Utah State University Weed Scientist Steve Dewey Named to National Society

Few professors have the distinction of writing books that win awards and sell over 100,000 copies. That makes Steve Dewey a rare breed, unlike the plants he studies.

"Steve's co-authored book, 'Weeds of the West,' continues to be one of the most popular weed identification books ever published," said Larry Rupp, department head of plants, soils, and biometeorology at Utah State University.

Dewey was recently named a fellow of the Weed Science Society of America (WSSA).

"Many people know Steve as a Utah State University Extension officer, specializing in management of noxious and invasive weeds," said Rupp.

He is a frequent speaker at county, state and regional weed management seminars for agricultural producers and helps with training courses sponsored by the Bureau of Land Management, the U.S. Forest Service, the National Park Service and other government agencies.

"Dewey is the developer of the 'Wildfire Model for Invasive Weed Management.' Elements of this popular paradigm now form the core of all national invasive weed management strategies used by federal land management agencies," said Rupp.

Dewey received the WSSA Outstanding Extension Award in 1999. He is also a Western Society of Weed Science (WSWS) Fellow and recipient of the WSWS Presidential Award of Excellence. He was appointed by the Secretary of Interior in 2000 to represent WSSA on the first National Invasive Species Advisory Committee. Currently he is a member of the WSSA Federal Noxious and Invasive Weeds Committee, the WSSA Integrated Weed Management Committee.

This month he was elected to a four-year term on the WSSA Board of Directors and named as a WSSA Fellow.

"This is a prestigious honor, one that is well deserved," said College of Agriculture Dean Noelle Cockett.