Byrd takes national weed science post

STARKVILLE, Miss. -- A weed science specialist with the Mississippi State University Extension Service will soon fill one of the most significant service roles within the Weed Science Society of America, or WSSA.

John Byrd, also a weed scientist with the Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station and professor of weed science in the MSU Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, has been appointed to the post of WSSA liaison to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, or EPA, for a three-year term.

The position serves as the primary connection between the weed science community and the EPA’s Office of Pesticide Programs, helping to ensure federal regulators have access to current, research‑based knowledge about weed management challenges in agricultural and non‑agricultural settings. 

Byrd will regularly travel to Washington, D.C. and provide EPA scientists and policy staff with expertise in weed management practices, herbicide use regulations, herbicide resistance management, application technology and invasive plant management, among other subject-matter expertise.

The liaison also coordinates educational opportunities for EPA staff, including seminars, field tours and interaction with peer experts across the U.S. In addition, the position includes reporting back to the weed science community on relevant EPA updates and regulatory developments.

“Dr. Byrd has spent his entire career helping Mississippians and the agricultural community make informed, responsible decisions about weed control,” said Angus Catchot, director of MSU Extension. “His appointment to this national role speaks to the depth of his expertise and the respect he has earned across the industry. WSSA and the EPA will benefit greatly from his extensive knowledge and leadership.”

Byrd has been a member of the MSU faculty since 1989 and is widely recognized for his work in invasive weeds, weed control, and pasture and rights‑of‑way weed management. He has served as the president of the Mississippi Weed Science Society and the National Roadside Vegetation Management Association, and on the board of directors of the Southern Weed Science Society and Southern Weed Science Society Endowment Foundation.