2022 Soybean Researcher Of The Year
Dr. Tom Barber, Professor and Extension Weed Scientist, University of Arkansas System Division of Arkansas, has been named the 2022 Soybean Researcher of the Year at the 25th Annual National Conservation Systems Cotton and Rice Conference, the Southern Corn and Soybean Conference, the Delta States Irrigation Conference and the Southern Precision Ag Conference.
Barber earned a Ph.D. in Weed Science at Mississippi State University, a MS in Weed Science from the University of Arkansas and a BS in Agronomy at University of Arkansas.
Barber conducts statewide applied research and extension outreach programs in key row-crop production areas including corn, cotton, peanut, rice and soybean among other crops. This includes a primary focus on weed resistance and best management practices for resistant weed management. In addition, he directs all facilities and management for the Newport, Arkansas Extension Center.
Barber has served as an Extension Weed Scientist for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture since 2013. He annually conducts over 100 field and greenhouse trials to address the weed management issues facing Arkansas cotton, corn, grain sorghum, soybean and rice producers. Barber understands that his ability to conduct applied research is critical for the success of growers in overcoming their weed management challenges and these trials allow him to answer questions and be the “go to guy” for weed control recommendations.
Barber was one of the first in the U.S. to document resistance to Palmer amaranth to PPO-inhibiting herbicides in 2015, metolachlor resistance in 2018, and glufosinate resistance in 2021. The results from on-farm research on these resistant pigweed populations set the foundation for Arkansas soybean weed control over the last six years.
Barber is aggressively evaluating other alternative weed control measures in soybean such as harvest weed seed control tactics that have been proven effective in Australia, specifically integration of a seedmill into the combine such as the Harington Seed Destructor and the RedeKop twin-mill integrated seed destroyer. In addition, Barber has worked closely with Blue River Technology and John Deere to evaluate and improve the new See-and-Spray technology system.
Barber has received many awards and honors such as; John W. White Outstanding Extension Team Award-Dicamba Research 2018, John W. White Outstanding Extension Faculty Award 2017, John W. White Outstanding Extension Team Award-Discovery Farm project 2017, Extension Excellence Team Award-dicamba research and educational effort 2017, Resolution of Appreciation, Arkansas Plant Board 2017, Extension Excellence Award- Gamma Sigma Delta 2015, ASA Outstanding Educational Material-Arkansas Row Crops Blog 2015, Extension Excellence Team Award-Arkansas Row Crops Blog 2014, National Communication Award NACAA-Arkansas Row Crops Blog 2012, Young Professional Award- AACAA 2011 and Cotton Research of the Year-National Cotton and Rice Conference 2010. ∆