Agricultural News
OSU Extension Wheat Pathologist Dr. Bob Hunger Retires After 39 Years of Dedicated Service
Tue, 18 May 2021 15:09:47 CDT
After 39 years of dedicated service to Oklahoma farmers, Bob Hunger, OSU Extension wheat pathologist and professor in the Department of Entomology & Plant Pathology, is looking forward to retirement.
Hunger was recently interviewed by Radio Oklahoma Ag Network Associate Farm Director and Editor KC Sheperd.
Hunger started his career focused on teaching and research and later expanded to Extension.
All three have been very rewarding, Hunger said.
The research has been primarily with the wheat breeding program and Hunger has had the opportunity to work with two of the top wheat breeders in the country, first with Dr. Ed Smith and currently Dr. Brett Carver.
Two things stick out, Hunger said about his long OSU career.
In the early years, starting in the early 1980's up to about 2000 we hardly every saw stripe rust, Hunger said.
Stripe rust is almost as significant today as leaf rust, as stripe rust has been able to adapt to Oklahoma, Hunger said.
The other notable disease that stands out is karnal bunt.
There was a lot of testing of wheat that had to be done for karnal bunt because trading partners did not what to have karnal bunt in their wheat seed, he said.
What I find interesting, dealing with the Extension side, is people come to me and our team of experts with many of their questions, Hunger said.
Even in retirement Hunger will continue to look at wheat fields.
I will always be looking at wheat, he said, noting now as an observer rather than a participant.
Hunger's family, including two grandkids, will take up much of his time in retirement.
You can click on the listen bar below to hear more of KC's interview with Bob Hunger.
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