Mike aims to increase cropping systems productivity, profitability, and environmental performance. He uses a systems approach to track the storage and flow of nutrients, energy, and water throughout the crop-soil system. Mike has particular interest in nitrogen because nitrogen frequently limits crop production but is easily lost to the environment where it represents an economic loss to farmers that diminishes air and water quality. A range of stakeholders including government, NGOs, farmers, and industry regularly engage Mike to help advance sustainable crop production. His research has led to several significant public-private infrastructure investments for the benefit of agriculture and the environment. Mike earned a PhD from The Pennsylvania State University and is Professor of Agronomy and William T. Frankenberger Professor of Soil Science at Iowa State University.