NEWS for North Dakotans
Agriculture Communication, North Dakota State
University
7 Morrill Hall, Fargo, ND 58105-5665
April 1, 1999
Several new plant scientists recently have taken positions with the USDA Agricultural Research Service in Fargo and the Department of Plant Sciences at North Dakota State University. They are joining the battle against weeds, a frustration for ranchers, farmers and recreational enthusiasts all over North Dakota and the northern Great Plains.
The untimely passing of Richard Shimabukuro and the retirements of Stuart Freer and Gerald Lamoureux from Fargo's USDA-ARS facility, along with the resignation of Bill Ahrens and the retirement of John Nalewaja from NDSU, have precipitated some of the changes.
Shimabukuro, Freer and Lamoureux were noted for their pioneering research on herbicide action and metabolism. In recent years their research focused on leafy spurge. The USDA-ARS continues to seek a replacement for Shimabukuro, says Michael Foley, one of the newcomers who now leads the USDA-ARS Plant Science Research unit.
A native of Minnesota, Foley has conducted basic research on dormancy in wild oat seeds and root buds of leafy spurge while on the faculty at Montana State University and Purdue University in Indiana. He is currently investigating genetic and molecular mechanisms for dormancy in wild oat and rice.
The other USDA-ARS newcomer is James Anderson, who is doing research on cell-cycle regulation and signal transduction in leafy spurge and other perennial weeds to find weak links in root-bud development. Prior to his current position, Anderson worked as a research associate with the USDA-ARS in Fargo and St. Paul.
Nalewaja was a noted authority on the biology of wild oats and in the use of additives to improve postemergent herbicide activity. A search for Nalewaja's replacement is underway, says Al Schneiter, chair of NDSU's plant sciences department.
Schneiter adds, "As we move into the next century, we expect the combined laboratory expertise of the USDA-ARS research scientists and the NDSU faculty to serve as a powerful partnership for developing and improving weed management systems."
George Kegode joined NDSU's plant sciences faculty in January and fills the vacancy created by Ahrens' resignation. Kegode received his Ph.D. from Iowa State University. For the past several years he has conducted research on foxtail in a collaborative project between the University of Minnesota and USDA-ARS in Morris. His research will focus on weed biology, herbicide resistance and reduced tillage.
Denise McWilliams joined NDSU's plant sciences faculty in March, Schneiter says. She will serve as an extension crop specialist, a joint appointment between the U of M and NDSU. Her responsibilities will include weed control and corn and soybean production. Prior to coming to NDSU, McWilliams was a consulting agronomist for ARM North America Inc. in Overland Park, Kan. She received her Ph.D. from Iowa State University.
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Sources: Michael Foley (701) 239-1251
Al Schneiter (701) 231-8137
Editor: Dean Hulse (701) 231-6136