Current Team Members and Collaborators
Dr. Marta Moura Kohmann (PI)
Assistant Professor and Extension Specialist | Forage Systems Agroecology | Plant and Agroecosystem Sciences Department
Ph.D. Agronomy (Forage Management) | University of Florida
M.Sc. Ag. Engineering (Climatology) | University of Florida
B.S. Agronomy | Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Brazil
mourakohmann@wisc.edu
(608) 263-5070
Dr. Marta Kohmann has a background as a generalist agronomist, making her uniquely qualified to work with a systems-level approach. She has experience a variety of fields within forage management, quantifying benefits from adoption of legumes in subtropical environments, understanding animal selection in multi-species pastures, and evaluating the effects of prescribed fire in rangelands. Marta joined UW-Madison in 2023, and is currently working with perennial pastures, alfalfa, and cover crops managed for persistence and production. You can learn more about her work on her google scholar.
Dr. Beatriz Bizzuti
Postdoctoral Researcher | Plant and Agroecosystem Sciences Department
Ph.D. Sciences (Forage Sciences)| Center for Nuclear Energy in Agriculture/University of São Paulo, Brazil, with a sandwich period at Instituto Nacional de Tecnologia Agropecuaria (INTA) – Argentina, and at the University of Florida – Florida
M.Sc. Sciences (Animal Sciences) | Center for Nuclear Energy in Agriculture/University of São Paulo, Brazil
B.Sc. Agronomy | Faculty of Agronomy and Forest Engineering of Garça, Brazil
bizzuticremo@wisc.edu
Dr. Beatriz Bizzuti started her work with UW’s Forage Extension program in 2024. Previously, Beatriz conducted research on greenhouse gas emissions in grazing systems at the University of São Paulo, where she investigated emission intensity and soil carbon sequestration in silvopastoral systems. Her professional experience includes work with forage systems, nutrient cycling and soil greenhouse gas emissions measurements using static chambers and CRDS analyzer. Here in Wisconsin, Beatriz is working on interseeding corn-alfalfa system, looking at machinery traffic effect on alfalfa production and soil compaction. You can learn more about Dr. Bizzuti’s work by visiting her google scholar and LinkedIn.
Jasmin Buffenn
PhD. Student | Plant Breeding and Plant Genetics | University of Wisconsin – Madison
B.S. Crop Science and Agronomy, Chemistry minor | Huntington University
buffenn@wisc.edu
Jasmin Kayla Buffenn began her PhD program in Plant Breeding and Plant Genetics at UW-Madison in the fall of 2024. She entered the program after graduating summa cum laude with her bachelor’s degree in Crop Science and Agronomy with a Chemistry minor from Huntington University in 2023. As an undergraduate, she completed several research projects in the biological and agricultural sciences as well as a Research Experience for Undergraduates at Cornell University and Boyce Thompson Institute studying the Variation in Carotenoid Metabolite Accumulation and Gene Expression in Tomato in the Giovannoni lab in 2022 (follow this link for a project summary). Here in Madison, Jasmin’s dissertation will include several exciting chapters on cover crop breeding. Currently, she is working to establish grower recommendations for vetch as a forage and will later develop a variety of cereal rye that germinates under low moisture conditions. Her remaining chapters include a study to better understand the effect of rye allelopathy on alfalfa as well as the development of a pipeline to improve phenotyping efficiency in breeding nurseries utilizing precision technologies such as LiDAR and NDVI imagery.
Being a Midwesterner at heart, Jasmin finds that she enjoys Madison’s unique culture. A few of her favorite things around town include Madison’s beautiful lakes and landscape, the Farmer’s market, and the Capital Building. To learn more about Jasmin and her work, visit her LinkedIn page here.
Dr. Abmael Cardoso
Research Scientist | Plant and Agroecosystems Sciences Department
Ph.D. Animal Sciences (Forage Management)| Sao Paulo State University, Brazil, with a sandwich period at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Switzerland
M.Sc. Agronomy (Soil Sciences) | Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
B.Sc. Agronomy | Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Dr. Abmael Cardoso started his work with UW’s Forage Extension program in 2024. Prior to this, Abmael worked with the Long-Term Agroecosystem Research Network at the University of Florida, investigating prescribed fire management on rangelands. Among his professional experiences and training, he has worked with grazing management and nutrient management in annual and perennial forages, and has a keen interest in a systems approach to forage systems – working extensively with grazing intensity, soil carbon sequestration, and modeling strategies. Here in Wisconsin, Abmael is working on cover crop management in cropping systems that are transitioning from conventional to organic, looking at weed population, soil health parameters, and production. You can learn more about Dr. Cardoso’s work by visiting his google scholar and LinkedIn page here.
Dr. Marina Costa
Postdoctoral Researcher | USDA-ARS Dairy Forage
Ph.D. Crop Science (Seed Production and Technology) | Universidade Federal de Lavras, Brazil, including research training at Iowa State University, USA
M.Sc. Crop Science (Seed Production and Technology) | Universidade Federal de Lavras, Brazil
B.Sc. Agronomy | Universidade Federal de Lavras, Brazil
Dr. Marina Chagas Costa began her work as an ORISE postdoctoral researcher at the USDA-ARS Dairy Forage Research Center in partnership with UW’s Forage Extension program in 2024. Her current research focuses on the interseeding of corn and alfalfa, with an emphasis on evaluating nitrogen uptake by both crops. With a background in diverse research areas, she has worked with seed physiology, cryopreservation techniques, gene expression analysis, nanotechnology applications in seed, and field-based research in doubled haploid corn production and perennial groundcover systems for corn. You can learn more about Dr. Costa’s work by visiting her google scholar or LinkedIn.
Arthur Franco
M.Sc. Student | Weed Sciences | Plant and Agroecosystem Sciences | UW-Madison
B.S. Agronomy | Federal University of Uberlândia (UFU), Brazil
Arthur Franco is a 4th generation family farmer from the countryside of Brazil, working with dairy and beef cattle. Having the opportunity to be raised by his grandparents gave him practical experience and a deep understanding of agricultural practices. Arthur holds a Bachelor’s degree in Agronomy from the Federal University of Uberlândia, located in the Brazilian cheese state.
He is currently a master’s student under the advisory of Dr. Mark Renz, with Dr. Marta Kohmann as part of his mentoring committee. His research in Wisconsin focuses on rotational stocking in cool-season perennial pastures and the carryover of corn residual herbicides on alfalfa establishment and production.
Prior to this opportunity, he gained four years of experience working with pesticide application technologies — two years in an industry setting and two years in an academic setting. In his free time, he enjoys playing soccer, reading, and talking with his family back in Brazil. You can follow up with more information about Arthur’s projects by visiting his LinkedIn.
Colin Van De Loo
M.Sc. Student | Crop Production and Management | Plant and Agroecosystem Sciences | University of Wisconsin-Madison
B.S. Agronomy | University of Wisconsin-Madison
Colin J. Van De Loo is a first-generation college student from Kaukauna, Wisconsin, whose path from a multi-generational farm to graduate research at the University of Wisconsin–Madison reflects his deep commitment to rural communities and agricultural sustainability. He is currently pursuing a Master of Science in Agronomy under the mentorship of Dr. Marta Kohmann, where his research centers on forage systems, nutrient cycling, and allelopathic interactions to advance sustainable farming practices and improve resources for Wisconsin farmers.
With over 8 years of hands-on experience in dairy and grain production, Colin brings a practical understanding of agriculture to his academic work. Colin is passionate about bridging the gap between agriculture, nutrition, and healthcare. His work is grounded in the belief that strengthening the connection between food systems and community well-being is critical to building a more sustainable and equitable future. He aspires to continue fostering collaboration between researchers, growers, and public stakeholders to promote long-term environmental and human health.
Colin graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Agronomy from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and looks forward to continuing his education at the institution. In his free time, Colin enjoys gardening, automotive repair, and spending time with his fiancée and family. You can follow up with more information about Colin’s projects by visiting his LinkedIn.