- February 9-13 event in Orlando attracts participants from across the nation
- Keynote speech by USDA expert to highlight agricultural research priorities and impact of 2008 Farm Bill.
Recent developments and trends in weed management are the focus of an upcoming joint meeting of two of the nation's leading weed science
organizations.
The Weed Science Society of America (WSSA) and the Southern Weed Science Society
(SWSS) will meet February 9-13
at the Walt Disney World ® Resort in Orlando, Fla. The
event is drawing hundreds of scientists, students, educators and professionals from
public and private organizations who are interested in sustainable weed control practices.
This is the 49th Annual Meeting for WSSA and the 62nd Annual Meeting for SWSS.
Keynote speaker will be Ed Knipling, administrator of the U.S. Department of
Agriculture's Agricultural Research Service (ARS). Knipling will provide an overview of
leading ARS research priorities and discuss the implications of the 2008 Farm Bill for
enhancing USDA research, education and extension programs relevant to weed science.
Eight conference symposia will cover some of the hottest topics in weed science today:
- Plant pathogens and the biological control of weeds
- Emerging resistance of Palmer amaranth (Amaranthus palmeri) to the well known herbicide glyphosate
- New weed population and community modeling techniques
- Web accessible, invasive weed databases and volunteer weed monitoring programs
- The impact of herbicides used at rates below those specified on product labels
- Ethical research practices and the mentoring of new weed scientists
- Technology innovations in weed science communication
- Expanded uses for herbicides
To round out the program, the 9th International Bioherbicide Group will hold a concurrent
workshop February 8-9
with field tours of weed biocontrol sites – one for the aquatic
weed hydrilla (
Hydrilla verticillata) and the other for the pasture weed tropical soda apple
(
Solanum viarum).
For further information on the annual meeting and details on how to register, visit
http://www.wssa.net or
http://www.weedscience.msstate.edu/swss.
__________
About the Southern Weed Science Society:
The Southern Weed Science Society serves the states of Alabama, Arkansas, Florida,
Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South
Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia, as well as the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
Members exchange ideas, experiences, opinions and information and promote better
correlated and coordinated efforts on weed research and control by federal, state and
local organizations, both public and private. Members include those who are directly
interested in weed control through research, education, regulation, manufacturing or
merchandising. For more information, visit
http://www.weedscience.msstate.edu/swss.
__________
About the Weed Science Society of America:
The Weed Science Society of America, a nonprofit professional society, was founded in 1956 to encourage and promote the development of knowledge concerning
weeds and their impact on the environment. The Weed Science Society of America promotes research, education and extension outreach activities related to weeds, provides
science-based information to the public and policy makers, and fosters awareness of weeds and their impacts on managed and natural ecosystems. For more information, visit
http://www.wssa.net.
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