image: Dana Porter (shown left), professor with Texas A&M University and 2023-2024 president of the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE), presents Lori Duncan, University of Tennessee assistant professor of biosystems engineering and Extension crop sustainability specialist, with the Larry W. Turner Young Extension Professional Award at the recent ASABE international conference in Anaheim, California.
Credit: Photo submitted.
Helping row crop farmers and agricultural stakeholders reduce environmental impacts while maintaining and improving profitability earned national honors for a University of Tennessee Extension specialist.
Lori Duncan, assistant professor in the Department of Biosystems Engineering and Soil Science and crop sustainability specialist, received the Larry W. Turner Young Extension Professional Award, given by the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE) at the organization’s international conference in California earlier this year.
This award recognizes faculty and specialists under the age of 40 for excellence in personal character and outstanding achievement in the following areas: serving clientele by disseminating, sharing and applying engineering knowledge; motivating clientele to acquire new knowledge, skills and understanding; transferring research technology into practical, problem-solving applications; and advancing the profession of agricultural and biological engineering.
“Working with producers to help advance agriculture while protecting the environment is the most fulfilling part of my career. I am honored to be selected for this prestigious award and to join the ranks of some of the best Extension engineers in the U.S.,” Duncan said.
Julie Carrier, professor and department head, added: “In addition to being an excellent team player in the Department of Biosystems Engineering and Soil Science, Dr. Duncan has and continues to help Tennessee and U.S. cotton producers adopt the latest in precision technologies, improve soil health and convey their sustainability story, which is now very important to all players of the supply chain.”
Duncan led the creation and development of a program in sustainable row crop production to promote adoption of best management practices to reduce environmental impacts while maintaining and improving crop profitability. She conducts research and then applies that knowledge in the field. Her research has included the use and development of the Field to Market Fieldprint Calculator, development and promotion of national sustainability programs, comparison of soil fertility philosophies, and the use of cover crops and field borders, spatial information to delineate management zones, variable rate inputs, unmanned aerial systems and irrigation management. Information is shared through trained county agents, field days, on-farm demonstrations, producer meetings, social media, online publications and personal contacts.
An active member of ASABE for 16 years, Duncan has worked for UTIA since 2012. She earned her bachelor’s, master’s and PhD in biosystems engineering at the University of Tennessee. In 2023, Duncan received the Cotton Researcher of the Year award and in 2020 was selected as the Field to Market Trusted Adviser of the Year award.
The University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture is comprised of the Herbert College of Agriculture, UT College of Veterinary Medicine, UT AgResearch and UT Extension. Through its land-grant mission of teaching, research and outreach, the Institute touches lives and provides Real. Life. Solutions. to Tennesseans and beyond. utia.tennessee.edu.