Ag recognizes Merced plant scientist’s achievements

It is only fitting that Bill Weir would follow his early years growing up on a vegetable farm in Texas with a lengthy career as a plant scientist and innovator in growing cotton and other crops.

Weir, 76, has lived in Merced since 1974 and recently retired as a part-time professor of plant science at Merced College after 20 years. In September, he was feted for his outstanding contribution to agriculture by the California Association of Pest Control Advisers at their convention in Anaheim.

Weir is best known professionally as the “Father of 30-Inch Cotton.” His research in the early 1980s led to changing the width of cotton rows from 40 inches to 30 inches, which markedly increased crop yields.

Weir was a crop adviser from 1974 to 2002 with the UC Cooperative Extension Service. Maxwell Norton, now the Extension Service’s director, said Weir has had a distinguished career and is very well known in the national cotton research community.

“He has an extensive background in soil chemistry,” Norton said. “He was quite a resource for us and for growers.”

Weir said agriculture is always trying to find new herbicides to take care of weeds, insects and diseases. In some cases, he said, pesticides may not be the best way to go, and natural pest-control methods or organic procedures may be best.

Challenges facing agriculture understandably include water and adopting the best management practices, he said. At present, Weir is helping growers satisfy a new state law that says they must keep track of the amount of nitrogen in their soils and determine the optimum amount.

Scott Stoddard, the vegetable crops adviser with UC Cooperative Extension, said Weir was a good mentor and teacher for him. He worked with Weir from 1998 until 2002 and said he is very knowledgeable about plant science, especially issues involving cotton.

He recalls them having many discussions about soil management while visiting local farmers and ranchers.

When accepting the award from the state association, Weir said, “If my name were Rockefeller, I would still be doing this same job. I love my work.”

He has his own research and consulting company.

Weir earned a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Texas A&M University, and a master’s degree in vegetable crops and doctorate in soil chemistry from UC Davis.

He started work with the university system in 1966 as a staff research associate in the UC Davis Vegetable Crops Department. He has written or co-writtem 195 peer-reviewed or scientific papers and received a number of academic awards.

He also was lauded in late September by the Merced College Academic Senate for his years of service and contributions to the college and to agriculture.

This story was originally published November 27, 2014 at 7:13 PM with the headline "Ag recognizes Merced plant scientist’s achievements."