Crop Production

Meet the Team – Agronomic Crops

1 min read
A cotton field at sunset. Alabama producers will benefit from a farm bill extension.

Timely information to producers can be critical in the prevention of crop loss. The Alabama Cooperative Extension System’s Agronomic Crops team delivers research-based integrated information to improve producer management decisions while increasing profitability. Alabama corn, cotton, soybeans, and peanuts producers report improved yields and cost savings thanks to the work of these experts and the educational information they provide. The team offers expertise for all major row crops in the following areas:

  • Agronomy
  • Plant Pathology
  • Entomology
  • Weed Science
  • Agricultural Engineering
  • Soil Fertility

 

Agronomic Crops Specialists

Name TitleSpecialty Area(s)
Team Coordinator
Steve LiAssociate Professor and Extension SpecialistWeed science, agricultural drones
Team Members
Kris BalkcomAssistant Extension ProfessorPeanut varieties, seeding rates, seed treatments, planting dates, row spacing, tillage, and sub surface drip irrigation.
Kassie ConnerExtension Plant Pathologist; Director of Plant Diagnostic LabPlant pathologist and plant disease diagnostician
Eros FranciscoAssistant Professor and Extension SpecialistGrain crops (corn, soybean, and small grains)
Scott GrahamAssistant Professor and Extension SpecialistEntomologist for cotton, soybean, and peanut
Caitlyn LawtonDirector’s Fellow and Graduate StudentCorn and small grain entomology
Josh LeeComing soonCotton agronomist
Brenda OrtizProfessor and Extension SpecialistPrecision agriculture, irrigation
Rishi PrasadProfessor and Extension SpecialistNutrient management and environmental stewardship, working with corn, soybeans, and cotton
Adam RabinowitzAssistant Professor and Extension SpecialistFarm and agribusiness management
Max RungeProfessor and Extension SpecialistFarm and agribusiness management, including farm management, profit profiles, agricultural data, and enterprise budgets
David RussellAssistant Professor and Extension SpecialistWeed science in corn, soybean, small grains, forages, and non-crop
Wendiam SawadgoAssistant Professor and Extension SpecialistFarm and agribusiness management
Meredith ShraderExtension Entomologist and Plant PathologistEntomology and plant pathology
Edward Sikora Extension Plant PathologistPlant pathologist for corn, soybeans, and hemp
Kent StanfordAssociate Professor and Extension SpecialistNutrient management
Amanda Strayer-SchererAssistant Professor and Extension SpecialistPlant pathologist for cotton, peanut, small grains, and forages
Sonja ThomasExtension SpecialistPesticide applicator training coordinator
Tyler SandlinAssistant Professor and Extension SpecialistAgronomic crops
Simer VirkAssociate Professor and Extension Specialist Agronomic crops; animal sciences and forages; forestry, wildlife, and natural resources

 

Agronomic Crops Extension Agents

NameHome OfficeGeographical Responsibility
Cade Grace Walker CountyColbert County, Fayette County, Franklin County, Lamar County, Lauderdale County, Lawrence County, Limestone County, Marion County, Morgan County, Walker County, and Winston County
Christy HicksTallapoosa CountyAutauga County, Calhoun County, Chambers County, Clay County, Cleburne County, Coosa County, Elmore County, Lee County, Lowndes County, Macon County, Montgomery County, Randolph County, Russell County, Talladega County, and Tallapoosa County
Blake LantonDallas CountyBibb County, Chilton County, Choctaw County, Dallas County, Greene County, Hale County, Jefferson County, Marengo County, Perry County, Pickens County, Shelby County, St. Clair County, Sumter County, Tuscaloosa County, and Wilcox County
Sedrick MackWiregrass Research and Extension CenterBullock County, Covington County, Crenshaw County, Henry County, and Pike County
Eddie McGriff Cullman CountyBlount County, Cherokee County, Cullman County, DeKalb County, Etowah County, Jackson County, Madison County, and Marshall County
Aaron WellsHouston CountyBarbour County, Coffee County, Dale County, Geneva County, and Houston County