October 2022 - 10

FFVA honors weed researcher Nathan Boyd
By Doug Ohlemeier
Assistant Editor
AMELIA ISLAND, Fla. - The
Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association
(FFVA) named University of Florida
(UF) weed scientist Nathan Boyd its
2022 Researcher of the Year.
Boyd is a professor of horticulture
and weed science and associate center
director at the UF Institute of Food
and Agricultural Sciences' Gulf Coast
Research and Education Center
(GCREC) in Wimauma, Florida.
The FFVA presented the award to
Boyd on Sept. 13, during its annual
convention on Amelia Island, Florida.
Boyd's research has focused on
the development of integrated weed
management programs for small fruits
and vegetable crops. He has helped
improve the industry's understanding
of weed biology.
" Through his Extension work
and research on integrated weed
management programs, Dr. Nathan
Boyd has made advancements
resulting in major impacts to Florida
agriculture, " said FFVA Research
Committee Chair Elizabeth Malek,
crop information supervisor for
Lipman Family Farms, based in
Immokalee, Florida.
Boyd developed " an excellent
reputation for himself among his
University of Florida weed scientist Nathan Boyd receives the Florida Fruit & Vegetable
Association's Researcher of the Year Award by FFVA Research Committee Chair
Elizabeth Malek of Lipman Family Farms. Photo: Doug Ohlemeier
colleagues and growers across the state,
making him an asset to the industry, "
Malek said in presenting the award.
" Dr. Boyd is highly deserving of this
prestigious award. "
Boyd said the honor would not be
possible without the many people
who helped him, including grad
students and post-doctoral associates,
technicians and the GCREC faculty
which allowed him to pursue his
sometimes " crazy " ideas.
" This is indeed a great honor,
especially more so who it comes
from, the FFVA and the industry it
represents, makes it mean so much
more, " Boyd said. " I've grown over
the last 10 years to really love the
Through his Extension
work and research
on integrated weed
management programs,
Dr. Nathan Boyd has made
advancements resulting in
major impacts to Florida
agriculture.
agricultural industry here in Florida
and most of all, the people who are
involved in it. "
Malek said people who nominated
Boyd described him as " an incredibly
gifted researcher " and credited him
with developing strong relationships
with growers and industry
stakeholders, which helps anticipate
emerging issues.
" He's also an effective communicator
because he has the unique ability to be
able to translate highly scientific and
technical results in a way that is well
received by growers, " Malek said.
Joining UF in 2012, Boyd has
published more than 70 online Extension
documents and 15 fact sheets focusing
on weed management with herbicides.
He has also conducted more than 25
on-farm trials to demonstrate herbicide
efficacy for Florida growers. FGN
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October 2022

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