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Department of Agronomy, Horticulture and Plant Science

Sharon Clay

Sharon Clay

Title

Distinguished Professor Emerita of Agronomy

Office Building

Edgar S. McFadden Biostress Lab

Office

245C

Mailing Address

McFadden Biostress Laboratory 245C
Agronomy, Horticulture and Plant Science-Box 2140C
University Station
Brookings, SD 57007

Biography

Dr. Clay received a B.S. in horticulture fro the University of Wisconsin Madison, a M.S. in plant science from University of Idaho and a Ph.D. in agronomy from the University of Minnesota. She has conducted weed management studies in cropping systems including corn, soybean, wheat, barley, flax, sunflower, safflower and rangeland. Studies have included weed physiology, the influence of weeds on crop growth and genomic responses and site-specific weed management strategies. She has published over 200 scientific articles and has served as editor on several books and associate editor for Weed Science and technical editor for Agronomy Journal. She has been co-author of four best papers of the year. She has served on numerous national committees and grant review panels. She was elected American Society of Agronomy fellow in 2009 and served as the president in 2013. In 2017 she was awarded the Gamma Sigma Delta International Distinguished Achievement in Agriculture Award and in 2019 the ASA/CSSA/SSSA Mentoring Award.

Education

  • B.S. in horticulture | University of Wisconsin | 1977
  • M.S. in plant science | University of Idaho | 1983
  • Ph.D. in agronomy | University of Minnesota | 1986

Academic Responsibilities

  • Weed Science (PS 343) (3 cr) a required undergraduate class for Plant Science Degree (Since 1989). Developed the Laboratory and Lecture Note Manuals for the course.
  • Advanced Weed Science (2 cr) 700 level course.

Committees and Professional Memberships

Committees

  • Panel Manager Soils, AFRI Foundational Awards, 2011
  • USDA-CSREES NCR 177, Non-herbicide alternatives for weed management, Member 1992 and 1996, Chairman 1993-1994
  • Chairman of departmental space and resource allocation committee, 1993-1996
  • Symposium organizer and chair, Alternative Weed Management, Seattle ASA meetings, 1994
  • Soil-Herbicide alternatives section of Weed Science Society, 1995, 2010
  • Edaphic Factors Section of North Central Week Science Society, 1996
  • Agronomy Society of America
  • Norvartis Youn Research Award Agronomy Society of America, 2000, Committee Member, 1999
  • Chair ASA Women in Agriculture, 2007
  • Chair Div. A-8, 2009
  • Panel Member for Reviewing Grant Proposals
    • NAPIAP 1994, 1995
    • USDA-NRI Small Business Administration 1994, 1995
    • Southern IPM proposals, 1998, 2000, 2002
    • USDA-NRI Soils and Soil Biology, 1996, 1997, 2001, 2003
    • USDA/EPA Program 406 National Water Quality Proposals, 2000-2002
    • Invasive Species, 2006
    • NIFA Weedy and Invasive Plants, 2010, 2013, 2015. Pest Management, 2017, 2018, 2021
    • Panel Manager Soils, AFRI Foundational Awards, 2011
  • USDA-ARS Program Review Team
    • Panel member for 2006 and 2014 OSQR ARS Soil Science Review

Professional Memberships

  • American Society of Agronomy, Incoming President Elect, presidential term, 2013
  • South Dakota Academy of Science, Vice President, 1996-1997, President, 1997-1998, Executive Board, 1995-2000
  • Sigma Xi – South Dakota State University Chapter (Member since 1991), Chairman of graduate student paper contest committee, 1992-1993, Vice president, 1995, President, 1996
  • Gamma Sigma Delta  - South Dakota State University Chapter, Treasurer, 1994; Secretary, 1995; Vice President, 1996; President, 1997
  • Weed Science Society of America, member 1983-present
  • Committees include Herbicide Handbook, Necrology, Resolution, Environmental Quality (2000-2003)
  • Associate editor Weed Science 2000- present
  • Previous committees (2006 – 2010)– Herbicides for Minor use; Education committee
  • Current committees (2012-2015)  Editorial board; Weed Science Journal Board; Finance Board; Environmental Aspects; Research committee
  • Chair of Environmental Aspects section, symposium organizer for soil/herbicide interactions

Awards and Honors

  • 2021, College Researcher of the Year
  • 2019, ASA/CSSA/SSSA Mentoring Award
  • 2016, South Dakota State University Distinguished Professor
  • 2013, Weed Science Paper of the Year
  • 2013, American Society Agronomy President
  • 2012, Weed Science Best Paper of the Year
  • 2010, Woman of Distinction, South Dakota State University
  • 2010, Corn Best Management Practices, selected for excellence by ASA
  • Chair for Agricultural Systems (A-8) in the American Society of Agronomy
  • 2009, ASA Fellow
  • 2007, Weed Science Best Paper of the Year
  • 2005, Agronomy Journal paper selected by journal staff for Science in Action review
  • 2005, Weed Science paper nominated for best paper of the year
  • 2005, IR-4 Meritorious Service Award
  • 2005, SD AES Griffith Faculty Research Award
  • 2005, Dean's Team Award for Excellence in Research
  • 2005, Dean's Team Award for Excellence in Teaching
  • 2004, Dean's Team Award for Excellence in Extension
  • 2002, Gamma Sigma Delta Teaching Award
  • 1999, Sigma Xi Research Award
  • 1997, F. O. Butler Award Excellence in Research
  • 1997, Dean's Award for Teaching/Research Excellence
  • 1996, Gamma Sigma Delta Research Award
  • 1987, USDA-Edminster Award

International Recognition

  • Invited Speaker CCA program Toluca, Mexico (September 2014)
  • Invited Speaker South African Precision Ag Congress (April 2013)
  • Invited keynote speaker and panel leader for Global Agronomy session, International Agronomy Conference, New Delhi, India (November 2012)
    • Worked with Dr. F. Pati, Boliva (2.5 years, 2009-2011)
    • Worked with Dr. Aguilar, Mexico (worked in my lab for three summers, co-wrote journal articles)
    • Drs. Rola and Sadowski, Poland (co-wrote international grant proposals)
    • Invited speaker to NATO Conference (see invited presentation) 1997.
    • Invited keynote speaker, Mexican Weed Science Society, 1996.
    • Initiated an undergraduate student fund for Mexican Weed Science Society.
    • Invited speaker at Mexican Herbicide Resistance Workshop, 1999.

Grants

I have been an author or co-author on grants in several areas to different agencies. Since 1989, I have received $10,000,000 in external grant funds directly to South Dakota State University for weed science and related projects and have been involved with multi-institutional projects that have totaled close to $50,000,000.

Work Experience

  • July 1998-present, professor, Plant Science Department, South Dakota State University
  • July 1993 - June 1998, associate professor, Plant Science Department, South Dakota State University
  • August 1989 - June 1993, assistant professor, Plant Science Department, South Dakota State University
  • July 1986 - August 1889, research agronomist (Postdoctoral position), USDA-ARS, Soil and Water Management Research Unit, St. Paul, Minnesota

Areas of Research

  • Weed biology and physiology.
  • Crop/weed interactions including corn, wheat, barley, oil seed crops (sunflowers, flax, soybean), rangeland and pastures.
  • Precision agriculture to assess weed variability across landscape positions.
  • Herbicide-soil-antibiotic interactions to limit or eliminate herbicide contamination of surface and ground water.
  • Transcriptome and stable isotope (13C and 15N) analysis explore weed-crop interactions on corn and soybean, crop effects on weeds and abiotic stress effects on corn.
  • Nonchemical options for weed control including tillage, crop rotations, cover crops, grit sprayer applications and biocontrol options.
  • IR-4 research to examine herbicide/pesticide residue in minor use crops.

Department(s)

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