Jerry H. Cherney, New York state forage specialist and a leading researcher in grass bioenergy production, is the recipient of the 2007 Extension-Industry Award for "the tremendous impact his extension and applied research program have had on the improvement of forage management and utilization on dairy farms in the Northeast, as well as his foresight and pioneering work on the use of perennial grasses for biomass for bioenergy."

Cherney, the E.V. Baker Professor of Agriculture at Cornell, accepted the award -- presented by the Northeastern Branch of the American Society of Agronomy, Crop Science Society of America and the Soil Science Society of America -- at Pennsylvania State University in June.

His studies focus on forage production and quality, grass and manure management, and the use of grasses to produce energy. His current projects include working with Cornell animal scientists to optimize the utilization of perennial grasses and corn silage by dairy cows, and developing a grass biomass management system to utilize dairy manure in the production of grass biomass, simultaneously addressing excess manure problems and energy deficit problems.

The annual award recognizes "leadership qualities, including the ability to inspire others, skill in leading people to mastery of new and useful knowledge and the ability to use it in their judgments, decisions and planning, and overall excellence in the educational activities in which [the recipient] is engaged."