New Superintendent & Plant Pathologist Joins MSU-EARC

Hans Schneider is the new superintendent and plant pathologist at the MSU-EARC in Sidney. He arrived in Sidney last week from the Netherlands and is looking forward to getting settled in his new position and putting his experience to work for the agricultural community.

Schneider received his PhD in Plant Pathology from Wageningen University in the Netherlands, which is known world-wide for its agricultural educational and research programs. He was employed at the Institute for sugar beet Research, which was financed by the Dutch sugar beet industry and farmers, for thirteen years. He then went to work for Monsanto as a field inspector for diseases in crops such as tomatoes, peppers, melons etc. However, no research was involved in that position. He is happy to have found the post at EARC, which is a good fit for his experience. “It will be a challenge, but it is a nice move in my career,” he said.

Schneider will be working on integrated programs involving pest and disease control for the farmers and the industry. He will also be involved in research involving sugar beets, pulse crops, potatoes, barley and other crops important in the region.

Schneider’s family remains in the Netherlands, with trips planned to the U.S. He is finding Sidney and the research center to be a “pleasant environment” and is looking forward to the challenge of being the new superintendent.