Tyson B. Raper is the Cotton and Small Grains Specialist for the University of Tennessee. Dr. Raper attended Auburn University for his bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Business and Economics with a Minor in Agronomy and Soils. He later completed his master’s degree with Dr. Jac J. Varco at Mississippi State University studying the potential to remotely detect nitrogen deficiencies in cotton. Dr. Raper completed his doctor of philosophy with Dr. Derrick M. Oosterhuis at the University of Arkansas examining the impact of potassium deficiencies on remotely detecting nitrogen deficiencies in cotton and development of a drought stress index from temporally dense, spatially sparse soil moisture measurements. Currently, Dr. Raper’s research program focuses on increasing fertilizer use efficiencies through alternate placements, the remote detection and amelioration of nutrient stresses, and use of soil moisture to quantify experienced drought stress in variety trials.
Heather M. Kelly is an associate professor of plant pathology with a 70% Extension and 30% Research appointment in the Entomology and Plant Pathology Department at the University of Tennessee. She is stationed at the West Tennessee Research and Education Center in Jackson and is the leader of the UT Extension and Research disease management programs for field crops, including soybean, corn, cotton, and wheat. Dr. Kelly received her BS in biological sciences and her MS in science teaching from Florida State University and her PhD in plant pathology from the University of Florida. Dr. Kelly manages cooperative efforts to develop disease management strategies and information that improve crop production.
Scott D. Stewart is the Extension IPM Coordinator and Professor of Entomology at the University of Tennessee. He is located at the West Tennessee Research and Education Center in Jackson. His expertise is in row crops entomology with emphasis on cotton, corn, soybean, sorghum and wheat. Before his current position, Scott had research, teaching, and extension responsibilities in row crops IPM at Mississippi State University. Scott received his bachelor’s degree in biology from the University of Northern Iowa. He completed his MS and PhD in entomology from Texas A&M and Auburn University, respectively. Scott develops and presents educational programs related to row crops IPM and also performs applied research including the evaluation of insecticide efficacy, GMO technologies, and other IPM tactics.
