February 2008

Dr. Robert Wilson, professor and extension weed specialist at the UNL Panhandle Research and Extension Center, was presented the Fellow Award recently by the Weed Science Society of America (WSSA).

Dr. Robert Wilson

Wilson was recognized at the 48th annual WSSA conference in Chicago. Fellows are recognized for substantial contributions to weed science in at least one of the following areas: professional publications; educational contributions; development or improvement of weed science programs, practices, and products; other professional contributions; service to WSSA or regional conferences; or service to the profession outside the society.

Wilson, a professor in the UNL Department of Agronomy, has been employed at the Panhandle Research and Extension Center since 1975, when he received a Ph.D. in agronomy/soils/weed science from Washington State University. He received his B.S. and M.S. degrees from the University of Nebraska. His appointment with UNL is 50% extension and 50% research.

Wilson has responsibility for developing integrated weed control systems in irrigated crops and rangelands in western Nebraska. He was instrumental in developing the award-winning Sugarbeet Production Guide and authored several chapters in the Dry Bean Production guide with assistance from scientists in Nebraska, Colorado and Wyoming.

He also collaborated with UNL colleagues in writing UNL's Guide for Weed Management in Nebraska. He has authored or co-authored more than 110 refereed journal articles and has been invited to make numerous presentations at national and international conferences in Europe and Japan. Over his career he has acquired more than $3.5 million in funds to support projects and programs.

During his career, Wilson has worked with Western Sugar Co., Nestles Corp., Florimond Desprez, U.S. Chicory, and UNL colleagues to develop a chicory growing and processing industry in Nebraska. He' has collaborated with scientists from Colorado, Wyoming, and Kansas in establishing long-term research on Roundup Ready cropping systems to monitor weed shifts and the potential development of weeds that are resistant to glyphosate herbicides. He also is collaborating with weed scientists from Illinois, Indiana, Iowa North Carolina and Mississippi on a long-term project to determine the viability of various crop-management strategies for the preservation of glyphosate programs as an effective tool for weed control.
Previous honors and awards include: 

• North Central Weed Science Society Distinguished Achievement in Weed Science Research Award, 1990
• Nebraska Fertilizer and Ag-Chemical Institute's Educational/Research Award, 1992
• North Central Weed Science Society Honorary Member Award, 1993
• Elected into the Nebraska Hall of Agricultural Achievement, 1998
• Meritorious Service Award to the Beet Sugar Industry of America, 2003
• Weed Science Society of America's Outstanding Extension Award, 2006