2024 Conservation Systems Cotton Researcher Of The Year
Dr. Steve Brown, Extension Cotton Agronomist, Auburn University, has been named the “2024 Conservation Systems Cotton Researcher of the Year” at the 27th Annual National Conservation Systems Cotton & Rice Conference, Southern Soybean & Corn Conference, Delta States Irrigation Conference and the Southern Precision Ag Conference.
Dr. Brown is a 1978 graduate in Agronomy and Soils from Auburn University and later earned MS and PhD degrees in Agronomy/Weed science at Auburn (1984) and Texas A&M (1986). Brown worked as an assistant county agent in a cotton pest management role for a couple of years in northern Alabama and then served as a research associate in a Cotton Incorporated funded project on no-till cotton from 1980 to 1984. From 1987 until 1995 he served as an Extension weed scientist followed by Extension cotton agronomist in 1995-2008 for the University of Georgia in Tifton. From 2005-2008, Brown also served as Research/Extension/Teaching Coordinator of UGA. In 2008, Brown was hired by a major seed and biotechnology company for 11 years, before being hired as the Extension Cotton Agronomist at Auburn University in 2019. Brown’s entire career has focused on cotton.
At Auburn, Brown plays a critical role in the evaluation of cotton seed quality, seeding rates, planting pattern, variety/technology selection, and in-season issues such as plant growth management. He also was a vital team member addressing cotton leafroll dwarf virus, and he is always willing to help others at Auburn with cotton related issues. Brown also conducts numerous on-farm trials working directly with growers on important topics, such as variety evaluation, row configuration, and other issues. Brown publishes a regular newsletter Alabama Cotton Shorts and is a regular contributor to the Alabama Row Crops Report newsletter and Podcast.
Most importantly, Brown presents at grower meetings and meets one-on-one with farmers infield visits. It is estimated that Brown has presented at over 2,000 educational meetings during his career. Brown has had over 300 popular press articles, about 90 TV programs, and over 400 newsletter entries. Starting in 2023, Brown became the coordinator of the Cotton Specialist Corner, a podcast about cotton management across the Cotton Belt. ∆