Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, April 2, 1993 TAG: 9304020444
SECTION: FOUNDERS DAY PAGE: FD-12 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
HAGOOD GIVES NO QUARTER IN WEEDS WAR
Scott E. Hagood Jr., professor and Cooperative Extension weed scientist, is one of two winners of this year's Virginia Tech Alumni Association Extension awards in recognition of his successful fight against weeds that threaten agriculture.Hagood, who holds an undergraduate degree from the State University of New York at Buffalo and graduate degrees from Purdue University, developed and evaluated control strategies for johnsongrass shortly after coming to Virginia in 1981.
The development of effective post-emergence treatments allows control of the weed in both corn and soybeans. He also developed control methods for triazine-resistat pigweed.
In 1991, his recommendations for postemergence control of johnsongrass in corn were instituted, representing the first method of control of the species in reduced and no-till corn. His recommendation for control of triazine-resistant species, johnsongrass, and multiflora rose have been adopted in many states.
Hagood's research to identify methods to control cool season perennial grass sods, as well as annual cover crops, to allow no-till seeding with minimum erosion have been widely adopted in the region. Estimated value of his work to reduce soil erosion and increase production on acreage not previously suited to alfalfa is 14.8 million.
His research with an innerdisiplinary team at Tech made possible a package of procedures involving variety selection, planting procedures, population, fertility management, and pest control that increased net profit to Virginia small grain producers. The producers saved $7 million between 1987 and 1991.
Hagood has expanded and modified Virginia's weed control recommendations for agronomic crops to include information on the effectiveness of specific herbicides on individual weed species. These recommendations have been adopted by other states.
Last year, he received awards from the Southern Weed Science Society and the Northeastern Weed Science Socity. Other awards during his 11 years on the faculty have come from the Weed Science Society of America, Virginia Soybean Association, and from several Tech departments.