Upsilon
Chapter, Epsilon Sigma Phi
2007 EPSILON SIGMA PHI - RECOGNITION FORM
EPSILON SIGMA PHI RECOGNITION FORM
Nomination Form for: State Distinguished Service Award
Candidate's Name: Dr. Marcia McMullen
Candidate's Current Address:
North Dakota Stet Universtiy
303 Walster Hall
Fargo, ND 58105
It is my pleasure and honor to nominate Dr. Marcia McMullen for the State
Distinguished Service Award. Dr. Marcia McMullen has provided 23 years of
distinguished and exemplary service as an extension specialist and applied
researcher on cereal diseases in North Dakota.
Fusarium head blight (FHB) of wheat and barley is the major pest problem for
growers in North Dakota. Dr. McMullen has provided leadership in seed treatment
research and outreach, to reduce seedling disease losses from scabby wheat. Her
leadership in fungicide trials helped identify the most effective fungicides to
manage FHB and vomitoxin, a mycotoxin associated with FHB that reduces grain
quality and cost producers economic discounts at the time of sale. Dr. McMullen
has collaborated with a number of research teams that produced the research
results and scientific bases for the recommendations adopted by growers.
Dr. McMullen�s research and education program resulted in significant economic
benefits to North Dakota. Following intensive outreach on use of scab tolerant
or resistant wheat cultivars with good yield, excellent quality and low
vomitoxin, yield increase for most tolerant cultivars averaged 9 bu/acre over
the years 1994-1999. The scab-tolerant cultivar �Alsen� was grown on 37% of
acres planted to spring wheat by 2003. Improved fungicides and better
application technology resulted in 20% yield increases for growers in disease
risk areas. These research and outreach programs resulted in increased income to
our growers of over $30 million per year over a period of six years.
Dr. McMullen is also the Integrated Pest Management Coordinator for North Dakota
and developed a Crop Scout School that has trained over 3000 people involved in
crop production in North Dakota. Dr. McMullen�s applied research on fungicide
efficacy for FHB control has been especially important to North Dakota
producers. Each year, she is responsible for securing Section 18 emergency
exemptions that allows producers to legally use fungicides such as Folicur to
control FHB. It is estimated that Folicur is applied to approximately 1 million
acres of wheat in years where we have FHB pressure (such as 2005). Disease
control and improved crop quality resulted in tens of millions of dollars of
increased farm receipts at the elevator annually in the first half of this
decade alone.
Dr. McMullen�s testimony before the North Dakota Legislature resulted in
increased Federal funding for scab research.
She has also provided disease management outreach on wheat streak mosaic virus,
glume blotch, several wheat leaf diseases, multiple barley diseases, and FHB.
Dr. McMullen epitomizes excellence in an extension educator. She is amicable,
easily approachable, and always willing to solve any cereal grain disease
problem with innovation, enthusiasm, and team spirit. She is well-respected in
the state, the region, and the nation.
Dr. McMullen efforts, especially with regards to FHB, have been noted around the
region and the country. She has received many awards including the Distinguished
Service Award from the North Central Division of APS (American Phytopathological
Society) in 2005 for her work on FHB and she won the national Excellence in
Extension award from APS in 2006.
Dr. McMullen currently is Feature Editor for Plant Disease, the leading journal
of applied plant pathology in the world. She is also a member of the Executive
Committee of the US Wheat and Barley Scab Initiative. Dr. McMullen is truly
deserving of the State Distinguished Service Award.
Submitted by: Mohamed Khan Email: Mohamed.khan@ndsu.edu
