I have served as Extension Agent- IPM in Terry and Yoakum Counties since June of 2000. When I came to this position, I guess I was a little apprehensive about fulfilling the needs of area growers. The last 14 years have been a tremendous learning experience for me. While cotton may be “King” on the High Plains, many of you know I very much enjoy working in peanut production. In an effort to explorer new challenges and continue to help growers increase productivity, I have accepted a position with Bayer Crop Science as a Field Development Representative and will be relocating to Tifton, Georgia later this month.
Growing conditions on the Texas South Plains are certainly some of the most challenging. In response to these challenges I think growers, consultants and agriculturalists, particularly here in Terry and Yoakum Counties are some of the best people in the world. Our family has made many close friends here and we plan to carry these friendships with us as we move into this new phase of our life. Lauren will continue to study at Tarleton State and graduate in December; Patricia is applying to get her teaching certification in Georgia.
It is with both excitement and sadness we will be departing.
The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension IPM program is in a state of flux at present, at least in the South Plains Region. It is unclear how long it may take to fill this position. I would encourage you to contact the IPM Coordinator and District Extension Administrator to express your thoughts/desires on having an IPM Agent available to the area. The support of local clientele will be critical in filling this and other vacant positions around the region. You know the saying, “The squeaky wheel gets the oil.” Contact information for Charles Allen and Michael Clawson follows:
IPM Coordinator and Associate Department Head, Texas A&M
Entomology Dr. Charles Allen,
Email: ctallen@ag.tamu.edu
Phone: 325-653-4576
District Extension Administrator
Mr. Michael Clawson,
Email: m-clawson@tamu.edu
Phone: 806-746-4043