New AgriLife Extension entomologist fills South Plains post

Dr. Suhas Vyavhare started Feb. 1

Writers: Steve Byrns, 325-653-4576, [email protected]

Contacts: Dr. Charles Allen, 325-653-4576, [email protected]

Dr. Suhas Vyavhare, 806-723-8446, [email protected]

LUBBOCK – Texas A&M University’s department of entomology and the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service entomology project group announced the hiring of Dr. Suhas Vyavhare as the new AgriLife Extension cotton entomologist serving the South Plains.

Vyavhare, started Feb. 1 and is headquartered at the Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center at Lubbock. The center is headquarters for AgriLife Extension’s 20-county South Plains District that Vyavhare serves.

Dr. Charles Allen, state integrated pest management coordinator at San Angelo, said Vyavhare earned a bachelor’s in agriculture from Mahatma Phule Agricultural University, Rahuri, India, and a master’s in plant, soil and environmental science from West Texas A&M University at Canyon. He then earned a doctorate in entomology from Texas A&M University at College Station.

Previously, he was a postdoctoral research associate at the Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center at Beaumont, Allen said. While there, Vyavhare was in charge of implementing, managing and supervising applied research addressing entomological issues in soybeans, rice, sugarcane and sorghum. He also designed and conducted various field trials evaluating performance of crop protection products.

Prior to working in Beaumont, Vyavhare was a teaching assistant in the department of entomology at Texas A&M.

“We are looking forward to watching Dr.Vyavhare continue on the path of excellence he has charted thus far in his career as he takes on the responsibility of working with AgriLife Extension agents and farmers to help them manage cotton insects on the Texas High Plains,” Allen said.