MSU Extension Welcomes New Field Crops Educator in Southern Michigan

By Korede Olugbenle and Madelyn Celovsky

In February 2025, Michigan State University Extension warmly welcomed Oluwakorede (Korede) Olugbenle as one of the newest educators in conservation agronomy. In his role, Korede will work collaboratively with team members, farmers and agriculture and conservation organizations to design and deliver educational programming on conservation agriculture practices in southeast Michigan. He will be working out of the Lenawee County Extension office and will cover Hillsdale, Lenawee, Monroe and Wayne County.

Korede obtained his master’s degree in Agroecology and PhD in Agronomy at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. While pursuing his graduate degrees he focused primarily on researching agronomic management practices for the perennial - Kernza intermediate wheatgrass (IWG) - as a dual-use grain and forage crop with Dr. Valentin Picasso. During his master’s degree in Agroecology, he researched the optimal planting date of Kernza IWG intercropped with red clover. While completing his doctorate, his research focused on other agronomic management practices of IWG such as plant density and row spacing, termination and subsequent crop rotation, and performance evaluations with legume intercrops.

“Working with Kernza was amazing, it gave me the opportunity to research a new crop and also learn how perennial crops can be utilized for conservation as well,” Olugbenle said regarding his previous research. “With Kernza, some view it as an experimental crop, others see it as a transition crop into organic production, while some others picture it as a crop for the future which could be high yielding and environmentally beneficial as well.”

“Exploring different conservation agriculture practices is important so we have all the necessary tools in our conservation toolbox,” Olugbenle said. “Each farm and farmer are unique in their own way, so having multiple solutions to a challenge, whether it is changing tillage practices, using cover crops, fertility management or utilizing perennials, will be beneficial for each unique situation.”

Olugbenle will help develop, produce and deliver conservation cropping systems outreach materials by in-person and virtual meetings, on-farm field days, digital release of educational materials and on-farm consultations.

“I’m excited to have more direct communication between the community and my work,” Olugbenle said about his new role as a conservation agronomy educator. “I believe being able to personally tap into the knowledge and expertise farmers, researchers, and other community experts have will help build up our shared knowledge to make more informed decisions in the field. I’m looking forward to it.”

When not working, Olugbenle enjoys ice skating, supporting The Arsenal FC, reading and watching movies. To contact Korede Olugbenle, reach out by email at olugbenl@msu.edu.