The Pasture Systems and Watershed Management Research Unit is located across the street from the Berkey Creamery on the Penn State University campus.
Sustainable beef cattle operations are an integral part of northeastern U.S. agriculture, including rotational grazing and energy efficient facilities.
Phenology cameras are used to study plant and animal life cycle events and their influence by variations in climate.
Research to reduce odor and emissions following manure application includes subsurface injection technology.
Mission
Our mission is to support environmentally and economically sustainable farming in the northeastern U.S. by improving agroecosystem management. Major research efforts include: 1. Developing fundamental information for establishing, maintaining, and managing diverse forage and grazing lands, recognizing ecosystem services beyond the traditional forage, food, and fiber production to include emerging services such as carbon sequestration, greenhouse gas mitigation, and bioenergy production. 2. Developing fundamental information linking agricultural management with water quality and developing management practices and strategies that balance production and agroecological services. 3. Using experimental measurements, model development, and whole farm simulation to evaluate system interactions and improve farm management effects on air, soil, and water quality.