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Southern
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Southern Division Outstanding Plant Pathologist Award
2006Melvin Newman
University of Tennessee
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. 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.
