In our Expert Spotlight series, we focus on our AgriThority talent and the work they do. In their own words, you’ll learn about their global travels, and the crops, technologies and innovations they research.
I grew up in a small town on the Texas rolling plains surrounded by agriculture, and I developed an interest from an early age. Many role models inspired me to keep learning. The blind farmer I worked for in high school figured out how to produce decent cotton yields on dirt that would return a soil test recommendation of “you need everything but sand”. A gin manager in college took me out to the cotton field one afternoon in 1968 and showed me things about early season insects that are common knowledge today but were not proven and accepted by academia and research for at least 10 years after that. Being surrounded by fascinating and innovative people growing up kept me in agriculture and product development.
Today, I still get to work with a lot of innovative people in this business.
My first job as a crop consultant was as a cotton scout 52 years ago this month, and I have been with AgriThority® for the past eight years. Relationships and trust are built over the years. A good example is a current assignment to conduct 15 field trials from a single referral based on our long-term relationship and the trust in us to do the work well. Many other active registration or compliance projects are currently being coordinated on nine products across 28 to 48 states while 10 other regulatory projects are in the planning and proposal stages.
In many ways, AgriThority bridges the gaps for our clients. For example, AgriThority was hired by the world’s leading producer of one specific crop production input to conduct research on a particularly complex issue with technology for which they were experts. With well-designed and implemented research, we were able to answer their questions.
We were the experts the experts called when they were not sure what to do.
I have degrees in entomology, but my expertise includes global product development in entomology, weed science, rodenticides, industrial weed control, plant growth regulators, fiber quality development, sustainable production practices and certification, drift control research, nematology and lawn and garden plant protection products.
I have actively participated in the development of some of the most successful products in the history of crop protection. So, it’s a natural fit to continue to move innovation to market with AgriThority.
Forward-thinking agriculture experts with deep scientific experience are the core of AgriThority®. As an independent global science consultancy, we focus on exploring potential, expanding market access and evolving production for greater food security and sustainability. When your Research is ready for Development, turn to AgriThority for scientific business, market and product expertise.