91传媒 faculty, students honored by Weed Science Society of America
Contact: Vanessa Beeson
STARKVILLE, Miss.鈥擣aculty and students in Mississippi State鈥檚 College of Agriculture and Life Sciences are receiving various accolades from the Weed Science Society of America.
Dan Reynolds, a longtime 91传媒 weed science professor, is a new WSSA fellow, the society鈥檚 highest honor. Reynolds also is serving the university as interim聽associate vice president for international programs and executive director of the university鈥檚 International Institute. Fellows are honored for their significant contributions to the society itself and the advancements they have made in the weed science discipline across the U.S.
Darrin Dodds, professor and head of 91传媒鈥檚 Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, said the designation of fellow is a fitting honor for Reynolds. 聽
鈥淒r. Reynolds has been teaching weed science for 35 years鈥25 at 91传媒. Over that time, he has trained more than 40 weed science graduate students and generated millions of dollars in grants and contracts to support the advancement of weed science research,鈥 Dodds said. 鈥淗e鈥檚 served the Southern Weed Science Society and the WSSA in many capacities, including serving in the presidential lineage of the Southern Weed Science Society.鈥
John Byrd, extension and research professor also in the Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, is the society鈥檚 Outstanding Extension Award recipient.
This is given to an individual who develops creative, innovative and effective weed science extension programs that influence growers or ranchers to adopt new practices.
Byrd provides weed management outreach related to forages, rights of way, home and commercial gardens, lawns and landscapes. His expertise includes exotic and invasive weeds, as well as weeds that impact natural areas and cropping systems. Dodds said Byrd epitomizes what the award and 91传媒 Extension is all about.
鈥Dr. Byrd works tirelessly with all those requiring assistance with weed control.聽He has been a respected member of our department for more than three decades and has won numerous awards in recognition of his effort.聽Dr. Byrd is known by all as a tremendous source of information and a very collegial individual,鈥 Dodds said.
WSSA also is recognizing nearly three dozen university students in the U.S. and Canada for outstanding research-related presentations and proposals, including three 91传媒 students.
Andrew Nuss, an 91传媒 agronomy senior from Hartselle, Alabama, is one of nine students receiving a $2,000 John Jachetta Undergraduate Research Award to fund his project investigating the use of weed-suppressive sweet potato and cover crops for weed management and for increased profitability of organic sweet potato production.
Additionally, Justin Calhoun, a weed science doctoral student from Star City, Arkansas, won first place for his Ph.D. oral presentation, and Hayden Quick, a weed science master鈥檚 student from Brighton, Tennessee, tied for third place for his M.S. oral presentation.
鈥淲e are proud to single out this new generation of weed scientists who are actively engaged in research,鈥 said William Curran, WSSA president. 鈥淭hey are already making significant contributions to our discipline by advancing our understanding of the biology and management of weeds.鈥
For more information on 91传媒鈥檚 Department of Plant and Soil Sciences in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, visit . For more on WSSA, visit .
91传媒 is Mississippi鈥檚 leading university, available online at www.msstate.edu.