William S. Curran, Ph.D.

William S. Curran, Ph.D.

  • Emeritus Professor of Weed Science and Extension Weed Specialist
520 S. Grand Ave.
Bozeman, MT 59715

Areas of Expertise

  • Managing weedy plants in agroecosystems
  • Conservation tillage and cover crops
  • Herbicide use and managing herbicide resistance
  • Integrated weed management
  • Weed management in organic cropping systems

Websites

Education

  • Ph.D., Agronomy/Weed Science, University of Illinois, 1990
  • M.S., Agronomy/Weed Science, Washington State University, 1985
  • B.S., Agronomy, Colorado State University, 1982

Responsibilities and Interests

Dr. Bill Curran is an Emeritus Professor and Extension Weed Specialist in the Department of Plant Science at Penn State University where he has been a member of the faculty since 1990. Bill had an extension – research split and traveled the Commonwealth providing weed management education in agronomic crops. Dr. Curran conducted research in weed biology and ecology, integrated weed management, and weed management in conservation tillage systems including managing cover crops. Dr. Curran retired from Penn State in 2018 and moved to Bozeman, MT where he still serves as an Affiliate Professor in the Land Resources and Environmental Sciences Department at Montana State University. Dr. Curran has been involved in many professional activities including serving on the Weed Science Society of America (WSSA) Board of Directors and as the 2020/2021 President. He is also the former President and Executive Committee member for the Northeastern Weed Science Society (NEWSS). Dr. Curran regularly served on USDA grant panel review teams and is currently on the Administrative Council for USDA Western SARE. He remains a member of WSSA and is currently active in the MT Weed Control Association, Western Society of Weed Science, and on the MT Dep. Ag. Noxious Weed Mgt. Advisory Council. Dr. Curran was the recipient of several awards including the WSSA Outstanding Extension Award, NEWSS Fellow and Outstanding Educator, WSSA Outstanding Paper in Weed Technology, and was a past Outstanding Member of the Year for the Pennsylvania Agronomic Education Society. While at Penn State, Bill collaborated with many wonderful colleagues, students, and stakeholders.

Appointment

  • 75% Extension
  • 25% Research

Links

Professional Background

  • 2018, Emeritus Professor of Weed Science/Agronomy.
  • 1990–2017, Assistant/Associate/Full Professor of Agronomy and Weed Science, Department of Crop and Soil Sciences, Penn State, University Park.
  • 1986–1990, Extension Agronomist, Department of Agronomy, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.

Selected Publications

Extension (last 10 years)

Curran, W., V. Ackroyd, C. Rubione, K. Pittman, E. Unglesbee.  2025. Cover crops as a weed management tool (https://growiwm.org/cover-crops/). Part of the Weed Management Toolbox on the GROW Integrated Weed Management educational project (https://growiwm.org/).

Curran, W. and C. Rubione. 2024. The basics of herbicide resistance (https://growiwm.org/herbicide-resistance/). Part of the Herbicide Resistance module on the GROW Integrated Weed Management educational project (https://growiwm.org/).

Curran, W. and C. Rubione. 2024. Herbicide resistance and integrated weed management. (https://growiwm.org/how-to-manage-herbicide-resistance-with-iwm/). Part of the Herbicide Resistance module on the GROW Integrated Weed Management educational project (https://growiwm.org/).

Wallace, J., A. Hamilton, W. Curran, R. Hoover, T. Mazzone, and G. Roth.  2024.  Interseeding cover crops in corn production: best management practices for drill-inter seeding in Mid-Atlantic Systems.  https://extension.psu.edu/interseeding-cover-crops-in-corn-production.

Wallace, J., A. Hamilton, W. Curran, M, Barbercheck. 2023. Organic no-till soybean production in Pennsylvania: Is it for you? https://extension.psu.edu/organic-no-till-soybean-production-in-pennsylvania-is-it-for-you.

Curran, W.S. and C. Rubione.  2021. Mechanical weed control.  On-line text, images and video explaining the impact of tillage on weed control and seedbank management (https://growiwm.org/mechanical-weed-control/).  Part of the Weed Management Toolbox on the GROW Integrated Weed Management educational project (https://growiwm.org/).

Curran, W., M. Ward, and M. Ryan.  2019. Biological weed control.  Chapter 9, In A Practical Guide for Integrated Weed Management in Mid-Atlantic Grain Crops.  Penn State, Rutgers, Delaware, USDA, Virginia Tech, and West Virginia.  Funded in part through the NE IPM Center and NIFA.

Bunchek, J., S. Mirsky, V. Ackroyd, and W. Curran.  2019. Cover crops for weed suppression. Chap. 12, In A Practical Guide for Integrated Weed Management in Mid-Atlantic Grain Crops.  Penn State, Rutgers, Delaware, USDA, Virginia Tech, and West Virginia.  Funded in part through the NE IPM Center and NIFA.

Cahoon, C., W. Curran, and D. Sandy.  2019. Mechanical weed control: Pre-Plant. Chap. 13, In A Practical Guide for Integrated Weed Management in Mid-Atlantic Grain Crops.  Penn State, Rutgers, Delaware, USDA, Virginia Tech, and West Virginia.  Funded in part through the NE IPM Center and NIFA.

Curran, W., C. Cahoon, and D. Sandy.  2019. Mechanical weed control: Post-Plant. Chap. 14, In A Practical Guide for Integrated Weed Management in Mid-Atlantic Grain Crops.  Penn State, Rutgers, Delaware, USDA, Virginia Tech, and West Virginia.  Funded in part through the NE IPM Center and NIFA.

Curran, W.S, D.D. Lingenfelter, J.F. Tooker, and A.A. Collins.  2017.  Pest management, Part 2, Section 1. In The 2017-2018 Agronomy Guide (revised). Penn State College of Agric. Sci., University Park. AGRS-026.

Curran, W.S, D.D. Lingenfelter, J.F. Tooker, and A.A. Collins.  2017.  Corn pest management, Part 2, Section 2. In The 2017-2018 Agronomy Guide (revised). Penn State College of Agric. Sci., University Park. AGRS-026.

Curran, W.S, D.D. Lingenfelter, J.F. Tooker, and A.A. Collins.  2017.  Sorghum pest management, Part 2, Section 3. In The 2017-2018 Agronomy Guide (revised). Penn State College of Agric. Sci., University Park. AGRS-026.

Curran, W.S, D.D. Lingenfelter, J.F. Tooker, and A.A. Collins.  2017.  Soybean pest management, Part 2, Section 4. In The 2017-2018 Agronomy Guide (revised). Penn State College of Agric. Sci., University Park. AGRS-026.

Curran, W.S, D.D. Lingenfelter, J.F. Tooker, and A.A. Collins.  2017.  Small grains pest management, Part 2, Section 5. In The 2017-2018 Agronomy Guide (revised). Penn State College of Agric. Sci., University Park. AGRS-026.

Curran, W.S, D.D. Lingenfelter, J.F. Tooker, and A.A. Collins.  2017.  Forage pest management, Part 2, Section 6. In The 2017-2018 Agronomy Guide (revised). Penn State College of Agric. Sci., University Park. AGRS-026.

Curran, W., Cahoon, C. R. Chandran, M. Flessner, T. Hines Q. Johnson D. Lingenfelter, B. Schulz and M. VanGessel.  2015. Introduction to weeds and weed management, Chapter 1.  In Mid-Atlantic Field Crop Weed Management Guide –Revised annually.  Published at Penn State.  AGRS 136.

Curran, W., D. Lingenfelter, M. Ryan, D. Sandy, M. Dempsey, and B. Crockett.  2014. Weed Management.  Chapter 7.  In Penn State Organic Crop Production Guide. AGRS-124, Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences, University Park.

Research (last 10 years)

Schwartz-Lazaro, L., L. Shergill, J. Evans, M. Bagavathiannan, S. Beam, M. Bish, J. Bond, K. Bradley, W.S. Curran, A. Davis, W. Everman, M. Flessner, S. Haring, N. Jordan, N. Korres, J. Lindquist, J. Norsworthy, T. Sanders, L. Steckel, M. VanGessel, B. Young, and S. Mirsky. 2022. Seed-shattering phenology at soybean harvest of economically important weeds in multiple regions of the United States.  Part 3: Drivers of seed shatter.  Weed Sci. 70:79-86. DOI 10.1017/wsc.2021.74.

Wallace JM, Barbercheck ME, Curran W, Keene CL, Mirsky SB, Ryan M, VanGessel MJ (2021). Cover crop-based, rotational no-till (CCORNT) management tactics influence crop performance in organic transition within the Mid-Atlantic US. Agron. J., https://doi.org/10.1002/agj2.20822.

Champagne RJ, Wallace JM, Curran WS, Barbercheck ME (2021) Rotational no-till and tillage-based organic corn produce management tradeoffs in the Northeast. Agron. J. https://doi.org/10.1002/agj2.20823.

Baraibar, B., White, C.M.; Hunter, M.C., Finney, D.M.; Barbercheck, M.E.; Kaye, J.P.;
Curran, W.S.; Bunchek, J.; Mortensen, D.A. Weeds in Cover Crops: Context and Management Considerations. Agriculture 2021, 11, 193. https://doi.org/10.3390/ agriculture11030193

Summers, H., H.D. Karsten, W.S. Curran, and G.M. Malcom.  2021.  Integrated weed management with reduced herbicides in a no-till diary rotation.  Agron. J., https://doi.org/10.1002/agj2.20757.

Schwartz-Lazaro, L.M., L.S. Shergill, J.A. Evans, M.V. Bagavathiannan, S.C. Beam, B.D. Bish, J.A. Bond, K.W. Bradley, W.S. Curran, A.S. Davis, W.J. Everman, M.L. Flessner, S.C. Harring, N.R. Jordan, N.E. Korres, J.L. Lindquist, J.K. Norsworthy, T.L. Sanders, L.E. Steckel, M.J. VanGessel, B. Young, and S.B. Mirsky.  2021. Seed shattering phenology at soybean harvest of economically important weeds in multiple regions of the United States.  Part 1: broadleaf species.  Weed Sci.  DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/wsc.2020.80.

Schwartz-Lazaro, L.M., L.S. Shergill, J.A. Evans, M.V. Bagavathiannan, S.C. Beam, B.D. Bish, J.A. Bond, K.W. Bradley, W.S. Curran, A.S. Davis, W.J. Everman, M.L. Flessner, S.C. Harring, N.R. Jordan, N.E. Korres, J.L. Lindquist, J.K. Norsworthy, T.L. Sanders, L.E. Steckel, M.J. VanGessel, B. Young, and S.B. Mirsky.  2021. Seed shattering phenology at soybean harvest of economically important weeds in multiple regions of the United States.  Part 2: grass species.  Weed Sci.  DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/wsc.2020.79.

Bunchek, J.M., J.M. Wallace, W.S. Curran, D.A. Mortensen, M.J. VanGessel, and B.A. Scott.  2020.  Alternative performance targets for integrating cover crops as a proactive herbicide-resistance management tool.  Weed Sci. 68: 534-544. DOI: 10.1017/wsc.2020.49.

Moore, V.M., J.E. Maul, D. Wilson, W.S. Curran, D.C. Brainard, T.E. Devine, S.B. Mirsky. 2020.  Registration of “Purple Bounty” and “Purple Prosperity” hairy vetch. J. Plant Registrations 14:340-346 DOI:org/10.1002/plr2.20044).

Wallace JM, Isbell S, Hoover R, Barbercheck M, Kaye J, Curran WS (2021) Drill and broadcast establishment methods influence interseeded cover crop performance in organic corn. Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems 36:17-25.

Champagne, R.J., J.W. Wallace, W.S. Curran, and B. Baraibar.  2021.  Agronomic and economic tradeoffs between alternative cover crop and organic soybean sequences.  Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems, 1-9. DOI:10.1017/S1742170519000437.

Reed, H.K., H.D. Karsten, W.S. Curran, J.F. Tooker, and S.W. Duiker.  2019. Planting green effects on corn and soybean Production. Agron. J. 111: 2314-2315.

Caswell, K., J. Wallace, W. Curran, S. Mirsky, and M. Ryan. 2019. Cover crop species and cultivars for drill interseeding in the Mid-Atlantic corn and soybean.  Agron. J. 111: 1060-1067.

Wallace J., W. Curran, and D. Mortensen. 2019. Cover crop effects on horseweed (Conyza canadensis) density and size inequality at the time of herbicide exposure.  Weed Sci. 67: 327338.

Baraibar, B., D. Mortensen, M. Hunter, M. Barbercheck, J. Kaye, D. Finney, W. Curran, J. Bunchek, C. White.  2018.  Growing degree days and cover crop type explain weed biomass in winter cover crops.  Agron. Sust. Dev. 38:6 DOI: 10.1007/s13593-018-0543-1.

Schroeder, J., M. Barrett, D. Shaw, A. Asmus, H. Coble, D. Ervin, R. Jussaume, M. Owen, I. Burke, C. Creech, A.S. Culpepper, W.S. Curran, D. Dodds, T. Gaines, J. Gunsolus, B. Hanson, P. Jha, A. Klodd, A. Kniss, R. Leon, S. McDonald, D. Morishita, B. Schutte, C. Sprague, P. Stahlman, L Steckel, M. VanGessel.   2018.  Managing wicked herbicide-resistance:  lessons from the field.  Weed Technol. 32: 475-488.

Schroeder, J., M. Barrett, D. Shaw, A. Asmus, H. Coble, D. Ervin, R. Jussaume, M. Owen, I. Burke, C. Creech, A.S. Culpepper, W.S. Curran, D. Dodds, T. Gaines, J. Gunsolus, B. Hanson, P. Jha, A. Klodd, A. Kniss, R. Leon, S. McDonald, D. Morishita, B. Schutte, C. Sprague, P. Stahlman, L Steckel, M. VanGessel.   2018.  Managing herbicide resistance: listening to the perspective of practitioners. Procedures for conducting listening sessions and an evaluation of the process.  Weed Technol. 32: 489-497.

Youngerman, C., A. DiTommaso, W.S. Curran, S. Mirsky, and M. Ryan.  2018. Corn density effect on interseeded cover crops, weeds, and grain yield.  Agron. J. 110:2478-2487.

Parker, E.T., M.D.K. Owen, M.L. Bernards, W.S. Curran, L.E. Steckel, and T.C. Mueller.  2018. A comparison of symmetrical and asymmetrical triazine herbicides for enhanced degradation in three midwestern soils.  Weed Sci. 66:673-679.

Curran, W.S, R.J. Hoover, S.B. Mirsky, G.W. Roth, M.R. Ryan, V.J. Ackroyd, J.M Wallace, M.A. Dempsey, and C.J. Pelzer. 2018. Evaluation of cover crops interseeded into corn (Zea mays L.) across the Mid-Atlantic region. Agron. J. 110:435-443.

Wallace, J.M., C.L. Keene, W. Curran, S. Mirsky, M.R. Ryan, and M.J. VanGessel.  2018. Integrated weed management strategies in cover crop-based, organic rotational no-till corn and soybean in the Mid-Atlantic region.  Weed Sci. 66:94-108. https://doi.org/10.1017/wsc.2017.53.

Wallace, J., W. Curran, S. Mirsky, and M. Ryan.  2017. Tolerance of interseeded annual ryegrass and red clover cover crops to residual herbicides in mid-Atlanic corn cropping systems.  Weed Technol.31: 641-650. https://doi.org/10.1017/wet.2017.48.

Wallace, J.M., A. Williams, J.A. Liebert, V.J. Ackroyd, R.A. Vann, W.S. Curran, C.L. Keene, M.J. VanGessel, M.R. Ryan, and S.B. Mirsky. 2017. Organic rotational no-till corn and soybean production systems in the mid-Atlantic United States.  Agriculture 2017, 7(4), 34; doi:10.3390/agriculture7040034.

Mueller, T.C., E.T. Parker, L. Steckel, S.A. Clay, M.D.K. Owen, W.S. Curran, R. Currie, R. Scott, C. Sprague, D.O. Stephenson, D.K. Miller, E.P. Prostko, W.J. Grihar, J. Martin, L.J. Kruz, K. Bradley, M.L. Bernards, P. Dotray, S. Knezevic, V. Davis, and R. Klein.  2017. Enhanced atrazine degradation is widespread across the United States.  Pest Management Science DOI: 10.1002/ps.4566.

Mirsky, S.B., V.J. Ackroyd, S. Cordeau, W. Curran, M. Hashemi, C.S. Reberg-Horton, M. Ryan, and J. T. Spargo. 2017.  Hairy vetch biomass across the eastern US: effects of latitude, seeding rate and date, and termination timing.  Agron. J. 109. DOI:10.2134/agronj2016.09.0556.

Mirsky, S.B., J.T. Spargo, W.S. Curran, C.S. Reberg-Horton, M. Ryan, H.H. Schomberg, V.J. Ackroyd.  2017.  Characterizing cereal rye biomass and allometric relationships across a range of fall available N Rates in the eastern US.  Agron. J. 109 DOI:10.2134/agronj2016.09.0557.

Keene, C.L., W.S. Curran, J.M. Wallace, M.R. Ryan, S.B. Mirsky, M.J. VanGessel, and M.E. Barbercheck.  2017.  Cover crop termination is critical in organic rotational no-till systems.  Agron J. 109: 272-282.

Patches, K.M., W.S. Curran, and D.D. Lingenfelter.  2017.  Effectiveness of herbicides for control of common pokeweed (Phytolacca americana L.) in corn and soybean. Weed Technol. 31: 193-201. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1614/WT-D-16-00043.1

Menalled, F., R. Peterson, R. Smith, W. Curran, D. Paez, and B. Maxwell.  2016.  The eco-evolutionary imperative: revisiting weed management in the midst of an herbicide resistance crisis.  Sustainability 8, 1297; doi:10.3390/su8121297.

Keene, C.L. and W.S. Curran.  2016.  Optimizing high-residue cultivation timing and frequency in reduced-tillage soybean and corn.  Agron. J. 108:1987-1906.

Snyder, E.M., H.D. Karsten, W.S. Curran, G.M. Malcolm, and J.A. Hyde.  2016. Green Manure comparison between winter wheat and corn: weeds, yields, and economics.  Agron. J. 108: 2015-2025.

Snyder, E.M., W.S Curran, H.D. Karsten, G.M. Malcolm, S.W. Duiker, and J.A. Hyde.  2016.  Assessment of an integrated weed management system in no-till soybean and corn.  Weed Sci. 64:712-726.

Curran, W.S, J.M. Wallace, S.B. Mirsky, and B.C. Crockett. 2015. Effectiveness of herbicides for control of hairy vetch (Vicia villosa) in winter wheat.  Weed Technol. 29:509-518.

Mirsky, S.B., J.W. Wallace, W.S. Curran, and B.C. Crockett. 2015. Hairy vetch seedbank persistence and implications for cover crop management.  Agron. J. 107:2391-2400.

Ward, M.J., M.R. Ryan, W.S. Curran, and J. Law.  2014. Giant foxtail seed predation by Harpalus pensylvanicus (Coleoptera: Carabidae).  Weed Sci. 62:555-562.

Mirsky, S.B., M.R. Ryan, J.R. Teasdale, W.S. Curran, C.S. Reberg-Horton, J.T. Spargo, M.S. Wells, C.L. Keene, and J.W. Moyer. 2013.  Overcoming weed management challenges in cover crop-based organic rotational no-till soybean production in the eastern United States. Weed Technol 27:193-203.

Brainard, D.C., W.S. Curran, R.R. Bellinder, M. Ngouajio, M.J. VanGessel, M.J. Haar, W.T. Lanini, and J.B. Masiunas.  2013. Temperature and relative humidity affect weed response to vinegar and clove oil.  Weed Technol. Weed Technol 27:156-164.

Nord, E.A., M.R. Ryan, W.S. Curran, D.A. Mortensen, and S.B. Mirsky.  2012. Effects of management type and timing on weed suppression in soybean no-till planted into rolled-crimped cereal rye.  Weed Sci. 60:624-633. 

Bates, R.T., R.S. Gallagher, W.S. Curran, and J.K. Harper.  2012.  Integrating mechanical and reduced chemical weed control in conservation tillage corn.  2012.  Agron J. 104:507-517.

Curran, W.S., M.R. Ryan, M.W. Myers, and P. Adler. 2012.  Effects of seeding date and weed control on switchgrass establishment. Weed Technol. 26:248-255.

Mirsky, S.B., M.R. Ryan, W.S. Curran, J.R. Teasdale, J. Maul, J.T. Spargo, J. Moyer, A.M. Grantham, D. Weber, and T. Way. 2012.  Tillage issues: cover crop-based organic rotational no-till grain production in the Mid-Atlantic region. Renewable Agric. and Food Sys. 27:31-40.