Dr. Rich Farrell, Western Councillor

I am a native Rhode Islander (a state roughly 200-times smaller than Saskatchewan) and was educated at the University of Rhode Island (B.Sc.) and Iowa State University (M.Sc. & Ph.D.). Though I grew up in the city, I have been interested in soil science since I was 13 and a friend of mine jokingly suggested doing a science project on soils because “there’s nothing alive in soils” . . . . oh, was he wrong! So, I did my project on “Soils and Soil Conservation”, and managed to win 2nd prize in the local science fair—though one of the judges said that the study of soils wasn’t real science . . . . oh, was he wrong! So, here I am many years later—an Associate Professor in the Department of Soil Science at the University of Saskatchewan and a Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture (SMA) Research Chair in Soils & Environment—still studying what I love at one of the best Soil Science Departments in North America. My research focus is on environmental agronomy—including the effects of agricultural practices on soil quality and greenhouse gas production/mitigation in agroecosystems. I am also co-director of the Prairie Environmental Agronomy Laboratory (PEARL), which supports research aimed at developing strategies that enhance or maintain agro-ecosystem capacity and integrity and establish the low GHG footprint of prairie cropping systems. Together with my students, I have published 80 peer-reviewed papers and 9 book chapters. Maintaining the strength of the CSSS depends on timely dissemination of information via the society’s webpage and, as Western Councilor, I am excited to continue with the responsibility for overseeing the CSSS webpage and liaising with the webmaster. The CSSS is an important part of my professional life, and that of my students, and I look forward to working with the CSSS Council and the membership as I continue my journey in soil science.