Ask the Expert

Davey expert senior agronomist Richard Rathjens knows that scientific plant health care is not without its challenges. "The challenge we face is to make sure that our practices are in line with most effective methods that our research and experience have discovered," he says.

To design a plant health care program, it's important to know the characteristics of a wide range of climate and cultural conditions. As a researcher and advisor to Davey's field operations, Rathjens is involved in evaluating and fine-tuning Davey's practices.

Education:
Bachelor's degree in agronomy, Delaware Valley College;
master's degree in turf management, Rutgers University;
teaching license in life science/earth science, The
University of Akron; doctorate degree in urban forestry, The Ohio State University.