2026 Beltwide Cotton Specialist of The Year Is Dr. Brian Pieralisi of Mississippi State University

2026 BELTWIDE COTTON SPECIALISTS AWARD
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  

For more information, contact Mary Jane Duff: +1 (816) 841-0922

Continuing the Tradition
2026 Beltwide Cotton Specialist of The Year Is Dr. Brian Pieralisi of Mississippi State University

(San Antonio, TX – January 12, 2026) Each year the University Extension Cotton Specialists select a colleague as the Beltwide Extension Cotton Specialist of the Year. This year Brian Pieralisi, Ph.D., of Mississippi State University (MSU), was recognized during the group’s banquet on Thursday, Jan. 8. This annual award is an acknowledgement of leadership, dedication and exceptional service in developing and conducting educational programs to meet the needs of cotton producers and the U.S. cotton industry.

“Dr. Pieralisi is a valued resource to the many cotton growers in Mississippi, and he’s a great husband and father,” said Ben McKnight, Ph.D., Texas A&M AgriLife Extension cotton specialist and the 2025 award recipient. “This award is very special because it’s recognition by our peers. We really appreciate the sponsorship by Bayer to continue this tradition.”

Pieralisi is assistant professor and Extension Cotton Specialist with interests ranging from variety testing, weed science and soil fertility to precision ag and economics. He was named Mississippi State Cotton Specialist in 2020 succeeding Darrin Dodds who moved to lead the university’s department of Plant and Soil Sciences. Pieralisi is a native of Leland, Miss., with both bachelor’s degree in agricultural pest management and his doctorate in agronomy from MSU. Pieralisi also farmed and earned an MBA from Delta State University in between his degrees at MSU. With a strong background in cotton production, Pieralisi focuses on improving crop yield and quality through innovative practices and research. His work includes studies on herbicides, irrigation, and plant growth regulators.

Sponsored by Tim Dabbert, Ph.D., cotton technical product and strategy lead for Bayer, the award event continues a more than three-decade tradition.

“We are thankful we’re able to sponsor the Beltwide Cotton Specialist of the Year again in 2026,” Dabbert said. “We appreciate the leadership in education provided by all the University Extension Cotton Specialists throughout the year, as well as our partnering relationship. Honoring this group is good for the industry.”

Past recipients of this Beltwide Extension Cotton Specialist of the Year include the following: