W. Clint Hoffman.

Hoffman selects the correct nozzles and locations on the spray boom to deliver the product in large, discrete droplets. Click the image for more information about it.

More about Hoffman's research (Nov. 2000)

ARS Scientist Awarded for Pesticide Application Research

By Alfredo Flores
February 9, 2005

National news release

WASHINGTON, Feb. 9—Agricultural Research Service (ARS) engineer W. Clint Hoffman has won an agency award for developing and transferring improved pesticide application technology for areawide pest management. ARS is the U.S. Department of Agriculture's chief scientific research agency.

Hoffman was named the "ARS Southern Plains Area Early Career Research Scientist of 2004." The area includes the states of Arkansas, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas, as well as a research station in Panama.

During a ceremony here today at USDA headquarters, Hoffman received a plaque, cash award and additional research funding. He works at the Areawide Pest Management Research Unit at the ARS Southern Plains Agricultural Research Center in College Station, Texas.

As the engineer on an interdisciplinary team, Hoffman developed optimum parameters for applying reduced amounts of toxicant insecticide used in areawide corn rootworm management programs. These parameters included spray rate, product rate and droplet size, which together had a significant impact on efficacy of the product.

This line of research earned Hoffman and his research team members a 1999 Technology Transfer Award from ARS. Hoffman also provided critical technical assistance to scientists and corn producers at management sites around the United States. The improved configuring and testing of application equipment have led to a reduction in insecticide use.

Hoffman earned a B.S. in agricultural engineering from Texas A&M University-College Station in 1992, an M.S. in agricultural engineering from the University of Florida-Gainesville in 1994, and a Ph.D. in agricultural engineering from Texas A&M University in 1997. He joined ARS in 1994 as a student trainee, and upon completing his doctorate became an agricultural engineer in the Areawide Pest Management Research Unit in 1997.