About Us

For David Russell, his family’s small cattle farm in southwest Mississippi is the place where he learned the value of hard work, sparking his interest and appreciation for farming and the outdoors. On their farm, the cattle and land were managed the way that David’s dad was taught by his dad and friends in their rural community. Whether that was the right way or the wrong way, they didn’t know, but they worked hard to do the best they could and enjoyed the country lifestyle. Fast forward to present day, David carries the memories of his family’s farm with him as he works with farmers and others across the state as the Alabama Cooperative Extension System’s weed management specialist.

David’s expertise in weed management runs the gamut. He helps people—such as forage and livestock producers, row crop farmers, landowners, property managers, homeowners, and even right-of-way managers—understand the importance of a solid weed-management program. David grew up not knowing what Extension was. However, being the first in his family to attend college, David’s experiences at Mississippi State University gave him an inside look at the impact Extension has.

His mentors, John Byrd and Gary Jackson, were the ones that taught him about Extension. As a doctoral student, David worked full time for more than six years as an Extension associate in Byrd’s forage and noncrop weed management program. In this role, David learned firsthand the positive impacts that Extension could have on a person’s farm when he saw the fruits of his research efforts be turned into practical recommendations that growers adopted. These experiences heavily influence David today in his current role as an Auburn University researcher and assistant Extension professor.

“I often think about all the ways my dad and our farming operation could have benefitted from the shared knowledge delivered by an Extension educator. It’s this very thing—making a difference in the lives of others—that keeps me going and makes me love my job.” — David Russell

Whether he is providing control recommendations for dogfennel and horsenettle in a pasture or working with a wheat farmer to control Italian ryegrass, David works year-round to address the needs, questions, and concerns of Alabama residents. A hallmark of these recommendations is that they are fully supported by science-based research that is conducted on local, regional, and state levels. Through phone calls, emails, workshops, field days, and other outreach efforts, David’s goal is to provide timely and practical information to help people address their immediate needs, as well as provide options for long-term strategies.

As he meets new people and they learn he is a faculty member, they often ask if he teaches. He always replies, “Well, yes, but not formally in the classroom like you may think.” David said the fields, pastures, and forestlands across the state are his classrooms, and they change every day. That is what he loves about working for Extension. People all learn in different ways, and he enjoys the freedom to build educational experiences to meet those needs.

“It’s important to build those relationships so that we, as individuals and an institution, are a trustworthy source that people can keep coming back to.” — David Russell

David’s work with weed management is just one of the many ways to discover greener pastures. Whether it is soil testing or choosing the right forage variety, an Alabama Extension educator in your area is working to find practical solutions, provide opportunities, and empower people. Discover more at www.aces.edu/discover.