MITCHELL CLAYTON HUNTER

Department of Agronomy and Plant Genetics mhunter@umn.edu, (651) 675-7380

The University of Minnesota www.ecoagronomy.org
Saint Paul, MN 55108 Twitter: @ecoagronomist

EDUCATION
Ph.D. in Agronomy, Minor in Ecology 2018
Penn State University, University Park, PA
Dissertation: Sustainable Intensification and Climate Resilience: Cover Crops, Soil Improvement, and
Drought
Advisor and Committee Chair: Dr. David Mortensen
Committee: Drs. David Eissenstat, Jason Kaye, Armen Kemanian, and Meagan Schipanski
B.A. in Government, Magna Cum Laude, Phi Beta Kappa 2009
Harvard University, Cambridge, MA
Honors thesis: From Farm Country to the Hill: Interest Group Lobbying on the 2008 Farm Bill
University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 2006
Visiting coursework in “Evolution and Ecology” and “Ecology and Society”
Deep Springs College, Deep Springs, CA 2003-2005
Liberal arts study and agricultural labor at self-governed 2-year college on working ranch

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Post-Doctoral Research Associate, Department of Agronomy and Plant Genetics 2018-present
University of Minnesota, Saint Paul, MN
Graduate Research Assistant, Department of Plant Science 2012-2018
Penn State University, University Park, PA
NSF Graduate Research Fellow 2012-2017
Instructor, Department of Plant Science 2016
Penn State University, University Park, PA
Federal Policy Manager for Conservation 2010-2012
American Farmland Trust, Washington, DC
Greenhouse Gas Reduction Coordinator, Harvard Office for Sustainability 2009-2010
Harvard University, Cambridge, MA
Agriculture and Environment Policy Intern, Office of U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar 2008
U.S. Senate, Washington, DC
Farm and Ranch Laborer (intermittent) 1998-2007
Hunter Farms, Alexis, IL; Deep Springs Ranch, Deep Springs, CA; Spanish Ranch, Tuscarora, NV

RESEARCH INTERESTS
• Sustainable intensification • Cover crop mixtures
• Diversified cropping systems • Perennial grains
• Climate adaptation • Pasture-based livestock
• Crop ecophysiology • Soil health
• Process-based cropping system modeling • Ecological weed management

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GRANTS and FELLOWSHIPS

SOLE APPLICANT
National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship ($100,000) 2012-2017
National Science Foundation, Arlington, VA
G.A. Harris Research Instrumentation Fellowship ($5,000) 2015
Decagon Devices, Pullman, WA
Katherine Mabis McKenna Fellowship, Plant Science Department ($4,000) 2012
Penn State University, University Park, PA
Fund for Excellence in Graduate Recruitment Fellowship, Graduate School ($2,600) 2012
Penn State University, University Park, PA
Undergraduate Thesis Research Grant, Center for American Political Studies ($2,500) 2008
Harvard University, Cambridge, MA
Morris K. Udall Scholarship for environmental leadership ($10,000) 2006 & 2007

CO-PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
“Perennial crops to improve soil health and sustain yields for climate extremes” (in review) 2018
USDA NIFA AFRI Foundational and Applied Science Program

CONTRIBUTING AUTHOR
“Making diversity functional: Farm-tuning cover crop mixtures to meet grower needs” 2015
USDA NIFA Organic Research and Extension Initiative ($1,000,000)
“Integrating cover crops to diversify herbicide resistant weed management” 2014
USDA NIFA Crop Protection and Pest Management Program ($249,000)

HONORS and AWARDS

Crop Science Graduate Student Scholarship, Crop Sci. Soc. Am. 2018
Alumni Association Dissertation Award, Penn State Graduate School (GS) 2018
Outstanding Dissertation Award, Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences (CAS) 2018
Paul Hand Award for Graduate Student Research Achievement, Penn State CAS 2017
Gerald O. Mott Meritorious Graduate Student Award in Crop Science, Crop Sci. Soc. Am. 2017
Inductee, Gamma Sigma Delta, The Honor Society of Agriculture 2017
Best Graduate Student Paper, Global Climate Change Community, Am. Society of Agronomy 2016
Harold F. Martin Graduate Assistant Outstanding Teaching Award, Penn State GS 2016
Second Place Graduate Individual and Third Place Graduate Team,
Collegiate Weed Science Contest, NE Weed Science Society 2016
Future Leaders in Science Award, ASA-CSSA-SSSA 2015
Paul Hand Award for Graduate Student Teaching Achievement, Penn State CAS 2015
Graduate Student Travel Award, Penn State CAS 2015
John Harvard Scholar, awarded to top 5% of class 2007-2009
Magna Cum Laude, Harvard University 2009
Phi Beta Kappa of Harvard College 2009
High Honors in Government, Harvard University 2009
Rhodes Scholarship Finalist 2008

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TEACHING EXPERIENCE (in order of importance)

Lead Instructor - Principles of Weed Management, Penn State University 2016
Co-Instructor - Plant Ecology, Penn State University 2014
Teaching Assistant - Principles of Crop Management, Penn State University 2017
Teaching Assistant - Plant Ecology, Penn State University 2013
Guest Presenter, University of Minnesota
Ten Plants that Changed Minnesota 2018
Guest Presenter, Penn State University
NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Application Prep Class 2015-2016
Plant Ecology 2016
Principles of Weed Management 2013

PEDAGOGICAL TRAINING
Graduate School Teaching Certificate, Penn State University 2017
Course in College Teaching, Schreyer Institute for Teaching Excellence, Penn State University 2015
New Instructor Orientation, Schreyer Institute for Teaching Excellence, Penn State University 2014

PUBLICATIONS
PEER-REVIEWED
Baraibar, B., D.A. Mortensen, M. Hunter, M.E. Barbercheck, J.P. Kaye, D. Finney, W. Curran, J.
Bunchek, C. White (in press). Growing degree days and cover crop type explain weed biomass in winter
cover crops. Agronomy for Sustainable Development.

Williams, A., N.R. Jordan, R.G. Smith, M.C. Hunter, M. Kammerer, D.A. Kane, R.T. Koide, A.S. Davis
2018. A regionally-adapted implementation of conservation agriculture delivers rapid improvements to
soil properties associated with crop yield stability. Scientific Reports 8: 8467.

B. Baraibar, M.C. Hunter, M.E. Schipanski, A. Hamilton, D. Mortensen. 2018. Weed Suppression in
Cover Crop Monocultures and Mixtures. Weed Science 66: 121-133.

D.M. Finney, E.G. Murrell, C.M. White, B. Baraibar, M.E. Barbercheck, B.A. Bradley, S. Cornelisse,
M.C. Hunter, J.P. Kaye, D.A. Mortensen, C.A. Mullen, M.E. Schipanski. 2017. Ecosystem services and
disservices are bundled in simple and diverse cover cropping systems. Agricultural and Environmental
Letters 2: 170027.

Hunter, M.C., R.G. Smith, M.E. Schipanski, L.W. Atwood, D.A. Mortensen. 2017. Agriculture in 2050:
Recalibrating Targets for Sustainable Intensification. BioScience 67: 386-391.

Williams, A., M.C. Hunter, M. Kammerer, D.A. Kane, N.R. Jordan, D.A. Mortensen, R.G. Smith, S.S.
Snapp, A.S. Davis. 2016. Soil water holding capacity mitigates maize production downside risk and
volatility in US rainfed maize: Time to invest in soil organic matter? PLOS ONE 11: article 0160974.

Murrell, E.G., M.E. Schipanski, D.M. Finney, M.C. Hunter, M. Burgess, J.C. LaChance, B. Baraibar,
C.M. White, D.A. Mortensen, J.P. Kaye. 2016. Achieving diverse cover crop mixtures: Effects of
planting date and seeding rate. Agronomy Journal 109: 259-271.

Williams, A., D.A. Kane, P.M. Ewing, L.W. Atwood, A. Jilling, M. Li, Y. Lou, A.S. Davis, A.S. Grandy,
S.C. Huerd, M.C. Hunter, R.T. Koide, D.A. Mortensen, R.G. Smith, S.S. Snapp, K.A. Spokas, A.C.
Yannarell, N.R. Jordan. 2016. Soil Functional Zone Management: A Vehicle for Enhancing Production

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and Soil Ecosystem Services in Row-Crop Agroecosystems. Frontiers in Plant Science 7: article 65.

LaChance, J., M. Hunter, D. Finney. 2015. Post-its and priorities: A participatory exercise for
understanding perspectives of diverse stakeholders. Journal of Extension 53: article #5TOT2.

Smith, R.G., A.S. Davis, N.R. Jordan, L.W. Atwood, A.B. Daly, A.S. Grandy, M.C. Hunter, R.T. Koide,
D.A. Mortensen, P. Ewing, D. Kane, M. Li, Y. Lou, S.S. Snapp, K.A. Spokas, A.C. Yannarell. 2014.
Structural equation modeling facilitates transdisciplinary research on agriculture and climate change.
Crop Science 54: 475-483.

Winsten, J., M. Hunter. 2011. Using pay-for-performance conservation to address the challenges of the
next farm bill. Journal of Soil and Water Conservation 66: 111A-117A.

IN REVIEW
Hunter, M.C., M.E. Schipanski, M.H. Burgess, J.C. LaChance, B.A. Bradley, M.E. Barbercheck, J.P.
Kaye, D.A. Mortensen (in review). Cover Crop Mixture Effects on Maize, Soybean, and Wheat Yield in
Rotation. Agricultural and Environmental Letters.

IN PREP
Hunter, M., D. Mortensen. Cover Crop Effects on Maize Physiology Under Experimental Drought
Conditions. (For Agriculture, Ecosystems, and Environment.)

Hunter, M., D. Mortensen., C. White, A. Kemanian. Drought-Resistant Soil: An Initial Scoping

Analysis. (For Field Crops Research.)

NON-PEER-REVIEWED
Hunter, M., K.A. Bybee-Finley. 2017. Avoid Framing Traps: Keeping Science and Technology in
Appropriate Context. Submission to IdeaBuzz for Science Breakthroughs 2030: A Strategy for Food and
Agricultural Research, National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine. http://bit.ly/2wy0fbv

Hunter, M. 2017. We don’t need to double world food production by 2050 – here’s why.
TheConversation.com, Mar 8. Republished in Salon, Grist, RealClearScience, etc. Total of 32,813
electronic reads as of Sept 30, 2018.

LaChance, J., M. Hunter. 2015. Cover Crop Mixtures to Achieve Multiple Farm Goals. Horticulture
Growers’ Short Course: 2015 Proceedings, Lower Mainland Horticulture Improvement Association,
Abbotsford, BC, Canada. 138-143.

White, C., M. Barbercheck, T. DuPont, D. Finney, A. Hamilton, D. Hartman, M. Hautau, J. Hinds, M.

Hunter, J. Kaye, J. LaChance. 2015. Making the Most of Cover Crop Mixtures: Considerations for
Winter Cover Crops in Temperate Climates. eOrganic Community of Practice, eXtension.org.

Hunter, M. 2014. Cover Crop Case Study: Klaas and Mary-Howell Martens. Penn State Organic Crop
Production Guide. Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences, University Park, PA. 116.

Arnold, Z., Beatty, J., Behrer, P., Cowles, H., Greeney, S., Mushegian, A., Hunter, M., Mannetta, A.,
McKinnon, K., Salovaara, J., Shope, E., Walter, K., Sakellariadis, A. 2008. The Imperative for Action:
Climate Neutrality and Harvard’s Future. Harvard Environmental Action Committee.

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PRESENTATIONS
INVITED
Hunter, M. 2018. Does Food Production Need to Double by 2050? FarmSmart Conference, University of
Guelph, ON, CN, Jan 20.

Hunter, M. 2018. Agriculture in 2050: The Path Forward. Ontario Ministry of Food, Agriculture, and
Rural Affairs, Guelph, ON, CN, Jan 19.

Hunter, M. 2017. Agriculture in 2050: The Path Forward. Seminar Series on GMOs and Feeding the
World Population, Parlee Center for Science and the Common Good, Ursinus College, Collegeville, PA,
Oct 11.

CONFERENCE and SEMINAR

Hunter, M.C., D.A. Mortensen. 2017. Drought-Resistant Soils: A Bounds Analysis. ASA, CSSA and
SSSA International Annual Meetings, Tampa, FL, Oct 24.

Hunter, M.C., D.A. Mortensen. 2017. Cover crops and drought: implications for climate resilience
(poster). Sustainable Agriculture Systems Research Symposium, Penn State University, University Park,
PA, Mar 31.

Hunter, M.C., D.A. Mortensen. 2017. Cover crops and drought: implications for climate resilience
(poster). Gamma Sigma Delta Research Expo, Penn State University, University Park, PA, Mar 28.

Hunter, M.C., R.G. Smith, M.E. Schipanski, L.W. Atwood, D.A. Mortensen. 2016. Agriculture in 2050:
Recalibrating Targets for Sustainable Intensification. ASA, CSSA and SSSA International Annual
Meetings, Phoenix, AZ, Nov 7.

Hunter, M.C., D.A. Mortensen. 2016. Cover Crops and Drought: Implications for Climate Resilience.
ASA, CSSA and SSSA International Annual Meetings, Phoenix, AZ, Nov 7.

Davis, A., A. Williams, M.A. Kammerer, D.A. Mortensen, D.A. Kane, R.G. Smith, M.C. Hunter, S.S.
Snapp, N.R. Jordan. 2016. Soil Water Holding Capacity Mitigates Downside Risk and Volatility in US
Rainfed Maize: A Multivariate Investigation of the Public Record. ASA, CSSA and SSSA International
Annual Meetings, Phoenix, AZ, Nov 7.

White, C.M., D.M. Finney, E. Murrell, B.B. Padro, J. Hinds, M.C. Hunter, M. Barbercheck, D.A.
Mortensen, J.P. Kaye. 2016. Ecosystem Service Provisioning By Cover Crop Mixtures and Monocultures
in an Organic Feed and Forage Cropping System. ASA, CSSA and SSSA International Annual Meetings,
Phoenix, AZ, Nov 9.

Padro, B.B., M. Schipanski, M. Hunter, D. Mortensen. 2016. Cover crops affect weed abundance but not
weed community assembly. Northeastern Plant, Pest and Soils Conference, Philadelphia, PA, Jan 6.

Hunter, M., D. Mortensen. 2016. Cover crops and drought: implications for climate resilience (poster).
Sustainable Agriculture Systems Research Symposium, Penn State University, University Park, PA, Apr
1.

Hunter, M. 2015. Agriculture in 2050: Recalibrating targets for production and environmental
sustainability. Plant Science Department Seminar, Penn State University, University Park, PA, Dec 11.

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Hunter, M., D. Mortensen. 2015. Cover crops and drought: implications for climate resilience (poster).
ASA, CSSA and SSSA International Annual Meetings, Minneapolis, MN, Nov 17.

Hunter, M., D. Mortensen. 2015. Cover crops and drought: implications for climate resilience (poster).
Transitioning Cereals to Adapt to Climate Change, Minneapolis, MN, Nov 13.

Hunter, M., D. Mortensen. 2015. Cover crops and drought: implications for climate resilience (poster).
Sustainable Agriculture Systems Research Symposium, Penn State University, University Park, PA, Mar
27.

Hunter, M., A. Hamilton, M. Schipanski, D. Mortensen. 2014. Diverse Cover Crop Mixtures in an
Organic Grain Rotation: Ecology and Management for Weed Suppression. ASA, CSSA and SSSA
International Annual Meetings, Long Beach, CA, Nov 4.

Hunter, M., D. Mortensen. 2014. Meeting Agriculture's Grand Challenge with Climate-Ready Ecological
Cropping Practices. International Symposium on Weather and Climate Extremes, Food Security, and
Biodiversity, Fairfax, VA, Oct 23.

Hunter, M., D. Mortensen. 2014. Diverse cover crops and drought: implications for climate resilience
(poster). Sustainable Agriculture Systems Research Symposium, Penn State University, University Park,
PA, Mar 21.

Hunter, M., A. Hamilton, M. Schipanski, D. Mortensen. 2014. Organic cover crop weed suppression:
diversity vs. functional traits (poster). Sustainable Agriculture Systems Research Symposium, Penn State
University, University Park, PA, Mar 21.

Schipanski, M., M. Burgess, M. Hunter, D. Finney, S. Jin, K. Ellis, J. Hinds, A. Hamilton. 2013. Finding
the right mix: The first year of the cover crop cocktails experiment. Penn State Plant Sciences Seminar
Series, Penn State University, University Park, PA, Nov 22.

Hunter, M., M. Schipanski, D. Mortensen. 2013. Organic cover crop weed suppression: diversity vs.
functional traits (poster). Ecological Society of America, Minneapolis, MN, Aug 6.

Hunter, M. 2013. How do diverse cover crops mitigate drought stress? An evolving dissertation research
plan (poster). Sustainable Agriculture Systems Research Symposium, Penn State University, University
Park, PA, Mar 22.

EXTENSION AND OUTREACH

Hunter, M., J. Jungers, C. Sheaffer. 2018. Kernza intermediate wheatgrass: A new perennial grain crop.
Organic Dairy Day, West Central Research and Outreach Center, Morris, MN, Aug 14.

Hunter, M.C., C.M. White. 2017. Optimizing Cover Crop Seed Mixtures for Soil Health and Nutrient
Retention. Partnership for Agricultural Resource Management Webinar, Jun 27. http://bit.ly/2uSkOOG.

Murrell, E., M. Hunter, M. Barbercheck, J. Kaye. 2016. Designing Cover Crop Mixtures to Provide
Multiple Benefits. Cover Crop Field Day, Mifflin, PA, Oct 6.

Hunter, M., C. White. 2016. Making the Most of Cover Crop Mixtures. Cover Crops for Soil Health: A
Northeast SARE Professional Development Workshop, Baltimore, MD, Mar 29.

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Hunter, M., J. Lachance, C. White. 2015. Cover Crops: Where are we now? What about mixes? Atlantic
Seed Association 63 rd Annual Convention, Gettysburg, PA, Oct 3.

LaChance, J., M. Hunter, J. Hinds, C. White. 2015. Using Cover Crop Mixtures to Achieve Multiple
Goals on the Farm. 2015 Horticulture Growers’ Short Course, Lower Mainland Horticulture
Improvement Association, Abbotsford, BC, CA, Jan 31.

Hunter, M., D. Mortensen. 2015. Managing Weeds with Diverse Cover Crop Mixtures. 2015
Horticulture Growers’ Short Course, Lower Mainland Horticulture Improvement Association,
Abbotsford, BC, CA, Jan 30.

LaChance, J., M. Hunter, J. Hinds, C. White. 2014. Using Cover Crop Mixtures to Achieve Multiple
Goals on the Farm. eOrganic Webinar, Oct 14. bit.ly/1CeKzp5.

Hunter, M. 2013. Organic weed suppression with diverse cover crops. Cover Crops Research & Organic
Weed Control Field Meeting, Milton, PA, Sep 7.

POLICY
Hunter, M.C. 2018. Farming with Continuous Living Cover: A New Vision for NIFA Programs. 2018
NIFA Listens: Minneapolis Listening Session. Minneapolis, MN, Oct 25.

Hunter, M.C. 2017. Agriculture in 2050: Recalibrating Targets for Sustainable Intensification.
Visioning of United States Agricultural Systems for Sustainable Production Stakeholder
Listening Session, US Department of Agriculture, Washington, DC, Mar 2.

Hunter, M. 2014. The 2014 Farm Bill: Insights from the Science-Policy Nexus. Special Seminar, Plant
Science Department, Penn State University, University Park, PA, Feb 20. bit.ly/1y7PBpU.

Hunter, M. 2012. Farm Bill Status Report: How Has Conservation Fared? Soil and Water Conservation
Society, Fort Worth, TX, July 22-25.

Hunter, M. 2012. Performance-Based Conservation: Improving Efficiency and Outcomes. USDA 2012
Agricultural Outlook Forum, Arlington, VA, Feb 23-24.

Hunter, M. 2011. A Vision for the Future. Soil and Water Conservation Society special session, Paying
for Performance: Improving the Cost-effectiveness of Farm Bill Conservation Programs, Washington,
DC, July 20-21.

Hunter, M. 2011. Developing Concrete Policy Options. Soil and Water Conservation Society special
session, Paying for Performance: Improving the Cost-effectiveness of Farm Bill Conservation Programs,
Washington, DC, July 20-21.

PROFESSIONAL SERVICE
Graduate Student Representative to Board of Trustees, Am. Soc. of Agronomy 2017-2018
Darrel S. Metcalfe Student Manuscript Contest Committee, Am. Soc. of Agronomy 2017-2018
Science Policy Committee, Am. Soc. of Agronomy 2018
Farm Bill Task Force Member, Agronomy, Crop, and Soil Science Societies 2017
Reviewer
Agronomy Journal 2016-2018

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Sustainability 2018
PLOS One 2015-2017
Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems 2017
Climatic Change 2016
Crop Science 2014
Organizer, Paying for Performance: Improving the Cost-effectiveness of Farm Bill 2011
Conservation Programs, Special Session of Soil and Water Conservation Society Conference

DEPARTMENTAL and CAMPUS SERVICE

Graduate Student Leadership Committee, Penn State Dept. of Plant Science 2015-2018
Graduate Student Rep. to Faculty Meetings, Penn State Dept. of Plant Science 2016-2018
Planning Committee Member, Climate Change Seminar Series, PSU Dept. Plant Sci. 2017-2018
Planning Ctte Member, Sustainable Intensification Community, Am. Soc. of Agronomy 2016-2017
Steering Committee Member, Sustainable Food Systems Program, Penn State 2014-2016
Curriculum Sub-Committee Member, Sustainable Food Systems Program, Penn State 2014-2016
TA Assignment Committee, Penn State Dept. of Plant Science 2015
Academics Standards Committee, Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences 2015
Department Head Search Student Panelist, Penn State Dept. of Plant Science 2015
Organizer, Penn State Sustainable Cropping Systems Research Symposium 2013-2014
Student Representative, Harvard University Greenhouse Gas Task Force 2008
Co-Chair, Harvard University Environmental Action Committee 2007-2008

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS
American Society of Agronomy, Crop Science Society of America 2012-2018
Sustainable Agriculture Education Association 2017-2018
Gamma Sigma Delta, The Honor Society of Agriculture 2017-2018