Michelle Leinfelder
mml32@cornell.edu
Advisor: Dr. Ian Merwin
Degree Program: PhD Background:
I grew up on a field and vegetable crops farm in the Central Valley of California. My family has been farming the land for six generations. I attended the University of California, Davis where I obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Crop Science and Management in 2001, with an emphasis in pomology. I participated in various internships as an undergraduate and especially enjoyed my work with UC Cooperative Extension.
Research and Objectives:
I obtained a Master of Science in Horticulture from Cornell in 2005. My research involved investigating various methods of controlling apple replant disease (ARD) - an important disease complex in New York state, where apple is the number one tree fruit industy. My project involved two experiments. The first was a container evaluation of twelve Cornell-Geneva rootstock genotypes for resistance or tolerance to ARD. The second was a field study investigating the effects of six rootstock genotypes, four pre-plant soil treatments, and two planting positions on tree growth and yield in the first three years. The results of this study are published in HortScience 41(2).
My doctoral research will investigate the interconnection of environmental and economic sustainability in orchard systems. Namely, I will explore the topic of soil health in perennial systems, determining what are appropriate indicators of soil health and how to develop a comprehensive framework to characterize soil health in orchards. We will explore correlations between soil health and orchard yield. We will also evaluate relations between soil health and land price using hedonic valuation. The applied nature of this research has broad implications for environmental and economic orchard viability and for agricultural policy in the future.
International Experience:
From November 2005 through September 2006, I gained international horticulture experience in Spain, Chile, and New Zealand. This experience was made possible by the Dreer Fellowship for International Study, awarded by the Department of Horticulture at Cornell. In Spain, I worked at the Institut de Recerca i Technologia Agroalimentaries in Reus, Catalonia, learning about olive cultivation and olive oil processing. More specifically, I assisted with a rootstock evaluation using the variety 'Arbequina i-18'. My next stop was Santiago, Chile where I worked in an enology laboratory at the Universidad de Chile. Research involved indentifying and quantifying the phenolic properties of 'Cabernet Sauvignon' under conventional, organic, and biodynamic cultivation regiments. Finally, I moved to New Zealand and worked in kiwifruit at the Te Puke station of HortResearch. I participated in various grower extension activities and initiaited a grower survey to understand the innovative vine training systems of 'Hort16A'.
Interests:
Outside of academics, I am an avid runner and enjoy distance racing and triathlons. I have participated in three marathons, including the Boston Marathon. Others outdoor interests include team sports, hiking, backpacking, and gardening. My international experiences have given me greater cultural and language appreciation, and I enjoy journaling and photographing my travels. I also participate in various educational activities to bring school children in touch with the world of horticulture.
Advisor: Dr. Ian Merwin
Degree Program: PhD Background:
I grew up on a field and vegetable crops farm in the Central Valley of California. My family has been farming the land for six generations. I attended the University of California, Davis where I obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Crop Science and Management in 2001, with an emphasis in pomology. I participated in various internships as an undergraduate and especially enjoyed my work with UC Cooperative Extension.
Research and Objectives:
I obtained a Master of Science in Horticulture from Cornell in 2005. My research involved investigating various methods of controlling apple replant disease (ARD) - an important disease complex in New York state, where apple is the number one tree fruit industy. My project involved two experiments. The first was a container evaluation of twelve Cornell-Geneva rootstock genotypes for resistance or tolerance to ARD. The second was a field study investigating the effects of six rootstock genotypes, four pre-plant soil treatments, and two planting positions on tree growth and yield in the first three years. The results of this study are published in HortScience 41(2).My doctoral research will investigate the interconnection of environmental and economic sustainability in orchard systems. Namely, I will explore the topic of soil health in perennial systems, determining what are appropriate indicators of soil health and how to develop a comprehensive framework to characterize soil health in orchards. We will explore correlations between soil health and orchard yield. We will also evaluate relations between soil health and land price using hedonic valuation. The applied nature of this research has broad implications for environmental and economic orchard viability and for agricultural policy in the future.
International Experience:
From November 2005 through September 2006, I gained international horticulture experience in Spain, Chile, and New Zealand. This experience was made possible by the Dreer Fellowship for International Study, awarded by the Department of Horticulture at Cornell. In Spain, I worked at the Institut de Recerca i Technologia Agroalimentaries in Reus, Catalonia, learning about olive cultivation and olive oil processing. More specifically, I assisted with a rootstock evaluation using the variety 'Arbequina i-18'. My next stop was Santiago, Chile where I worked in an enology laboratory at the Universidad de Chile. Research involved indentifying and quantifying the phenolic properties of 'Cabernet Sauvignon' under conventional, organic, and biodynamic cultivation regiments. Finally, I moved to New Zealand and worked in kiwifruit at the Te Puke station of HortResearch. I participated in various grower extension activities and initiaited a grower survey to understand the innovative vine training systems of 'Hort16A'.
Interests:
Outside of academics, I am an avid runner and enjoy distance racing and triathlons. I have participated in three marathons, including the Boston Marathon. Others outdoor interests include team sports, hiking, backpacking, and gardening. My international experiences have given me greater cultural and language appreciation, and I enjoy journaling and photographing my travels. I also participate in various educational activities to bring school children in touch with the world of horticulture.