Dr. Curtis Thompson

Biography

Curtis grew up on a crops and livestock farm in north central North Dakota. He received his BS degree in agronomy at North Dakoa State University and started is career as a research technician in Weed Science at NDSU where he worked on and completed a MS degree in agronomy in 1983. His thesis focused on Chlorsulfuron “Glean” for weed control in wheat.

Curtis was a research agronomist at the North Central Research Extension Center from September 1982 to August 1989. The then started a PhD program at the University of Idaho where he completed his PhD degree in 1993. The focus of his dissertation was ALS resistant kochia. Curtis has worked for Kansas State University since July 1993 and is currently a Professor, and Extension (90%) and Research (10%) of weed science.

Education

• Ph.D. Plant Science/Weed Science, University of Idaho, 1993
• M.S. Agronomy/Weed Science, North Dakota State University, 1983
• B.S. Agronomy, North Dakota State University, 1978

Educational programs for weed management in corn, sorghum, sunflower, and other crops are provided to growers, agronomists, consultants and others in Agricultural Industry. Thompson utilizes his research program to provide up to date information on weed management practices. Herbicide resistant weeds continue to plague Kansas growers.

A significant emphasis is made to address resistant weed management. Glyphosate resistant kochia, palmer amaranth, waterhemp, and marestail are frequently addressed. HPPD resistant palmer amaranth could become a serious threat to Kansas Growers in the near future. Extension programming addressing HPPD pigweed is included in most corn and sorghum programs.

• Assefa, Y. K. Roozeboom, C. Thompson, A. Schlegel, L. Stone, and J. Lingenfelser. 2014. Corn and Grain Sorghum Comparison, all things considered. 116 p. Academic Press: Elsevier.
• Waite, J., C.R. Thompson, D.E. Peterson, R.S. Currie, B.L. Olson, P. Stahlman, and K. Al-Khatib. 2013. Differential kochia (Kochia scoparia (L.) Schrad) population response to glyphosate. Weed Science: 61:193-200.
• Ready, S.S., P.W. Stahlman, P.W. Geier, C.R. Thompson, R.S. Currie, A.J. Schlegel, B.L. Olson, and N.G. Lally. 2013. Weed control and crop safety with premixed pyrasulfotole and bromoxynil in grain sorghum. Weed Tech. 27:664-670.
• Reddy, S.S., P.W. Stahlman, P.W. Geier, and C.R. Thompson. 2012. Weed control and crop safety with premixed S-metolachor and sunfentrazone in sunflower. American Journal of Plant Sciences, 2012,3:1625-1631.
• Abit, M. J. M., K. Al-Khatib, B. L. Olson, P.W. Stahlman, P.W. Geier, C. R. Thompson, R. S. Currie, A. J. Schelegel, J. D. Holman, K.A. Hudson, D. E. Shoup, M. J. Moechnig, W. J. Grichar, B.W. Bean. 2011. Efficacy of postemergence herbicides tankmixes in acetyl -coenzyme A carboxylase-resistant grain sorghum. Crop Prot. 30:1623-1628.
• Olson, B.L.S., R.K. Zollinger, C.R. Thompson, D.E. Peterson, B. Jenks, M. Moechnig, and P.W. Stahlman. 2011. Pyroxasulfone with and without sulfentrazone in sunflower. Weed Tech. 25:217-221.
• Peterson, Dallas E. and Curtis R. Thompson. 2009. Ammonium sulfate and commercial water conditioning agents with glyphosate. Journal of ASTM International 6:5.
• Thompson, C.R., D.E. Peterson, W.H. Fick, P.W. Wolf, and R.E. Wolf. 2014. 2014 Chemical Weed Control for Field Crops, Pastures, Rangeland, and Noncropland. KSU Ag. Exp. Station and Coop Ext. Service SRP 1099.
• Peterson, D.E., C.R. Thompson, D.E. Shoup, B.L. Olson. 2013. Herbicide mode of action. KSU Ag. Exp Sta. and Coop. Ext. Service, C-715.
• Peterson, D., R. Currie, A. Dille, J. Falk, P. Geier, M. Jugulam, D. Shoup, P. Stahlman, and C. Thompson. 2013. Glyphosate Stewardship, optimizing and preserving glyphosate performance. KSU Ag. Exp Sta. and Coop. Ext. Service, MF 2767.
• Shoup, D., D. Peterson, C. Thompson, and K. Martin. 2012. Marestail control in Kansas. KSU Ag. Exp. Station and Cooperative Ext. Service. MF-3014.
• Roozeboom, K.R, D. Ruiz Diaz, D.J. Jardine, R.J. Whitworth, and C.R. Thompson. 2013. Diagnosing Corn Production Problems in Kansas. KSU Ag. Exp. Station and Cooperative Ext. Service. S-54.

Weed Management

Weeds continue to challenge corn and sorghum producers across Kansas. With the development of herbicide-resistant weeds, including weeds resistant to glyphosate, continued development of tools for weed control will be essential. The emphasis of this research program is to work with stakeholders to improve existing and develop new technologies for managing weeds in corn, sorghum, sunflower, and other crops as needed. It is imperative that these programs are cost-effective and environmentally friendly.

Current Projects

• Evaluation of herbicides for weed control in corn
  • Dow Agrosciences programs for Enlist corn
  • Experimental and registered herbicide comparisons in corn from several herbicide companies.
• Evaluation of herbicides for weed control in sorghum
  • Evaluation of Inzen Z (ALS resistant) sorghum
  • Evaluation of ACCASE resistant sorghum
  • Experimental and registered herbicide comparisons for grain sorghum from several herbicide companies
• Evaluation of herbicides for weed control in other crops
  • Sunflower
  • Canola
• Herbicide-resistant weeds
  • Glyphosate-resistant kochia
  • HPPD-resistant Palmer amaranth
  • Evaluate other weed biotypes that may exhibit resistance

Additional Links for Dr. Thompson's Research

• Crops Research Descriptions
• Weed Science Research Descriptions