CHAMBERSBURG, Pa. — Karly Regan began a position with Penn State Extension in the Franklin County Office on September 1. Karly’s responsibilities will include providing extension resources and information to commercial producers of horticultural crops, including vegetables and berries, in the area. A native of Western Massachusetts and a graduate of Penn State (Ph.D. ’19), Karly is enthusiastic about Pennsylvania agriculture and looks forward to meeting the needs of our local vegetable and fruit industries through research and education.
Prior to joining Penn State Extension, Karly completed a Ph.D. degree in the Department of Entomology at Penn State. Her research sought to identify soil health practices, such as cover crops or reducing tillage, that could support beneficial arthropods and improve pest management in organic field crop rotations without compromising weed management or crop yield.
After graduating from Penn State, she joined the Department of Entomology at Cornell University as a postdoctoral researcher stationed at the New York State Agriculture Experiment Station in Geneva, NY. At Cornell, she worked to improve management of onion thrips through on-farm research trials in collaboration with New York onion producers. In addition to onions, she has also assisted with projects studying insect management in leeks and scallions, potatoes, snap beans, and sweet corn.
As an Extension educator, Karly will conduct research at Penn State’s Landisville research farm, consult with growers, and provide educational programs for vegetable and small fruit producers. She looks forward to building relationships with producers throughout the area and working together to solve production issues they face.
—Penn State Extension