ASA, CSSA and SSSA to present fellows in Pittsburgh

MADISON, WI, October 1, 2009 –The American Society of Agronomy (ASA), Crop Science Society of America (CSSA), and Soil Science Society of America (SSSA) will continue a time-honored tradition this year with the presentation of the following individuals as 2009 Fellows at a special Awards Ceremony during their Annual Meeting on Nov. 1-5 in Pittsburgh, PA, www.acsmeetings.org.

Members of the Societies nominate worthy colleagues based on their professional achievements and meritorious service. Only .3 percent of the Societies' active and emeritus members may be elected Fellow. The 2009 class of Fellows are:

American Society of Agronomy

• Prakash R. Arelli – USDA-ARS, Jackson, TN. Prakash R. Arelli is a supervisory research geneticist and agronomist with USDA-ARS midsouth area in Jackson, TN. Dr. Arelli received a B.S. and M.S. from A.P. Agricultural University in India, and Ph.D. from University of Georgia. His program focus is on soybean breeding to genetically manage cyst nematode. Arelli served as an associate editor for Crop Science and the Journal of Plant Registrations. He has been active in CSSA and the National Soybean Breeders Conference.

• Kevin F. Bronson – Texas A&M University. Kevin F. Bronson is professor of soil fertility and nutrient management with Texas AgriLife Research at Texas A&M University with a joint appointment at Texas Tech University. He previously served at the International Rice Research Institute in the Philippines. He received a Ph.D. from Auburn University. Dr. Bronson's research focus is on nitrogen cycling and management. He served as associate editor for Soil Science Society of America Journal, and is senior associate editor for Agronomy Journal.

• Sharon A. Clay – South Dakota State University. Sharon A. Clay is a professor and weed scientist in the Plant Science Department, South Dakota State University. She received a B.S. from University of Wisconsin, M.S. from University of Idaho, and Ph.D. from University of Minnesota. Her program examines crop-weed interactions, herbicide movement in soil, and weed biocontrol. Dr. Clay is an Agronomy Journal senior editor and Weed Science associate editor. She has served as chair of Division A-8 and of the Women in Agronomy, Crop, Soil and Environmental Sciences Committee.

• Robert G. Darmody – University of Illinois. Robert G. Darmody is a professor in the Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences Department, University of Illinois. He received a B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. at University of Maryland. His research includes agronomic and environmental impacts of mining and of river sediment dredging, and investigation into biofuel crops and associated carbon sequestration in soils. He serves as Journal of Environmental Quality associate editor and is past president and chair of the Soils and Overburden Technical Division of American Society of Mining and Reclamation.

• Craig S.T. Daughtry – USDA-ARS, Beltsville, MD. Craig S.T. Daughtry is a research agronomist with USDA-ARS Hydrology and Remote Sensing Laboratory, Beltsville, MD. He received a B.S and M.S. from University of Georgia and his Ph.D. from Purdue University. His research focuses on developing remote sensing techniques for managing crop nutrients and assessing crop residue cover and soil tillage intensity. Dr Daughtry has served as associate editor for Agronomy Journal and Photogrammetric Engineering and Remote Sensing.

• Carl A. Griffey – Virginia Tech. Carl A. Griffey is professor of small grains breeding and genetics in the Crop & Soil Environmental Sciences Department at Virginia Tech. He received a B.S. from University of Tennessee, M.S. from Washington State University, and Ph.D. from University of Nebraska. His program focuses on durable disease resistance and development of traditional and specialty cultivars of wheat and barley. Dr. Griffey served on the Crop Science variety registration editorial committees for barley and wheat from 1993-2007.

• Elizabeth A. Guertal – Auburn University. Elizabeth A. Guertal is a professor in the Department of Agronomy and Soils at Auburn University. Dr. Guertal received a B.S. and M.S. from The Ohio State University and Ph.D. from Oklahoma State University. She conducts research and teaches in the area of turfgrass management with a focus on soil fertility and fertilization. She served as associate editor for Crop Science, Soil Science Society of America Journal, and Agronomy Journal, and she currently serves as a technical editor for Crop Science.

• Nora L. Lapitan – Colorado State University. Nora L. Lapitan is a professor and geneticist in the Department of Soil and Crop Sciences, and the Cell and Molecular Biology Program at Colorado State University. She received a B.S. from University of the Philippines, and M.S. and Ph.D. from Kansas State University. Her program focuses on the application of genomics to improvement of cereal crops. She is a CSSA Fellow, has served as associate editor for Crop Science and has been active in CSSA, Entomological Society of America, and Plant and Animal Genome Conferences.

• Matt Liebman – Iowa State University. Matt Liebman is a professor of agronomy and the Henry A. Wallace Endowed Chair for Sustainable Agriculture at Iowa State University. He received a B.A. in biological sciences from Harvard University in 1978 and Ph.D. in botany from University of California-Berkeley in 1986. He is co-author of Ecological Management of Agricultural Weeds, published in 2001. His research, teaching, and outreach activities focus on ways to use ecological processes to reduce dependence on agrichemicals and fossil fuels.

• Albrecht E. Melchinger – University of Hohenheim, Germany. Albrecht E. Melchinger is a plant breeding professor, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany. He received a M.S. from University of Stuttgart, and Ph.D. and Habilitation degrees from University of Hohenheim. His research is on quantitative genetics and maize breeding, including CIMMYT collaboration. He served as Crop Science associate editor and Theoretical and Applied Genetics editor-in-chief. He has been a teacher to numerous plant breeding students and organizer of the Heterosis in Plants conference.

• James P. Muir – Texas A&M University. James P. (Jim) Muir is a professor in Soil & Crop Science at Texas A&M University and forage ecologist with Texas AgriLife Research. He has a B.Sc. in biology from Wheaton College and M.S.c and Ph.D. in agronomy from University of Florida. He previously worked for 10 years in Mozambique. His research focuses on native legumes for prairie restoration, forage, biomass, and condensed tannins to suppress parasites in ruminants. He is a senior associate editor for Agronomy Journal.

• Micheal D.K. Owen – Iowa State University. Micheal D.K. Owen is associate chair, professor of agronomy, and weed management extension specialist in the Agronomy Department at Iowa State University. Dr. Owen is also an adjunct professor at Escuela Agricola Panamericana, Honduras. He received a B.S. and M.S. from Iowa State and Ph.D. degree from University of Illinois. His program focuses on corn and soybean, specifically weed ecology. He served as Weed Science associate editor, and is active in the Weed Science Society.

• Gary A. Pederson – USDA-ARS, Griffin, GA. Gary A. Pederson is a supervisory geneticist and research leader, USDA-ARS, Plant Genetic Resources Conservation Unit, Griffin, GA. He received a B.S. from University of Minnesota, and M.S. and Ph.D. from Penn State. He curates the annual Trifolium and Vigna germplasm collections and coordinates the sorghum collection. He served as president of the American Forage and Grassland Council, chair of Division C-8, and is active in ASA, CSSA, and Crop Germplasm Committees.

• David R. Porter – Oklahoma State University. David R. Porter is a professor and head of the Department of Plant and Soil Sciences at Oklahoma State University (OSU). He received a B.S. and M.S. from OSU and Ph.D. from Texas Tech University. He previously spent 17 years with USDA-ARS as a research geneticist/research leader where his program focused on genetic resistance of insect pests in cereals. Dr. Porter served as associate editor for Crop Science.

• Jeremy W. Singer – USDA-ARS, Ames, IA. Jeremy W. Singer is a research agronomist with USDA-ARS National Soil Tilth Laboratory Ames, IA. He received a B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. from Cornell. His research quantifies water and radiation interactions on plant ecology in systems with varying tillage intensity, organic amendments, and cover crops. Dr. Singer served as Agronomy Journal associate and technical editors and is active in ASA and CSSA.

• Tara T. VanToai – USDA-ARS, Columbus, OH. Tara T. VanToai is a supervisory plant physiologist with USDA-ARS Soil Drainage Research Unit, Columbus, OH. She is also an adjunct graduate faculty member in the Horticulture and Crop Science Department at Ohio State. She received a M.S. from Cornell and Ph.D. from Ohio State. Her program focuses on improving crop tolerance to flooding and abiotic stresses. She has served as an associate editor for Crop Science, Agronomy Journal, and Journal of New Seeds.

• David B. Weaver – Auburn University. David B. Weaver is a professor and plant breeder in the Department of Agronomy and Soils at Auburn University. He also serves as undergraduate coordinator and leader of the Auburn Study Abroad Program in China. He received a B.S. and M.S. from University of Georgia, and Ph.D. from Purdue. He teaches courses in crop science and plant breeding and genetics. His research program focuses on yield and quality improvement of cotton and soybean. He served as associate editor and technical editor of Crop Science.

• Jeffrey W. White – USDA-ARS, Maricopa, AZ. Jeffrey W. (Jeff) White is a plant physiologist at USDA-ARS Arid Land Agricultural Research Center, Maricopa, AZ. His program focuses on use of ecophysiological models to understand impacts of climate change on agriculture. Dr. White received a B.A. from Harvard and Ph.D. from University of California-Berkeley. He previously worked at three international centers: CIP, CIAT and CIMMYT. He is an associate editor for Crop Science and is on the editorial board of Agricultural Systems and Field Crops Research.

• Laosheng Wu – University of California-Riverside. Laosheng Wu is a professor and extension water management specialist in the Department of Environmental Sciences at University of California-Riverside. He received a B.S. from Zhejiang University, China, M.S. from Oregon State University, and Ph.D. from University of Minnesota. His program focuses on water and solute transport and water resources conservation and management. He served as associate director and interim director of the Center for Water Resources. He served as associate editor for Soil Science Society of America Journal.

Crop Science Society of America

• Glen E. Aiken – USDA-ARS, Lexington, KY. Glen E. Aiken is a research agronomist and animal scientist with USDA-ARS Forage-Animal Production Research Unit, Lexington, KY. He is also adjunct professor at the University of Kentucky. Dr. Aiken received a B.S. and M.S. from Texas A&M University and Ph.D. from University of Florida. His research focuses on forage and grazing management. He served as a technical editor for Crop Science, and is active in ASA and CSSA.

  • Philip J. Bauer – USDA-ARS, Florence, SC. Philip J. (Phil) Bauer is a research agronomist with USDA-ARS, Florence, SC. He received a B.S. and M.S. from University of Wisconsin and Ph.D. from Texas A&M University. His research program focuses on cotton production and water management. Dr. Bauer has served as associate editor for Crop Science, Agronomy Journal, and the Soil Science Society of America Journal. He has also been active in the Beltwide Cotton Conferences.

• John L. Cisar – University of Florida. John L. Cisar is a professor of turfgrass management and water at University of Florida. He received a B.A. from Rutgers University, M.S. from Cornell, and Ph.D. from University of Rhode Island. His research and extension responsibilities focus on the environmental impacts of turfgrass management on pesticide fate, nutrient leaching, soils, and water. He has held leadership roles in Division C-5 and International Turfgrass Society. He is an ASA Fellow and recipient of the Florida Turfgrass Association's Wreath of Grass Award.

• Marvin H. Hall – Penn State. Marvin H. Hall is a professor in the Crop and Soil Sciences Department at Penn State. He received a M.S. from Ohio State and a Ph.D. from University of Minnesota. His program focuses on forage crop management and utilization. Dr. Hall has served as an associate editor for Crop Science and the Journal of Natural Resources and Life Science Education. He has also served as president of the Northeast Branch and on the CSSA Membership and Awards committees.

• Zhonghu He – Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences. Zhonghu He is a principal scientist at the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center and a research professor at the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences. He received a B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. from the China Agricultural University. His program focuses on developing quality testing methods and molecular markers in wheat, development of new cultivars, and training. Dr. He has been active in establishing scientific collaboration with major wheat producing countries.

• Robert B. Mitchell – USDA-ARS, Lincoln, NE. Robert B. (Rob) Mitchell is a research agronomist with USDA-ARS, Lincoln, NE and adjunct associate professor, University of Nebraska. He received a B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. from University of Nebraska. His research focuses on bioenergy and grassland management. Dr. Mitchell serves on the ASA board of directors, as an associate editor for Crop Science, technical editor for Forage and Grazinglands, and senior editor for Bioenergy Research.

• Gary A. Pederson – USDA-ARS, Griffin, GA. Gary A. Pederson is a supervisory geneticist and research leader, USDA-ARS, Plant Genetic Resources Conservation Unit, Griffin, GA. He received a B.S. from University of Minnesota, and M.S. and Ph.D. from Penn State. He curates the annual Trifolium and Vigna germplasm collections and coordinates the sorghum collection. He served as president of the American Forage and Grassland Council, chair of Division C-8, and is active in ASA, CSSA, and Crop Germplasm Committees.

• John Ryan – ICARDA, Syria. John Ryan is soil scientist at the International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA), based in Syria. He received a B.A. and Ph.D. in soil science from University College, Dublin, Ireland, and M.S. in agricultural education from University of Arizona. His research is on dryland soil fertility, nutrient dynamics, fertilizer use efficiency, and laboratory management and quality control. He serves on the editorial board for the European Journal of Agronomy and is the recipient of numerous international awards, including ASA and SSSA Fellow.

• Hari D. Upadhyaya – ICRISAT, India. Hari D. Upadhyaya is principal scientist and genebank head at International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics, India. He is also adjunct professor, Kansas State University. He received a M.S. and Ph.D. in plant breeding from G.B. Pant University of Agriculture & Technology, India. His research focuses on assessing genetic diversity in crops and identifying germplasm lines for use by breeders in the dryland crops using core and mini-core collection approaches.

• Maarten Van Ginkel – ICARDA, Syria. Maarten Van Ginkel is deputy director general for research at the International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA). He previously worked as a wheat breeder at the International Center for the CIMMYT. He received a B.S. and M.S. from Wageningen University, the Netherlands, and Ph.D. from Montana State University. He contributed to breeding more than 100 bread wheat varieties and co-authored more than 70 refereed journal articles. Van Ginkel will also be awarded the 2009 International Service in Crop Science Award at the CSSA Annual Meeting.

Soil Science Society of America

• Mary Beth Adams – USDA Forest Service, Parsons, WV. Mary Beth Adams is research soil scientist and project leader with the USDA Forest Service Northern Research Station, Parsons, WV. She received degrees at Purdue University and North Carolina State University. Dr. Adams' research has examined effects of air pollution on forest ecosystems, nutrient cycling in forests, and sustainable productivity of forest soils. She has served as associate editor for Journal of Environmental Quality, Forest Science and Tree Physiology. She is also an active member of the forest soils research community.

• Sally Brown – University of Washington. Sally Brown is a research associate professor in the School of Forest Resources, College of the Environment at University of Washington. She received a B.A. from Williams College and M.S. and Ph.D. from University of Maryland. Her program specializes in benefits and risks associated with land application of residuals. Dr. Brown is a member of the National Academy of Science (NAS) Standing Committee on Soil Science and was a member of the NAS Committee on the Bioavailability of Contaminants in Soils and Sediments.

• Scott Fendorf – Stanford University. Scott Fendorf is professor of soil biogeochemistry and chair of the Earth System Science Department at Stanford University. His research and teaching are directed at soil processes broadly related to water quality and nutrient cycling. Dr. Fendorf's program specializes in the chemical and biological processes that control the fate and movement of elements. A large focus of his research has been on deciphering the processes responsible for arsenic levels and migration in groundwater of South and Southeast Asia, where more than one-hundred million people are drinking hazardous levels of this toxin.

• William R. Horwath – University of California-Davis. William R. Horwath is a professor of soil biogeochemistry in the Department of Land, Air, and Water Resources at University of California-Davis. He serves as vice chair and the J.G. Boswell endowed chair in soil science. Dr. Horwath received a B.S. from South Illinois University and Ph.D. from Michigan State University. His program focuses on sustainable nutrient and soil organic matter management. He served as associate editor for Soil Science Society of America Journal and is active in state and national efforts to promote sustainable agriculture.

• Eugene F. Kelly – Colorado State University. Eugene F. (Gene) Kelly is a professor of pedology in the Department of Soil and Crop Sciences and associate director for research in the School of Global Environmental Sustainability at Colorado State University. Dr. Kelly received a B.S. and M.S. from Colorado State University and a Ph.D. from University of California-Berkeley. His program focuses mainly on pedology and biogeochemistry. He serves as an associate editor for Geoderma, and is active in the Ecological and Geological Societies of America.

• David L. Lindbo – North Carolina State University. David L. Lindbo is a professor and extension specialist in the Soil Science Department at North Carolina State University. He received a B.S. and M.S. from University of New Hampshire and M.S. and Ph.D. from University of Massachusetts. His program focuses on decentralized wastewater management, pedology, and wetland soils. Dr. Lindbo served as associate editor for Soil Science Society of America Journal and Division S-10 representative on the SSSA board of directors. He is a certified professional soil scientist and a North Carolina licensed soil scientist.

• William A. Payne – Norman Borlaug Institute for International Agriculture. William A. Payne received a B.A. in chemistry at Wabash College, IN, and M.S. and Ph.D. in soil science at Texas A&M University. He serves as the assistant director for research at the Norman Borlaug Institute for International Agriculture and liaison scientist of the McKnight Foundation. He also holds a faculty appointment in the Department of Soil and Crop Science at Texas A&M University. Dr. Payne has published widely and held leadership roles in soil science, agronomy, and crop physiology, including serving as technical editor of Agronomy Journal and representative to the ASA board of directors.

• Joseph J. Pignatello – Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station. Joseph J. (Joe) Pignatello is a senior agricultural scientist in the Department of Soil and Water at the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station and adjunct professor of chemical and environmental engineering at Yale University. He received a B.A. in chemistry from University of Minnesota and Ph.D. from University of California-Berkeley. His research focuses on the fate and bioavailability of organic compounds in soil and remediation of soil and water. Dr. Pignatello served as chair of Division S-11 Soils and Environment.

• Louis A. Schipper – University of Waikato, New Zealand. Louis A. Schipper is an associate professor at University of Waikato, New Zealand, specializing in soil biogeochemistry. His research focuses on long-term dynamics of carbon and nitrogen in pasture systems and approaches for maximizing denitrification to decrease nitrate pollution of receiving waters. Schipper served as associate editor for Soil Science Society of America Journal and advisor to the editorial board of the Australian Journal of Soil Research. He also served on the New Zealand Soil Science Society Council, New Zealand Land Treatment Collective.

• Clifford S. Snyder – International Plant Nutrition Institute. Clifford S. (Cliff) Snyder is the nitrogen program director at the International Plant Nutrition Institute and adjunct professor in the Crop, Soil, and Environmental Sciences Department at University of Arkansas. He received a B.S. and M.S. at University of Arkansas and Ph.D. at North Carolina State University. Dr. Snyder's program focuses on efficient and effective fertilizer nitrogen use in crop production, both in North America and globally. He has been division chair in ASA and SSSA.

• H. Allen Torbert – USDA-ARS, Auburn, AL. H. Allen Torbert is the research leader and soil scientist at the USDA-ARS National Soil Dynamics Laboratory, Auburn, AL. Dr. Torbert received a B.S. and M.S. from Auburn University and a Ph.D. from University of Illinois. His program focuses mainly on soil fertilizer practices, crop residues, tillage requirements, and animal waste treatment for crop management systems. He served as associate editor for Soil Science Society of America Journal and several ASA-CSSA-SSSA committees. He is also active in the International Soil Tillage Research Organization.

• Teferi Tsegaye – Alabama A&M University. Teferi Tsegaye is professor and chair of the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences and Director of the Center of Excellence for Watershed Management at Alabama A&M University. Dr. Tsegaye received a B.S. and M.S. from Oklahoma State University and Ph.D. from University of Maryland at College Park.

• Ole Wendroth – University of Kentucky. Ole Wendroth is associate professor in the Department of Plant and Soil Sciences at University of Kentucky. He received a Ph.D. from University of Goettingen and a Habilitation degree from Technical University of Berlin, Germany. He works in soil landscape research with respect to water and solute transport and biomass development. Dr. Wendroth served as associate editor for Journal of Environmental Quality and Agronomy Journal and technical editor for Agronomy Journal. He currently serves as associate editor for Soil Science Society of America Journal and Vadose Zone Journal.

• Hailin Zhang – Oklahoma State University. Hailin Zhang is a professor in the Department of Plant and Soil Sciences at Oklahoma State University and holds the Santelmann/Warth Distinguished Professorship title. Dr. Zhang is the director of the Soil, Water, and Forage Analytical Laboratory and extension specialist of nutrient management. He received a B.S. from Nanjing Agricultural University, China, M.S. from Iowa State University, and Ph.D. from University of Minnesota. His program focuses on plant nutrient management and environmental quality protection. Dr. Zhang served as associate editor for Agronomy Journal and Soil Science Society of America Journal and has been active in ASA and SSSA.

For more information on the 2009 awards presented at the ASA-CSSA-SSSA Annual Meetings, please visit www.agronomy.org/awards/award or contact Sara Uttech, 608-268-4948, suttech@agronomy.org

Photos of the recipients receiving their awards will be posted to our News & Media webpage following the Annual Meetings: www.agronomy.org/news-media

The American Society of Agronomy (ASA) www.agronomy.org/, is a scientific society helping its 8,000+ members advance the disciplines and practices of agronomy by supporting professional growth and science policy initiatives, and by providing quality, research-based publications and a variety of member services.