Speaker Biographies

Kristen MacMillan is a research agronomist at the University of Manitoba where she focuses on soybean, dry bean and pea production practices for Manitoba cropping systems. She also teaches courses in crop production and stays connected to farmers and agronomists through extension, many of whom she met in her previous role with the Manitoba Pulse & Soybean Growers. 
Kristen obtained her agriculture diploma, B.Sc. and M.Sc. from the University of Manitoba and recently entered a PhD program. Outside of research and education, Kristen keeps her boots on the ground, raising crops, cattle and children, with her husband on their family farm.

Growing up on a farm, Brunel has nurtured a lifelong passion for agriculture and sustainable food production. Referred to by some as the “Guru of the Red River Valley,” he brings over 30 years of experience, consulting on a diverse array of crops including cereals, oilseeds, pulses and corn.

Together with his wife, Jennifer, Brunel operates Antara Agronomy Services Ltd, a consulting firm dedicated to on-farm research and benchmarking. His approach emphasizes the importance of integrating local agronomic research with production data, empowering producers with the knowledge they need to navigate the challenges posed by adverse weather conditions.

Brunel is a firm believer that equipping producers with the right information leads to improved decision-making, increased profitability, reduced stress, and ultimately, a more enjoyable farming experience. His commitment to advancing agricultural practices and supporting local farmers makes him a respected voice in the industry.

Justine Cornelsen is the Agronomic and Regulatory Services Manager with BrettYoung Seeds. She carries over 10 years of agricultural and environmental experience from previous positions with the Canola Council of Canada, Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada, and Parks Canada.

Justine graduated in 2014 from Brandon University with a Bachelor of Science degree. In 2021 she completed her Master of Science degree at the University of Manitoba in Plant Science.

She is a plant disease enthusiast! And when she’s not out scouting fields, you can likely find her back on the farm with all her horses, cows, and ducks.  
 

Thomas Ernst is a Senior Research associate with Corteva Agriscience based in Ardrossan, Alberta. Thomas coordinates canola pathology research across western Canada including blackleg, clubroot and verticillium disease phenotyping trials. He completed his BSc in ecology and MSc in Plant Pathology at the University of Alberta and is currently a PhD student at the UofA studying quantitative resistance to blackleg in canola.

John is an entomologist with Manitoba Agriculture based out of Carman.  He conducts monitoring programs for some of the more common insect pests of crops, and provides information on insects, both beneficial and potential pests, to farmers, agronomists and those working in agriculture.John does numerous presentations and information updates for agronomists and farmers, and co-produces a weekly Manitoba Crop Pest Update during the spring and summer.He has worked for Manitoba Agriculture since 1997.

John has a bachelor’s degree in environmental biology and a M. Sc. in entomology from the University of Guelph, and completed his Ph.D. in the department of entomology at the University of Manitoba. 

Aside from entomology, John also enjoys cycling and observing almost any type of wildlife. 

In this presentation, John will discuss three weevils that were at some quite high levels in some areas of Manitoba.

Dr. Xuehua Zhang is a Senior Plant Health Scientist at Bayer Crop Science, specializing in canola disease management and disease resistance breeding. She earned her B.Sc. in Plant Biotechnology and M.Sc. in Plant Breeding from Sichuan Agricultural University, China, and completed her Ph.D. in Plant Pathology at the University of Manitoba in 2016.

Xuehua began her career at Monsanto/Bayer as a Plant Health Research Associate before advancing to Discovery Scientist in 2017 and Senior Scientist in 2019. She currently leads the Canola Plant Health program within North America Breeding, where she oversees controlled environment and field disease phenotyping, drives native trait discovery and risk assessment efforts, and contributes to breeding strategies for disease resistance. With over 20 years of experience in oilseed rape/canola breeding and more than 14 years of experience in combating canola diseases - including blackleg, clubroot, verticillium stripe, and sclerotinia stem rot - Xuehua brings deep expertise in disease resistance breeding and integrated disease management strategies.

Andrew Thostenson was responsible for administering the training and certification of private and commercial pesticide applicators across North Dakota. He retired in 2024 and now holds emeritus status with NDSU. He was both the Cooperative Extension Pesticide Coordinator and the State Lead Agency Manager for Certification and Training.

He has both B.S. and M.S. degrees in Plant Sciences from the University of Idaho.

He has four years of experience as a county extension agent in Washington State and North Dakota. He owned and operated a seed and crop management consulting company in the Pacific Northwestern United States for ten years. He was the NDSU Pesticide Program Specialist for 27 years.

He is a former President and is a Fellow with the American Association of Pesticide Safety Educators (AAPSE). He is the Past-Chair of EPA’s Certification and Training Assessment Group (CTAG).    

Brendan Metzger is a Sr Herbicide Biologist and Manager of the Manitoba Research Farm with BASF Agricultural Solutions Canada. Raised on a grain farm in Ontario, Brendan earned a BSc in Crop Science, and an MSc in Weed Science, both from the University of Guelph. As part of his role with BASF, Brendan leads experimental herbicide research and development projects that support Western Canadian cropping systems.

Dr. Alex Lindsey is an Associate Professor of Crop Ecophysiology in the Department of Horticulture and Crop Science. Since joining the faculty in 2015, he has focused on how crops interact with environmental factors to influence growth and yield. He also teaches courses on crop production, plant physiology, and seed science and serves as coordinating advisor for the Agronomy specialization of the Sustainable Plant Systems major. Dr. Lindsey received his PhD in Agronomy from The Ohio State University in 2015 under Dr. Peter Thomison, and has been a Certified Crop Adviser since 2009 and Certified Professional Agronomist since 2016. Prior to coming to Ohio, he received his BS and MS degrees from Michigan State University.

Michael Wunsch is a plant pathologist with North Dakota State University’s Carrington Research Extension Center.  His research and outreach efforts are primarily focused on addressing disease management problems in broadleaf crops grown in North Dakota, with an emphasis on improving the management of white mold in dry edible beans, soybeans, and sunflowers and improving the management of root and foliar diseases of field peas, chickpeas, and lentils.  Michael obtained his B.S. from the University of Missouri and his Ph.D. from Cornell University, and he commenced his employment with the NDSU research center in Carrington in 2010.  Michael is originally from Montana.  Data from his research program are posted as user-friendly PDF summaries and accompanying explanatory videos at https://www.ndsu.edu/agriculture/ag-hub/research-extension-centers-recs/carrington-rec/research/plant-pathology .

Alex grew up on a cow-calf farm west of Clear Lake, near Riding Mountain National Park. He graduated from the University of Manitoba in 2019 with an agronomy major and soil science minor. For the last six years, Alex has worked as an Agrologist for Ducks Unlimited Canada, managing winter wheat and perennial forage research and landowner programming in southwestern Manitoba.