Dr. Albert Fischer, a University of California, Davis, weed ecophysiologist, was honored with the Marlin Brandon California Rice Industry Award at the recent California Rice Experiment Station Rice Field Day in Biggs.
The award, named after the late Dr. Marlin Brandon, Rice Experiment Station director, recognizes individuals from various segments of the state’s rice industry who have made distinguished contributions. Presented by the Cooperative Rice Research Foundation since 1963, the award has honored 53 individuals.
In making the presentation, UC Cooperative Extension farm adviser Whitney Brim-DeForest described Fischer’s extensive research into weeds that have plagued California rice producers.
He was one of the first to identify herbicide-resistant weeds and develop programs to manage them. In addition, Fischer did much of the work that led to the registration of Butte herbicide, a benzobicyclon from Gowan Co.
Brim-DeForest credited Fischer with starting her down a career of weed science in 2009. Fischer was Brim-DeForest’s main professor as she worked on her master’s and doctorate degrees. She also worked in Fischer’s laboratory.
In receiving the honor, Fischer said, “Thank you to the rice growers who had a lot of patience with a Frenchman and the Rice Research Board for this award.”
In addition to his tenure at UC Davis, Fischer also was a visiting weed biologist at North Dakota State University, Fargo, from 1989-1996, a rice and weed physiologist at the Rice Program of the International Centre for Tropical Agriculture, Cali, Colombia, to name a few. He started his career in weed research and Extension at the Plant Protection Center, Uruguay, in 1975.