SDSU Extension Adds Cody Molnar to Support State Growers

By Scout Nelson

South Dakota State University (SDSU) Extension has announced Cody Molnar as its new Horticulture Plant Pathology Field Specialist. In this role, Molnar will assist South Dakotans with diagnosing, managing, and preventing plant diseases in horticultural crops such as vegetables, flowers, turf, and other non-row crops. He will be based at the SDSU campus in Brookings.

Plant pathology, the study of plant diseases, plays a key role in protecting crop health and productivity. Molnar will be a resource for both home gardeners and commercial growers, offering science-based guidance on disease identification, prevention, and treatment.

Originally from western Pennsylvania, Molnar grew up on a small berry farm, where his interest in plants began. He holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in molecular biology from Lehigh University in Pennsylvania. His professional experience includes working in the plant diagnostic lab at the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, where he developed a passion for plant pathology.

Molnar has also worked with Washington State University Extension and in a private research lab, focusing on little cherry disease and other tree fruit diseases. His research experience includes studying disease detection, mapping distribution, identifying alternate hosts, and understanding how plant diseases spread.

Excited to apply his research to real-world challenges, Molnar is planning a statewide survey of crops to determine what plant diseases are present in South Dakota and where they occur. This work will help inform better management strategies for growers.

Molnar joins Nick Volesky, Horticulture and Specialty Crop Field Specialist, as one of the newest members of the SDSU Extension horticulture team. The team’s expertise spans gardening, lawn care, tree and shrub management, water conservation, soil health, and Master Gardener training, providing valuable resources for communities across the state.

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