modules that will provide Cal Poly students with opportunities to expand their knowledge of organic production systems, sustainable production practices, experimental logic, design, analysis and reporting and the development of outreach materials.

Providing hands on training for Cal Poly students is an equally important outcome for this project as it will develop the talent needed to further develop organic production in the Central Coast and beyond.

Mentor Award

Matthew Grieshop, director of the Grimm Family Center for Organic Production and Research, was given the 2023 WRCAA Allan Romander Esteemed Mentor Award by the Western Region Certified Crop Advisers. Grieshop has headed the Cal Poly Center for Organic Production and Research since January 2022.

CAFES Professors Honored at Fall Conference

Two College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences faculty members, Associate Professor Seeta Sistla and Professor Federico Casassa, were honored at the university’s Fall Conference event in September. 

Sistla, who teaches in the Natural Resources Management and Environmental Sciences Department, was recognized as a distinguished scholar for her work as an emerging national leader in soil science. Since joining Cal Poly, she has brought in more than $1 million in grants funded by the National Science Foundation, U.S. Department of Agriculture and the California Department of Food and Agriculture supporting diverse research projects that include investigating the ecological consequences of plastics in agriculture, solar array development in rangelands and arctic global change.

Casassa, who teaches in the Wine and Viticulture Department, was recognized with the provost’s leadership award for partnership in philanthropy. Casassa has been an integral part of advancement efforts for the JUSTIN and J. LOHR Center for Wine and Viticulture and the department’s research program. Casassa’s research has brought leading winemakers from the area to the college and he has hosted numerous industry advisory council members and other potential donors and supporters for immersive wine experiences in the JUSTIN and J. LOHR Center for Wine and Viticulture.

Agribusiness Professors Receive Grant to Study the Cannabis Industry

Three professors in the Agribusiness Department were awarded a $444,643 grant to study how California’s regulation of the cannabis industry impacts markets and growth potential. Professor Mike McCullough, the principal investigator, will work with Professor Lynn Hamilton and Assistant Professor Dan Scheitrum, on the project. Cal Poly is one of only two CSU’s to receive the grant funding, which is part of larger $20 million grant. The study will examine the effects that local regulation throughout California has had on market concentration and prices, and how differences in local regulation can impact market power, unfair competitive practices and the growth of the California cannabis market. 

Assistant Swine Unit Manager Appointed to Pork Board

History in the making! Congratulations to Morgan Wonderly, who was appointed by the United States Department of Agriculture as one of five new board members to represent over 60,000 U.S. pork producers. She will be the first woman from California to serve in this capacity.

Wonderly will serve as one of 15 members of the National Pork Board, which is comprised of pork producers and importers from states across the U.S. Board members are nominated by Pork Board Delegates at the National Pork Industry Forum and then appointed by the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture.

“I’m very excited for this new chapter to serve on the National Pork Board and look forward to representing all pork producers, especially the West Coast,” said Wonderly.

Wonderly currently serves as the assistant swine unit manager and teaches swine production and livestock/dairy evaluation courses here at Cal Poly. 

Outstanding Research Award

Keri Schwab, associate professor in the Experience Industry Management Department, recently received the Outstanding Research Award at the California Parks and Recreation Society annual conference in San Diego. The statewide award is designed to recognize the research contributions of those who advance the profession and who strengthen and support the California Parks and Recreation Society.

Lecturer Awarded Honorary State FFA Degree

Erin Gorter, a lecturer in the Agricultural Education and Communication Department, was awarded an Honorary State FFA Degree at the 2023 California FFA State Leadership Conference in Ontario, California in March. The award is given to individuals who have provided exceptional service on a national level to agriculture, agricultural education, or the FFA. Gorter taught agriculture and leadership courses at San Luis Obispo High School (2008-2010) and Templeton High School (2010-2014). She teaches classes and supervises student teachers. She currently serves as the President-Elect for the California Agricultural Teachers’ Association and is the program director for the South Coast Region Agricultural Education Consortium. Gorter was influenced by her high school agriculture teachers to choose agriculture education as a career and hopes to instill the same passion in others.