Purdue weed specialist honored for educational efforts

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The Mid America CropLife Association (MACA) awarded Bill Johnson, associate professor of weed science at Purdue University, as Educator of the Year at its recent annual meeting in Indianapolis.

Johnson, an Illinois native, has led educational efforts to minimize the development of glyphosate resistant weeds and has worked to promote glyphosate stewardship. His research-based educational program focuses on providing weed management information for corn, soybean, wheat, grain sorghum and forage crops.

“This award shows that our clientele in the crop protection industry recognize the benefits of our educational efforts on glyphosate resistant weeds,” Johnson said. “We need to continue our awareness efforts because glyphosate resistant weeds are real and spreading, and they can easily double weed control expenses.”

Johnson has authored or co-authored more than 30 extension publications, and more than 250 newsletter and press articles. He also is involved in a collaborative project with The Ohio State University to distribute the only multi-state weed management guide for agronomic crops in the North Central Region. In addition, Johnson provides training on herbicide mode of action, injury symptoms and diagnostic skills. He has been a leader for many years on many issues important to the industry including herbicide resistant management, water quality protection and evaluation of herbicide resistant crop technology.

The award, first presented in 1978, is designed to recognize demonstrated evidence of significant contributions to American agriculture, especially in the MACA region. Johnson earned his undergraduate degree from Western Illinois University, and graduate degrees from the University of Arkansas.

MACA is a non-profit association of manufacturers, distributors/formulators and allied industry of crop protection products in 13 Midwestern states. MACA works to research issues relating to crop production and improve the crop life cycle, via health, safety and public education. More information about MACA is available at http://www.maca.org .

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