All growers—from home gardeners to large agricultural producers—depend on weed science to effectively manage vegetation and produce crops. Weeds compete with plants for sunlight, soil nutrients and water, impacting the growth and health of agricultural crops. The Weed Science Society of North Carolina brings together top minds from the many companies and universities in the state that specialize in weed science. Its 120 members meet annually to share new research, discuss applications and foster teaching, Extension, and problem-solving efforts in weed science activities. With many of its members affiliated with the NC State Weed Science program, the Society signed on as an early supporter of the North Carolina Plant Sciences Initiative (N.C. PSI).
“We strive to be a leader in driving technology and resources to provide solutions for North Carolina growers,” said Wesley Everman, president of the Weed Society. “We saw joining the N.C. PSI as a great opportunity to support the initiative and the college in order to further the advance of plant science.”
N.C. PSI is well-poised to bring together top minds from industry, academia, and agriculture to tackle some of the challenges facing growers today. The Weed Science Society is excited for the potential collaborations N.C. PSI may attract, noting that their annual meetings encourage a similar approach to disseminating knowledge among its members.
“There’s a large nexus of crop protection people in North Carolina,” said Everman. “The North American headquarters for many of the companies—BASF, Syngenta and others—are in the Research Triangle Park and Greensboro. And NC State is one of the premier institutes for weed science in the nation. So, the Society has a unique opportunity to bring together people who study, work in and develop weed sciences to exchange ideas and address issues in North Carolina.”
The Society joined N.C. PSI because of its mission to move plant sciences forward and create new pathways and solutions that researchers and farmers can apply broadly to challenges they may face.
“As N.C PSI takes off, the rest of us should benefit,” said Everman. “Through increased knowledge, cutting-edge research and techniques, collaborators in the university and in area companies, we should be able to advance weed science and other agricultural sciences significantly.”
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Dinah Schuster
Senior Director of Development, Plant Sciences Initiative
P: 919.513.8294
daschust@ncsu.edu
