AR Weed Science

Join us in welcoming our new M.S. student, Haeden Barber!

Haeden graduated from the University of Arkansas in May 2025 with a Bachelor’s degree in Crop, Soil, and Environmental Science. Haeden worked as a Crop Scout during his undergrad in 2023 and 2024 in Marianna, Arkansas. Originally, Haeden is from Austin, Arkansas.

Haeden’s thesis will focus on the impact of short versus full corn stature and density on canopy formation.

Join us in welcoming our new M.S. student, Haydon Houser!

Haydon graduated with a Bachelor’s of Science in Agronomy from Purdue University in May of 2025. He is originally from New Carlisle, Indiana. During his undergrad Haydon worked for Advanced Agrylitics as a Crop Scout Intern and BASF as a Field Biology Intern. Haydon’s passion for W**d Science came from an early age working for local farmers in Indiana where he saw many issues that growers had in their everlasting fight to control w**ds. Haydon’s thesis will focus on rice.

Aidan D. Ross is the recipient of the 2025 Tri-Societies National Student Recognition Award!

Aidan was born in Little Rock, AR and raised in Texarkana, TX, receiving his B.S. in Crop Science with a minor in Crop Biotechnology from the University of Arkansas in December of 2024. Throughout his time as an undergraduate, Aidan spent his summers as the Senior Counselor of the Pacer bunkhouse at Brookhill Ranch Summer Camp, where he developed his leadership skills and love for the outdoors. During the school year, he has worked with the Soybean Breeding Program, Fruit Breeding Program, and the W**d Science Program in which he is now an M.S. student under the advisement of Dr. Jason K. Norsworthy. His M.S. research focuses on identifying control options and investigating reports of herbicide resistance for white margin sedge, a newly problematic w**d of Arkansas rice.



Congratulations Aidan!

On April 15th, Maria Souza successfully defended her M.S. thesis titled “Evaluation of Fluridone in Rice.” Besides her major advisor, Dr. Jason K. Norsworthy, Maria’s thesis had valuable input from committee members Drs. Samuel Fernandes, Tommy Butts, and Trenton Roberts.

Maria, from Minas Gerais, Brazil, received her B.S. degree from Federal University of Lavras prior to starting her M.S. During her academic journey, Maria has authored or coauthored 6 peer-reviewed papers published in prestigious journals, 10 extension or technical reports, and 46 abstracts from scientific presentations at national and international conferences. She has presented research at the Arkansas Crop Protection Association, Beltwide Cotton Conference, Brazilian W**d Science Congress, Rice Technical Working Group, Southern W**d Science Society, and W**d Science Society of America. She was also a member of the first- and second-place teams at the Southern W**d Science Society W**d Contest in 2024 and 2023, respectively, and placed second in 2024 and third in 2023 in the graduate individual category. Additionally, Maria was recognized as the Crop, Soil, and Environmental Science Outstanding M.S. Student.

Maria will begin pursuing her PhD in W**d Science at Purdue University under the advisement of Dr. Tommy Butts.

Congratulations M.S. Maria Souza!