Koenig Excited About “Coming Home” To Crop And Soil Sciences Department

Starting September 1^st, Rich Koenig will take over as Chair of Washington State University’s Department of Crop and Soil sciences.  Koenig is no stranger to WSU, graduating from the school in the 1993, serving as a faculty member since 2003.  Koenig acknowledges that leading Crop and Soil Science is a homecoming of sort, and where his passion lies.

He said when people think of the Department, the largest for WSU’s College of Agricultural, Human and Natural Resource Sciences, they think of the research on agronomic crops, like wheat, barley, forages across Central and Eastern Washington.  Koenig said there is a lot of exciting research in the area of soil.

“Soil Scientists work statewide on a number of issues important to agriculture, form soil fertility  to soil and water management, and more recently, a big focus on soil health with a national interest in soil health and now a statewide soil health initiative in Washington.”

Koenig added it’s an exciting time for WSU and local farmers.

“The Ag industry in Eastern Washington, and Central Washington has a long history with this department, knows many of the faculty quite well.  I really feel we’re positioned to grow and to lead in a number of areas that are really key to agriculture in Washington state.”

Koenig has served as the interim chair of the Crop and Soil Sciences Department since November 2015, when he replaced James Harsh.

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