Frank Young is a Research Agronomist with the USDA-ARS Northwest Sustainable Agroecosystems Research Unit. Dr. Young received a BS degree from South Dakota State University and an MS and PhD degree in Agronomy from the University of Minnesota. His research interests include the biology and control of weeds in small grains and the development of integrated systems of pest management for wheat production. Dr. Young's research focuses on reducing farmer dependence on pesticides, developing means for managing and conserving the Nation's soil and water resources, and maintaining and increasing the productivity and quality of crops. Weed research emphasizes the biology and control of Russian thistle, jointed goatgrass, downy brome as well as herbicide resistance. He was project leader of two large-scale, long-term, multidisciplinary field research studies aimed at 1) developing economically feasible, environmentally sound, reduced-till spring cropping systems in the winter wheat-fallow region of the PNW and 2) identifying a stable crop production system for the integrated management of jointed goatgrass. Dr. Young is currently examining the agronomics and economics of alternative oil seed crops for biofuel production.