Hello

My name is Justin Vetch and I am the superintendent/Assistant Professor of Agronomy here at the Montana State University Western Triangle Agricultural Research Center. I started at MSU on September 1st 2020. My college education started with a bachelors degree in biochemistry and progressed to a PhD in the lab of Dr. Mike Giroux. My gradschool research was in plant genetics with specific focus on the genetics of pre-harvest sprouting in wheat and barley.

I have always dreamed that I would be able to use the knowledge I have gained to directly impact the lives of people in Montana for the better and working in my current capacity at the WTARC provides the opportunity  to do just that! I encourage anyone to reach out to me here at the station and I would be more than happy to help out in any way I can.

Education

Ph.D. Plant Genetics, Montana State University, Bozeman MT

B.S. Biochemistry, Montana State University, Bozeman MT

A.S. Biotechnology, Flathead Valley Community College, Kalispell MT

Research Interests

My research interests are diverse but focus in precision agriculture.

Current projects include:

  • Variety testing and variety development
  • Detection of herbicide resistant oats using hyperspectral imaging.
  • Detection and monitoring of preharvest sprouting using hyperspectral imaging.
  • Development of large language model AI tools to increase access to agricultural data specific to Montana.
  • Genome wide association analysis of stirring number, phs visual score, and alpha amylase in a diverse collection of barley.
  • Investigating variance in varietal hyperspectral signatures due to environment, year, and age.

 

Publications

Vetch, J. M., Tillett, B. J., Bruckner, P., Martin, J., Marlowe, K., Hooker, M., See, D., Giroux, M. (2022,in press). TAMFT-3A and 3B2 Homeologs are Associated with Wheat Preharvest Sprouting. The Plant Genome.

 

Giroux, M., Vetch, J. M., Martin, J. (2019). Genetic Variation Affecting Falling Number and Pre-harvest Sprout in Winter Wheats. Cereals \& Grains 19.

 

Giroux, M., Hogg, A., Carr, P., Eberly, J. O., Chen, C., Crutcher, F. K., Kowatch-Carlson, C., Hoesel, S., Hurley, S., Lamb, P., Haney, E., McNamara, K., Kephart, K., Smith, V., Vetch, J. M., Simmons, E., Dykes, L., Chen, X., Huang, L., Liu, Z. (2021). 2021 Statewide Durum Variety Trials (vol. 2021, pp. 24). Bozeman, MT: Montana Agr Exp Stn/MSU. https://plantsciences.montana.edu/foundationseed/varietyrelease/2021%20MSU%20State%20Durum%20report%2012%2030%202021.pdf

 

Berg, J. E., Bruckner, P., Chen, C., Eberly, J. O., Kephart, K., Kowatch-Carlson, K., Lamb, P., McNamara, K., Pradhan, G., Ramsey, M., Schafer, T., Shine, A., Smith, V., Torrion, J., Vetch, J. M., Wahlstrom, C., Holen, D. L., Nash, D., Ramsfield, R. (2021). 2021 Winter Wheat Variety Performance Summary in Montana (2B-1093 ed., vol. 2021, pp. 30 pages). Bozeman, MT: Montana Agricultural Experiment Stn/MSU. https://plantsciences.montana.edu/crops/2020%20WW.pdf

 

Vetch, J. M., Walling, J. G., Sherman, J. D., Martin, J. M., Giroux, M. (2020). Mutations in the HvMKK3 and HvAlaAT1 genes are associated with barley pre- and post-harvest dormancy variation. Crop Science, 60, 1897-1906. https://doi.org/10.1002/csc2.20178

 

Johnston, R., Martin, J., Vetch, J. M., Byker-Shanks, C., Finnie, S., Giroux, M. (2019). Controlled sprouting in wheat increases quality and consumer acceptability of whole‐wheat bread. Cereal Chemistry, 96(5), 866-877.

 

Vetch, J. M., Stougaard, R., Martin, J., Giroux, M. (2019). Review: Revealing the genetic mechanisms of preharvest sprouting in hexaploid wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). Plant Science, 281, 180-185. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0168945218311841

 

Vetch, J. M., Stougaard, R. N., Martin, J. M., Giroux, M. (2019). Allelic impacts of TaPHS1, TaMKK3 and Vp1B3 on preharvest sprouting of Northern Great Plains winter wheats. Crop Science, 59, 140-149. https://dl.sciencesocieties.org/publications/cs/tocs/59/1