Ph.D. University of Maryland
North American Alfalfa Improvement Conference, American society of Agronomy
Areas of Interest
Alfalfa and Cropping Systems
Biography
I have conducted research, teaching, and extension education at the University of Minnesota for over 40 years. In research, I have had an opportunity to work with a diversity of legume and grass species but my favorite legume is alfalfa and my favorite grass is timothy. I have transferred the results of my research to producers and to the forages industry through extension education publications and presentations. I have taught classes in forages, sustainable agriculture, introductory agronomy, and production agriculture. I have also advised graduate students. Perhaps my greatest long-lasting impact will be in education.
Teaching
Sustainable agriculture and introductory agronomy
Research
Alfalfa evaluation and management; hairy vetch, intermediate wheatgrass; cropping systems
Select Publications
Jungers, J. M., L. R. DeHaan, D. J. Mulla, C. C. Sheaffer, D. L. Wyse. 2019. Reduced nitrate leaching in a perennial grain crop compared to maize in the Upper Midwest, USA. Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment. 272:63-73.
Wiering, N.P., N.J. Ehlke, and C.C. Sheaffer. 2019. Lidar and RGB image analysis to predict hairy vetch biomass in breeding nurseries. Plant Phenome J. 2:190003. Doi: 102135/tppj2019.02.0003
Bajgain, P., X. Zhang, J. M. Jungers, L. R. DeHaan, B. Heim, C. C. Sheaffer, D. L. Wyse, J. A. Anderson. 2020. ‘MN-Clearwater’, the first food-grade Intermediate Wheatgrass (Kernza® perennial grain) cultivar. J. Plant Registrations.14:288-297. https://doi.org/10.1002/plr2.20042
Catalano, D.N., C.C. Sheaffer, N.P. Wiering, A.M. Grev, N.J. Ehlke, E. Mousel, K.L. Martinson. 2020. Yield, persistence, forage nutritive value, and preference of perennial ryegrass under grazing. Agron. J. 112: 4182-4194. DOI: 10.1002/agj2.20364
DeBoer, M.L, A.M. Grev, C.C. Sheaffer, M.S. Wells, K.L. Martinson. 2020. Herbage mass, botanical composition, forage nutritive value, and preference of grass-legume pastures under horse grazing. Crops, Forage, & Turfgrass Mgt. 2020;6:e20032. https://doi.org/10.1002/cft2.20032
Fernandez, A.L., C.C. Sheaffer, D. L .Wyse., M. J. Sadowsky. 2020. Bacterial community composition in agricultural soil under long-ernm organic and conventional management. Agrosysems, Geosciences & Environment. https://doi:10.1002/agg2.20063
Fernandez, C. W., N. Ehlke, C. C. Sheaffer, J. M. Jungers. 2020. Effects of nitrogen fertilization and planting density on intermediate wheatgrass yield. Agron. J. 112: 4159-4170 https://doi.org/10.1002/agj2.20351
Freund Saxhaug, K., J. M. Jungers, D.L Wyse, C.C. Sheaffer. 2020. Cultivation of native plants for seed and biomass production. Agron. J. 112:1815-1827.
Grev, A. M., M. S. Wells, D. N. Catalano, K. L. Martinson, J. M. Jungers, C. C. Sheaffer. 2020. Morphology and stem and leaf forage nutritive value of reduced lignin alfalfa. Agron. J. 112:406-417.
Gamble, J.D., G.A. Johnson, D. A. Current, D. L. Wyse, D. S. Zamora, C. C. Sheaffer. 2020. Alley cropping affects perennial bioenergy crop root distribution, carbon, and nutrient stocks. Agron. J. 112: 3718-3732. https://doi.org/10.1002/agj2.20350
Hunter, M. C., C. C. Sheaffer, S. Culman, J. M. Jungers. 2020. Effects of defoliation and row spacing on intermediate wheatgrass I: Grain production. Agron. J. 113:1748-1763.
Jungers, J., J. Cherney, K. Martinson, A. Jaqueth, C. Sheaffer. 2020. Forage nutritive value of modern alfalfa cultivars. Crop, Forage, & Turfgrass Mgt. https://doi.org/10.1002/cft2.20076
Schiffner, S., C. C. Sheaffer, D. Van Tassel, K. Smith, J. M. Jungers. 2020. Seeding date affects seed and biomass yield of Silphium integrifolium (Silflower). Native Plant J. 21: 188-261; doi:10.3368/npj.21.2.188
Schiffner, S., J. M. Jungers, B. Hulke, K. P. Smith, D. van Tassel, C. C. Sheaffer. Silphium integrifolium seed and biomass responses to plant density and N fertilization. Agrosystems, Geosciences and Environment. http://doi.org/10.1002/agg2.20118
SungUn K., K.Albrecht, C. Sheaffer, D. Lee, S. Subramanian, V. Owens. 2020. Biomass production of prairie cordgrass (Spartina pectinata Link.) using urea and kura clover (Trifolium ambiguum Bieb.) as a source of nitrogen. BioEnergy Research 13:1095–1107. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12155-020-10139-2
Wiering, N., G. Gardner, C. Sheaffer, N.J. Ehlke. 2020. Root and axillary shoot development of hairy vetch stem cuttings and cessation of flower development under a short photoperiod. Crop Sci. 60:2386–2393 https://doi.org/10.1002/csc2.20238
Moncada, K.M., and C.. Sheaffer, and J. Stordahl. 2010. Alternative crops. p. 14.1-14.26. Moncada, K.M., and C.C. Sheaffer. (eds.) Risk management guide for organic producers. University of Minnesota, St. Paul, and USDA, RMA www.organicriskmanagement.umn.edu/intro.pdf
Lamb, J., C. Sheaffer, and K. Moncada. 2010. Soil fertility. Moncada, K.M., and C.C. Sheaffer. (eds.) Risk management guide for organic producers. University of Minnesota, St. Paul, and USDA, RMA www.organicriskmanagement.umn.edu/intro.pdf
Sheaffer, C.C., and K.M. Moncada. 2012. Introduction to Agronomy: food, crops, and environment. 2nd edition. Delmar Cengage learning, Clifton Park, NY.
Sheaffer, C.C., G.W. Evers, and J. M Jungers. 2020. Cool season legumes for humid areas. p. 263-276. In K. J. Moore et al. (ed.). Forages: the science of grassland 7th ed.agriculture. Vol.II. Wiley Blackwell, Hoboken, NJ.