October 19, 2005

Purdue Extension honors entomologist with Sharvelle award

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - John Obermeyer, a Purdue University Cooperative Extension Service entomologist, received the 2005 Eric G. Sharvelle Distinguished Extension Specialist Award.

Obermeyer was honored Tuesday (Oct. 18) during the annual Purdue Extension Development Conference banquet for his outreach programs and work with integrated pest management.

"John is an outstanding representative of the best of Purdue Extension," said David Petritz, Purdue Extension director. "His crop management workshops are among the most popular Purdue Extension educational events, and an overwhelming majority of participants indicate the workshops improve their pest management decision making."

Obermeyer's workshops help producers and agribusiness employees avoid or reduce pesticide applications by adopting field scouting and implementing alternative control strategies.

"You only have to attend one of John's workshops to observe the high regard that the audience and other presenters have for him," Petritz said.

In addition to his workshops, Obermeyer is a prolific writer and editor. He is co-author of the "Corn and Soybean Field Guide" and edits the Department of Entomology's monthly "Pest and Crop Newsletter," "Field Crops Pest Management Manual," "Seed Corn Pest Management Manual for the Midwest" and the "Popcorn Pest Management Manual."

He also serves as a liaison between the university's research and Extension field crops pest specialists and Indiana's agricultural sector and is involved in planning and developing field plots at the Purdue Diagnostic Training and Research Center.

Obermeyer joined Purdue Extension in 1987.

The Sharvelle Award is given each year in memory of Eric G. Sharvelle, a Purdue professor of botany and plant pathology from 1946-75. The award was established in 1985 by Derek and Sybil Sharvelle of Battle Ground, Ind.

Writer: Beth Forbes, (765) 494-2722; forbes@purdue.edu

Source: David Petritz, (765) 494-8489; dpetritz@purdue.edu

Ag Communications: (765) 494-2722;
Beth Forbes, forbes@purdue.edu
Agriculture News Page

Note to Journalists: Photos of award winners will be available online. The photos will be available after 8 a.m. Friday (Oct. 21).

To the News Service home page