Grape & Wine

Jason Franken

Aug. 15, 2024

Jason R.V. Franken

My research is interdisciplinary by nature, drawing from economics, marketing, and decision sciences to understand the organization of marketing channels (i.e., transactions, contracts, and cooperatives) for adding value and managing risk. Educational background Ph.D., Agricultural & Consumer Economics, University of Illinois, 2008 M.S., Agricultural Economics, University of Missouri, 2003 B.S., Agricultural Economics, University of Missouri, 2001 Courses taught ABM 3183: The Economics of the Food, Fiber and Fuel Supply Chain ABM 4972: Agri-Food Business and Cooperative Management…

Stephan Sommer smiling.

Sep. 29, 2022

Stephan Sommer

Physical stability and shelf-life on wine Microbial communities and interactions in fermentations Additives and technical treatment options in wine Sustainable winery waste and wastewater treatment options Value added products from winery waste Educational background Ph.D., Microbiology, University of Mainz, Germany…

Dean Volenberg

Jan. 10, 2018

Dean Volenberg

Grape quality can be quantified using a number of metrics, the same can be said of wine quality. Since wine quality is directly impacted by grape quality, viticultural management practices play an important role in elevating wine quality. Dean Volenberg’s applied research viticulture program examines the impact of canopy management, vine balance, and integrated pest management practices on grape quality. Although his research is often directed at specific industry concerns having long term implications, his Extension program is dynamic and responsive to seasonal industry needs. Dean has an Extension and research appointment in viticulture and winery operations. His appointment is…

Andrew Thomas smiling.

Jan. 10, 2018

Andrew Thomas

Andrew Thomas enjoys conducting research on a wide variety of horticultural and agroforestry crops and crop production techniques. His main research interests include the development of overlooked native fruit and nut crops with commercial potential, but he also studies aspects of mainstream horticultural crop production. His research projects at the Southwest Research, Extension and Education Center have included black walnuts, pecans, hickories, persimmons, pawpaws, elderberries, blackberries, grapes, apples, tomatoes, melons, asparagus, culinary and medicinal herbs, wildflowers, prairie restoration, wood biomass quantification and high tunnel and solar-heated greenhouse production. Before coming to the Southwest Research, Extension and Education Center in 1996,…

Reid Smeda smiling.

Jan. 10, 2018

Reid Smeda

Educational background Ph.D., Horticulture (Plant Physiology), Purdue University M.S., Horticulture (Weed Sciences), Michigan State University B.S., Crop and Soil Sciences, Michigan State University Courses taught Principles of Weed Science Weed Science Research Principles and Techniques…

James Schoelz posing.

Jan. 10, 2018

James Schoelz

The Jim Schoelz lab is working to understand the environmental and genetic factors that influence the pathogenicity and host range of plant viruses. They have identified a gene in cauliflower mosaic virus (CaMV) that triggers a hypersensitive defence response in solanaceous species. The hypersensitive response (HR) to plant pathogens, including plant viruses, is defined as a resistance response in which the plant pathogen remains localized in necrotic lesions on the inoculated leaf. In general, necrosis and resistance are closely associated, and considered physiologically and genetically linked phenomena. Schoelz has found that the HR of Nicotiana edwardsonii to CaMV can be…