Straub to head agricultural research stations

Richard J. Straub, chairman of the Department of Biological Systems Engineering at the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, has been named the new director of the College’s Agricultural Research Stations.

See also: Director of agricultural research stations Dale Schlough retires

Straub replaces Dale Schlough, who will retire July 1 after 30 years with the stations.

Straub earned B.S., M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in agricultural engineering from the UW–Madison. He joined the faculty of the Department of Agricultural Engineering (now Biological Systems Engineering) in 1979, and was elected department chairman in 1996.

Straub’s research interests include agricultural machinery, forage harvesting, and crop and food processing. He has taught nearly all of the department’s undergraduate courses in machinery and equipment, as well as Farm and Industry Short Courses in farm machinery and farm power. He received the College’s J.S. Donald teaching award and the Excellence in Teaching award, and is a three-time winner of the Outstanding Instructor award given by Polygon, an engineering student society. Straub has co-authored a nationally used text, “Farm Machinery Fundamentals.”

Located throughout Wisconsin, the 13 research stations serve as outdoor classrooms and extension and outreach education centers as well as living laboratories. The stations are used by researchers in virtually every discipline, including those in fundamental biological sciences, social sciences and natural resources, as well as agricultural production.

Thousands of Wisconsin residents attend the dozens of field days and other events held at the stations each year.