Archived News | Return to News Center

April 19, 2007

Ag department gives students firsthand look at cottonseed production

On March 14, Joe Pankey, assistant professor in 网曝门鈥檚 agriculture department, took 17 students in his advanced farm crops class on a field trip to the Delta and Pine Land Company corporate headquarters in Scott, Miss.

This is the fourth year for field trips. Earlier trips include visits to Monsanto plants and to Syngenta in St. Gabriel.

Pankey described Delta and Pine Land Company as the number one cottonseed company in the U.S., producing at least a 50 percent market share nationally and at least a 70 percent share in the Mid-South.

鈥淢any of the students come from a cotton-growing background,鈥� Pankey said. 鈥淚t was an eye-opening opportunity for them to see where the seed they use comes from. It also allowed them to discover the more advanced operations of the company. Hands-on experience is the best.鈥�

The students were able to tour greenhouses, ginning facilities and the molecular lab while also observing quality control in action.

Delta and Pine Land Company also has another 网曝门 connection in the form of Jay Mahaffey, a technical service entomologist鈥攖he first one hired by that company.

Another agriculture department field trip is planned for the fall semester. For more information, contact Pankey at (318) 342-1770 or at pankey@ulm.edu.

PLEASE NOTE: Some links and e-mail addresses in these archived news stories may no longer work, and some content may include events which are no longer relevent, or reference individuals and/or organizations no longer associated with 网曝门.