By Blake Jackson
Matt Ruark, a professor and extension specialist in the UW-Madison Department of Soil and Environmental Sciences, has been appointed as the faculty director of the Dairy Innovation Hub.
In this role, Ruark will collaborate with deans, faculty, researchers, and industry partners to coordinate research, teaching, and outreach efforts for the Hub.
The three deans involved in the Hub agree that Ruark's extensive research and extension experience will be invaluable in translating the Hub's important work to the Wisconsin dairy community.
Since its establishment in 2019, the Hub has funded and coordinated 21 faculty hires and more than 230 research projects across three campuses.
Ruark, who joined the soil and environmental sciences department in 2008, leads a research and extension program focused on soil fertility and nutrient management in dairy, grain, vegetable, and biofuel production systems.
His research evaluates the impact of fertilizer, manure, and cover crop management on crop production, water quality, greenhouse gas emissions, and soil health.
Ruark is a nationally recognized leader in soil science research and has led significant projects, such as a $10 million USDA grant addressing climate change mitigation and adaptation in the Great Lakes region. His research on cover crops and manure use in Wisconsin has been shared through various platforms, including webinars and conferences.
Through his service and leadership roles, Ruark has built strong connections within the Wisconsin dairy and agriculture community.
Matt Ruark has served as faculty advisor for UW-Madison Extension's Discovery Farms program, advisor for the Wisconsin Agri-Business Association, and co-director of the Wisconsin Agribusiness Classic.
"I've seen first-hand the power and value of the Hub to farmers, the industry, the state, and the University," says Ruark. "And I'm excited to guide the Hub during its next period of excellence."
In 2023, Ruark was named the inaugural recipient of the Wisconsin Potato and Vegetable Grower BCS Chair at the UW-Madison College of Agricultural and Life Sciences (CALS).
"It is always a significant milestone when a program or organization undergoes a leadership transition," says Dave Daniels, chair of the Hub's advisory council. "We are lucky to have an Extension specialist with a proven track-record in dairy like Matt assuming the important role of faculty director."
Before joining UW-Madison, Ruark was a postdoc at UC Davis and earned his doctoral degree from Purdue University.
Matt Ruark will assume the role of faculty director on October 7, succeeding Heather White, who served as the inaugural faculty director and has recently been named associate dean for faculty affairs at UW-Madison CALS.
The next big opportunity to engage with the Hub is at the annual Dairy Summit, planned for November 20 at UW-Madison.
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