Tyson Raper Named Cotton Researcher of the Year

By Cotton Grower Staff|March 2, 2020

Agriculture industry leaders have honored the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture’s Tyson Raper as Cotton Researcher of the Year.

Dr. Tyson Raper

The award was presented January 31 at the National Conservation Systems Cotton and Rice Conference in Memphis, TN.

Raper is an assistant professor with the UT Department of Plant Sciences and also serves as the UT Extension Cotton Specialist for the state. Raper is based at the West Tennessee AgResearch and Education Center in Jackson.

According to a conference press release, while Raper has a 75% Extension appointment, his research program has made significant contributions to cotton profitability in Tennessee and across the Mid-South. The award committee noted Raper’s work with high-residue cover crops, nutrient rate optimization and his current work evaluating DD60’s – the formula for calculating crop heat units – for modern cotton varieties.

The National Conservation Systems Cotton and Rice Conference, now in its 23rd year, brings together farmers and crop consultants from across the nation to learn about reducing costs and increasing yields in cotton, rice, soybeans and corn.