Nolte prepares for control technology education across Texas
Writer: Kay Ledbetter, 806-677-5608, skledbetter@ag.tamu.edu
Contact: Dr. Scott Nolte, 979-845-4880, scott.nolte@tamu.edu
COLLEGE STATION – Almost faster than weeds can sprout, Dr. Scott Nolte is being called into service.
Dr. Scott Nolte, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service state weed specialist, College Station. (Texas A&M AgriLife photo)
Nolte was hired Sept. 1 as the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service state weed specialist and as an assistant professor in the Texas A&M University soil and crop sciences department, College Station.
He said his schedule is already filling up with questions and appointments across Texas.
Nolte will be responsible for providing integrated weed management leadership for row crops, pastures, home lawns, golf courses and sports fields in Texas.
“My background is in weed science and I grew up on a farm in southern Illinois, so while the principles of weed science will be the same, I’m excited for this new opportunity to learn new crops and weeds found here in Texas,” Nolte said.
Nolte earned his bachelor’s degree in plant soil science, master’s degree in weed science and doctorate degree in biotechnology and weed science, all from Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, Illinois. He also worked for four years at Southern Illinois University as a research technician.
The past eight years Nolte has worked with Monsanto in regulatory sciences and technology development. While there, he worked with Monsanto product management, marketing, sales, regulatory and technology organizations to develop and support the launch of Roundup Ready 2 Xtend soybeans, emerging traits and technology to be utilized within the soybean agronomic system.
Nolte collaborated with academic partners to conduct research and support the launch and proper stewardship of new soybean traits and chemistry. He also developed systems-based research to help promote and drive adoption of integrated weed management programs.
“I’m excited to be back in a role where I can really dig into the problem areas and provide the answers people are looking for,” he said. “I look forward to taking the science already in place and adding my knowledge to help figure out solutions across the state.”
Nolte said herbicide-resistant weeds are an area where more education of growers is needed to help them better understand what weed control options are available and to continue to promote good weed-resistance management practices.
“Palmer amaranth and common waterhemp are certainly weeds of concern, but weed resistance in general is of importance,” he said. “I don’t want growers to solely rely upon any one herbicide for weed control, because if they do, it may reduce the effective life span of that technology.”
Nolte said he looks forward to helping growers understand how to use all weed control technologies and be good stewards of them, which will allow these technologies to remain useful and viable long term.
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