Richard Roth, assistant professor in agronomy, extension soil fertility specialist and co-director of the Field Extension Education Laboratory, is the recipient of the faculty 2026 Early Achievement in Extension and Outreach Award from the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Iowa State University. His work exemplifies the land-grant mission by translating applied agronomic research into actionable knowledge for farmers, industry professionals and the broader agricultural community.
Roth’s approach to extension is grounded in science, driven by curiosity and shaped by a deep commitment to stakeholder engagement. He has made it a priority to connect with industry partners, listening carefully to their needs and tailoring his research and outreach to address real-world challenges. His work evaluating the effectiveness of various nitrogen inhibitor products is already proving to be of significant value – not only to the industry at large, but especially to producers seeking practical, science-based solutions to improve nitrogen use efficiency and environmental stewardship.
“In a remarkably short time at Iowa State, Dr. Roth has distinguished himself as a trusted and respected resource in the field of nitrogen management, earning the confidence of both industry professionals and agricultural producers across Iowa and the region,” stated a colleague.