Field Crop Agronomy

Research Interests:

Field crop agronomy is multidisciplinary including expertise in genetics, fertility, soil management, and pest management; my research and teaching programs reflect the nature of agronomy as extremely diverse in structure with robust contributions to both science and extension. The use of hypotheses forces research to attain a high level of precision and focus (Grogan, 2005). My research goal is to develop a better understanding of field crop systems for developing science-based solutions for improving corn, soybean, and wheat production.

In order to achieve this goal, I believe: i) that proficiency (breadth of understanding) across a broad range of knowledge-based areas within field crop production is important, and ii) active collaboration with OMAFRA Specialists, Grain Farmers of Ontario, growers, and other Industry Partners is critical to the output of the research. Projects would not exist without the strong technical skillsets of Scott Jay and Rob Templeman, without my graduate student Jonathan Brinkman, and approximately a dozen summer research assistants.

The primary objective of my research group is to achieve a greater efficiency and sustainability of corn, soybean, and wheat production using an applied systems hypothesis-driven approach, through a better understanding of interactions among genotype, environment, and other crop response factors and input variables.

For more information please visit:
http://www.ridgetownc.uoguelph.ca/research/profile_dhooker.cfm