D. Scott NeSmith
Date Honored: 10/04/1999
1999 D.W. Brooks Award for Excellence in Research
Department: Horticulture
Scott NeSmith, a horticulture professor at the UGA Georgia Experiment Station in Griffin, helped transform a struggling crop into a growing part of Georgia's farm economy.
Blueberries suffered from erratic bloom and fruit set whenever Georgia had a mild winter. Because of NeSmith's research, the industry is expanding and is one of the most competitive in the nation.
His studies first predicted flowering based on winter temperatures, providing a clear understanding of the physical mechanisms at work.
Further studies showed precisely how to use gibberellic acid to increase yields up to 300 percent His work led to gains of more than $10 million to the Southern blueberry industry.