Fall 2003

FROM THE PRESIDENT
Mr. Roger Batts

Hello fellow weed scientists,
As I write this, the season is coming to a close with cooler temperatures, the smell of cotton defoliants in the air, and pumpkins for sale nearly everywhere. I sincerely hope that this season has been successful for all of you. I know it has been a challenging one. The spring rains really held back the start of the season, with rainfall amounts for February, March and April averaging nearly 30% above normal. Once we did get crops started, the temperatures were consistently cooler than normal. This eventually delayed ripening of many of the fruit crops in North Carolina, which meant missing the lucrative, early markets. Finally, our friends in the eastern part of the state received a visit from hurricane Isabel just as the cotton crop was opening and the soybean crop was filling pods. Damage to these areas, of course, was not limited to crops. Major damage to property occurred from both wind and water. Please keep these families and communities in you prayers as they recover from this disaster. Seasons like this remind me of the many times Dr. York told me, 'If it don't kill you, it'll make you stronger.'

With the close of one season, planning for the next must begin. This means looking into the future - the most unpredictable place in the world. I think we all are aware of the current situation with our agricultural economy. However, now is not the time to lower our heads. Issues still need to be addressed and we are the people to do it. Production of a safe, nutritious, and profitable crop is as important as ever. In light of the global political climate, food issues in our country are indeed national security issues. Our part in this is the management and control of weeds and I think we are innovative and intelligent enough to accomplish this. We have already seen innovation in our industry that is astounding. Think about it. Technologies have been developed that allow us to remove a grass weed from a grass crop, kill weeds with ounces of product per acre rather than pounds, apply nonselective herbicides over the top of crops that previously would have been killed by such an application, sense problem areas in fields with the use of satellites, and many others. I know for a fact that members of this society played key roles in these innovations. Weed scientists have delivered when agriculture needed it, and we will continue to deliver.

Part of the delivery responsibility of the WSSNC is to bring forth and discuss emerging weed management issues. Our program committee, chaired by Dr. Mike Burton, is putting together an excellent program for our next annual meeting. The focus of our meeting will be invasive, exotic, and aquatic weeds. The meeting is scheduled for March 11, 2004 at the NCSU University Club. I hope to see you all there.

As you may or may not know, there have been a few committee changes recently. Katie Jennings has volunteered to head up our student affairs committee. Students are a vital (maybe the most vital) part of our society. I know that Katie will do a fine job in coordinating the student activities and awards. If Katie should contact you for assistance, please don't hesitate to help. The students are the future of our society and of weed science. Leslie Fuquay has agreed to take over as newsletter editor. Please send any items for the newsletter to Leslie at leslie.fuquay@syngenta.com or (336) 632-6359. Again, I am sure Leslie will do an outstanding job with the newsletter. Another area that we are working on is the disposition of WSSNC historical documents and photos. With the retirement of Tom Monaco, Rolf Jesinger has agreed to hold the archives and to coordinate what we will be doing with them. We are considering placing historical information on the WSSNC website. Please contact Rolf if you are have any suggestions or would like to help.

I want to thank you for allowing me to serve as your President this year. It is an honor and a privilege to be associated with such a well-respected organization. I hope you all have good holiday seasons and I look forward to seeing you in March, if not before.

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TOPICS FROM THE
2003 ANNUAL MEETING

Abstracts provided by speakers at the 2003 Annual Meeting and other information relating to the WSSNC can be found at the WSSNC web site.
--
www.wssnc.ncsu.edu

Program - Weeds and Weed Control Issues in North Carolina Turfgrass
Overview of North Carolina Turfgrass Industry - Dr. Art Bruneau, Department of Crop Science

Current Challenges and Hot Topics in Home Lawn Weed Control - Mr. Sam Lang, Owner, Fairway Green, Inc.

Weed Control Issues in North Carolina Golf Courses - Mr. Ron Gilmore, Director of Grounds and Maintenance, Prestonwood Country Club

Recent and Current Research Efforts in North Carolina Turfgrass - Dr. Fred Yelverton, Department of Crop Science

Agrichemical Industry Perspective on the Past, Present and Future of Developing Products for Turfgrass -Dr. Joe DiPaola, Syngenta

Student Presentations
Weed Control During Centipedegrass Establishment - Travis Gannon, NCSU Crop Science

Biology of Cutleaf Evening Primrose (Oenothera laciniata) - Scott Clewis, NCSU Crop Science

Effects of glyphosate on reproductive abnormalities and yield in glyphosate-resistant corn - Walter Thomas, NCSU Crop Science

Downard movement of pesticides in bermudagrass vs fallow - Henning Cummings, NCSU Crop Science

Spatial Heterogeneity of Edaphic Variables and Sedge Populations in Golf Course Fairways - Scott McElroy, NCSU Crop Science

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MINUTES OF THE 2003 ANNUAL MEETING
March 6, 2003
Tom McKemie, Secretary-Treasurer

Dunk Porterfield called the meeting to order at 2:45 p.m. The meeting was held at the NC State University Club on Hillsborough Street. Dunk welcomed and thanked everyone for coming to the meeting. Dunk made several announcements including pesticide credits, Dr. Tom Monaco's retirement, and others. Committee reports were next.

Tom McKemie started with the reading of the 2002 meeting minutes. The minutes were passed around while Tom read them out loud. Tom continued with the financial report. The report was projected from a computer for all members to see. Both the minutes and the financial report were voted on and passed.

Sue Rick continued with an update on the WSSNC Dean Witter fund and indicated that our fund manager recommended that we should remain were we are. The fund is down due to the economy; however, the dividend level has remained the same.

Dunk announced the new board members:
Vice president - Dr. Mike Burton
Member at large - Glenn Oliver
Student at large - Bridget Robinson

Leon Warren presented the WSSNC Distinguished Service award to Dr. Doug Worsham. Dr. Worsham was unable to attend the meeting, but did send his thanks. Walt Skroch accepted the plaque in his place.

Dunk handed out the following student awards:
Outstanding Ph.D. - Hennen Cummings
Outstanding M.S. - Ian Burke
Student Posters - 1st Ian Burke, 2nd Bridget Robinson

Steve Hoyle updated us on the website for the society and reminded us of the address -
www.wssnc.ncsu.edu
Thanks to Steve Hoyle for his work on this project.

John Wilcut introduced Dr. Mike Burton as the new professor of weed biology in the Crop Science Department.

Dunk thanked those who helped with the 2003 meeting, especially Scott Clewis. He also thanked Roger Batts and Fred Yelverton for doing the program.

Roger Batts presented Dunk Porterfield a plaque for his service to the society and the meeting was adjourned.

Special Thanks to our Sponsors
BASF, Dow Agroscience, DuPont, FMC, Monsanto, and Syngenta

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PROGRAM FOR 2004 ANNUAL MEETING
March 11, 2004
University Club
NC State University
Raleigh, North Carolina

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The Impact of Invasive and Aquatic Weed Species in North Carolina

8:30 am Registration

9:00 am Opening Remarks
Roger Batts, President, WSSNC

9:10 am "One if by land, two if by sea":
The Invasive Species Threat in the USA
Dr. Randy Westbrooks
Invasive Plant Coordinator
U.S. Geological Survey

9:40 am North Carolina and Invasive
Plant Management
Dr. David Patterson
NCDA&CS

10:10 am Break

10:30 am Invasive Aquatics in
Piedmont Reservoirs
Mr. Eric Barkemeyer
Cygnet Enterprises, Statesville, NC

11:00 am NC Giant Salvinia Task Force
Mr. Wayne Batten
NC Coop. Ext. Service
Pender County Center

11:30 am Invasive Weeds, Blue-Green Algae,
Coots, and Bald Eagles: A Deadly
Trophic Cascade
Dr. Susan Wilde
SC Department of Natural Resources
Charleston, SC

12:00 pm Lunch

1:00 pm NC DOT: Invasions on the Roadsides
Mr. Derek Smith
NC Department of Transportation
Raleigh, NC

1:30 pm Tropical Spiderwort: Containment of a
Noxious Weed in NC
Dr. Mike Burton
NCSU, Crop Science Department

1:40 pm Tropical Spiderwort (and you thought
sicklepod was bad?)
Dr. Ted Webster (USDA) or
Dr. Stanley Culpepper (UGA)

2:10 - Graduate Student Presentations
2:55 pm

3:00 pm Business Meeting
Mr. Roger Batts
Department of Horticulture, NCSU

3:45 pm Industry Updates
Dr. Mike Burton
Department of Crop Science, NCSU

4:15 pm Adjourn
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MINUTES OF THE FALL BOARD MEETING
November 7, 2003
Tom McKemie, Secretary-Treasurer

The meeting was held in the Weed Science conference room on the 4th floor of Williams Hall on campus at North Carolina State University. The meeting was called to order at 2:00 p.m. by our president, Roger Batts. In attendance were Roger Batts, Tom McKemie, Jim Burton, Glenn Oliver, Dunk Porterfield, Steve Hoyle, Mike Burton and Bridget Robinson. The first order of business was discussing the WSSNC scholarship money. After a lengthy discussion the Board made a decision to drop the scholarship program. A vote was taken and all attending agreed.

Discussion on Scholarship: An ad hoc committee was set up by Roger Batts to develop a committee to search for a student candidate. Discussions were held with Pam Warwick at CALS to discuss how they pick a candidate. CALS bases scholarships on merit and follows our recommendations as closely as they can. A decision was made to drop CALS and go to the Hort. Science and Crop Science Departments. Jim Burton (representing Lane Bryce) and Jan Spears came to the meeting to discuss possibilities and strategies for selecting qualified candidates for the WSSNC scholarship. Tom McKemie brought up issues regarding funding of the scholarship. Traditionally, the WSSNC donates $2000 to the scholarship. This money basically comes from our industry support. Over the past several years we have lost $1050 due to mergers. At the current rate of income from our Industry reps, the society could not support the scholarship.

The next item of business was dues and supporting memberships. It was brought to the Board's attention that the cost for the meeting, facilities and lunch was not being meet by the current cash flow. Our contract with the Faculty Club is that if we guarantee 80 plus meals we get the meeting room for free. We have not done this in the past two years.

The board voted to increase the membership dues to $15 for all members, with no discounts to students, and increase the meeting cost to $20. This will be brought to the general membership at our annual meeting in 2004 for discussion and a vote. For now we will ask the industry representatives to increase their sponsorship to $400. Ken Teeter will begin this right away.

The 2004 Annual Meeting is set for March 11, 2004 at the University Club on Hillsborough Street in Raleigh. The meeting subject is Invasive Species. The program is set and the speakers are ready.

The newsletter editor will mail a list of nominees for Vice President, Graduate Student Representative, University Representative and Industry Representative along with their biographies and the election ballots several weeks before the annual meeting.

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BOARD OF DIRECTORS

COMMITTEE CHAIRS

Awards: Leon Warren
Finance: Sue Rick
Student Affairs: Katie Jennings
Historical: Rolf Jesinger, Tom McKemie
Publications: Leslie Fuquay, Mike Burton
Public Relations: Ken Teeter
Nominations: Dunk Porterfield
Legislative: Tom Hunt
Membership: Ken Teeter, Roger Batts
Program: Mike Burton, Steve Hoyle
Poster: Jim Burton
Web Site: Steve Hoyle

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IMPORTANT DATES

NEWSS Annual Meeting, January 5-8, 2004, Marriott Hotel, Cambridge, MA
SWSS GLP Training, January 24-26, 2004, Memphis,TN
SWSS Annual Meeting, January 26-28, 2004, Memphis, TN
WSSA Annual Meeting, February 9-12, 2004, Kansas City, MO
WSSA Invasive Plant Species Workshop, February 12-13, Kansas City, MO
WSSNC Annual Meeting, March 11, 2004, University Club, Raleigh, NC
44th Annual APMS Meeting, July 2004, Tampa, FL
NEWSS Collegiate Weed Contest, July 27, 2004, N.C. State University Lake Wheeler Rd. Facility, Raleigh, NC
Southeastern Vegetable Extension Workers Conference, August 11-12, Charleston, SC
South Carolina Aquatic Plant Management Society, August 25-27, Myrtle Beach, SC
IR-4 Food Use Workshop, September 22-24, Orlando, FL

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DISTINQUISHED SERVICE AWARD NOMINATIONS

Please send nominations for the Distinguished Service Award to Leon Warren at Box 7620, NC State University, Raleigh, NC 27695-7620 or by e-mail at leon_warren@ncsu.edu. A brief description of the contributions of the individual to the WSSNC and weed science in North Carolina is requested with the nomination.

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RECENT AWARDS AND RECOGNITION

2003 WSSNC Annual Meeting Awards

Distinguished Service Award: Dr. Doug Worsham
Outstanding PhD: Hennen Cummings
Outstanding MS: Ian Burke
Student Posters: 1st place - Ian Burke
2nd place - Bridget Robinson

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2003 NEWSS Collegiate Weed Contest


Thirty-five students from seven schools including North Carolina State University, Virginia Tech, Pennsylvania State University, Cornell University, State University of New York at Cobleskill, University of Guelph and Nova Scotia Agricultural College competed for top honors this year. The competition was hosted by Syngenta's Eastern Regional Technical Center near Hudson, NY. N.C. State Team 1 (Ian Burke, Hennen Cummings and Andrew MacRae) took first place in the graduate division and Andrew MacRae won first place in the individual awards of the graduate division. Congratulations!

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STUDENT UPDATE
Katie Jennings, Student Affairs

Robin Stout is pursuing a M.S. degree under Drs. Mike Burton and Mike Linker. Her projects include the ecophysiology of weed species and novel methods to characterize differences in seed morphology.

Shannon Sermons is pursuing a M.S. degree under Drs. Mike Burton and Tom Rufty. Her project is entitled Role of weeds as hosts to thrips and tomato spotted wilt virus as it effects susceptible crops.

Andrew MacRae is pursuing a Ph.D. under Dr. David Monks. He is focusing on the management of Palmer amaranth in sweet potatoes.

Juliana Buckelew is pursuing a M.S. under Dr. David Monks and is evaluating the critical weed-free period of Eastern black nightshade in tomatoes.

Walter Thomas received his M.S. degree in December and will stay on with Dr. John Wilcut to work on a Ph.D. His thesis was Biology, Physiology, and Weed Management in Glyphosate-Resistant corn. His Ph.D. will integrate weed biology, physiology, and weed management.

Ian Burke is working on pollen flow, outcrossing potential, fitness, and physiology of an ACCase-resistant johnsongrass for his Ph.D. under the direction of Dr. John Wilcut.

Wesley Everman is working on a Ph.D. with Dr. John Wilcut. His topic is still being finalized,
but will look at biology, pollen physiology and movement, and physiology of an ALS-resistant common cocklebur.

Scott Clewis is working on a Ph.D. under Dr. John Wilcut's direction and his topic will include weed management in cotton and peanuts, physiology of diclosulam, and weed biology.

Bridget Robinson is working on her M.S. and her thesis is on weed management in peanuts, yield and physiological response of peanut to simulated glyphosate drift, under the direction of Dr. John Wilcut.

Dr. Andy Price, Ph.D. 2003, was recognized as the Outstanding Ph.D. candidate in the Crop Science Department for 2003. Andy is with the USDA-ARS at Auburn University.

Scott McElroy completed his Ph.D. entitled the Biology and Ecology of perennial sedges in turfgrasses under the direction of Dr. Fred Yelverton and is now pursuing a career at the University of Tennessee.

Hennen Cummings is a Ph.D. candidate working under the direction of Dr. Fred Yelverton on the fate of pesticides in bermudagrass turfgrass systems vs. fallow ground.

Gerald Henry is pursuing a degree under the direction of Dr. Fred Yelverton. He is focusing on the biology and ecology of paspalums in turfgrasses.

Lane Crooks has completed his Ph.D. under the direction of Dr. Alan York and is currently employed as a District Maintenance Engineer with the South Carolina Department of Transportation. His primary responsibilities include vegetation management, turf conversion, and wildflower management.

Robbie Parker, an M.S. student under Dr. Alan York, is evaluating timing of application and tillage systems within Roundup Ready Corn systems.

Two students will be joining Dr. York's program in 2004. Davie Wilson will be working on his Ph.D. project entitled Weed management and agronomic considerations in narrow-row cotton. Andrew Gardner will begin working on his M.S. degree in May. He will focus on Liberty Link cotton.

May you and yours have a safe and joyous holiday season and a very Happy New Year!

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PURPOSE OF WSSNC

"To advance the discipline of weed science in North Carolina and improve the well-being of the citizens of the state through a better understanding of weeds and their management".

OBJECTIVES OF WSSNC

"To promote leadership, unity, and communication among state weed scientists in universities, government and industry, users of weed science technology, workers in interdisciplinary activities, and other organizations with mutual interests, foster and support research, teaching, and extension problem solving efforts in weed science, and promote safe and effective use of herbicides and other weed management technologies in North Carolina".

MEMBERSHIP IN WSSNC

All individuals interested in weed science and/or weed management shall be eligible for membership. Active members include those who have paid dues. Supporting members include any individual or firm concerned with manufacture, distribution, or application of weed management materials or devices who contribute financially to the Society.

Newsletters

Newsletters will be mailed in December and June. Ballots will be included in a separate mailing approximately two weeks before the Annual Spring Meeting. Information concerning weed tours at NC State University will be mailed to the membership approximately one month before the event.

Please send comments and suggestions concerning the newsletter to: Leslie Fuquay, PO Box 18300, Greensboro, NC 27419-8300. Please send comments and suggestions concerning the website to: Steve Hoyle, Box 7620, NCSU, Raleigh, NC 27695-7620.

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WSSNC Membership Application

Name ________________________________
Phone ________________________________
Address ______________________________
City, State, Zip ________________________
e-mail ________________________________
Amount Enclosed $____________

$5 Annual Membership
$1 Student Membership

Make checks payable to:
Weed Science Society of North Carolina

Mail to:
WSSNC, c/o Tom McKemie
7 Cameroons Place
Durham, NC 27703

Leslie Fuquay
Newsletter Editor, WSSNC
Syngenta Crop Protection
PO Box 18300
Greensboro, NC 27419-8300