About us
A multi-disciplined research team is responsible for the development of a new generation of spray systems.
The primary team members are from USDA-ARS, The Ohio State University, Oregon State University, University of Tennessee, Clemson University and Texas A&M University.
Members of an advisory board consisting of industry professionals will assess and evaluate the quality, potential outcomes, and impacts of the research.
Project Director:
Dr. Heping Zhu, Agricultural Engineer/Lead Scientist, Adjunct Professor
USDA-ARS Application Technology Research Unit
FABE, OARDC/The Ohio State University
1680 Madison Avenue
Wooster, OH 44691
Phone: (330) 263-3871
e-mail: heping.zhu@ars.usda.gov
Principal Investigators (in alphabetic order):
Dr. Jennifer Boldt, Research Horticulturist
USDA-ARS Application Technology Research Unit
University of Toledo
2801 W. Bancroft St. Mail stop 604
Toledo, OH, 43606
e-mail: jennifer.boldt@ars.usda.gov
Dr. Amy Fulcher, Associate Professor
University of Tennessee
Department of Plant Science
2431 Joe Johnson Drive
Knoxville, TN 37996
e-mail: afulcher@utk.edu
Dr. Yu "Gary" Gao, Associate Professor and Small Fruit Specialist
The Ohio State University
OSU South Centers
College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences
1864 Shyville Road
Piketon, OH 45661
e-mail: gao.2@osu.edu
Dr. Dan Herms, Professor
The Ohio State University/OARDC
Department of Entomology
1680 Madison Ave
Wooster, OH 44691
e-mail: herms.2@osu.edu
Dr. Charles R. Krause, Plant Pathologist/Research Leader
USDA-ARS Application Technology Research Unit
1680 Madison Avenue
Wooster, OH 44691
e-mail: charles.krause@ars.usda.gov
Dr. Peter Ling, Associate Professor, Greenhouse Specialist
The Ohio State University/OARDC
Department of Food, Agricultural and Biological Engineering
1680 Madison Avenue
Wooster, OH 44691
e-mail: ling.23@osu.edu
Dr. David W. Lockwood, Professor
Extension Fruit and Nut Crops Specialist in University of Tennessee Extension
Extension Specialist for Apples, Peaches, and Bunch Grapes in University of Georgia
Department of Plant Sciences
University of Tennessee
252 EPS, 2431 Joe Johnson Dr.
Knoxville, TN 37996-4561
e-mail: dlockwood@utk.edu
Dr. Genhua Niu, Associate Professor
Texas A&M University
Texas AgriLife Research and Extension Center at El Paso
1380 A&M Circle
El Paso, TX 79927
Email: gniu@ag.tamu.edu
Dr. H. Erdal Ozkan, Professor
The Ohio State University
Department of Food, Agricultural and Biological Engineering
590 Woody Hayes Dr.
Columbus, OH 43210
e-mail: ozkan.2@osu.edu
Dr. Jay W. Pscheidt, Professor, Extension Plant Pathology Specialist
Oregon State University
Department of Botany and Plant Pathology
Cordley Hall 2082
Corvallis, OR 97331-2902
e-mail: pscheidj@science.oregonstate.edu
Ms. Robin Rosetta, Associate Professor, Extension - Integrated Pest Management
Oregon State University Extension
North Willamette Research and Extension Center
15210 NE Miley Road
Aurora, OR 97002
e-mail: robin.rosetta@oregonstate.edu
Dr. Guido Schnabel, Professor & Plant Pathologist
Clemson University
Dept. Agricultural & Environmental Sciences
105 Collings St./220 BRC
Clemson, SC 29634
Email: schnabe@clemson.edu
Dr. Ajay Shah, Assistant Professor and Economic Specialist
The Ohio State University/OARDC
Department of Food, Agricultural and Biological Engineering
1680 Madison Avenue
Wooster, OH 44691
e-mail: shah.971@osu.edu
Dr. Lingying Zhao, Professor
The Ohio State University
Department of Food, Agricultural and Biological Engineering
590 Woody Hayes Dr.
Columbus, OH 43210
e-mail: zhao.119@osu.edu
Mr. Randall H. Zondag, Extension Horticulturist
The Ohio State University/Lake County
Commercial Horticulture and Natural Resources
99 East Erie St.
Painesville, OH 44077
e-mail: zondag.1@osu.edu
Project Advisory Board Members (in alphabetic order):
Kurt Ackerman, Engineer, George Ackerman Sprayer Company, Ohio
Kurt Becker, Engineer, Dramm Corporation, Wisconsin
Richard Bostdorff, Owner, Bostdorff Greenhouse Acres LTD, Ohio
Mark Burnett, Manager, Oren Wooden's Apple House, Tennessee
Frank Collier, Owner, Pleasant Cove Nursery, Tennessee
Wayne Cousins, Manager, Casa Verde Greenhouse, Ohio
Tom Demaline, President, Willoway Nurseries, Inc., Ohio
Sam Doane, Horticulturist, J. Frank Schmidt & Son Co., Oregon
Fred Finney, Owner, Moreland Fruit Farm Ltd, Ohio
Matt Foertmeyer, Owner, Foermeyer & Sons Greenhouse, Ohio
Jennifer Gray, Research Programs Administrator, Horticultural Research Institute, Ohio
William Hendricks, President, Klyn Nurseries, Inc., Ohio
Terry Hines, Owner, Hale and Hines Nursery, Tennessee
Lee Klingshirn, Owner, Klingshirn Winery, Ohio
Mark Ledebuhr, President, Application Insight, LLC, Michigan
Karl Losely, President, Herman Losely & Son, Inc., Ohio
Joseph Myers, President, Vinetenders, LLC, Oregon
Dan Nelson, President, Hans Nelson & Sons Nursery, Inc., Oregon
Jesse Nelson, Vice President, Hans Nelson & Sons Nursery, Inc., Oregon
Jason Rodger, Manager, Titan Farms, South Carolina
Karen Summers, Executive Vice President, Southern Nursery Association, Georgia
Gerardo Toca, Manager, MBM Pecan Farms, LLC, Texas
