John E.

McMillan
527 Kawaihae St. Cell Telephone: (808) 439-2793
Honolulu, HI 96825 jmcmillanphd@gmail.com

EDUCATION
2016 Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN
Ph.D., Interdisciplinary Ecological Sciences and Engineering Graduate Program

2009 Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN

M.S., Department of Botany and Plant Pathology
.
2007 Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN
B.S., Department of Botany and Plant Pathology, Plant Protection

WORK EXPERIENCE
2017-2018 Title: Chief Executive Officer of McMillan Agricultural Consulting and Sales Company
Responsibilities: Seek consulting opportunities with producers in the Hawaiian Islands. Review
proposed ventures and access risks and benefits. Used applied research methods to balance
sustainability, productivity, and profitability to meet and surpass production goals.
Implemented extension activities to provide knowledge to producers who sought answers to
production problems. Disseminated knowledge concerning new crops to diversify cropping
systems and establish new markets.

2013-2015 Title: Analytical Chemist

Direct Supervisor: Linda Lee, PhD
Responsibilities: In charge of method development and analytical machine performance for
the Interdepartmental Elemental Analysis Service. Analytical methods developed for: plant,
soil, water, sludge, manure, rumen fluid and digesta, as well as concentration and isotope
confirmation. Analytical machines used: Perkin Elmer ELAN DRC-e Inductively Coupled
Plasma Mass Spectrometer, CEM 2100 Microwave Assisted digester; Atomic absorption
spectrometer (Shimadzu, and Varian); IC (Dionex); Kjeldhal Nitrogen analyzer(FOSS);
ANKOM 220 fiber analyzer; Skalar SAN ++ Automated Wet Chemistry Continuous Flow
Analyzer.

2011- 2015 Title: Field Plant Diagnostician (Forages and Cover Crops) for the Purdue University Crop
Diagnostic Training and Research Center (CDTRC)
Direct Supervisor: Corey Gerber, PhD
Responsibilities: Establish and maintain diagnostic training field plots. Germinate and
maintain native plant and crop specimens. Maintain botanical specimens for the CTDRC.
Provide information support to research groups working with the CDTRC. Present to groups
ranging from k-12 school children to extension agents and industry representatives.
Identification of unknown plant species. Work on developing native plant species as
production alternatives. Perform data collection for outreach and scientific publications.
RESEARCH EXPERIENCE
2010- 2016 Doctoral Research
Title: Annual Forage Cropping-systems for Midwestern Ruminant Livestock Production.
Advisory Committee: K. D. Johnson (advisor), T. Nennich, J. Camberato, N. Widmar
Focus: My primary research objective was to determinine how native plants compare to
conventional forage crop options in terms of feed efficiency, and nutrition. The focus of my
Ph.D. research is on: (1) Determining if native plants could encourage the development of
more ecosystem services when compared to non-native plants; (2) Evaluation of the effect of
native plant species on soil nutrient cycling; (3) Evaluating the nutritive properties of native
plants as feed for dairy livestock.

2009-2010 Research Assistant

Project: Heifer and calf nutrition and behavior studies.
Primary Investigator: Tamilee Nennich.
Focus: I was a research assistant to the Nennich lab assisting in research on heifer nutrition and
development, calf behavior as it relates to the comfort of the calf, and nutrient balance studies
at the Purdue University Dairy Research Center relating to manure and water use efficiency
studies.

2007-2009 Masters Research

Title: The Effect of Mid-Late Season Weed Management Strategies in Fresh Market Tomato
Production.
Advisory committee: K.D. Gibson, S. Hallet, T. Jordan, S. Weller.
Focus: My research in this degree pertained to determining if sustainable and ecologically
sound weed management practices implemented after the weed free period threshold in
tomato production could affect the long-term soil seedbank. The focus of my M.S. research
was on: (1) Determining if tomato canopy closure reduced weed emergence through season-
long plant population counts; (2) Determining the suitability of buckwheat (Fagopyrum
esculentum) as a mid-season cover crop; (3) Evaluating seedbank samples for total increase
or decrease in seedbank population. I also performed ecological evaluations pertaining to
reducing invasive weed species, and encourage native specimens in forest sites.

2005-2007 Undergraduate Research Assistant.

Title: Fall and Spring Development of Soybean Cyst Nematode on Winter Annual Weeds in
the Eastern Corn Belt.
Advisors: William G. Johnson, Joseph Earl Creech.
Focus: The project consisted of field, growth chamber, and greenhouse based studies focused
on if winter annual plants in the Lamiaceae could significantly impact the reproduction of
soybean cyst nematode (SCN, Heterodera glycines). Research was conducted using seedbank
assessments, cyst counts, and root surface area estimations using the WinRhizo root scanning
method. Additional work was performed on photosynthetic leaf area index to determine how
SCN affected source sink relationships, slide preparations of plant tissue, tissue clearing and
staining, inoculations of greenhouse plants with SCN, as well as microscope counts of
nematodes at various stages in their lifecycle.
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
University of Hawaii at Manoa
Spring 2016 Invited lecturer. Topic: Phosphorus (P) in the environment and P analysis
Sustainable Nutrient Management in Agroecosystems (NREM 460)
Purdue University Courses

Spring 2013 Teaching Assistant / Lab Instructor

Forage Management (AGRY 505)
Spring 2012 Teaching Assistant / Lab Instructor
Forage Management (AGRY 505)
Spring 2011 Teaching Assistant
Forage Management (AGRY 505)
Spring 2011 Teaching Assistant / Lab Instructor
Introductory Agronomy (AGRY 105)
Fall 2010 Teaching Assistant / Lab Instructor
Introductory Agronomy (AGRY 105)
Spring 2007 Teaching Assistant / Lab Instructor
Introductory Weed Science (BTNY 304)
Spring 2006 Teaching Assistant / Lab Instructor
Introductory Weed Science (BTNY 304)

GRANT WRITING
Keith D. Johnson, John E. McMillan. (2012). Enhancing Forage and Bio-fuels Research and Education Through
the Acquisition of Forage Harvest Equipment. Purdue University Internal: Mary S. Rice Grant. Amount
awarded: $12,000, Status: Funded

John E. McMillan, Tamilee D. Nennich. (2010) Evaluation of Grain Amaranth and Quinoa as Forage Crops to
Improve the Sustainability and Profitability of Small Livestock Operations. North Central Region Sustainable
Agriculture Research and Education. Amount awarded: $9,999, Status: Funded

John E. McMillan. (2012). Travel Grant. Purdue University Ismail Travel Grant. Amount awarded: $600,
Status: Funded

Tamilee D. Nennich, John E. McMillan, Keith D. Johnson, Nicole Widmar. (2011). Evaluation of Grain
Amaranth as a Silage Crop to Improve the Sustainability and Profitability of Small and Medium-Sized Dairy
Operations. North Central Region Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education. Amount awarded:
$178,038. Status: Not funded
LEADERSHIP AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Sumer 2017 Board member for the Waimanalo Agriculture Association
Fall 2011 Grants and Grantsmanship (earned: top ranked proposal in course)
Fall 2011 IESE Symposium Planning Committee (Speaker Committee)
January 2005-06 Founding President of the Purdue University Botany Club

OUTREACH PRESENTATIONS AND PUBLICATIONS

John E. McMillan. (2014). Drill Calibration. Presentation. Purdue University Diagnostic Training Center. West
Lafayette, IN

John E. McMillan, Keith D. Johnson, Fantastic Forages: A 4H learning module on forages. (Pending
publication) Purdue University.

John E. McMillan. (2013). Double Crop Options Following Indiana Wheat Rotations. Presentation. Purdue
University Diagnostic Training Center. West Lafayette, IN

John E. McMillan. (2013). Why is Management of Plant Sourced Biofuels important? Presentation for Indiana
4H Students. Purdue University Diagnostic Training Center. West Lafayette, IN

John E. McMillan. (2012). Double Crop Options Following Indiana Wheat Rotations. Presentation. Purdue
University Diagnostic Training Center. West Lafayette, IN

John E. McMillan, Tamilee D. Nennich. (2012). Forage Maturity. Podcast. Purdue Dairy Digest.
http://www.ansc.purdue.edu/dd/

John E. McMillan, Tamilee D. Nennich. (2012). BMR Hybrids. Podcast. Purdue Dairy Digest.
http://www.ansc.purdue.edu/dd/

John E. McMillan. (2012). What are Forages? Presentation for Indiana 4H Students. Purdue University
Diagnostic Training Center. West Lafayette, IN

John E. McMillan, James J Vorst (2011). Crop Production Services Annual Training. Lafayette, IN

John E. McMillan, James J Vorst (2010). Crop Production Services Annual Training. Lafayette, IN

John E. McMillan. (2009) Why Do Weeds Matter? Food, Farm, and Energy Gathering. Indianapolis, IN.

PUBLICATIONS

John E. McMillan, Keith D. Johnson, Tamilee D. Nennich, Nicole Widmar, James C. Camberato. (2017).
Annual Forage Cropping Systems for Midwestern Ruminant Livestock Production. Dissertation. Purdue
University, West Lafayette, Indiana.
Tamilee D. Nennich, Tana S. Dennis, John E. McMillan, Alan L. Sutton. (2010). Characterization of solids
and nutrient retention of a manure storage tank in a dairy manure handling system. International Symposium on
Air Quality and Manure Management for Agriculture Proceedings, 6.

John E. McMillan, Kevin D. Gibson, Steven G. Hallett, Thomas, N. Jordan, Steven C. Weller. (2009). The
Effect of Mid-Late Season Weed Management Strategies in Fresh Market Tomato Production. Dissertation.
Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana.

PROFESSIONAL PRESENTATIONS
John E. McMillan, Keith D. Johnson. (2013). Annual Forages Grown After Wheat Grain Harvest: A Double
Cropping Opportunity for Producers in the Northern Midwest USA. Paper. American Society of Agronomy.
Tampa, FL

John E. McMillan, Rachel N. Nodurft, Steven Weller, Kevin D. Gibson. (2007). Seed Bank Management
Using Buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum) Cover Cropping in Tomato. Poster. North Central Weed Science
Society. St. Louis, Missouri

John E. McMillan, J. Earl Creech, Andreas Westphal, Bryan Young, Jared S. Webb, Jason P. Bond, S. Kent
Harrison, and William G. Johnson. (2006). Fall and Spring Development of Soybean Cyst Nematode on Winter
Annual Weeds in the Eastern Corn Belt. American Society of Agronomy. Indianapolis, IN

HONORS AND AWARDS

2011-2014 Plant Diagnostic Training Center Assistanceship in Forage Management
2014 Agronomy Graduate Student Extension Scholarship
2013 George D. Scarseth Scholarship
2012 Ismail Travel Grant
2007 J. Kelly O'Neall and Margaret Ritchey O'Neall Memorial Scholarship
2006 1st place in Plant Diagnostics and Consulting and 2nd place Overall Undergraduate Competitor
North Central Weed Science Society Weed
Science Competition
2004 Deans Honor List Spring semester

AFFILIATIONS/PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
American Forage and Grassland Council,
American Society of Agronomy
Crop Science Society of America
Soil Science Society of America
The Amaranth Institute
Board Member of the Waimanalo Agricultural Association