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LAWRENCE, KS (February, 10th 2009) - Nearly two dozen individuals from academia, government and private industry were honored Monday by the Weed Science Society of America (WSSA) for their outstanding contributions to the field of weed science. The annual awards were presented during WSSA’s 49th Annual Meeting, in Orlando, Florida. “Our annual WSSA awards program honors individuals from around the globe who are all-stars in their profession,” said Jeffrey Derr, Ph.D., of Virginia Tech, president of WSSA. “They conduct breakthrough research, promote weed science education, or devote their time and energy to the profession in other significant ways.” Dr. Michael Barrett, PSS Chair, was awarded Fellow (link) status. WSSA Fellow is the highest honor bestowed upon WSSA members. Only 0.25 percent of the membership may be selected for Fellowship in any given year. These members have been part of the organization for at least a decade and have made substantial contributions to the field of weed science.
The Univeristy of Kentucky News website covered this story (link) and also announced that Dr. Barrett had been elected vice president of the WSSA this year while assuming the role of president in 2011.
Maysville, KY (December 17, 2008) - In mid-December switchgrass was used for the first time in Kentucky as fuel for a power plant. East Kentucky Power Cooperative (EKPC) burned about 70 tons of switchgrass mixed with coal at the cooperative's Spurlock Station Plant in Maysville. A major media event was staged December 17 to announce the success of the trial burn. The power plant demonstration was part of an innovative four-year pilot project conducted by University of Kentucky Plant and Soil Sciences Department to determine if switchgrass can be grown sustainably and economically in Kentucky. The project is being funded through a grant to the Kentucky Forage and Grassland Council from the Kentucky Agricultural Development Board. UK forage extension specialists (Tom Keene and Ray Smith) are working with 20 farmers and county agents in northeastern Kentucky to evaluate options for planting, growing, harvesting, transporting and processing switchgrass. Switchgrass was chosen because it is well adapted to Kentucky and will grow on marginal, low fertility soils and has excellent drought tolerance and high yield potential.
This KFGC sponsored project has also allowed collaboration with the UK Department of Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering on the development of efficient techniques for ethanol production from switchgrass. If this project is successful, switchgrass could provide a great opportunity for producers in this area and throughout the state to be on the forefront of the emerging biomass market. Ideally, switchgrass and similar grasses may even become important dual use crops for KY forage producers. For example, during drought years it could be cut at a leafy stage to provide quality hay, and then allowed to regrow and harvested in the fall as biomass. For the current project, the switchgrass was allowed to grow for the entire season and then harvested in early November. For more information about switchgrass, go online to the KY Forage website (http://www.uky.edu/Ag/Forage/), and look under the Forage Publications section for “Biofuels and Forages".
Shanghai, China (November 2008) - CORESTA (Cooperation Centre for Scientific Research Relative to Tobacco) is an international organization dealing with tobacco research. It holds a conference every year in different parts of the world, and also has study groups and taskforces with specific responsibilities. These groups produce documents and recommended methods, or arrange specific experiments to answer specific questions.
Silver and bronze medals are awarded every two years for services to CORESTA. Anne Jack in the Plant and Soil Sciences Department was awarded a bronze medal in 2002 and a silver medal last month in China. She was elected to the Scientific Commission in 2000 and served the maximum permissible 6 years in the Phytopathology study group, with 2 years as vice-president. She coordinated the bacterial wilt subgroup for six years, achieving all the stated objectives (resolve the conflicting reports of dominant and recessive genetic control of resistance, investigate reports of resistance breakdown, test a resistant cultivar set worldwide, document disease pressure in participating countries). She currently coordinates the IPM taskforce, which is compiling an international field guide to integrated pest management in tobacco. This covers all aspects of plant protection – diseases, nematodes, insects, weeds and also specific strategies such as rotation, barrier crops, biological control etc. There are 96 members in this taskforce.
Houston, TX (October 2008) - Ole Wendroth is an associate professor in the Department of Plant and Soil Sciences at the University of Kentucky. He received a Diploma and Ph.D. degree from the University of Goettingen, and his Habilitation degree from Technical University of Berlin, Germany. He works in soil landscape research with respect to water and solute transport, and biomass development. Dr. Wendroth served as an associate editor for Journal of Environmental Quality, and Agronomy Journal, and is currently technical editor for Agronomy Journal, and associate editor for Soil Science Society of America Journal and Vadose Zone Journal. - See this link for details.
WASHINGTON, DC (April 10th, 2008) - A Soil Science Professor in Plant and Soil Sciences, Dr Greg Schwab, was recently recognized for his volunteer work with Belarus farmers in a nationally distributed story from USAID (United States Agency International Development). The story explains: "In the summer of 2006, Dr. Greg Schwab, who is an extension [specialist] at the University of Kentucky with expertise in soil, traveled to Belarus as a volunteer through USAID's Farmer-to-Farmer (FtF) Program to introduce the concept of no-till crop production."
Dr Schwab was followed by another FtF volunteer, Mr. Jerry Grigar to provide additional training on no-till farming techniques. These visits proved very beneficial, again quoting the story: "Greg Schwab and Jerry Grigar produced tangible results that have the potential to greatly impact Belarus' agricultural economy." "When Dr. Schwab revisited Kholodon-Agro Farm in February of 2008 he discovered that in the past two years the new drill had planted more than 2,500 acres and produced excellent results for wheat and oats. No-till oat yield was double that of conventionally planted oats. He was also very pleased to learn that the no-till crops planted in the spring of 2006 got 10-15% higher yields than their conventionally planted counterparts. The increased yield was attributed to moisture conservation enabled by the no-till system. In addition to higher yields, Kholodon is spending less on fuel and labor while dramatically reducing soil erosion and the associated environmental impacts. Kholodon plans on planting more than 70% of their crops using no-till this year, which will lead to a highly profitable and more environmentally friendly production in the future."
Dr. Schwab’s work to help spread the latest farming techniques to those in need no matter where they might live is a source of pride for all of us who know and work with him here in the department.
LEXINGTON, KY (March 21st, 2008) - Dr. Dwight Tomes, Research Fellow of the Agronomic Traits Gene Expression and Agronomic Lead Evaluation, Trait and Technology Development sectors of Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc., was awarded the second Distinguished Alumnus Award for the Plant and Soil Sciences Department here at the University of Kentucky. The award program was designed to recognize the achievements of past students and to promote graduate-student alumni interactions. Dr. Tomes, a native of western Kentucky, was one of the first graduates from the UK Crop Science Ph.D. program (under the direction of Dr. Glenn Collins), receiving his degree in 1975. He began his career as a faculty member at the University of Guelph, where he established a strong research and undergraduate/graduate training program and taught a Plant Breeding course that was later published as a book and received wide professional recognition. After seven years in this faculty position, Dr. Tomes moved to industry with the Pioneer Hi-Bred International. He has worked with many different crops and programs at Pioneer over the years, and he was recently awarded the Peterson Medal for his work – the highest research recognition at Dupont. He has numerous publications and 24 issued patents. He has also been the recipient of several Inventor and Revolution awards. Dr. Tomes developed several of the pivotal techniques needed to facilitate the application of biotechnology to many crop species. He was recognized for his achievements on March 21st, 2008, following his presentation of a seminar entitled ‘Reflections of a Career in Science.’ PSS Department Chair, Dr. Mike Barrett, presented Dr. Tomes with a commemorative plaque and modest honorarium. The Distinguished Alumnus Award is given annually and a large plaque containing the names of the honored recipients is on permanent display in the Plant Science Building.
LOUISVILLE, KY (January 27th, 2008) - A number of faculty and students from our PSS Department attended and presented research at the Joint AFGC/SRM Conference held January 26-31, 2008 in Louisville, KY. Over 1500 people attended making this the largest Forage Conference in Kentucky since the 1980 International Grassland Congress. Attendees represented 46 states and 8 countries with 7 people traveling all the way from China. Kentucky was fortunate to take home a number of awards at this event. The Kentucky Forage and Grassland Council received the Affiliate Council Award for the top Forage Council in the USA for 2007. Two PSS graduate students, Adam Probst and Jesse Morrison competed in the AFGC Young Scientist Competition. Jesse Morrison placed 3rd for his presentation "Using Microhistological Techniques to Predict Botanical Composition of Horse Diets on Cool-Season Grass Pasture." Congratulations, Jesse (Photo 1). Dr. Ray Smith co-chaired the meeting and received a commendation award for his efforts from AFGC and a specially engraved Louisville Slugger bat from the conference, and several PSS faculty members contributed to the meeting by organizing symposium or giving talks (Drs. Glenn Aiken, Garry Lacefield, Rebecca McCulley, Lowell Bush, and Tim Phillips).
LOUSIVILLE, KY (December 15th, 2007) - From December 12 to 14 the SBR Yield Loss Predictor Project team from the our PSS Department was in Louisville attending the 2007 National Soybean Rust Symposium. This included Dr. Saratha Kumudini, Dr. Donald Hershman and Brenda Kennedy from UK Plant Pathology, Dr.Joseph Omielan, and Elena Prior (photo 1). The symposium provided an opportunity for the PIs (Dr. Claudia Godoy, Dr. Saratha Kumudini, and Dr.James Board) to discuss the project face to face (photo 2). For more information read the December 2007 UK project update on the SBR web site.
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LEXINGTON, KY (September 26th, 2007) - Congratulations to Ted Hicks who received one of the College Staff Awards in the Technical category yesterday. Also, congratulations to Scott Kinison, Toni Kroumova, Sandy Swanson, Yvonne Thompson, Jason Walton and Glen Weinberger who were all nominated in this category. Anne Jack, Brenda Kennedy, Gene Olson and Charles Tutt were nominated from the department in the Executive category. Special thanks go out to those who worked to put together these nominations. While the competition for these awards is intense and not everyone deserving can be recognized, it is an honor to be nominated and reflects the excellent staff in the department.
LEXINGTON, KY (August 2nd, 2007) - The Southern Regional Exchange and Awareness Program (REAP) tour sponsored by the American Soybean Association (ASA) and EMD Crop BioScience visited our plots at Spindletop Farm on August 2. The group included growers from 11 states, including Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Minnesota, Nebraska, North and South Dakota, Wisconsin and Ohio. Dr. Saratha Kumudini presented the objectives and methodology of the SBR Yield Loss Model Project and then answered numerous questions (see photo below). Hopefully, new partnerships may result from this exchange of information and ideas.
The group also visited soybean population studies managed by Dr. Chad Lee and toured the rest of the research farm.
LEXINGTON, KY (July 12th, 2007) - Turfgrass Science put on it's annual Field Day Thursday, July 12th at Spindletop Farm. It was a well attended and fun event! Here are some photos to prove it.
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LEXINGTON, KY (May 17, 2007) - Dr. Donald Sparks, S. Hallock du Pont Chair of Soil and Environmental Chemistry, Francis Alison Professor, and Chairperson of the Department of Plant and Soil Sciences at the University of Delaware, was awarded the first Distinguished Alumnus Award for the Plant and Soil Sciences Department here at the University of Kentucky. The award program was designed to recognize the achievements of past graduate students and to promote graduate-student alumni interactions. Dr. Sparks, a native Kentuckian having grown up just north of Lexington in Paris, received both his Bachelor's (Agronomy, 1975) and Master's (Soil Science, 1976) degrees from UK before completing his education with a PhD (Soil Science, 1979) at Virginia Tech. He has been on the faculty at the University of Delaware since 1979 and has developed a world-recognized environmental soil chemistry research program. He has trained more than forty-five graduate students (including Drs. McNear and Matocha currently in our Department) and published two textbooks, forty book chapters, and in excess of 160 refereed journal articles covering a wide range of topics within the soil chemistry discipline. During his visit to Lexington, Dr. Sparks gave an informative seminar entitled "Frontiers in Exploration of Biogeochemical Processes at Critical Zone Interfaces" in the Cameron Williams Auditorium on Friday, April 27th, and was presented with a commemorative plaque by PSS Department Chair, Dr. Mike Barrett, immediately afterwards. The Distinguished Alumnus Award will be given annually and those honored recipients commemorated with a large plaque containing their names to be permanently hung on the wall outside the Williams Auditorium in the Plant Science Building.
LEXINGTON, KY (May 7, 2007) - Letha Tomes Drury was recently recognized for her contributions to the Kentucky seed industry and was presented with the Outstanding Alumnus Award at the annual University of Kentucky Gamma Sigma Delta banquet in March. Letha is a 1984 Master's graduate in Seed Biology from the Department of Agronomy in UK's College of Agriculture. She is a native of Edmonson County and received her B.S. degree from Western Kentucky University. Her M.S. research under the direction of Dr. Dennis TeKrony, focused on the identification of important variables in seed vigor testing. As the Manager for Kentucky Foundation Seed Project (KFSP), Letha has helped introduce improved cultivars of foundation seed for soybean, winter wheat, tobacco and grasses, which led to the production of thousands of acres of certified seed to the benefit of Kentucky farmers. For the past 20 years Letha has enthusiastically cooperated with many groups, including the Kentucky Seedsman’s Association, Kentucky Seed Improvement Association and university plant breeders on regulations, administrative procedures and production for certified classes of seed. She has helped with development of standards and policies to facilitate movement of high quality seed. Perhaps her greatest contribution to the seed industry has been bridging the gap between the university breeding programs and the producer. Although now semi-retired, the KFSP continues to thrive under her leadership and she will directly assist with release of new tobacco, hybrid sweet sorghum, white clover and wheat varieties in 2007.
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MADISON, WI (April 16, 2007) - The American Society of Agronomy announced the winners of their annual Student Recognition Program for outstanding college seniors enrolled in agronomy, soils, or environmental sciences departments that have active clubs affiliated with the Students of Agronomy, Soils, and Environmental Science (SASES), an undergraduate Student program of ASA, CSA, and SSSA. Each year top seniors are selected for the award based on their scholarship, leadership and participation. The students receive a plaque as part of their recognition and are also eligible to apply for the Frank D. Keim Fellowship if they are pursuing a graduate degree. Richard Medley from the University of Kentucky, College of Agriculture has been so honored for 2007. The entire Plant and Soil Science Department as well as Richard's advisor Dr. Tim Phillips send our congratulations to him.
ST. LOUIS, MO (March 15, 2007) - Sam Hancock, a resident of Fulton County Kentucky and an alumnus of the University of Kentucky, received the 2007 Northeast Regional Conservation Legacy Award. The Conservation Legacy Awards program is designed to recognize a U.S. soybean farmer from each of the four geographic growing regions for outstanding environmental and conservation achievement. Judges look for dedication to the land through cropland management practices, farmstead protection, and conservation and environmental management. The award is given by the American Soybean Association and sponsored by Monsanto and The Corn and Soybean Digest.
When he received the award, Mr. Hancock said that “Conservation is not our hobby. It’s not a cause, it’s our lifestyle.” More information about the award can be found at: http://www.kysoy.org/news/legacyaward.htm.
LEXINGTON, KY (February 6, 2007) - Doug McLaren, KASEP (Kentucky Association of State Extension Professionals) Awards Chairperson, announced the 2006 Award Winners at their winter meeting (preceding the Kentucky Cooperative Extension Professional Development Conference held at the Hyatt Regency Hotel, Lexington, Kentucky). The awards given to UK Plant and Soil Sciences Department faculty were: the Outstanding New Extension Faculty Award, presented to William (Andy) Bailey and the M.D. Whiteker Award for Excellence in Extension, presented to David Ditsch. Our congratulations and thanks to these members for their continuing excellence!
LEXINGTON, KY (December 13, 2006) - Members of PSS recently wrapped up a semester long pasture evaluation project partnership with West Jessamine High School and Taylor Made Farm, one of the area’s top Thoroughbred horse farms. By all accounts the project was a successful one and a beneficial learning experience for both students and farm management. Spearheaded by Dr. Ray Smith and coordinated by Smith and Tom Keene, Joy Lourie and Chengjun Huo, the project mirrored the highly regarded Pasture Management Program completed on more than 30 local horse farms over the past two years. The Pasture Management Project works to help Central Kentucky horse farms determine if cool season tall fescue grass could be problematic for their broodmare herds (a common and potentially harmful fungus is often found in tall fescue and can cause foal loss in mares); help farms increase productivity of their pastures; and foster stronger relationships with the equine industry and Central Bluegrass communities.For more information about this partnership with West Jessamine High School, please visit (www.ca.uky.edu/equine/press_releases.htm).
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MILWAUKEE, WI (December 13, 2006) - The North Central Weed Science Society presented the Fellow Award to Dr. James R. Martin during its annual meeting. Recipients of this award are recognized for their significant contributions to the North Central Weed Science Society and the Weed Science discipline. Dr. Martin has been a member of the North Central Weed Science Society for 30 years whereby he has served on numerous committees and elected to serve on the NCWSS Board of Directors as a state director, extension representative, and as the society's representative to CAST (Council of Agricultural Science and Technology). After representing the NCWSS on the CAST board, he was elected to serve another 3-year term (2004-2006) on the CAST Executive Board to represent the Plant Protection Science Workgroup. Jim also contributes to the Southern Weed Science Society and the Weed Science Society of America serving on committees and as an associate editor for Weed Technology. Dr. Martin has had a productive career evaluating and discussing weed mangement problems that impact crop producers in Kentucky and surrounding states. His research has focused on troublesome weed problems in no-till crop production systems for corn, soybean, and wheat.
LEXINGTON, KY (November 15, 2006) - Congratulations are in order for Dr. Neil Fannin who received a 2006 College of Agriculture Outstanding Staff Award for technical/paraprofessional/skilled staff. Neil was nominated by Lowell P. Bush for his outstanding work, commitment, and dedication. He has developed original research projects and has presented his work at national and international meetings. In the past 3 years, he was senior co-author of 3 papers on mass spectroscopy and alkaloid biosynthesis plus a book chapter on 'Formation of tobacco-specific nitrosamines'. Neil has a Ph.D. in pharmacology and has contributed tremendously to the tall fescue toxicosis research efforts within the Department. He is not only academically talented but also has the intellectual curiosity of wanting to know how and why things function the way they do.
LEXINGTON, KY (November 15, 2006) - We congratulate Ron Curd who received a 2006 College of Agriculture Outstanding Staff Award for technical/paraprofessional/skilled staff and this year's University of Kentucky Nestor Award for innovation and cost saving by a staff member. Ron was nominated by Bill Pearce and Todd Pfeiffer for these awards because of his professionalism, problem solving skills, and dedication during his 24 years at UK. Ron always displays a positive attitude. He understands the needs of the variety testing program and adjusts his personal life to achieve work tasks, such as the extensive travel and routine overnight trips associated with statewide extension. Ron has demonstrated leadership in his ability to train and teach student workers about agricultural research and mechanical processes. The quality that makes his leadership outstanding is his respect for diversity, patience, and natural ability to communicate with students, co-workers, faculty and scholars from diverse nations.
INDIANAPOLIS, IN (November 14, 2006) - We congratulate George Clements, a junior in the Horticulture, Plant and Soil Science degree program for winning the National Student Research Symposium Contest awarded by "Students of Agronomy, Soils and Environmental Sciences" - an undergraduate student organization of the American Society of Agronomy, Crop Science Society of America and Soil Science Society of America. George presented a paper entitled "Use of vegetation index to determine potential yield loss: A risk management tool for Asian Soybean rust." His presentation was based on his undergraduate research project (PLS 395) which is part of an international, multidisciplinary study on Asian Soybean Rust being lead by his mentor, Dr. Saratha Kumudini, of the Department of Plant and Soil Sciences.
INDIANAPOLIS, IN (November 14, 2006) - We congratulate Dr. Dennis B. Egli, Professor in the Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, for receiving the Crop Science Research Award from the Crop Science Society of America. The criteria for this award are significance and originality of basic and applied research contributions to crop science; excellence in creative reasoning, skill in obtaining significant data, and total impact of contributions on crop science and other fields, nationally and internationally. Dennis's research interests include seed growth and development, the relationship between seed growth characteristics and yield, environmental effects on seed quality, evaluation of seed vigor, and the relationship between seed quality and field performance. He has served as associate editor and technical editor for the Agronomy Journal and Crop Science Journal. He is also a Fellow of the American Society of Agronomy and the Crop Science Society of America.
INDIANAPOLIS, IN (November 14, 2006) - Congratulations go out to Dr. Glen Aiken for becoming a Fellow of the American Society of Agronomy in 2006. Glen is a research animal scientist and agronomist with the USDA-ARS Forage Animal Production Research Unit and is an Adjunct Associate Professor in the Department of Plant and Soil Sciences. He has been recognized for his outstanding service to the society including his research program that focuses on the plant-animal interface. He serves as a technical editor for the Crop Science Journal.
LEXINGTON, KY (November 11, 2006) - The Plant and Soil Sciences department welcomes our new Rhizosphere Scientist, Dr. David McNear, to our faculty. He received his doctoral degree from the University of Delaware in 2005 under the guidance of Dr. Donald Sparks in Environmental Soil Chemistry. David has expertise in using high energy synchrotron x-ray microprobes to analyze heavy metals at the soil root interface and within plants. David will be joining the department January 1, 2007 and will be assuming responsibility for teaching one semester per year of PLS 366, Fundamentals of Soil Science. Accompanying David will be his wife, Dr. Maria Labreveux, their new baby, Isabelle, Chloe (black lab mix), and Lila (beagle).
BOWLING GREEN, KY (October 20, 2006) -Congratulations to the UK Soil Judging Team for taking first place in the Southeast Regional Soil Judging Contest hosted by Western Kentucky University . The team of Paul Blanche, Bryan Jacobs, Vincent Madigan and Marie Pelton was led by coach Dr. Tasos Karathanasis, a Professor in the Department of Plant and Soil Sciences. Paul Blanche also received the 1st place individual award and Bryan Jacobs placed 4th in the individual awards.
