Administrative Advisor's
Report, S-286
Joint Meeting, S-183 and S-286
Starkville, Mississippi
August 3-4, 1999
S-286 Members Present: Shaw (MS), Senseman
(TX), Talbert (AR), Peeper (OK), Mueller (TN), Webster (LA),
Brecke (FL), Vencill (GA), Wilcut (NC), Scifres (AR, Administrative
Advisor).
August 3, 1999
Dr. Jim Parochetti, CSREES, sent his regrets
via the administrative advisor concerning his inability to attend
the meeting. The meeting convened the morning of August 3 with
a joint meeting of S-183 and S-286 to cover agenda and planned
activities by Dr. Shaw (host). The projects then moved into separate
meetings. During the initial roundtable discussion, it was obvious
that S-286 is progressing well. Participating scientists also
reported the status of weed science at their respective institutions.
The discussion then turned to the future
of S-286. There is a general desire on the part of participating
scientists to include extension specialists on the project or,
at the least, to include extension representatives as a part
of an associated discussion group. Considerable discussion then
ensued relative to the advisability of revising S-286 as an information
exchange group rather than to extend it as a regional research
project. There was also general agreement that the group would
benefit from coordination relative to such issues as data collection
(type, use etc.), exchange of information relative to research
techniques and tools (i.e. applications of GPS, remote sensing
etc.) and that this might be best achieved by the IEG format.
The individual state reports indicated that
there has been some understandable departure from the stated
protocol. The discussions of progress by the various participants
was very constructive.
Dr. Ron Talbert (AR) accepted responsibility
for establishing a web site for S-286. He reported that the site
had been established and reminded everyone of the address (http://www.uark.edu/admin/saaesd/s286.html).
There was a general discussion of transgenic
crops and the future of various herbicides. Rice was emphasized
given the role of AES in developing some of the transgenics.
A series of issues were raised regarding the role of AES scientists
and development of varieties with tolerance to specific herbicides.
After lunch, Dr. Vance Watson, director of
MAFES, welcomed the group and described programs in the Mississippi
Agricultural Experiment Station. The two projects then went back
into joint session.
S-183 is beginning its fifth year and concern
was expressed relative to attendance of participants at this
meeting. The joint discussion followed the same themes as did
the morning discussion by participants of S-286 with some discussion
of the prospects of combining S-183 and S-286 into a "site
specific weed management" group. All agreed to the need
for an IEG given that time at regional and national professional
meetings was not adequate for individual scientists to discuss
critical issues. The idea of including extension in the IEG was
continued with the issue raised concerning the prospects of including
teaching in the discussions. All agreed that the objective of
an IEG should be to identify and promote multistate resarch.
The group then began to brainstorm relative
to potential topics for the IEG group. Topics included: (1) site
specific weed management, (2) invasive species, (3) herbicide
resistance in weeds, (4) herbicide carryover. Considerable discussion
ensured on the topic, herbicide resistance in weeds and transgenic
crops. All agreed to the need for establishing a regional weed
data base.
The meetiung adjourned at about 5:00 p.m.
with dinner scheduled for the entire group.
August 4, 1999
The meeting convened at 8:00 a.m. Dr. Shaw
reviewed the options for the future of S-286 as discussed the
day before: (1) terminate S-286, (2) create an IEG on the environmental
fate of herbicides, (3) create an IEG on site specific weed management
and/or (4) create an IEG on genetically modified organisms and
attendant issues. The general discussion then suggested that
the group needed to begin to emphasize principles as discussion
topics rather than specific industry products.
It was then decided to prepare a white paper
to be circulated to the project participants for comment. The
white paper, due December 1, would be prepared by a writing committee
of Senseman (Chair), Mueller, Webster and Vencill. It was further
agreed that the participants would hold a special meeting during
the Southern Weed Science Society Meetings, January 23, 2000,
in Tulsa to discuss the white paper. The pre-meeting draft of
the paper is attached and the administrative advisor has agreed
to meet with the writing committee on January 25, 2000 in Tulsa.
Submitted:
C. J. Scifres, Administrative Advisor
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