50 Years of FWSS

FLORIDA WEED SCIENCE SOCIETY

CELEBRATES 50 YEARS OF FLORIDA WEED SCIENCE

In 1955 the Weed Control Workers of the University of Florida held it’s first meeting in Belle Glade, Florida, The purpose was to exchange information, advice and provide mutual aid in weed control research across all the diverse crops grown in Florida. The leaders wereDonald S. Burgis, Horticulturist at the Bradenton Station, and Drs. Everett Burt and Earl Rodgers in Agronomy at Gainesville. The registration fee was 50 cents.

Soon thereafter, the group became the University Weed Workshop when membership was extended to industry research cooperators and all academic faculty concerned with weeds and weed control. A chairman was elected annually and with three more members of his choice, made up the Executive Committee for that year.

The organization became known as the University Weed Science Seminar in the early 1970’s until the formation of the Florida Weed Science Society in 1977. The new society was structured more like the regional and national Weed Science Societies with more committees to conduct the various interests of the membership. Attendance at the annual meeting had grown to 100-125 with more than 50% of the membership as non-university faculty. Dr. Dan Weatherspoon, Horticulturist at Monticello and 1977 Chairman, suggested that the expanded organization would better serve the state-wide academic and commercial interest in Weed Science. The annual meeting would also provide a time for IFAS Weed Science Faculty to meet separately for project planning and coordination.

The new Florida Weed Science Society held it’s first annual meeting in Ft.Lauderdale, Florida in May 1978. Dr. Bill Ennis was the president. Membership dues were $5.00. Florida weed scientist have now met 28 years as a scientific society and 50 years as an association of friends and colleagues for the advancement of Weed Science in Florida.

Wayne L. Currey

FWSS Historian

10/15/05