Our Team
Dan Quinn
Shaun Casteel
Shaun's Purdue team address today’s agronomic challenges of soybean and small grains through various extension programs and applied research. Outreach efforts are to educate, train, and provide the most relevant information that enables timely and sound management decisions in these production systems.
Overall goals of Shaun’s extension and research team are to improve the production of soybeans and small grains while maintaining economic viability, environmental stewardship, and social responsibility. To this end, we evaluate various cultural practices, new and upcoming inputs, and integrated management. Key areas of interest include: precision management of resources and practices; integration of soil characteristics, nutrient inputs, and crop physiology; and the influence of agronomic practices on yield physiology of first crop and double crop soybean systems (winter wheat and cover crop).
Joe Rorick
Joe Rorick is the On-Farm Sustainability Programs and Research Coordinator for Purdue University Extension in partnership with the Indiana Soybean Alliance and the Indiana Corn Marketing Council. His primary role is to help coordinate the University’s efforts with conservation practices in Indiana agriculture with an emphasis on soil health and soil conservation practices, including cover crops and 4R nutrient management practices. Day-to-day work is done alongside Assistant Program Leader for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Faculty leaders, Extension Specialists, and Educators. He enjoys connecting farmers with governmental and non-governmental organizations statewide, supporting conservation use in these same farmer’s operations.
His focus is on bringing a good, solid scientific background to internal and external partners, including researchers across several universities, industry, State and Federal Government organizations and non-governmental organizations. When it comes to specific tasks, Joe’s role is to oversee sustainability projects with partners including INField Advantage, Upper White River Cover Crop Program, Keep it Midwest, Indiana Pollinator Habitat work with NRCS and Pheasants Forever, and Regional Conservation Partnership Projects. He also designates time to help foster researcher relationships, facilitate conversations between researchers, The Indiana Soybean Alliance, the Indiana Corn Marketing Council, and farmers throughout the state. Last, it’s important to him to connect funders / funding sources / funding orgs? With researchers whose line of work falls within the above priorities.
Scott Gabbard
Michael Langemeir
Hans Schmitz
Hans currently serves on the leadership team of the North Central Climate Collaborative, program committee for the National Adaptation Forum, and as a steering committee member and chair of the professional development committee of the National Extension Climate Initiative.
As a joint position with the Conservation Cropping Systems Initiative and Purdue Extension, Schmitz focuses jointly on Climate Smart Agriculture and Soil Health, particularly on the intersection between the two topics.
