Five University of Georgia faculty have been named Fellows of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, bringing the university’s total membership in the exclusive group to 50. UGA’s new Fellows, including Melissa Mitchum of the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, are elected each year by the AAAS Council to recognize scientific achievements.

USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins visited UGA’s Iron Horse Farm for a listening session with Georgia agricultural leaders. Producers and commodity representatives shared concerns on disaster relief, labor shortages, trade and the future of farming. They also highlighted the vital role of CAES researchers and UGA Cooperative Extension in boosting efficiency, yields, and food safety, strengthening Georgia’s agricultural economy.

A visionary leader in agricultural education and research and a stalwart agricultural industry supporter and business leader were inducted into the Georgia Agricultural Hall of Fame on March 21 at the 69th University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Alumni Association Awards and Georgia Agricultural Hall of Fame Ceremony. The 2025 honorees are David Bridges, a former assistant dean for CAES at UGA’s Tifton campus, and Ralph Evans, a leader of industry whose family has been serving the agricultural community since 1922.

Farm ownership is a demanding profession with significant mental health challenges. The unique pressures of the role, combined with severe mental health care barriers, affect farmers across the country. Recent research from the University of Georgia sheds light on the stressors female farm owners and managers face — challenges that can be overlooked in broader studies of agricultural well-being.

You’ve probably heard of the U.S. Farm Bill, but do you know what it is? While it may seem like it only affects farmers, this complex legislation impacts everyone — whether you buy groceries, care about conservation or rely on nutrition programs. Yet, despite its broad reach, it remains one of the most misunderstood laws in the country. University of Georgia Cooperative Extension agricultural economist Amanda Smith, a faculty member in UGA’s Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics, breaks down some of the most common questions about this complex but crucial bill.

The Regenerative Bioscience Center (RBC) began in 2004 with just a handful of faculty and a bold vision. Today, it has grown into a thriving community of 44 members across eight colleges at the University of Georgia. More than a research center, RBC is a pioneer, launching the nation’s first and only regenerative bioscience program offering both bachelor’s and doctoral degrees. In this video, three co-founders, alongside a Ph.D. candidate, share that story through insights into the center’s groundbreaking research, innovation and commercialization efforts. They highlight the RBC’s greatest strength: a culture of collaboration and diversity.

A record-breaking 173 products were entered into the 2025 Flavor of Georgia Food Product Contest, setting the stage for an exciting competition on April 17 at The Classic Center in downtown Athens. First-round judges tasted their way through a delicious gauntlet to whittle down the 173 contestants to 37 finalists that will compete for top product of the year. The highest number of products entered was previously 148 in the 2008 and 2022 contests. The Flavor of Georgia contest is offered annually by the University of Georgia’s College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. The CAES Signature Event showcases the tastiest offerings from market-ready small businesses in Georgia.

The University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences generated a statewide economic impact of $899.3 million in 2024, marking a fourth consecutive record-breaking year for contributions to the state’s economy. Divided among the arms of the college's tripartite mission of teaching ($265.6 million), research ($258.8 million) and outreach ($374.9 million), the total impact of CAES in 2024 was third highest among schools, colleges and units at UGA, factoring into the university’s total economic impact of $8.4 billion in the same year. The 2024 total represents a 7% increase over 2023, when CAES had an economic impact of $838.4 million.

While bees and butterflies often feel the public’s love, less conventionally attractive creepy-crawlies like cicadas and Joro spiders are left out in the cold—or, worse, squished. “I think insect conservation is one of the most overlooked areas of conservation biology,” says William Snyder, a professor of entomology in UGA’s College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. “They’re not huggable; not many species of insects are charismatic. But insects support so many ecosystems.” Why should you care? Well, for starters, bugs are everywhere. Insects alone make up more than half of all the animals on Earth.

Andres Villegas knows a thing or two about trees, and he wants you to know them as well. Throughout his career in the agriculture and forestry industry, Villegas has become an advocate and bridge builder connecting rural and urban communities through sustainable food and fiber products. Villegas was born in Colombia but moved to Athens at 8 months old when his parents, Pedro Villegas and Angela Villegas, returned to the University of Georgia for his father to become a professor in the College of Veterinary Medicine. From a young age, Villegas was interested in natural resources and agriculture.