Welcome Forage Specialist Guojie Wang

My name is Guojie Wang, please call me G for simplicity. Originally, I came from China, grew up in a small mixed farm (animal-crop) in Inner Mongolia. During my Master’s studies, I came to the United States as an exchange scholar at North Dakota State University (NDSU). This opportunity led me to earn my Ph.D. from NDSU in 2010. After working at NDSU as an agronomist in forage and biomass energy for six years (2010 – 2015) and Oregon State University (OSU) as a forage/irrigation agronomist for seven years (2015 – 2022), I am humbled to be an Extension Agronomy Team member at the Penn State University.

Although I am new to Pennsylvania, I am not new to forages and forage research and management. I studied switchgrass and other alternative perennial grasses for bioenergy feedstock production in North Dakota. This project deepened our understanding the role of perennial warm season grasses in northern states in livestock production system. In order to balance agricultural irrigation needs and fish and wildlife habitat reservation obligations, my forage research focused on drought resistant forage species selection and management in Oregon. All my past forage research is management driven, field based, and applied research to improve forage production efficiency.

I believe forages can, and should, be diverse in species selection, cropping systems, management needs, and end uses. The intrinsic diversity of forage crop systems gives us opportunities, but also challenges, while managing our current and existing agriculture landscape. I would like to work with all the forage lovers to gradually change norms, to increase resource use efficiency, and to advocate multiple ecosystem services beside forage production that forages can provide for our sustainable and regenerative agriculture in 21^st century.

To improve my research and Extension efforts, ideas, brainstorming sessions, and connections are always welcome. I need producer and stakeholder help grounding me to the PA forage industry. I want to know how I can be helpful, and useful, as I prepare for the 2023 growing season.

If you want to know more about me, my work, or forages, please contact me by emailing me at gkw5177@psu.edu, calling me at 814-863-1019, or visiting me in ASI Building 241.