Gretchen Sassenrath

Gretchen Sassenrath is a Professor of Agronomy at Kansas State University, stationed at the Southeast Research and Extension Center in Parsons, KS. She holds a B.A. from Oberlin College, M.S. in Biophysics, and Ph.D. in Plant Physiology from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. Her career includes postdoctoral research at Michigan State University and UC Davis, followed by roles at USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS) in Mississippi, where she focused on cotton production systems and farming sustainability. At KSU since 2013, her research emphasizes conservation production systems to enhance agronomic productivity, soil/water resources, and economic returns for farmers in the Great Plains.

• Education:
• B.A., Oberlin College
• M.S. Biophysics, University of Illinois
• Ph.D. Plant Physiology, University of Illinois
• Research Focus: Sustainable agriculture, rain-fed cropping systems (wheat, soybeans, corn, sorghum), economic/environmental impacts of conservation practices, and soil health.
• Extension Role: Addresses agricultural challenges in southeast Kansas and the Great Plains, promoting ecological and economic sustainability.