Weed Science Society of America Honors Norsworthy for Herbicide Resistance Management
Herbicide resistance among most expensive management issues in agriculture
By John Lovett – May 23, 2025
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Herbicide-resistant weeds are among row-crop agriculture’s most problematic and expensive management issues.
Distinguished Professor Jason Norsworthy knows this all too well, having dedicated his career to weed management for the past 30 years.
Norsworthy is the Elms Farming Chair of Weed Science in the crop, soil, and environmental sciences department for the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station and the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences. The experiment station is the research arm of the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture.
For his “outstanding contributions to key weed science initiatives and advancements,” Norsworthy was honored this year by the Weed Science Society of America with the U.S. Herbicide Resistance Action Committee’s Herbicide Resistance Management Award.
“It is an honor to be recognized for my research and outreach efforts by the Weed Science Society of America and for my fight against herbicide-resistant weeds that cost U.S. farmers billions annually,” Norsworthy said.
Norsworthy was among 38 people honored in February by the Weed Science Society of America and the Canadian Weed Science Society for contributions to weed science.
“Our outstanding WSSA member scientists are devoted to innovating through research and extension efforts,” said Hilary Sandler, Ph.D., president of the Weed Science Society of America. “Their dedication and successful work help to minimize or eliminate negative impacts caused by weeds that threaten to reduce crop yields. We are proud to honor these excellent scientists, many of whom are dedicated public servants, for their sustained commitment to promote and enhance the ‘real-world impacts’ of the discipline of weed science.”
This is not Norsworthy’s first honor from the Weed Science Society of America. In 2018, he was bestowed the Outstanding Research Award and named a WSSA Fellow, the society’s highest recognition.
His publication in the journal Weed Science outlining best management practices to mitigate the evolution of herbicide resistance has been the most highly cited paper within the weed science discipline for more than 10 years, according to the Weed Science Society of America.
A south Arkansas native who graduated from Smackover High School, Norsworthy has been a University of Arkansas System faculty member for nearly 20 years. He earned his master’s and doctorate in plant sciences-weed science from the University of Arkansas following his bachelor’s degree in agronomy at Louisiana Tech University. He was a faculty member at Clemson University for six years before returning to Arkansas in 2006.
Training the next generation
Norsworthy has directed the completion of many master’s and Ph.D. student degrees and postdoctoral associates and served on several graduate student committees. He said he takes pride in the numerous accomplishments of his current and former students, as well as the success of his former postdoctoral associates in industry and academia. His students have been honored more than 700 times with state, regional and national awards.
Norsworthy has secured over $20 million in support of his program. The novelty of his research can be seen in his seven U.S. patent submissions and numerous international patent applications. Much of his research has centered on confirming herbicide-resistant weeds, understanding resistance mechanisms and developing grower-applicable weed management programs to address each resistant weed.
He works closely with research and development companies to characterize and commercialize herbicides in U.S. crop production systems. Norsworthy has also given several international keynote addresses on herbicide resistance in the U.S. and mitigation of resistance. Since 2012, Norsworthy has served as editor-in-chief for Weed Technology.
To learn more about the Division of Agriculture research, visit the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station website. Follow us on 𝕏 at @ArkAgResearch, subscribe to the Food, Farms and Forests podcast and sign up for our monthly newsletter, the Arkansas Agricultural Research Report. To learn more about the Division of Agriculture, visit uada.edu. Follow us on 𝕏 at @AgInArk. To learn about extension programs in Arkansas, contact your local Cooperative Extension Service agent or visit uaex.uada.edu.
About the Division of Agriculture
The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture’s mission is to strengthen agriculture, communities, and families by connecting trusted research to the adoption of best practices. Through the Agricultural Experiment Station and the Cooperative Extension Service, the Division of Agriculture conducts research and extension work within the nation’s historic land grant education system.
The Division of Agriculture is one of 20 entities within the University of Arkansas System. It has offices in all 75 counties in Arkansas and faculty on three campuses.
Pursuant to 7 CFR § 15.3, the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture offers all its Extension and Research programs and services (including employment) without regard to race, color, sex, national origin, religion, age, disability, marital or veteran status, genetic information, sexual preference, pregnancy or any other legally protected status, and is an equal opportunity institution.
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