Penn State Berks professor named president of agricultural society

WYOMISSING, Pa. — Michael Fidanza, professor of plant and soil science at Penn State Berks, has been named president of the Philadelphia Society for Promoting Agriculture. He will serve for a one-year term.

PSPA was formed in 1785 for the purpose of exploring and promoting best practices in agriculture. Early members were some of the most notable figures of the young United States — Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson and George Washington among them. Charles Thomson, a founding member of the Society, served as secretary of the Continental Congress and was a signer of the Declaration of Independence.

Today, the society’s mission to promote and expand members’ knowledge of the many aspects of our diverse and economically important agriculture industry continues. It will also be involved in America250 to help commemorate the United States’ 250th anniversary.

“It is an honor to serve in this capacity, and give back to Pennsylvania's agriculture industry. This industry has supported my research and teaching mission by providing financial support, gift-in-kind support, and employment opportunities for our agricultural science students at Penn State Berks," Fidanza said.

PSPA holds monthly meetings that focus on topics of interest to members which encourage learning about existing and emerging technology and how it impacts agriculture, our natural resources, and sustainability, particularly within food production systems. PSPA also supports the next generation of agriculture professionals by offering scholarships that support their educational goals and opportunities that lead to pursuing careers in agriculture and the food industry. Notably, PSPA’s archives are stored in the University of Pennsylvania Library and these valuable records are available for research scholars’ use as well as the general public.

Fidanza traces his own interest in agriculture back to childhood, where he worked on his father’s mushroom farm in Chester County, Pennsylvania. His research interests focus on turfgrass ecology, the evaluation of plant health products (i.e., fungicides, herbicides, plant growth regulators), soil surfactants, seed technology, and cultural practices (fertilizers, biostimulants) in turfgrass ecosystems, and the biology and ecology of fairy ring disease in turfgrass. Building on his childhood experiences on his father’s farm, Fidanza said he also investigates the benefits and uses of mushroom compost for the lawn and landscape, crop production, and the environment.