Biographical Info

Dr. Jerry Hatfield is the recently retired director for the USDA-ARS National Laboratory for Agriculture and The Environment. He graduated from Kansas State University in 1971 with a B.S., University of Kentucky in 1972 with a M.S., and in 1975 with a Ph.D. from Iowa State University in Agricultural Climatology. His focus is on the role of management practices that enhance soil health to increase the efficiency of agricultural systems in the use of natural resources and positively impact ecosystem services. He is working directly with producers and agribusiness to show how the genetics x environment x management concept can be utilized to increase food security. He is the recipient of numerous awards and was elected to the ARS Hall of Fame in 2014 for his research on improving agriculture and environmental quality and the Hugh Hammond Bennett award for his national and international work on conservation and a Presidential Rank Award in 2017 for meritorious service to agriculture on environmental quality. He is the author or co-author of 493 refereed publications and the editor of 18 monographs.