Stephen K. Barnhart

Professor of Agronomy

Iowa State University

Education

B.S. Agriculture, The Ohio State University, 1970
M.S. Agronomy, The Ohio State University, 1975
Ph.D. Agronomy, Iowa State University, 1979

Professor of Agronomy, College of Agriculture, Iowa State University; Agronomist-Forage Extension Programs. 1996-Present
Extension Agronomist (Forage/Pasture Production and Management) and Associate Professor of Agronomy, Iowa State University. 1984-1996
Research and teaching University of Glasgow and West of Scotland Agricultural College, Scotland. (Faculty Exchange Program and Faculty Improvement Leave). Jan.-Dec. 1989
Extension Agronomist (Forage/Pasture Production and Management) and Assistant Professor of Agronomy, Iowa State University. 1979-1984
Predoctoral Research Associate, Department of Agronomy, Iowa State University. 1975-1979
Research and Teaching Associate, The Ohio State University. 1972-1975

Professional Associations

American Society of Agronomy
Iowa Forage and Grassland Council
Soil and Water Conservation Society
Iowa Academy of Science
American Forage and Grassland Council

Memberships in Honorary Societies

Towers (The Ohio State University, College of Agriculture, Undergraduate Agriculture Honorary Society)
Gamma Sigma Delta - National Agricultural Honorary Society
Epsilon Sigma Phi (Extension Honorary Fraternity)

Awards and Honors

1985 Member Merit Award - Iowa Forage and Grassland Council

1986 Service Award - Southern Iowa - Green Hills Hay Association

1987 Raymond and Mary Baker Agronomic Excellence Award - Iowa State University

1988 Meritorious Service Award - Epsilon Sigma Phi

1988 Walnut Grove Livestock Service Award - Iowa State University

1989 Iowa State University Extension Service Award

1995 Iowa State University Extension Achievement Award

1996 Iowa State University Extension Meritorious Service Award

1997 Iowa State University Extension Achievement Award

Extension Responsibilities (Assigned 80%)

Dr. Barnhart has the primary technical subject matter responsibility for the Iowa State University Extension program in forage production and management. The term forages covers a wide array of grasses, legumes and other herbaceous plants. Over 2 million acres of forages and about one million acres of corn, sorghum and other cereal grains are mechanically harvested, stored and fed each year as hay or as an ensiled crop. An additional 2 to 3 million acres of forage are managed as pasture land. And, in recent years, over 2 million acres have been maintained in a 10-year, soil-protecting, conservation reserve. Successful and efficient forage production and use in agricultural and non-agricultural settings is influenced by the forage species and variety used, and by the management and utilization practices employed. A forage crops performance is influenced by establishment and maintenance techniques, fertility practices and methods of grazing and harvest. With much of the state's forage crop being used for feeding livestock, the role of Extension Forage Specialist involves a thorough understanding of the nutritive value of forages and livestock nutritional requirements.

Research Interests

The majority of research effort has been as a cooperator in multi-disciplinary projects. With the broad range of potential research topics available in forage/livestock production systems. Emphasis in individual and cooperative research efforts has been on forage establishment and efficiency of forage utilization in grazing. Regular meetings with the forage research and teaching faculty to provide input into research planning and as a means to obtaining new and useful information for development in Extension programming.

Teaching Experience

Dr. Barnhart currently has teaching responsibility for the courses Agronomy 434 'Forage Utilization' (for undergraduates and graduate credit for non-Agronomy majors). He taught Agronomy 534 'Forage Quality and Utilization' (primarily for graduate student credit) in 1997 and 1999. He has presented guest lectures for Animal Science 426 (Beef Production) and has delivered "hands-on" forage management lectures in a field laboratory setting each year for the past three years for Animal Science 429 (Sheep Management). He has participated as one of the co-instructors of an Animal Science 590 (Special Topics) course called "Horizons" - and off-campus advanced livestock management series taught for credit 6/93 and 2/94. He has served as the 'instructor' for one Agronomy 490 (Independent Study) project Spring 1993; two Agronomy 590 (Special Topics) projects, Summer 1992, Summer 1993; and has directed the work of one Agronomy 698X (Agronomy Teaching Practicum - Extension Experience) student, Spring 1993. Is currently the Major Professor for an Off-Campus Masters of Agriculture student. He served on a three-person Agronomy Faculty Committee who coordinates the Agronomy 600-C Seminar (Crop Production and Physiology Seminar) 1994-1997, Chair 1996-1997. While on international assignment the candidate presented lectures and seminars at the University of Glasgow, Scotland, UK. The candidate consults frequently with both undergraduate and graduate students on course and research. He has assisted as an instructor in the National Intensive Alfalfa Schools sponsored by the Certified Alfalfa Seed Council. 1994-1997

Publications

Referred--3
Non Referred, Proceedings, Abstracts etc.--39
Extension Publications--71
Non-print educational materials (Videos, Slide Sets, etc.)—8

Revised August 2003