BIO: I am a Professor of Agronomy at Purdue University with major responsibilities for Extension education in corn management systems for the state of Indiana. Originally from Nebraska, I joined the Agronomy staff at Purdue in 1982 after obtaining M.S. and Ph.D. degrees from the University of Minnesota. I am actively involved with Purdue's Crop Diagnostic Training Center, a hands-on educational facility located at the Purdue Agronomy Farm. One of my major Extension activities is the development and maintenance of Web-based corn information sites. My two most popular Web sites are the Corn Growers' Guidebook (http://www.kingcorn.org) and the Chat 'n Chew Cafe (http://www.kingcorn.org/cafe). My current field research involves investigations into the relationship between crop canopy reflectance and optimum nitrogen fertilizer rates in corn, the potential for arrested ear development in response to spray additives, on-farm seeding rate trials, and the productive utilization of sire-specific crop management tools.

BIO: Shaun was born and raised on the family farm in east-central Illinois (near Arthur, IL). His dad currently grows corn, soybean, and alfalfa, and raises Angus cattle on this farm that has been in the family over 100 years. As a young boy, Shaun was immersed into agriculture with his John Deere toys and his adventures to neighboring corn and soybean fields. Shaun’s family and farm life ingrained the values of integrity, work ethic, cooperation, and morality that are ever-present in his daily life. Casteel earned his B.S. in Crop Sciences at the University of Illinois in 2001 while interning with a number of Agricultural companies: American Cyanamid (field sales), Zeneca (field research in Wisconsin), and Novartis Seeds (seed corn production). He worked at the Demitris Perrotis College of Agriculture in Greece during the summer prior to his graduate years at NC State University. In 2004, Shaun earned his M.S. in Crop Science at NC State University working in cotton physiology, management, and extension. Then, he was the agronomist for NC Department of Agriculture for the following two years. Casteel gave nutritional recommendations (primarily) for the various crops of the state such as Fraser fir trees and trellis tomatoes in the mountains; and grain crops, cotton, tobacco, and truck crops in the Piedmont and the Coastal Plains. Shaun earned his Ph.D. in Soil Science (Nutrient Management) in 2009 at NC State University to round out his education as an agronomist. Shaun joined the Purdue Agronomy Department in May 2009 as the Soybean and Small Grains Specialist. Key areas of interest include: precision management of resources and practices; integration of soil characteristics, nutrient inputs, and crop physiology; and the influence of agronomic practices on yield physiology of first crop and double crop soybean systems (winter wheat and cover crop). He has been married to his wonderful wife Danae for seven years, and they have two barn cats and one Australian blue heeler that have all come from the family farm. He enjoys playing basketball, baseball, and softball in addition to woodworking.