Willow biofuels program ignites with new funding and boiler

The willow bioenergy program has a new $950,000 grant for breeding willow and installing a boiler to heat two buildings at Cornell's experiment station in Geneva.

Geddes speaks to Congress on high-speed rail investment

At a U.S. Congressional hearing Dec. 6, economist Rick Geddes urged lawmakers to concentrate on the crowded Northeast corridor for high-speed rail development, rather than less populous regions. (Jan. 6, 2012)

Revolutionary tool will methodically track fish populations in the ocean

Oceanographer Chuck Greene is working to optimize an ocean-observing tool to collect and transmit ecosystem data to his desktop in real time, tracking the ocean like the weather. (Jan. 5, 2012)

'Smart' bird feeders can track who eats when

RFID technology repurposed for tracking birds automates data collection, requiring scientists to spend only a few hours a week tending to feeders wired with tracking technology.

Ph.D. candidate Jillian Cohen named a 2012 Knauss fellow

The doctoral student in Cornell's Department of Natural Resources, will spend one year working for the U.S. House Committee on Natural Resources as a Dean John A. Knauss Marine Policy Fellow for 2012. (Jan. 5, 2012)

Worm compost can suppress plant disease, regulate nutrients, research finds

Cornell researchers have found that vermicompost is not only an excellent fertilizer, but could also help prevent a pathogen that has been a scourge to greenhouse growers.

Sessions in Spanish added to state ag expo to reach farmworkers

For the first time, the Empire State Fruit and Vegetable Expo and Direct Marketing Conference will offer 11 sessions in Spanish to better train many of the Spanish-speaking farmworkers. (Dec. 15, 2011)

After years of 'fracking,' Pennsylvanians remain mixed about gas drilling

After eight years of Marcellus Shale natural gas drilling in Pennsylvania, residents still have mixed feelings about it, report researchers at Cornell's Agribusiness Economic Outlook Conference, Dec. 13. (Dec. 14, 2011)

Save energy over the holidays by taking simple steps

Turn off lights, monitors, office and research equipment; reduce the use of ventilation or heating; discontinue unused fume hoods to reduce energy consumption over winter break. (Dec. 14, 2011)