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Arlie Powell Named Extension Agricultural Program Leader

AUBURN, APRIL 7, 2000---Dr. Arlie Powell has been appointed state program leader for agriculture for the Alabama Cooperative Extension System. 

Powell’s role is dual, serving also as associate dean for Extension within Auburn University’s College of Agriculture. 

In his primary role as state program leader, Powell is responsible for all of the agricultural outreach programs provided through the System’s 67 county offices and various other Extension centers and area offices throughout the state. As associate dean for Extension, he serves as a liaison between the Extension director and the dean of the College of Agriculture and also works to ensure Extension-related agricultural programs remain closely coordinated with college-related programs. 

"Dr. Powell brings a tremendous depth of experience and passion for Extension’s outreach mission," says Extension Director Stephen Jones, who announced the appointment March
1. Powell's appointment drew wide support from faculty, Extension agents, university administrators and agricultural producers throughout the state. 

"In an age of rapid economic and technological change, I’m pleased to have an individual of his caliber charting a new course for a new century, Jones says" 

Powell is no stranger to Extension. He began his career in 1963 as a county agent for the Florida Cooperative Extension Service. After completing his doctoral work in 1968, he served as an Extension horticulturist for Texas A&M University until 1975. Later that year, he was hired as an Extension horticulturist at the University of Georgia. 

From 1978-99, Powell served as an Extension horticulturist for the Alabama Cooperative Extension System, responsible for outreach programs aimed at commercial fruit production. 

During this phase of his career, Powell wrote more than 200 publications for horticulture clientele. He was instrumental in establishing the Alabama Fruit Growers Association in 1980, which subsequently was expanded into the Alabama Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association in 1987. With assistance from the Alabama Farmers Federation, leaders of this association were instrumental in securing more than $500,000 in funding for Auburn University's Department of Horticulture. 

Powell is perhaps best known for his work with the Alabama commercial peach industry. Throughout his horticulture career, he conducted numerous studies that have contributed to major innovations in peach production. Noteworthy examples include advances in limb girdling and mechanical fruit thinning, which are used extensively throughout the southeastern peach industry and have resulted in major improvements in production management practices. 

In addition, Powell developed a number of methods to help growers avoid crop losses from freezes. His studies with the growth regulator Dormex has enabled growers to reduce
yield losses associated with inadequate chilling hours. 

Additional studies on other crops, such as apples, blueberries and strawberries, improved production practices in these industries. 

Powell also served as coordinator for Auburn University's College of Agriculture Agricultural Weather Program, which was privatized in the mid-1990s. 

Working with Alabama Farmers Federation and Auburn University faculty, he was instrumental in establishing the statewide Distance Diagnostics Digital Imaging Pilot Program to assist commercial producers and consumers with plant disease, insect and related problems. 

As a faculty member in Auburn University's Department of Horticulture, Powell served as
coordinator for the department’s Extension-affiliated faculty and related programs. 

In addition, he has served on numerous Extension- and university-related committees during his tenure at Auburn. This includes coordinating the Extension horticultural team
project from 1997-98, which involved 33 faculty members, and chairing the Faculty Welfare Committee from 1994-98. 

He served on the governor’s horticultural advisory committee from 1987-88. 

From 1997-98, Powell served as president of the Southern Region American Society of Horticultural Science. 

In assuming the permanent role of Extension program leader for agriculture, Powell is carrying on a task begun in April 1998 when he received the assignment on an interim basis. In October of the same year, Powell received the additional title of interim associate dean for Extension for the Auburn University College of Agriculture. 

SOURCE: JIM LANGCUSTER, Extension Communications Specialist, Alabama Cooperative Extension System, (334) 844-5686