Soybean And Corn Researcher Of The Year
Dr. Daniel Stephenson IV, Professor Weed Science, Dean Lee Research Station, Alexandria, LA, has been named the 2019 Soybean and Corn Researcher of the Year at the 22nd Annual National Cotton & Rice Conference, Southern Corn & Soybean Conference, Southern Precision Ag Conference and the Delta States Irrigation Conference.
Stephenson earned a Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in Agronomy and Soils from Auburn University and Doctorate of Philosophy in Crop, Soil and Environmental Sciences-Weed Science from the University of Arkansas.
Colleagues and peers respect and appreciate Stephenson’s efforts. “His work in the area of weed resistance to herbicides has definitely made a dramatic footprint on Louisiana agriculture and in the Mid-South and probably the U.S. Weed resistance to this herbicide was reported in 2005 in Georgia and Mississippi, and spread to Arkansas by 2007. This was due in part to overuse of glyphosate and the elimination of residual herbicides from weed management programs. While resistance was an issue in Arkansas and Mississippi during this time, this was not the case in Louisiana. It wasn’t until 2010 that herbicide resistance was documented in Louisiana in Palmer amaranth and johnsongrass. This was not an accident. The development of resistance was delayed, because Stephenson’s educational efforts on resistance awareness and management strategies. He successfully convinced producers to be proactive and integrate residual herbicides in their management programs which delayed the onset of resistance. The delay reduced yield and quality losses due to competition from resistant weeds. Stephenson continues to be proactive with his educational efforts to manage resistance in the state.”
“Another accomplishment is in the area of new transgenic technologies (Xtend and Enlist). With the advent of 2,4-D resistant cotton and dicamba resistant soybean, Stephenson has been proactive and taken the lead to evaluate these technologies and the impact of off-target herbicide movement on sensitive crops (non-transgenic crops). Dicamba and 2, 4-D are very injurious on crops lacking this technology. Therefore, he is educating producers, consultants and extension agents on the correct use of these technologies and the consequences associated with misuse. His educational efforts in this area are sure to prevent crop injury and loss of profits.”
The communication skills of Stephenson are also exceptional. “It doesn’t matter if he is at a professional meeting delivering a technical presentation or on the turn row talking to a producer about weed management, he can relate. This is a character trait I rarely see today.”
Stephenson is a member of the Weed Science Society of America and the Southern Weed Science Society. He the author or contributing author of over 200 journal articles, semi-technical papers, abstracts of presentations, research bulletins and reports and extension publications. ∆