Writer: Tim W. McAlavy, (806) 746-4051,t-mcalavy@tamu.edu
Contact: Jett Major, (806) 746-6101,j-major@tamu.edu
LUBBOCK — The Texas Agricultural Extension Service has appointed a new agronomist to its staff of area specialists at the Texas A&M University Agricultural Research and Extension Center here.
Dr. Calvin L. Trostle will plan and conduct educational programs relating to precision agriculture and peanut, grain sorghum, corn and small grain production in the 20-county South Plains district. He also will conduct applied research in these areas with the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station and will work closely with other Extension specialists, researchers, county agents and producers in the district.
“I’m looking forward to working with a wide array of crops here on the Texas South Plains,” Trostle said. “Much of my activity will eventually focus on precision agriculture applications, but the majority of my work will focus on improving soil fertility and farming practices for peanut, corn, grain sorghum, and small grain producers.”
A native of Kansas, Trostle earned a bachelor’s degree in agronomy from Kansas State University in 1984, a master’s degree in soil chemistry from Texas A&M in 1993, and a doctorate in soil soil chemistry and plant nutrition from the University of Minnesota in 1997.
“Agriculture is changing at a rapid pace as we approach the 21st century,” said Jett Major, Extension director for agriculture at the Lubbock center. “We are seeing dramatic changes right here on the South Plains in both our cropping patterns and our crop management practices.
“Dr. Trostle’s strong academic background and sound research experience will complement our research and extension efforts to better equip South Plains producers and ag industry partners to survive and prosper in the years to come.”
Trostle, 36, was born and reared on a diversified family grain and livestock farm in eastern Kansas. He comes to Lubbock from the Texas Agricultural Research and Extension Center in Beaumont, where he conducted soil fertility research on nitrogen availability in rice production.
Prior to that, he conducted plant nutrition research at the University of Minnesota and conducted plant nutrition training programs in hydroponics in the soil and water sciences department at the International Rice Research Institute in the Philippines.
Trostle and his wife Beth have one daughter, Victoria. They reside in Lubbock.
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