Wesley Everman joined Iowa State University on November 1, 2024 as an assistant professor and extension weed specialist in the Department of Agronomy. The ISRC is excited to have Everman as a faculty affiliate. 

Originally from northeast Iowa, Everman grew up on a farm near Decorah. He graduated with his BS in Agronomic Business and Marketing and an MS in Weed Science from Purdue University after which he earned his PhD in Weed Science from North Carolina State University. Following graduation, he accepted a position as assistant professor in weed science at Michigan State University. Everman subsequently returned to NC State and spent the last 13 years as a professor and extension weed specialist.

In addition to his extension appointment at Iowa State, Everman will conduct research and teach an upper level, weed management course in the fall of 2025. He anticipates initially having a heavy travel schedule, planning a “get-to-know-me” tour of Iowa that visits all corners of the state and having roundtable discussions with farmers and industry. He hopes the meetings will provide him a clearer directive on how to structure his research and what issues should be top priorities.

“I really want to be accessible, and I want to directly address challenges across the state,” Everman said. “Helping growers implement tools that I know work here or find how best to adapt those tools, so that farmers in Iowa don't have to make drastic changes, moving that needle a bit on integrated management practices and control measures that keep resistance at bay. The challenge is to come in and hopefully get those things adopted: it's a big ask, and it's a big task.”

Everman said he takes a direct, applied approach to managing weeds with extension and research going hand in hand. Precision weed mapping and spraying, weed biology and cultural weed management practices including cover crops are just some of the tools Everman intends to deploy to tackle herbicide resistant weeds.

“It's a big thing for me to return and have an opportunity to make an impact in my home state – herbicide resistance is here and it's a major concern. I have a lot of experience with herbicide resistant weeds, trying to manage them, and identify tactics and tools that growers can adopt,” Everman said.

Read the full announcement from ISU Extension and Outreach