DAFVM Spotlight Employee: Brad Burgess
Brad Burgess
Brad Burgess discovered what he wanted to do with his life when he began working at the R.R. Foil Plant Science Research Center as a Mississippi State University student.
Burgess is responsible for conducting official variety trials for the Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station on row crops commonly grown in the state, including corn, soybeans, wheat, oats, peanuts and grain sorghum. Results of these annual tests are reported in MAFES publications. He is also responsible for producing and maintaining foundation seed stocks of rice and sweet sorghum.
Burgess said he loves traveling around the state representing MSU.
“I get to travel to all of the different MAFES experiment stations and the cooperators’ farms, which is where we conduct our yield trials,” he said. “It is interesting to see the different methods each farmer has adopted to achieve the best results in his or her particular area of the state.”
Burgess said he enjoys watching things grow and finds it especially rewarding when someone visits one of the variety trial locations and compliments the look of a plot. Burgess said he also feels a sense of satisfaction when farmers experience greater business success because of his team’s work.
“It is very rewarding to be able to provide farmers with information that is valuable to them,” he said. “The information MSU provides helps them make decisions on which varieties to plant on their farms to further improve their yields.”
In his free time, Burgess enjoys being outdoors, fishing, hunting and gardening. He also enjoys spending time with his wife, Coy Jean Burgess.
Editor's note: The Division of Agriculture, Forestry and Veterinary Medicine Spotlight Employee profiles are provided by the Office of Agricultural Communications at Mississippi State. For more information, please click here.
