Recap of the 2020 Western Society of Crop Science virtual meeting

The Western Society of Crop Science (WSCS) is a CSSA branch that comprises western states and provinces in Canada, Mexico, and the U.S.

The WSCS 2020 meeting was held virtually this year on 7–8 July. The keynote speaker this year was Shawn Kaeppler, President of CSSA. Dr. Kaeppler talked about current and future research and agricultural education issues and addressed the COVID-19-related challenges that scientists, students, and agricultural producers are dealing with throughout the western U.S.

On 7 July, the program began with oral presentations entered into student competition. Six student presentations were delivered, discussing management practices for alfalfa, wheat, grapes, and legumes. Next, the student poster presentation competition took place. There were 10 entries on management practices for crops ranging from habanero peppers and wheat to alfalfa and legumes.

The afternoon program was dedicated to six professional oral presentations, covering a wide range of topics from nutrient (including biochar) and water management to marketing of fava beans and performance of guar and cool-season grain legumes and forage sorghum management.

On 8 July, the program began with the seven professional poster presentations, discussing cereals, hops, beans, as well as forage corn and sorghum.

After a break, activities included the WSCS business meeting and the awards. Every year, WSCS offers the A.K. Dobrenz Student Awards for the best three student presentations. The 2020 winners of the student oral competition were first place—Samantha Staunch (California Polytechnic State University); second—Karansher Sandhu (Washington State University); and third—Michael Baidoo (University of Wyoming). Poster presentation winners were: first place—Alyssa Cain (Oregon State University); second—Hanna Burgin (Brigham Young University); and third—Karansher Sandhu (Washington State University).

This year, the WSCS board received two nominations for the Emerging Scientist Award. This award is intended to recognize outstanding scientists who are seven years or less into their careers, are members of WSCS, and have made significant contributions to the scientific profession with notable impacts to agricultural industries. Dr. Rajan Ghimire, New Mexico State University, was unanimously selected as this prestigious award winner.

We congratulate the winners and wish them great success in their future careers. We are grateful to Beth Jacques, Membership and Data Analytics Manager, ASA, CSSA, and SSSA, for outstanding efforts to help organize the 2020 virtual meeting. Special thanks are extended to Shawn Kaeppler for providing the opening keynote address. Thanks as well to the program section moderators, the student oral and poster competition judges, and all the speakers for making this year’s program successful.