Delta Council honors Ebelhar, Wise with achievement awards
Mississippi State University scientists with the Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station were recently honored with achievement awards from the Delta Council.
Wayne Ebelhar and David Wise, both located at the Delta Research and Extension Center in Stoneville, received the honors at the Delta Council Annual Meeting.
Research Professor Ebelhar is a soil fertility and crop production specialist. Part of his research includes a centennial rotation program, which began in 2004, as the Stoneville complex celebrated 100 years of operation. His studies involve both the long-term effects of crop rotation and nitrogen management techniques in corn production. He is credited with helping average corn yields increase from less than 50 bushels per acre to more than 185 bushels.
George King, chairman of the Executive Committee of Delta Council, said Ebelhar’s research has made an enduring difference in the lives of Mississippi row-crop producers and corn growers, in particular.
“As Mississippi has seen more acres devoted to corn production, there has been one key research scientist who has ensured that producers have the best information and science as they embark on a new cropping system,” he said.,” “Dr. Ebelhar’s impact on Mississippi’s corn production and other cropping systems leaves a lasting legacy.”
Wise is research professor and director of the Thad Cochran National Warmwater Aquaculture Center. He has spent his career working in the area of fish health management. He was recently awarded a patent for his work on a vaccine and delivery system to combat Edwardsiella ictaluri, the bacteria that causes enteric septicemia in catfish and reduces production by 25-30 percent and cost the industry $30-40 million annually.
King said Wise has a reputation within the industry as a respected researcher and leader.
“There are very few people that have had a greater impact on the long-term sustainability of the U.S. farm-raised catfish industry than Dr. David Wise,” he said. “He is known as the best disease scientist in the industry, in addition to his duties as coordinator of the Thad Cochran National Warmwater Aquaculture Center. David insists every farm case be diagnosed and treated, even if that means literally spending whole days and nights to diagnose the problem and find a timely solution.”
Wise and Ebelhar were two of eight honorees at the Delta Council’s 83rd Annual Meeting. The economic development organization represents the 18 Delta and part-Delta counties of Northwest Mississippi.
MSU is Mississippi’s leading university, available online at www.msstate.edu.
Karen Brasher | Agriculture and Natural Resources Marketing
