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Dr. Melvin Newman
is a professor and extension specialist in the Department of Entomology
and Plant Pathology at the University of Tennessee. He has worked
at the West Tennessee Research and Education Center in Jackson, Tennessee
since 1973.
Dr. Newman is
a pioneer in field crop disease management. After discovering reniform
nematodes in Tennessee in 1992, he was instrumental in developing
the first Cotton IPM program in Tennessee. |
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Portions of this program
are used in surrounding states. Other firsts for Dr. Newman in Tennessee
include the first wheat rust detection program, the first plant pest
diagnostic handbook for insects and diseases, first IPM program for
soybeans, the first state-wide soybean cyst nematode survey using
GPS, and developing distance diagnostic services for the Tennessee
Extension Service.
Dr. Newman's professional
contributions extend beyond service to growers. He helped establish the
Southern Soybean Disease Workers Conference and served as its vice president
in 1993 and president in 1994. He also helped organize the Tennessee Agricultural
Chemical Association and served as its president in 1987 and 1988. Dr. Newman
organized the Mid-South Association of Wheat Scientists, and served as its
first president in 1984. Dr. Newman was appointed to the University of Tennessee's
Board of Trustees Agricultural Committee (1995-1996). Currently, Dr. Newman
serves on the National Soybean Rust Committee.
Dr. Newman has provided
extensive leadership to many state, regional and national committees. He
served on the Governor's Council on Agriculture and Forestry and Cotton
Committees, Southern Soybean Disease Loss Committee, the Beltwide Cotton
Disease Loss Committee, the Beltwide Cotton Nematode Committee, the Tennessee
IPM Committee, the National Plant Pest Survey and Detection Program Committee
and the Beltwide Cotton Conference Workshop Committee that he chaired in
2003.
Dr. Newman has also
been active in the American Phytopathological Society and in the Southern
Division. In addition to numerous paper presentations at national and divisional
meetings, he has served on the society's Extension Committee in 1986- 1988
and 1999-2001. Within the Southern Division, he served as local arrangements
chair in 1987 and 1999, vice president in 1993 and president in 1994.
Dr. Newman has also
written and updated more that 40 Extension publications during his tenure
at the University of Tennessee. He has maintained a well-funded and active
research program in the areas of wheat, corn, soybean and cotton disease
management. His research data and recommendations are used yearly by specialists
throughout the southern United States.
Dr. Newman's hard work
and diligence have not gone unnoticed. In 1983, Dr. Newman was presented
the Distinguished Service Award for Outstanding Contributions to Extension
Programs in Soybean Disease Control by the Southern Soybean Disease Workers.
He has received the UT Extension Special Merit Rating in 1997, 1998, 1999
and 2000. Progressive Farmer chose Dr. Newman as the Man of the Year in
Tennessee Agriculture for 1999. In 2000, Gamma Sigma Delta awarded its Extension
Award of Merit to Dr. Newman.
Because Dr. Newman's
Extension program is highly regarded at state, regional and national levels,
he is awarded the Outstanding Plant Pathologist in the APS Southern Division
for 2006.
