THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, March 9, 1995 TAG: 9503080231
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 16 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY SHIRLEY BRINKLEY, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: SUFFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 80 lines
WHEN DR. CHARLES W. Swann was a teenager, he was given responsibility of managing the family farm in Neillsville, Wisc., while his father worked in construction in another area of the country.
Swann looked after 160 acres and 40 dairy cattle. And with the help of friends, he harvested crops and baled hay.
His mother traveled with his father during the summer, so Swann also prepared his own meals.
That was almost 40 years ago, and Swann hung up his pitchfork long ago. Today, when Swann offers his knowledge and expertise, farmers, producers and county extension agents listen.
An extension agronomist at the Tidewater Agricultural Research and Extension Center in Holland, Swann has been recognized as the most credible source of information about weed management in peanuts in the South. He earned his doctorate in physiology and weed science from the University of Minnesota.
Due to his research as both extension peanut specialist and weed scientist in Hampton Roads, Swann recently received the National Dow Elanco Award from the American Peanut Research and Education Society in Tulsa, Okla.
Dr. Patrick M. ``Pat'' Phipps, an extension specialist at the center, was presented an Excellence in Extension Award by the American Society of Plant Pathologists in Albuquerque, N.M.
Phipps has developed and conducted one of the most effective extension and applied research programs in ``prescription'' disease management in the United States, resulting in improvements in peanut production and reducing the amount of fungicides used. He received his doctorate in plant pathology from the University of West Virginia.
In Virginia alone, the savings from this program is from $3 to $4 million annually in an eight-county area, Phipps said.
``The key issue is to reduce the farmer's dependence on pesticides,'' Phipps said.
In the past decade, Phipps has focused on disease forecasting and has established a peanut weather network.
``We have monitors continuously out in the field, and we use computers to predict when organisms become active. Right now, we have advisories on peanut leaf spot and blight, and a frost advisory so growers can avoid frost damage.''
Both Swann and Phipps conduct educational programs for the peanut industry. However, Swann has similar responsibilities in cotton and weed science areas.
In the future, Phipps plans to establish a bulletin board system using computers to provide farmers with up-to-date information.
Phipps frequently gives lectures at Virginia Tech and at the Virginia Beach Experiment Station at Diamond Springs. He also trains farmers for pesticide certification and holds classes for those who sell pesticides. He leads annual Field Day tours in August, and in late September, is responsible for daylong programs and a tour for 60 to 80 professionals.
Swann attended a one-room schoolhouse through eighth grade and then transferred to Neillsville High School. He received both a bachelor's and a master's degree in agronomy from the University of Wisconsin and a doctorate from the University of Minnesota.
After a move to Tifton, Ga., Swann worked for 20 years in extension work with the University of Georgia.
He and his wife, Sharry, moved to Suffolk 6 1/2 years ago. They have two grown sons - Eric, who is involved in post-doctorate studies at the University of Minnesota, and Jeremy, who lives in Richmond.
A native of New Martinsville, W. Va., Phipps majored in biology and minored in history at Fairmont State College, Fairmont, W.Va., where he was assigned a teaching role in biology as a freshman.
After serving in the Army for two years, he received a master's degree in plant pathology at Virginia Tech and returned to the University of West Virginia for a doctorate in plant pathology.
Phipps and his wife, Janet, are residents of Holland. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by JOHN H. SHEALLY II
Both Drs. Patrick M. ``Pat'' Phipps, left, and Charles W. Swann are
extension specialists at the Tidewater Agricultural Research and
Extension Center in Holland.
by CNB