We Know Weeds!
The purpose of the Penn State Weed Science Team is to prepare for the Northeastern Weed Science Society – Collegiate Weed Science Contest. The contest provides an educational experience from which students in the Northeastern universities can broaden their applied skills in weed science. The contest offers an opportunity for students interested in weed science to meet and talk with each other, be exposed to researchers from other universities and industry, and apply what they have learned using a contest to measure their capabilities. The weed science contest is held annually at a university or industry host location in the northeastern United States or Canada. The day-long competition brings together approximately 40-60 graduate and undergraduate students from northeastern universities in the U.S. and Canada. Students compete as individuals and as teams for regional awards.
To prepare for the weed science contest, a two-credit course entitled "Applied Weed Science" is taught during the summer session (primarily in June and July). The class meets once a week (evenings) over an eight-week period just prior to the contest (typically held in late July or early August). The class is taught in the field and the classroom setting to provide both fundamental facts and explanations and experiential learning in the field. It is open to students interested in weed management in agroecology (agronomy), horticulture, turf, and/or natural areas. It provides hands-on instruction in weed identification, herbicide mode of action and injury symptoms, sprayer calibration, and diagnosing field-related injury or performance problems. In addition to the in-field class/practice sessions, the interaction of graduates and undergraduates provides another teaching dynamic. Since many of the graduates come from various educational backgrounds in production agriculture and have competed in the contest before they can provide some unique insights to help their teammates. The course concludes by student participation in the Northeastern Weed Science Contest.
Join the Team
If you are interested in being a member of the Weed Science Team, please contact Dwight Lingenfelter for additional details.
Northeastern Collegiate Weed Science Contest - Sponsored by the Northeastern Weed Science Society
Team Archives - action shots of our team competing
Contact
Dwight Lingenfelter
425 ASI Building
University Park, PA 16802
814-865-2242
