Hannah (she/her) is an agronomist and agroecologist with training in annual and perennial cropping and pasture systems in the Upper Midwest and Southeastern United States, as well as experiences in Costa Rica, Colombia, and Jamaica. Her current research looks at cell wall development in alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) as it relates to cattle digestibility. Additionally, she is exploring the dual use of intermediate wheatgrass [Thinopyrum intermedium(Host) Barkworth & DR. Dewey] for grain and grazing on-farm. Hannah obtained a PhD in agronomy with a concentration in global systems agroecology from the University of Florida. Her doctoral research explored diversification as a means of sustainable intensification in warm-season perennial pasture systems in north central Florida. Previously, she investigated cover crops in corn and soybean cropping systems as part of her thesis research for an M.S. in Applied Plant Sciences from the University of Minnesota.
Ph.D. Agronomy, University of Florida
M.S. Applied Plant Sciences, University of Minnesota
B.S. Environmental Science, University of Minnesota
B.A. Spanish and Portuguese Studies
Rusch, H.L., Dubeux, J.C.B., Queiroz, L.M.D., Wallau, M.O., & Wilson, C.H. 2023. Species richness and functional diversity enhance winter annual forage productivity and nutritive value. Crop Science, 63(5): 3136-3150. https://10.1002/csc2.21071
Rusch, H.L., Mahomar, A.C.M., Lopez, Y., Andrade, M.H.M.L, Maltais-Landry, G., Rios, E.F., & Wilson, C.H. 2023. Nitrogen fertilization and genotype jointly drive bermudagrass (Cynodon spp.) productivity but are not associated with differences in SOC. Agrosystems, Geosciences & Environment, 6(3): e20412. https://doi.org/10.1002/agg2.20412
Rusch, H.L., Coulter, J.A., Grossman, J.M., Johnson, G.A., Porter, P.M., & Garcia y Garcia, A. 2020. Towards sustainable maize production in the U.S. upper Midwest with interseeded cover crops. PLOS ONE, 15(4): e0231032. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0231032
