News Release Distributed 04/21/08

ALEXANDRIA – Dr. Daniel Stephenson has been hired as the new weed scientist for row crop agriculture at the LSU AgCenter’s Dean Lee Research and Extension Center here.

Stephenson begins work May 1. He will replace Roy Vidrine, who has retired after 36 years of service.

Stephenson has extensive experience in weed science and row crop agriculture. He has worked the past three years as an assistant professor of research and extension for cropping systems agronomy at the University of Arkansas Research and Extension Center in Keiser, Ark.

He completed his graduate degrees at the University of Arkansas and Auburn University. Stephenson has conducted or been involved with field research in corn, cotton, grain sorghum, peanuts, rice, soybeans, turfgrass and wheat.

Stephenson will be responsible for developing a weed control research program in corn and cotton, while monitoring for weed shifts and herbicide resistance, according to Dr. David Boethel, LSU AgCenter associate vice chancellor for research.

Stephenson will also provide assistance for the coordination, development and promotion of statewide extension education programs for row crop weed control using best management practices.

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Contacts: Daniel Stephenson at (318) 473-6520, or dstephenson@agcenter.lsu.edu

David Boethel at (225) 578-4181, or dboethel@agcenter.lsu.edu

Writer: Bruce Schultz at (337) 788-8821, or bschultz@agcenter.lsu.edu