college of agriculture and life sciences

Shasta Lake during a drought in California.

May 1, 2023

Podcast: Water Rights

Eric Edwards talks about water rights in the West.

Red fireworks light up the sky above the Belltower as an explosive end to Packapalooza 2022.

Apr 26, 2023

Graduate Programs Keep Climbing in Rankings

This year's U.S. News rankings bring good news for NC State’s graduate programs. Three programs placed in the top five nationwide, while numerous other graduate programs advanced.

stream runs through a wooded area with a busy road in the background

Apr 24, 2023

New Tools Capture Economic Benefit of Restoring Urban Streams

The work can assist federal and state agencies charged with developing environmental regulations affecting urban ecosystems.

woman wearing latex gloves measures an object on a surgical tray in a laboratory

Apr 24, 2023

Study Finds Significant Variation in Anatomy of Human Guts

Researchers found significant variation in the anatomy of the human digestive system, with pronounced differences possible between healthy individuals.

Apr 19, 2023

Study: Tribal Water Rights Underutilized in U.S. West

Lack of irrigation infrastructure and convoluted land ownership issues represent the major impediments to tribes, the study suggests.

A male cockroach offers his abdomen to a female cockroach

Apr 19, 2023

Nature’s Chefs: Scientists Propose Food-Making as Means of Understanding Species Interactions

Researchers are proposing a new way to think of some interactions between species, classifying a variety of plants, animals and fungi as “nature’s chefs.”

Apr 18, 2023

NC State Names New Dean of College of Agriculture and Life Sciences

Garey Fox has been named dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at North Carolina State University following a nationwide search. His appointment becomes effective August 1, pending Board of Trustees approval. Fox replaces interim dean John Dole, who has held his position since February 2022.

image shows an electronic patch attached to the leaf of a tomato plant

Apr 12, 2023

Multifunctional Patch Offers Early Detection of Plant Diseases, Other Crop Threats

The patch can be applied to the leaves of plants to monitor crops for different pathogens – such as viral and fungal infections – and stresses such as drought or salinity.

Apr 11, 2023

Perfume Component Helps Lure Male Moth Pests

A small amount of nonanal added to a traditional blend of sex pheromones draws the attention of fall armyworm males looking for a good time.

Apr 3, 2023

NC State Researchers Assemble Pathogen ‘Tree of Life’

Researchers provide open-access tool to capture new data on a global plant destroyer, Phytophthora.

Tractor at a cover crop conference in North Carolina.

Mar 21, 2023

Study: Cover Crops Help Mitigate Farmer Losses

Results suggest cover crops can keep soil drier and healthier, allowing Midwestern farmers to plant cash crops after flooding.

A four-leaf clover next to a clover bloom.

Mar 9, 2023

In N.C., It Should Probably Be ‘No Mow March’

An NC State turfgrass expert explains the importance of mowing for weed control and promoting healthy grass.

wheeled vehicle contains a tower with multiple tiers of cameras mounted to it. The vehicle is in a corn field.

Mar 6, 2023

Wheeled Robot Measures Leaf Angles to Help Breed Better Corn Plants

The technology is more efficient than conventional techniques, providing plant breeders with useful data more quickly.

satellite image of Lake Erie shows green plumes extending from the northern shore

Feb 28, 2023

Estuaries Face Higher Nutrient Loads in the Future – Particularly on the Atlantic Coast

The finding suggests estuaries, particularly on the Atlantic and Gulf Coasts, will face a heightened risk of experiencing harmful algal blooms.

Feb 23, 2023

N.C. Effort to Help Pollinators Shows Successes, Limitations

Bee abundance and species diversity increased in agricultural pollinator habitats, but maintaining the habitat played a key role in effectiveness.