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LEXINGTON, KY (June 2nd, 2010) - Science Saturday was held on May 22nd on the University of Kentucky Campus in the E.S. Good Barn. The Plant and Soil Sciences Graduate Student Association (PSSGSA) organized this event in collaboration with the Association of Plant Pathologist Scholars (APPS). Science Saturday showcased the graduate students’ diverse areas of study, bringing to the forefront for the visiting students the many different aspects of our science. The event was very successful with 169 middle and high school student participants from Fayette and Boyle Counties. Visit the photo gallery here. View an online video of the event here.
Dr. Donald Frazier, Department of Physiology, discussed DNA science related to aspects of human physiology. Dr. Frazier invited all students and parents to his class room at the University of Kentucky Science Outreach Center where he interacts with approximately 4,000 student each year. He encouraged the PSSGSA to create a display for the Science Outreach Center illustrating the degree opportunities offered within the College of Agriculture.
The participating teachers and organization leaders stated they would like to see Science Saturday continue as a more frequent event. The following people and organizations helped to make this inaugural event successful: UK staff member Cathy Bowers, Anne Jack, Colin Fisher, the PSSGSA graduate students (Yumei Zheng, Daniela Sarti, Xun Zhuang, Stephen Bell, Bobby Gaffney, Bin Cai, Keith Allen, Tom Niehaus, ), the APPS graduate students, the Fayette County Board of Education, GEMS (Growth Education Motivates Success), Try-it (Translating Research to Youth through Information Technology), and BMW (Black Males Working Academy).
LEXINGTON, KY (MAY 24th, 2010) - Morris J. Bitzer, 74, Professor Emeritus of the Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, University of Kentucky, died March 28, 2010 in Lexington, Kentucky. He was born in Huntington, Indiana on March 3rd, 1936. He received his B.S. degree from Purdue University in 1958. After teaching vocational agriculture for several years he returned to Purdue to receive his M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Plant Genetics and Breeding working with Dr. F. L. Patterson.
His first academic position was at the University of Georgia as a small grains breeder. In 1971 Morris joined the faculty in the Department of Agronomy at the University of Kentucky as a grain crops extension specialist, serving for 38 years. He demonstrated the techniques of no-till agriculture to farmers in eastern Kentucky, and the Department of Plant and Soil Sciences recognized him for those efforts in 2003 when he presented the S.H Phillips Distinguished Lecture in No-Till Agriculture. Morris played a major role, through his research and extension activities, in the development and support of the sweet sorghum industry in Kentucky and throughout the US. He greatly enjoyed serving farmer organizations: he was Executive Secretary of the National Sweet Sorghum Producers and Processors Association, President of the American Kenaf Society, on the Board of Directors of the Kentucky Corn Growers Association, and advisor to the Kentucky Small Grain Growers Association. After retiring, Morris continued his work with sweet sorghum and was honored for his enthusiasm and dedication by having a sweet sorghum variety, KN Morris, named after him.
He is survived by Mabel Bitzer, his wife; his children Jay, Melanie, and Craig; and grandchildren Lindsey Novakova and Jennifer Bitzer. He was preceded in death by his parents Homer and Edna Bitzer.
LEXINGTON, KY (MAY 7th, 2010) - Timothy H. Taylor, 91 Professor Emeritus of the Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, University of Kentucky died at his home in McCreary County Kentucky on April 4th, 2010. He was born in McCreary County Kentucky at Good Spring Farm on July 4th, 1918. He received his B.S. and M. S. degrees in Soil Science from the University of Kentucky and the PhD from Pennsylvania State University. He served in the U.S. Army and after returning from the war, he joined the University of Kentucky faculty in 1955 where he taught courses and conducted research on forage production and grassland ecology. He demonstrated to farmers the techniques of pasture renovation and developed a prototype drill for this purpose. At one time, pasture renovation techniques that he helped foster were demonstrated in 100 of Kentucky’s 120 counties. He was a visiting scientist for the American Society of Agronomy during a sabbatical at the University of Wales in 1966-67. He was a Fellow of both the CSSA and ASA. After retiring in 1986, he returned to Good Spring Farm. His passion in later years was to restore Good Spring Farm’s pasture and forest. For many years, he served on the Soil Conservation District Board for McCreary County.
He is survived by Peg Taylor, his wife; his son Richard and daughter, Kathryn; and grandchildren Todd and Jennifer Taylor. He was preceded in death by his parents Grant and Allen Darr Taylor and by his first wife Andree Errera whom he married in Paris, France in 1945.
LEXINGTON, KY (DECEMBER 7th, 2009) - The American Association for the Advancement of Science has elected Dr. Joe Chappell to the rank of AAAS Fellow. The honor of being elected a Fellow of AAAS began in 1874. “Each year the Council elects members whose efforts on behalf of the advancement of science or its applications are scientifically or socially distinguished.” Dr. Chappell is being “honored for distinguished contributions to our understanding of the regulation of biosynthetic pathways and structure-function relationships of the enzymes of terpenoid biosynthesis in plants.” The fellowship will be presented in San Diego on February 20, 2010 during the AAAS Fellows Forum at the AAAS annual meeting.
LEXINGTON, KY (DECEMBER 3rd, 2009) - Plant and Soil Science Professor Dennis TeKrony will be teaching an online course: PLS 557, Seed Vigor, in the Spring 2010 Semester. This course will be offered through the Distance Learning Program. This course has proven to be very popular among working professionals with busy schedules. Students interested in taking the course must be admitted to UK and can contact Jackie Briscoe in the Distance Learning Programs office toll-free at 800-828-0439, option six; 859-257-3010 or jbris01@email.uky.edu for more information.
Deadline to apply for entry into this class is January 6th, 2010.
Here is a link to the flier for the class with complete details.
PITTSBURGH, PA (November 5th, 2009) - Graduate student Abdul Aqeel was honored with the 3rd place award in the graduate student poster competition during the ASA-CSSA-SSSA International Annual Meeting, November 1-5 in Pittsburgh, PA, www.acsmeetings.org.
Abdul Aqeel is a graduate student working toward his Ph.D in the Department of Plant and Soil Sciences at the University of Kentucky. His research focuses on developing a model of soybean yield loss due to soybean rust. In his poster, entitled " Can we simulate the impact of soybean rust in the southern soybean production regions of the United States?" he presented a two year, multi-state, proof of concept study for a newly developed yield loss algorithm for soybean rust. He used manual defoliations imposed on a healthy soybean canopy to simulate changes in effective leaf area observed in diseased canopies, and was able to successfully simulate the impact of the disease on the yield of a healthy soybean canopy. His poster was part of an international research project led by Dr. Saratha Kumudini.
For more information about the project see: http://www.uky.edu/Ag/Agronomy/Department/sbr/
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PITTSBURGH, PA (November 6th, 2009) - The Crop Science Society of America (CSSA) has presented a 2009 CSSA Fellow to Dr. Glen E. Aiken. The Soil Science Society of America(SSSA) has presented a 2009 SSSA Fellow to Dr. Ole Wendroth. Both received these honors at the special Awards Ceremony during the combined ASA-CSSA-SSSA International Annual Meeting on November 1-5 in Pittsburgh, PA, www.acsmeetings.org.
It is worth noting that members of the Society nominate worthy colleagues based on their professional achievements and meritorious service. Only 0.3% of the Society’s active and emeritus members may be elected Fellow.
Glen E. Aiken is a research agronomist and animal scientist with USDA-ARS Forage-Animal Production Research Unit, Lexington, KY. He is also an adjunct professor in the Department of Plant and Soil Sciences at the University of Kentucky. Dr. Aiken received a B.S. and M.S. from Texas A&M University and Ph.D. from University of Florida. His research focuses on forage and grazing management. He served as a technical editor for Crop Science, and is active in ASA and CSSA.
Ole Wendroth is associate professor in the Department of Plant and Soil Sciences at University of Kentucky. He received a Ph.D. from University of Goettingen and a 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 associate editor for Journal of Environmental Quality and Agronomy Journal and technical editor for Agronomy Journal. He currently serves as associate editor for Soil Science Society of America Journal and Vadose Zone Journal.
LEXINGTON, KY (October 21st, 2009) - We are proud to announce that Gene Olson and Yvonne Thompson both received College of Agriculture Outstanding Staff Awards this during Roundup week this fall. Our congratualitions on this recongnition and thanks for their many years of dedicated service go out to Gene and Yvonne!
Gene Olson, Executive category Outstanding Staff Award winner, represents the College and University nationally and internationally by managing one of the most extensive forage variety testing programs in the Southeastern United States. Gene is the lead contact with company plant breeders and research personnel for procurement of seed for testing. He maintains, collects data, analyzes and writes reports from well over 5,000 variety plots. The University of Kentucky is one of only a few places in the country that conducts extensive grazing tests on new varieties, in part due to the efforts of Gene Olson. His new techniques have increased efficiency and saved time for researchers in his own, and in other departments.
Yvonne Thompson, Technical category Outstanding Staff Award winner, is primarily responsible for research. However, a major aspect of her position is service oriented, consisting of soil characterization analyses. For more than 20 years, Yvonne has provided reliable and timely physical, chemical, and mineralogical data to scientists working on National Soil Survey projects throughout Kentucky. Yvonne has been instrumental in establishing her program as one of the best in the national by providing reliable analytical and technical support in laboratory and field research activities and is an outstanding manager in the Department of Plant and Soil Sciences. She exhibits great versatility and competence in the laboratory, the field, and with computer software.
A link to the college announcement is here:
http://www2.ca.uky.edu/deanadmin/staffaward
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CHARLESTON, SC (June 26th, 2009) - Dr. Glenn Collins was honored with a Distinguished Lifetime Achievement Award from the Society for In Vitro Biology during the opening ceremony of the 2009 In Vitro Biology Meeting in Charleston, S.C.
From the Society's website: " The Society of In Vitro Biology established the Lifetime Achievement Award in 1989 to recognize those who have achieved academic excellence in their field of study and to honor those who have made significant and contributions to the field of in vitro biology and/or in the development of novel technologies that have advanced in vitro biology."
For more information see UK AG News story: http://www.ca.uky.edu/news/?c=n&d=392
ORLANDO, FL (June 19th, 2009) - Scott Bender, a 2000 UK graduate of the Plant and Soil Sciences Bachelors Degree program (with an emphasis in Turf Science) has received national recognition in his field.
"Marriott Golf, one of the world's premier golf operators, recently announced Scott Bender, Director of Grounds for Griffin Gate Golf Club, located in Lexington, Ky., was named Golf Grounds Manager of the Year. The award is based on performance excellence for current and previous years in various categories, including maintaining turfgrass conditions, successful large scale renovation or construction projects, loss prevention efforts, active pursuit of industry-wide certifications and education, and more."
"Under Bender's direction, Griffin Gate Golf Club earned certification through the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program in 2008. A highlight of this effort, and as part of the property's commitment to environmental stewardship, Bender spearheaded a community project with a local Boy Scouts Troop to build bat boxes on property." Read more here: complete news release from Marriott Golf.
BILLINGS, MT (June 5th, 2009) - At the 26th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Mining and Reclamation (ASMR) held in Billings, MT May 30-June 5, Dr. Richard I. Barnhisel was the recipient of the William T. Plass Award, the most prestigious award of ASMR, in recognition of his service to the Society and his dedication to the reclamation of disturbed lands.
As a Professor in the Agronomy Department at the University of Kentucky, Dr. Barnhisel began his research in 1972 to determine the most effective means and methods of reclaiming mined land in western Kentucky. To fund the field and lab research as well as the numerous graduate students who completed their degree work in reclamation under “Dr. B’s” supervision, grants were secured from coal companies and the Office of Surface Mining, as well as a coveted Prime Farmland Grant awarded jointly to U.K. and the University of Illinois due to efforts of the late U.S. Congressman William T. Natcher.
Richard served as President of the American Council for Reclamation Research, a forerunner of ASMR, in 1980 and 1981, and has served as Executive Secretary of ASMR since 1999 with the duties of maintaining the membership records and the ASMR Webpage as well as assisting with the annual meetings. He has also co-edited a book, Reclamation of Drastically Disturbed Soils. In July 2002 he was invited to represent ASMR at the China Reclamation Society in Beijing, where he spoke at their meeting and also visited several of their reclamation sites.
LEXINGTON KY (May 4th, 2009) – Among the recipients for this year’s Provost’s Outstanding Teaching Awards was our own Dr. Larry Grabau, winning in the Tenured Faculty category. Four professors and three teaching assistants at UK received the 2009 Provost’s Outstanding Teaching Awards at a recognition ceremony on April 24. The award recognizes faculty and graduate teaching assistants who demonstrate special dedication and success in their teaching; and to encourage awareness of the importance of excellence in teaching. Recipients are selected via nomination and review by a selection committee based in the Office of the Associate Provost for Faculty Affairs. Winners receive cash prizes of $5,000 for tenured faculty, $3,500 for non-tenured faculty and $1,000 for teaching assistants.
Text taken from UK News story: http://ukynews.com/?p=1664#more-1664
LEXINGTON KY (April 5th, 2009)) - Larry Grabau was honored as a recipient of the 2009 Ken Freedman Outstanding Advisor Award. Grabau have been described by his students and colleagues as an adviser who “goes beyond expectation” and “gives renewed energy” to help students reach their goals.
Grabau, a faculty member of the University of Kentucky since 1984, received the award for outstanding faculty adviser. He currently serves as the Director of Undergraduate Studies for the Natural Resource Conservation and Management program in the Department of Plant and Soil Sciences in the College of Agriculture. Grabau is described as committed, as he continually enhances his own abilities to connect with students.
The awards are sponsored by the UK Advising Network and the Office of the Associate Provost for Undergraduate Education and are named in honor of Ken Freedman, who served as a professional adviser at UK for 15 years prior to his death in 2001.
Text taken from UK News story: http://ukynews.com/?p=1539#more-1539
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 University 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.
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