Writer: Steve Byrns, 325-653-4576, s-byrns@tamu.edu
Contact: Rod Santa Ana, 956-878-8317, r-santaana@tamu.edu
BRYAN – The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service has presented the Sugarcane Aphid Team a Superior Service Award in the team category for their work in circumventing a statewide disaster stemming from the sugarcane aphid, arguably one of the worst pests to ever threaten the sorghum industry, according the nomination.
Their efforts to stop the fast-moving new pest of sorghum crops reportedly prevented millions of dollars in damage to crops across the state.
By the fall of 2013, the nomination noted that AgriLife Extension and Texas A&M AgriLife Research had organized an immense research and educational effort to thwart the pest.
When grain sorghum was harvested in 2014 in the Lower Rio Grande Valley, it was evident the effort had paid off. Texas Grain Sorghum Producers reported that the Sugarcane Aphid Team prevented crop loss with an estimated value of $160 million.
Similar research and educational work on the Texas High Plains in 2015 is reported to have prevented an additional $100 million in grain sorghum losses. The work is expected to continue, thus providing further benefits to sorghum growers, the nomination said.
Superior Service Awards recognize AgriLife Extension faculty and staff members who provide outstanding performance in AgriLife Extension education or other outstanding service to the organization and to Texas.
The award was presented Jan. 12 during the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Conference awards dinner at the Brazos Expo Center in Bryan.
The Sugarcane Aphid Team members recognized were:
– AgriLife Extension-entomologists: Dr. Raul Villanueva, Weslaco; Dr. Allen Knutson, Dallas; Dr. Pat Porter, Lubbock; Dr. Ed Bynum, Amarillo; and Dr. Robert Bowling, Corpus Christi. Also, Gabriela Esparza-Diaz, postdoctoral AgriLife Extension assistant, and Beto Garza, AgriLife Extension assistant, both at Weslaco.
– AgriLife Extension integrated pest management agents: Danielle Sekula-Ortiz, Weslaco; Stephen Biles, Port Lavaca; Blayne Reed, Plainview; Tommy Doederlein, Lamesa; and Kerry Siders, Levelland;
– AgriLife Extension agents: Jason Ott, Nueces County; Brad Cowan, Hidalgo County; and Enrique Perez, Cameron County.
– AgriLife Communications: Rod Santa Ana, Weslaco.
Additional team members by entity were:
– Texas A&M AgriLife Research: Dr. Mike Brewer, entomologist, Corpus Christi; Dr. Mo Way, entomologist, Beaumont; Dr. Gary Odvody, plant pathologist, Corpus Christi; and Dr. Gary Peterson, agronomist, Lubbock.
– U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service: Dr. Scott Armstrong, entomologist, Stillwater, Oklahoma.
– Cotton and Grain Producers of the Lower Rio Grande Valley: Dr. Webb Wallace, executive director, Harlingen.
– United Sorghum Checkoff: Dr. Brent Bean, agronomist, Lubbock.
– Cooperators: Chris Bauer, Montimer Cabrera, David and Fontis Newell, Dennis Ball, Sam Simmons, Sam Sparks, Randy Cook, Shane Blount and Ronald Groves.
Crop Consultants: John Norman, Weslaco; Jim Trolinger and Mike Grey, both of Harlingen.
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