A Pioneer In Research
February 22, 2010 Dr. David Wright, professor and Extension cotton specialist with the University of Florida in Quincy, was chosen by his peers to be the recipient of the 2010 Extension Cotton Specialist of the Year.
The award, which is sponsored by Bayer CropScience, was presented at the annual Extension Cotton Specialists’ banquet.
According to Auburn University Extension specialist and 2009 award winner Dale Monks, Wright was tabbed for the award for his research, expertise and dedication to farmers in the Southeast and across the Cotton Belt.
“David is well-known for his work in crop rotation, especially in the crop systems that we have in south Alabama and in the Florida Panhandle,” says Monks. “The University of Florida and growers in the Southeast are fortunate to have someone of David’s caliber, with his patience, forethought and diligence.”
In recent years, Wright’s research programs have focused on cropping systems and conservation tillage techniques for all the major row crops in the Southeast. Thanks to the efforts of Wright and others in his program, the number of growers using conservation tillage or strip till practices in the Southeast in the 1990s grew exponentially.
Wright has also contributed to a collaborative effort among Georgia, Alabama and Florida researchers designed to study the impact of implementing a sod rotation with cotton. Interestingly, some of the findings from these studies suggest cotton could yield up to 100% higher when planted after bahiagrass, due to reduced nematode pressure, coupled with increased plant root depth and organic matter.
In addition to his research, Wright has served in numerous leadership capacities within the Extension community throughout his career. Those leadership roles include: Program Chair, Southern Conservation AGricultural Systems Conference (2007); Chair, SERA-IEG (1998); Vice Chair and Program Chair, SERA-IEG (1997); Co-Chair of Southern Conservation Tillage Conference, Gainesville, FL (1997); Fellow, American Society of Agronomy (1996); Georgia Agriculture Commodity Commission (1996); Chairman, Agricultural Section, Florida Academy of Science (1995-96); President, Soil and Crop Science Society of Florida (1995); President Elect and Program Chair, Soil and Crop Science Society of Florida (1994); Chair, Souther Regional Tropical Corn Symposium (1991); and Chair, Southern Conservation Tillage Conference Annual Meeting (1989).
Because of his dedication to the industry, Wright has been honored many times throughout his career. The research awards he has received include: Research Award, Southern Concervation Agricultural Systems (2005); Green Chemistry Challenge Award, presented by C.T. Whitman, Administrator, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (2001); Research Award, Florida Soybean Association (1999); and Ciba Geigy Award, American Society of Agronomy (1986).
“Extension and university research are integral to the success of U.S. agriculture and the cotton industry, and we are pleased to congratulate David Wright on this notable achievement in his career,” said Steve Nichols, Bayer CropScience U.S. agronomic manager. “He has a strong commitment to cotton growers in the Southeast and across the U.S. It is a pleasure to see David recognized by his peers for his dedication, excellence and service to the industry.”
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