BROOKINGS, S.D. – South Dakota State University Extension is pleased to welcome Cody Molnar as a new Horticulture Plant Pathology Field Specialist.
Plant pathology is the study of plant diseases and how to manage and prevent them. In his role, Molnar will answer South Dakotans’ questions on horticultural diseases, including vegetables, flowers, turf and other non-row crops. He is based on the SDSU campus in Brookings.
Originally from western Pennsylvania, Molnar grew up on a small berry farm. He earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in molecular biology from Lehigh University in Pennsylvania. His work experience includes the plant diagnostic lab at the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, where he fell in love with plant pathology.
He also worked at Washington State University Extension and a private research lab researching little cherry disease. His research has looked at detection and distribution of different plant diseases, alternate hosts and examining how diseases spread, along with various tree fruit diseases.
Molnar is especially excited to put his research experience to use for South Dakota’s growers and is already planning on a survey of the state’s crops to see what diseases are present and where they are.
“This information can be given to other extension specialists and researchers to help us better address prominent and emerging diseases in South Dakota,” Molnar said. “With my background in statistics, epidemiology and disease scouting, I think I am really well suited to this and it should be really interesting and informative.”
Molnar joins Nick Volesky, SDSU Extension Horticulture and Specialty Crop Field Specialist, as the newest members of the SDSU Extension horticulture team, which includes experts in gardening, lawn care, trees and shrubs, water management, soil health, Master Gardener training and more.
“Horticulture questions include everything from gardens, lawns, trees and crops. The addition of Cody and Nick to the horticulture team will ensure SDSU Extension is able to answer those questions promptly and by an expert in that area,” said Heather Gessner, interim Agriculture and Natural Resources Program Director and SDSU Extension Livestock Business Management Field Specialist. “We encourage everyone to reach out to any SDSU Extension staff with questions or concerns, and we will do our best to get them answered.”
For more information, contact Cody Molnar, SDSU Extension Horticulture Plant Pathology Field Specialist.
