Rue Genger joined the UW–Madison Division of Extension as the new Emerging and Specialty Crops Program Manager in the Crops and Soils Program. They look forward to working with outreach specialists and regional crops educators across the state to serve producers across a wide range of production systems.
Prior to this position, Rue worked in the CALS Department of Plant and Agroecosystem Sciences as a member of the Urban and Regional Food Systems group. Their work with the Seed to Kitchen Collaborative supported growers, plant breeders, and chefs in developing and selecting flavorful vegetable varieties adapted to Upper Midwest growing conditions, with the goal of building a resilient regional seed system that serves the needs of Midwest farmers.
Since 2020, Rue has facilitated the Climate Resilient Organic Vegetable Production (CROVP) community of growers, researchers and extension educators committed to farmer-led research into reduced tillage and other resilient vegetable production systems. Rue’s background is in plant pathology, with specific expertise in managing diseases in seed potato production.
Rue is based in Madison, where they have lived since moving to the US from Australia in 2003. Contact Rue at rue.genger@wisc.edu or 608-263-7685.