Bulletin 1154 March 2006

Mississippi Agricultural & Forestry Experiment Station Vance H. Watson, Director J. Charles Lee, President • Mississippi State University • Vance H. Watson, Vice President Mississippi People – Contributors to Boll Weevil Eradication

RFe.sAeaurbcrheyPrHoafersriss or Delta Research and Extension Center Stoneville, Mississippi

InformatioLnauTerachBn.oClolgayrk Specialist Delta Research and Extension Center Stoneville, Mississippi

Bulletin 1154 was published by the Office of Agricultural Communications, a unit of the Division of Agriculture, Forestry, and Veterinary Medicine at Mississippi State University. Copyright 2007 by Mississippi State University. All rights reserved. This publication may be copied and distributed without alteration for nonprofit educational pur - poses provided that credit is given to the Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station. PREFACE From 2001 to 2003, the Mississippi Entomolog - State University, 49 were/are employees of the Unit - ical Association planned and prepared a special pro - ed States Department of Agriculture, five were/are gram for the November 2003 Annual Meeting. That employed by Mississippi State University during special program was to celebrate the 50th anniver - part of their professional service and with the Unit - sary of the association, including a half-day session ed States Department of Agriculture during another on the Mississippi Boll Weevil Eradication Pro - part of their service, four were employees of the gram. The eradication program began in Mississippi Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Com - in 1994 before it encountered problems and ended merce Bureau of Plant Industry, five were/are Mis - briefly. It started again in earnest in 1997 and was sissippi farmers and agribusinessmen, and one was a under way statewide at the time the jubilee celebra - distinguished U.S. congressman. All were distin - tion was being planned. guished citizens of Mississippi during part or all of The information presented in this bulletin was their professional careers. first presented in a more abridged style at the 50th The following individuals, in addition to the anniversary celebration in a series of posters enti - first author, served on the Boll Weevil Eradication – tled . In this MEA Program Subcommittee, which planned the way,Btohlel WaseseovciilatEiorandhicoantoiorendHtahlel opfeoFpaleme who had Celebration of Boll Weevil Eradication part of the made significant contributions to boll weevil control program for the November 2003 MEA Annual Meet - and eradication, as well as those Mississippi ento - ing and also made substantial contributions of infor - mologists who had worked diligently on boll weevil mation and pictures: Farrell Boyd, Jimmy problems during the early part of the 20th century Etheridge, Dick Hardee, Gerald McKibben, Joe when control methods were inadequate and difficult. Mulrooney, Jim Smith, Eric Villavaso, Jeff Willers, A total of 83 individuals are featured in the bul - and David Young. letin. Nineteen were/are employees of Mississippi Mississippi People – Contributors to Boll Weevil Eradication

INTRODUCTION Mississippi people in various professions have purpose of this presentation. The boll weevil, made major contributions to a national Boll Weevil Boheman, is a small- Eradication Program that is nearing completion sAnnothuot nboemeutlse g(rwaneedvisil)grtahnadtiscame into the United across the entire Cotton Belt of the United States. The States from Mexico near Brownsville, Texas, about contributions of these people need to be concisely 1892. The boll weevil was adapted to live and repro - recorded and archived because of their importance in duce primarily on a single host plant, cotton. Conse - the agricultural history of Mississippi, and that is the quently, its spread into the United States was purpose of this bulletin. The Boll Weevil Eradication inevitable once the southwestern margin of the enor - Program has been an important part of improved cot - mous cotton growing areas of the southern United ton insect management that is safe and successful. States approached or encroached on the weevil’s From both a national and state perspective, boll wee - native territory. vil eradication has been the most comprehensive Once the connection was made between the boll insect management program ever undertaken. Missis - weevil and U.S. cotton, the weevil infestation sippians who have worked on boll weevil control and moved north through Texas and east across the cot - eradication, both native born and others who made ton-producing states at a rate of about 50 miles per Mississippi their home during their professional year until it had infested most of the cotton in Texas careers, are important contributors to the agricultural, and all of the cotton-production areas east of Texas scientific, and educational history of the state. by 1922. The weevil crossed the Mississippi River Numerous manuscripts that provide information from Louisiana and infested the southwest corner about the boll weevil and insight into its impact on (Adams County near Natchez) of Mississippi in the agriculture, economy, culture, and quality of life 1907. in the South have been written and published (e.g., As the weevil progressed in its invasive migra - Cross 1973, Helms 1977, Smith and Harris 1994, tion across the South, it destroyed the region’s econ - Brazzel et al. 1996, and Smith 1998). Hardee and omy, which was largely dependent on cotton as its Harris (2003) wrote a perceptive and concise pres - main source of cash income. Much of the system of entation of boll weevil history, its impact on Ameri - agricultural research by the United States Depart - can agriculture, and the importance of boll weevil ment of Agriculture (USDA) and the state experi - eradication. Currently, the most comprehensive ment stations was founded on the need to solve the compilation about the boll weevil and boll weevil boll weevil problem. The highly successful Cooper - eradication is a Cotton Foundation reference book, ative Extension Service that now exists in every state of the union was founded to teach farmers how Boll W(DeeivcikleErsroandiectaatilo. n20in01th).eOUnneitcehdaSptaerteisntthhreouregf h - to grow cotton in spite of the boll weevil. 1er9e9n9 ce book tells the Mississippi boll weevil eradi - Insecticides that were highly effective in control - cation story (Harris and Smith 2001). ling boll weevils were eventually developed and A very brief synopsis of the boll weevil story, seemed to be a panacea for the cotton farmer. Eupho - which is detailed in the above references and other ria over the success of this chemical technology was literature, is a needed introduction to the primary short-lived. Insecticide resistance in the boll weevil

Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station 1 made many of the insecticides ineffective. philosophies had substantial followings in the com - Farmers became fearful about the future of such munity of professional entomologists. an ephemeral boll weevil control method and in the The success of the North Carolina/Virginia trial late 1950s began to look for a better way to deal resulted in the choice of eradication as the national with the boll weevil problem. In 1960, after much goal. Consequently, the BWET was expanded to lobbying by cotton industry leadership, the U.S. become the Boll Weevil Eradication Program, which Congress appropriated funds to construct the USDA progressed incrementally south and west and reached Agricultural Research Service (ARS) Boll Weevil Mississippi in 1994. Concurrent western programs Research Laboratory on the campus of Mississippi were conducted in California and Arizona. There State University. This unique laboratory facility was were some start-up problems in Mississippi after the formally dedicated in March 1961. A highly initial start in 1994. These problems delayed full focused, multidisciplinary, and large-scale (more implementation of the program until 1997. However, than 70 scientists and science support staff) research since 1997 the Mississippi Boll Weevil Eradication program was dedicated to developing the knowledge Program has progressed across the state and is now base and control methods necessary for eradicating near completion over the entire state. the boll weevil. Successful boll weevil eradication coupled with By 1969, the cotton industry wanted to know if introduction of transgenic Bt cotton (genetically eradication technology was far enough along in engineered caterpillar-insect-resistant cotton) has development to achieve boll weevil eradication. A completely changed cotton insect management in national Special Study Committee determined that Mississippi from an insecticide intensive program to effective techniques were available and recommend - minimum chemical insecticide use in a true inte - ed that a large experiment should be conducted to grated-pest-management system. test a multifaceted program (eight control techniques The remainder of this bulletin is devoted to its integrated into a coordinated program) that would primary purpose — an account of key Mississippi determine if boll weevil eradication were feasible. people and their contributions toward the manage - Consequently, the Pilot Boll Weevil Eradication ment and eradication of the boll weevil. Experiment was initiated in 1971 and concluded in People working in Mississippi over many years 1973. This large-area experiment covered most of of efforts in boll weevil control, preparation for boll Mississippi south of Jackson and parts of Alabama weevil eradication, and implementing the boll wee - and Louisiana. A Technical Guidance Committee vil eradication program have made great scientific evaluated the results of the experiment and conclud - and visionary contributions and have had profound ed that it was “technically and operationally feasible impacts on the successful outcome of the national to eliminate the boll weevil…” There were some program, and consequently on the Mississippi por - unanswered questions and concerns about imple - tion of the national Boll Weevil Eradication Pro - mentation of a national boll weevil eradication pro - gram. gram based on that experiment. Categorization and chronological order of con - After a delay of five years, a second large-area tributions is elusive for some individuals with long boll weevil eradication experiment called the Boll and diverse careers, so some overlap and omission Weevil Eradication Trial (BWET) was initiated in is inevitable. Chronological order of presentations is North Carolina and Virginia in 1978. A companion not rigorous. Individuals are loosely grouped as project called the Optimum Pest Management Trial much as possible according to related categorization (OPMT) was conducted in north Mississippi at the of their work. Some individuals listed are deceased, same time as the BWET. The purpose of the two tri - and the current location and status of some are als (BWET and OPMT) conducted simultaneously unknown to the authors. The order of presentation was to determine whether the objective should be to indicates no judgment about the relative importance eradicate or to manage the boll weevil. Both of any individual accomplishment.

2 Mississippi People — Contributors to Boll Weevil Eradication IN THE BEGINNING Many of the early researchers and other workers was a were primarily involved in helping growers deal USDEA.We.ntoDmuonlongaimst at Delta with the devastating invasion of the boll weevil. In Branch Experiment Station in the early days of boll weevil infestation in Missis - Stoneville, Mississippi, from sippi, this activity was focused on cultural control 1936 until 1955. He conduct - methods that promoted early fruit production to ed research on the early escape the heaviest mid- and late-season boll weevil arsenical dust insecticides and infestation. Some practices that promoted earliness continued boll weevil control were planting early, using of fertilizers to hasten research with organochlorine maturity, changing to early-maturing varieties, and and organophosphate insecti - Dunnam harvesting early followed by destruction of stalks cides. His research also spanned the important transi - (Helms 1977). Attention soon evolved to searching tion from dust application to water-diluted spray for chemical insecticides that worked and dealing application. He was the leader of entomology science with insecticide resistance when it occurred. at Stoneville during his tenure there.

was an earlyRoebnteoymWol.oHgaisrtniend Missis - Marvin Merkl, Randle Furr, Sr., Edwweirne sippi, who served as head of LUlSoDydA, TenetdomPforliomgimstesr,atanDdelTtaomBireanCclhevEelxapned riment the Mississippi State Univer - Station. Their tenures at the Delta Branch began sity Department of Entomolo - during the mid-1950s and lasted for various dura - gy. He made observations of tions into the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s. They worked the first boll weevil infesta - on boll weevil control and on various aspects of boll tions in Mississippi in 1907 weevil biology, behavior, and crop damage. Much of and wrote an early experi - their work was done before the concept of boll wee - ment station bulletin (1910) Harned vil eradication was developed. Cleveland did early on his observations and on boll weevil biology and work on ultra-low-volume (ULV) application of control. The Boll Weevil Research Laboratory, orig - malathion. ULV application was application of non- inally dedicated on March 21, 1962, was renamed water diluted spray at rates usually of 1 quart per the Robey Wentworth Harned Laboratory and reded - acre or less. ULV malathion became very important icated on November 10, 1982, in his honor. in the Boll Weevil Eradication Program. Two of

Merkl Furr Lloyd Pfrimmer Cleveland

Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station 3 these scientists (Merkl and Lloyd) moved on to Mis - like the boll weevil. This sets up a condition that sissippi State and worked in specific areas of boll may aggravate a serious outbreak of the secondary weevil eradication research at the USDA-ARS Boll pest. Laster retired from Mississippi State Universi - Weevil Research Laboratory. Their contributions ty in 1988 and continued his sterile-hybrid research will be cited again in that regard. as research entomologist for the USDA-ARS at Stoneville from 1988 until 1995. was a Mis - sissiAp.pLi. EHxapmerniemr ent Station had a entomologist at Mississippi longChcarelieer Pinarebnoclila weevil State University who con - research, starting in Texas ducted research on insectici - with early insecticide experi - dal control of boll weevil. He ments. He was a pioneer in conducted a major study on the discovery and promotion the effect of different levels of benefits of early-season of boll weevil infestation on (pinhead-square applications) the cotton plant and yield. Hamner control of boll weevil. He His work provided fundamental information on served many years at USDA Parencia when cotton farmers should start spraying insecti - headquarters in Beltsville, Maryland, as assistant to cides to avoid yield loss to developing boll weevil the chief of the Cotton Insects Branch of the USDA- infestations. ARS Entomology Research Division. This service was during the years of intensive research and pilot testing of boll weevil eradication. Parencia finished C.E. (Skippewre)rKe iMngisasnis d - his career as a scientist on the USDA-ARS staff at sMipapriion LSataster University the Southern Insect Management Research Unit research entomologists who located in the Jamie Whitten Research Center in conducted boll weevil control Stoneville. research at the Delta Branch Experiment Station. King conducted worked there in the 1950s. reseWarcilhliaomn USLcoVtt application Laster’s tenure spanned a of malathion in the early period from 1968 to 1988. King stages of development of this The later part of Laster’s technology. He started his career was devoted to work career at Tallulah, Louisiana, on a sterile hybrid cross and later moved to Mississip - ( x pi, first to the Boll Weevil Heliothis viresc.ens Helio - Research Laboratory at Mis - this subfwleaxsa)the Hnoetloioritohuis sissippi State and then to the Scott vtoirbeasccceonsbudworm, a cotton USDA-ARS Southern Insect Management Research pest that was difficult to con - Unit at Stoneville. His research included work on trol and at various times reproduction-diapause and boll weevil trapping caused great destruction to Laster research, both very important components of boll the crop. Caterpillar pests, such as the tobacco bud - weevil eradication. He also served a key research worm, are often secondary pests in an agro-ecosys - role in the Optimum Pest Management (OPM) Trial tem. Natural enemies of such secondary pests are in north Mississippi. killed by insecticides applied to control a key pest

4 Mississippi People — Contributors to Boll Weevil Eradication PREPARATION FOR THE PROGRAM Important political, research, educational, and pro - vidual scientists. Under his direction, major scien - motional activities began after the great scare caused by tific discoveries and developments in boll weevil boll weevil resistance to organochlorine insecticides. eradication technology were achieved. Especially Commitment to boll weevil eradication was secured. notable were advances in insect rearing, and The USDA-ARS Boll Weevil Research Laboratory was pheromone and trapping technology. opened, research programs were established, and the large-scale experiment and area-wide demonstration was an trial were planned, financed, and conducted. Mississip - inseNctormphaynsioMloigtliisn t at the pi people were key players in much of this long-term, USDA-ARS Boll Weevil broad-based journey toward a Beltwide Boll Weevil Research Laboratory who Eradication Program. Much of the work was done in worked on the effect of radia - Mississippi by Mississippi residents and members of tion sterilization and the Mississippi Entomological Association. Of course, chemosterilization on the there were many contributions from people in other physiology, behavior, and states, but this bulletin focuses on those who worked in longevity of boll weevil. Mississippi. Mitlin was an , member entoJmaoclkogiHstaywnheos spent his of thJeamUi.eS.WHhoiuttseen of Repre - professional career, including sentatives from Mississippi, graduate school, at the was a key congressional USDA-ARS Boll Weevil leader in obtaining congres - Research Laboratory at Mis - sional authorization and fund - sissippi State. His work was ing for boll weevil focused on sterilization of the eradication. He was influen - boll weevil. He tested radia - tial in boll weevil eradication tion, chemosterilants, addi - Haynes policy development. Whitten Whitten tives, and synergists in attempts to attain a sterile exerted an important influence on the USDA budgets, and competitive boll weevil. to which funds were appropriated for research facili - ties, personnel, support, large-scale experiments, and area-wide trials. He played a significant role in loca - wasRaosbceiernttiTst. o(fBgoreba)t iGntaesl -t tion of the national boll weevil research facility on lect and exceptional creative the campus of Mississippi State University . ability. He designed, built, and tested many of the auto - mated processes used in mass Theowdaosrea luBm. ina(rTyedin ) rearing of boll weevil, bDoalvl icwh eevil research and a processes that have been visionary advocate of the sci - adapted to mass rearing of entific potential and possibil - other insects. It was his abili - Gast ity of boll weevil eradication. ty to rear very large numbers of boll weevils that He was the first director of made some of the early pheromone (grandlure) the USDA-ARS Boll Weevil research possible. His achievements were done at a Research Laboratory at Mis - time when instruments were far less sensitive than sissippi State and began his Davich they are today. Bob was killed in a tragic accident in career there in 1961. He provided a type of leader - his laboratory in 1966. The Robert T. Gast Rearing ship that allowed and promoted creativity in indi - Facility at MSU is named in honor of him.

Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station 5 fol - worked in loweJd.GB.o(bJGacakst) aGs railfefian der in bollJwoneeRviolbaenrsdonother insect boll weevil rearing research rearing research and produc - at Mississippi State. He con - tion techniques at the Gast tinued the progress in devel - Rearing Facility at Mississip - opment of mass rearing pi State. He provided leader - techniques with emphasis on ship in improvement of control of microbial contami - production capacity and wee - nants and pathogens. vil quality, and he was a par - Griffin ticipant in sterile weevil Roberson contributed research. He initiated work on rearing of boll weevil signSiftiacnanMtlyaltoone the develop - parasites. His work was cut short by death midway ment of boll weevil rearing in his career. techniques. In his work as a technician, he developed, was an modified, and maintained inseActlagnenCe.ticBiastrtilnett the Boll highly sophisticated automa - Weevil Research Laboratory tion equipment for mass rear - at Mississippi State. His work ing. affected other areas of boll Malone weevil research including was a rearing, behavior, chemoster - USDDAorwAanyinmeaGl loavnedr Plant ilization, and irradiation ster - Health Inspection Service ilization. His discovery and (APHIS) Methods Develop - propagation of the ebony trait Bartlett ment Division employee who in boll weevil made it possible to identify boll wee - was assigned to the USDA- vils that were reared and released. ARS Boll Weevil Research Laboratory in 1968 to work was on rearing procedures for an iPnesteecrt Pp.aSthiokloorgoiwstskini the mass production of boll wee - Glover Entomology Department of vil. He briefly (1970-1972) worked with a team of Mississippi State University. researchers to construct and maintain a boll weevil He led research and develop - rearing facility for APHIS Methods Development in ment of sanitary methods of Gulfport, Mississippi. In 1972, he returned to the rearing boll weevils free of Gast Rearing Laboratory at Mississippi State Uni - debilitating disease and versity, where weevils were reared, sexed, and ster - microbial diet contaminants. ilized (males) for release in the Pilot Boll Weevil Sikorowski Eradication Experiment in south Mississippi. wasWa iclloianmsumHm. a(tBeilnla)tuCrraolissst worked and insect behaviorist in the as aOrlievserarHch. Lleinadeigr in boll Boll Weevil Research Labo - weevil rearing at the Gast ratory at Mississippi State. Rearing Facility. During his Keen observation and careful tenure at the facility, he records characterized his organized and improved mass research. From his work, one rearing procedures. could see high-speed photog - raphy of a boll weevil taking Cross off in flight, of the positions and motion of elytra Lindig and membranous hind wings during flight, and of a

6 Mississippi People — Contributors to Boll Weevil Eradication landing. One could find time and motion studies of a boll weevil on a cotton plant, as well as the flight Jgaamves aH.st(eJlilmar) pTeurmfolrim n - pattern of a boll weevil responding to pheromone. asonnce as a capable scientist He knew the alternative wild host plants of boll while he was a graduate stu - weevil in the subtropics and tropics of the Americ - dent working toward a Ph.D. as. He headed the Biological Evaluation Teams of degree in organic chemistry at both the Optimum Pest Management Trial in Mis - Mississippi State University. sissippi and the Boll Weevil Eradication Trial in His work on the boll weevil North Carolina and Virginia. Cross conceived the pheromone was a major con - need, promoted the concept, and shepherded the tribution to the Boll Weevil Tumlinson early organization of the Insect Museum at Missis - Eradication Program. The boll weevil pheromone, sippi State University. He possessed rare and grandlure, used as a lure in a trap made it possible to extraordinary talent that was unfortunately far too detect very low population densities of the boll wee - short-lived. He died at the hands of criminal high - vil. Without such a technique, it would be cost-pro - waymen while on one of his many ecological hibitive, if not practically impossible, to determine research excursions into Mexico. areas that harbor low weevil infestations and to direct eradication efforts to such areas. It also allows worked with the confident determination of eradication in an area BillJoCeroLsesggaentdt is credited or region. Tumlinson was the key person in a team of with pioneer work in scientists who isolated, identified, and synthesized pheromone trap design. The the four-chemical blend that makes up the boll wee - Leggett Trap was the first vil pheromone used in these boll weevil traps. trap that captured weevils in a cage instead of using the was the Paul Hedin messy Stickem ® (glue coat - chemistry investigations ing) method of capture. leader at the Boll Weevil Leggett Research Laboratory. He recruited, employed, organ - workWe.dLw. ith(BBiillll)CroJsosh, nDsiocnk ized, and led the team of Hardee, and others on boll researchers that developed weevil behavior, trapping, grandlure. He served one of and biological control. He the longest tenures at the Boll conducted some of the early Weevil Research Laboratory. Hedin research on the boll weevil parasite, . Catolaccus grandis Richard C. (Dick) Johnson was a synthetic Gorugaenldicnecr hemist at the Boll WhaidlliamloLng. (cBairlel)erMicnGboov l-l Weevil Research Laboratory. ewren evil research at the Boll He provided guidance to the Weevil Research Laboratory synthesis team and did much with Bill Cross, Jack Haynes, of the synthesis work on the Gerald McKibben, Eric four components of grandlure. Villavaso, and Jim Smith. He He synthesized the first grand - worked on behavior, biological lure that was field-tested. Gueldner control, sterilization, phe- romone trapping, attract-and- McGovern kill technology, and malathion dose efficiency. Bill was a keen observer who helped perfect the boll weevil trap and the attract-and-kill device.

Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station 7 deeply involved in the original development of traps wasJamUeSs DP.A(-JAimRS) Mreisneyaarrcdh and lures for boll weevil monitoring, management, chemist who served on the and eradication. Following his tenure at the Boll boll weevil pheromone Weevil Research Laboratory, Hardee spent several research team with Jim Tum - years in private business, and then returned to linson and others during the research with USDA-ARS. He served as research years of Tumlinson’s gradu - leader of the Southern Insect Management Research ate school studies and Unit at Stoneville from the late 1980s until he research on isolation, identi - retired in 2004. fication, and synthesis of Minyard grandlure. After Minyard’s work at the Boll Weevil is a Research Laboratory and attainment of a Ph.D. natiEve. BMruicsseisMsipitpcihaenll who degree from Mississippi State University, he was grew up near Louisville, Mis - employed for many years with the Mississippi sissippi. He was employed at Department of Agriculture and Commerce, Missis - the Boll Weevil Research sippi State Chemical Laboratory at Mississippi Laboratory and earned a State. Ph.D. degree at Mississippi State University. He is credit - was a ed with having a major role USDAA.C-A. RTShroemsepasrcohn chemist in developing the complex Mitchell at the Boll Weevil Research bioassay procedure that was critical to the Laboratory who worked with pheromone isolation process, and he developed the Tumlinson, Hedin, Gueldner, first practical trap. He obtained the first patent that and Minyard in the isolation, was issued on a boll weevil pheromone trap. identification, and synthesis of grandlure. was a bio - logiNcaelvtieechWnilcsioan at the Boll Thompson was Weevil Research Laboratory. invoJl.vCed. i(nJascekve)raKl ealslpeer cts of Jim Tumlinson credited her boll weevil research in the with having the magic touch early years of concentrated in the bioassay procedure for effort at the Boll Weevil chemical fractions (gas-chro - Research Laboratory. His matography separations of work included participation potential active pheromone in experiments on the sterile chemicals) to determine Wilson male technique. He was the active components. She successfully assayed thou - first scientist to observe, test, Keller sands of fractions in search for the magic four active and report that male boll weevils produced a sex ones. Her work over many years also contributed to attractant. sterile weevil research and to development of the attract-and-kill tactic. was a leDad.Der. i(nDirceks)eaHrcahrdoene boll worked weevil response to on PthaeulsHteurdildelebstoolnl weevil pheromone and bioassay technique with Ted Davich, methods for testing grandlure on boll weevil behavior with components and formula - Bill Cross, and was a key tions. He had a productive contributor to boll weevil career at the Boll Weevil trapping research with Dick Research Laboratory and was Hardee. Hardee Huddleston

8 Mississippi People — Contributors to Boll Weevil Eradication began a wasGaelreaaldder Hin. reMsecaKrcihbbaennd longEdbwoilnl Pw. eLelvoiyld research development of formulations career in Mississippi begin - for stable and controlled ning with USDA-ARS at release of grandlure. He had a Stoneville in the late 1950s long career in boll weevil and continuing at the Boll research at the Boll Weevil Weevil Research Laboratory. Research Laboratory and He made a major contribution completed his tenure as the to boll weevil eradication research leader of the Boll McKibben through his research on dia - Lloyd Weevil Research Unit. He researched many aspects pause and reproduction-diapause control. He was of the boll weevil, including flight, movement, trap - involved in many aspects of boll weevil research ping, sterility, response to grandlure, attract-and-kill including trapping and insecticidal control. He pro - device, and control with malathion. He has obtained vided leadership in both the Pilot Boll Weevil Erad - several patents on boll weevil control devices. ication Experiment in south Mississippi and in the Boll Weevil Eradication Trial in North Carolina and has had Virginia. He served as director of the USDA-ARS a loEngricanJd. Vpriolldauvcatsiove career Boll Weevil Research Laboratory at Mississippi in boll weevil research at the State until retirement in 1986. Boll Weevil Research Labo - ratory at Mississippi State worked after a short tenure with as aMboalrlvwineeEv.iMl reerskeal rcher at USDA-ARS at Louisiana the Boll Weevil Research State University. He con - Laboratory at Mississippi tributed significantly to State after transferring in the research on sterility, grand - Villavaso early 1960s from Stoneville. lure, trapping, diapause, attract-and-kill devices, He contributed to the sterile and malathion insecticide. He led in the research boll weevil research program, that showed that the malathion rate could be reduced to diapause and diapause con - below the standard rate of 16 ounces per acre, a trol research, and to insectici - Merkl major basis for reduced cost of eradication in Mis - dal control of boll weevil. sissippi. worked in Ed JLolhonydM’s cClaoby oratory and TceornednucceteLd. b(Taseircrrye)sWeaarcg h - contributed to research on dia - onner and modeled boll weevil pause control, trapping, and dispersal and development of insecticide research. He devel - diapause. He worked with oped the McCoy Bug Catcher Eric Villavaso and others to and later contributed to early develop models of boll wee - development of geographic vil diapause development and information systems (GIS) for spray scheduling. His next- boll weevil eradication. McCoy spray-needed prediction Wagner model improved the efficiency of diapause control sprays in the first two years of intensive treatments in the Mississippi Boll Weevil Eradication Program.

Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station 9 was an aEg.rCic.ul(tEurdadl ien)gBinueretr who becaFmoewadelneadiGng. hoMsta-pxlwanetl-l worked in insecticide appli - resistance entomologist who cation research in the Boll worked as a team member Weevil Research Laboratory with Johnie Jenkins in the at Mississippi State. He was a host-plant-resistance research participant in early work on program at the Boll Weevil ULV application of mala- Research Laboratory. He thion and azinphosmethyl became department head in (Guthion ®). His work with Burt the Department of Entomolo - Maxwell ground application enabled small plot testing of the gy at Mississippi State University in 1968 and concept. served through the period of the Pilot Boll Weevil Eradication Experiment in south Mississippi. In that capacity, he provided leadership and a stabilizing hadFaralnonkg AcaurbeerreyinHcaorttroins influence during controversy about that experiment. insect research that included Maxwell later served as head of the Department of work on boll weevil fall biol - Entomology and Nematology at the University of ogy, diapause, control with Florida and completed a nationally acclaimed career ULV malathion, and safety of as head of the Department of Entomology at Texas malathion to commercial cat - A&M University. fish production. He started in Ed Lloyd’s laboratory (in the Boll Weevil Research Labo - Harris workJeadckas pCla.nt bMreecdCearrtay t ratory) as a graduate student at Mississippi State the Boll Weevil Research University. He was a professor and researcher in the Laboratory. He is a native Mississippi State University Department of Ento - Mississippian who has had an mology from 1968 to 1976, after which he was in effective career in cotton private business for several years before returning to genetics and breeding. He did Mississippi State University to work as a research much of the early work on professor at the Delta Research and Extension Cen - crossing modern cotton with ter. He became chairman of the Mississippi Boll primitive stocks of cotton in McCarty Weevil Technical Advisory Committee in 1995. search of resistance and good agronomic qualities.

came to thJeohBnoiell NW.eJeevnilkiRnes search wasWainlliaemntLom. (oBliollg)isPtarwrohto t Laboratory soon after it began his work in 1963 on opened in 1961 as a geneti - host-plant-resistance at the cist and plant breeder and has Boll Weevil Research Labo - had a highly accomplished ratory with Johnie Jenkins career in boll weevil and cot - and Fowden Maxwell. He ton genetics research. Jenkins evaluated cottons possessing was the lead scientist for all potential resistance to boll boll weevil genetics work in Jenkins weevil, including the influ - Parrott the early days of that research program. He accumu - ence of the Frego bract trait on boll weevil behavior lated an archive of cotton germplasm in search of and insecticide efficacy. boll weevil resistant traits, one of which was the Frego bract characteristic.

10 Mississippi People — Contributors to Boll Weevil Eradication has worked in provJiedfefdreeyxpLe.rtiWseililnersinsect bollGlenwneeWviilygul physiology sampling and modeling research and made significant important to boll weevil erad - contributions to knowledge ication. He worked on boll about pheromone production in weevil diapause, movement, the boll weevil. Wiygul also and malathion control. His worked with Jim Smith in the work showed the pattern of USDA-ARS Boll Weevil boll weevil invasion and dis - Research Unit on development persion in cotton fields. Willers of a GIS for application in boll Wiygul weevil eradication, and he worked as a computer ana - worked as a technician and lyst in the Geographic Information System Project of gradWua.Tte. s(tBuidlleyn)t Binufthoerd host-plant-resistance labora - the Mississippi Boll Weevil Management Corporation. tory in the USDA-ARS Boll Weevil Research Labo - ratory with Johnie Jenkins. Part of his work involved testing a trait in cotton that suppressed Josewphas Ean. e(nJtooem)olMoguisl -t oviposition of the boll weevil. rinoonaepy plication technology research in the USDA-ARS Application and Production movJeadmferosmWt.he(JUimSD) AS-mARitSh Research Unit at Stoneville. Southern Field Crop Insect He did extensive research on Management Laboratory at ULV malathion, air-assist Stoneville in 1987 to become spray technology, and adju - research leader of the Boll vant/additive technology. His Mulrooney Weevil Research Unit at Mis - work provided essential support of reduced rate for sissippi State. He led and ULV malathion in the Mississippi Boll Weevil Erad - conducted research on devel - ication Program and essential information on drift oping new technologies for Smith potential for ULV malathion. use in boll weevil eradication programs. That work included development of GIS technology applicable was an insect pathologist at to the Mississippi Boll Weevil Eradication Program, the URS.ED.AM-AcLRaSuBgohlllinWeevil Research Laboratory at as well as application of pheromone technology in Mississippi State. He discovered, isolated, cultured, an attract-and-kill device for boll weevil control. He and tested numerous boll weevil pathogens. served as chairman of the Mississippi Boll Weevil Technical Advisory Committee from 1994 to 1995. was an insect pathologist in McLRaaungdhylin’Bsell aboratory at the Boll Weevil was an insect toxicologist at the Boll Research Laboratory. After completing a Ph.D. WeeRvi.lJ.RDeaseuamrch Laboratory with a special interest degree at Mississippi State University, he continued in developing and testing boll weevil bait in which his work in insect pathology at USDA-ARS labora - pathogens could be incorporated. tories at Tempe, Arizona and Stoneville, Mississippi.

Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station 11 EDUCATION AND PROMOTION The politics, program organization, and logistics was opti - of boll weevil eradication are analogous to getting mumRpoenstSmeawnaargdement opera - ready for war. The methods (weapons) were tions chief located at believed to be available, operational, and effective. Batesville in Panola County. The important and necessary task then was to con - He worked closely with Gor - vince the U.S. Congress and state legislatures, don Andrews in management research and regulatory agencies, the general public, and operation of the Optimum and cotton farmers that it could and should be done, Pest Management Trial. and that it would be safe and cost-effective. The job Seward later worked as a pri - of putting it all together into an organized, struc - vate cotton entomology con - Seward tured, cohesive, and functioning system required sultant, an entomology specialist with the University numerous people with super organizational and of Tennessee Extension Service in West Tennessee, negotiating skill. Mississippi provided a large num - and the Tennessee program manager for the South - ber of these skilled people. eastern Boll Weevil Eradication Foundation.

was the was the state ExteDnasvioidn Fe.nYtoomuonlg ogist for IPMJimcoHoarmdienrator in the Mississippi and, for many Extension Service at Missis - years, head of the Extension sippi State University. He Entomology Department at provided part of the leader - Mississippi State University. ship for the Optimum Pest He began his entomology Management Trial. career in Tylertown in 1949 with the State Plant Board (now the Bureau of Plant Young Hamer Industry), and then moved to Stoneville in 1951 was before moving to Mississippi State University in ExteCnlsyidoen F.enStaormtoorl,oJgri.s, t in 1955 to work for the Cooperative Extension Serv - the Extension Service at Mis - ice. He was keenly interested in utilizing boll wee - sissippi State University vil diapause control as the foundation of a cotton between 1971 and 1976. Sar - insect-pest-management system. He became a tor later worked for private strong proponent and spokesman for boll weevil industry before becoming a eradication in Mississippi and served in various pol - private consultant. He has icy-influencing capacities. participated in boll weevil eradication in several capaci - Sartor was ties and represented the Mississippi Agricultural the GaoreradonpeLst. Amnadnraegwes ment Consultants Association on the first State Technical specialist with Mississippi Advisory Committee. Cooperative Extension Serv - ice at Batesville in Panola County during the Optimum Pest Management Trial in north Mississippi from 1978 to 1981. He provided techni - cal expertise and on-site Andrews management of this trial in Mississippi.

12 Mississippi People — Contributors to Boll Weevil Eradication was ExteHn.sCio.n eMntiotmchoellol gist in MichaseelrvedRa.s an(EMxitkene)- the Extension Service at Mis - sWioinlliaemntsomologist at Missis - sissippi State University from sippi State University. He has 1976 to 1979. He had a key contributed significantly to role in promotion, education, the Mississippi Boll Weevil and leadership of the Opti - Eradication Program by oper - mum Pest Management Trial. ating a boll weevil trap line Prior to his Extension Service program that identified the work, Mitchell did some out - Mitchell extent and intensity of boll Williams standing research with isotope tracers for marking weevil infestation in different regions of the state. boll weevils and tracking them in the field. was a planDt apvatehoClo.gRisat nwnheoy worked succReeodbeedrt HB.C. .(BMoibtc)heHlleaad s in cotton pathology research Extension cotton entomolo - then administration in the gist and served in that capac - USDA-ARS before becoming ity from 1979 until 1993. He head of the Delta Research had been an area pest man - and Extension Center. He agement specialist before that was called upon by the Mis - appointment. His tenure was sissippi Boll Weevil Manage - during much of the critical ment Corporation to serve as Ranney stage when boll weevil eradi - Head chair of the Mississippi Boll Weevil Technical Advi - cation was initiated in Mississippi. He served as sory Committee during the early stages of promo - chairman of the State Technical Advisory Commit - tion and initiation of the Mississippi Boll Weevil tee, which was the first technical advisory commit - Eradication Program. tee for boll weevil eradication. The directors of the MSU Extension Service and Mississippi Agricultur - al and Forestry Experiment Station appointed this becaCmlaerheenacde ofH.theCDolelpisaortn - committee. ment of Entomology (cur - rently Department of suc - Entomology and Plant ceedMed. BBolabkHe eLadayatson Exten - Pathology) at Mississippi sion cotton entomologist for State University in 1989, a Mississippi and provided out - few years before intensive standing service to Mississip - activity to initiate boll weevil pi in that capacity from 1993 eradication in Mississippi. Collison until 2003. He possessed a He provided leadership and support of the many wealth of information and entomological activities involved before initiation ability to effectively present and during implementation of the Mississippi Boll it. He played an important Layton Weevil Eradication Program. role in informational and promotional activities in support of boll weevil eradication in Mississippi.

Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station 13 has Commerce, Bureau of Plant Industry (formerly the workFerdedfoTr .mCanoyokyee,arJsr.a, s an State Plant Board). They collectively served for agricultural economist at the many years from the 1960s through 2002. They Delta Research and Extension were shepherds of the regulatory aspects of boll Center (retired from USDA weevil eradication, of which there were many, Economics Research Serv - including state registrations of boll weevil insecti - ice). Cooke has been involved cides, environmental issues, and issues of enforce - in the economic evaluation of ment and collection of assessments. boll weevil eradication since the early days of the pilot Cooke , experiment in south Mississippi and the eradication profDesasvoirdofWag. riPcaulrtvuirnal, eJcro . - trial in North Carolina and Virginia. He served on the nomics at Mississippi State evaluation teams for these trials. University, was involved for many years in economic analyses of various aspects of O.T. Guicwe,eJreacsktaCteoelnetyo,mRoolboegristtMs acnCdadritrye,catonrd s boll weevil control and eradi - Eofdwthien DMyisessisssippi Department of Agriculture and cation.

Parvin

Guice Coley McCarty Dyess

14 Mississippi People — Contributors to Boll Weevil Eradication IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PROGRAM Boll weevil eradication was not an easy sell in lenges of substantial opposition, a recall referendum all of Mississippi. It was very important to cotton in east Mississippi that failed and stopped the pro - growers in some areas of the Hills Region of the gram for a year, or daunting financial shortfalls. He state and a simple decision for them. However, the provided energetic and committed leadership essen - decision was not so straightforward for much of the tial for the political, financial, and operational suc - Delta, which had large cotton acreages in most cess of the program. He has served as president and counties. Strong leadership was needed to bring the chairman of the Board of Directors of the Mississip - diverse factions together in an acceptable and work - pi Boll Weevil Management Corporation. Hood was able plan. That leadership came forward and recipient of a special award from the Mississippi engaged in the task of education, promotion, and Entomological Association in 2003 for his contribu - persuasion. Statutory authority was secured. An tions to boll weevil eradication. effective organization was created. Competent per - sonnel were employed. Referenda were scheduled , a farmer/ and passed. The program was implemented. ginnBeerr/angarridbuKsiinneg ssman in Rankin County, provided committed and tireless lead - wasJoanmeeosfRth.e(Jluimm)inBarriaezszoefl ership throughout the organi - boll weevil research and of zation, initiation, roadblocks, scientific, technical, and pro - and ultimate statewide imple - motional leadership. He mentation of the Mississippi could fit into any one or all Boll Weevil Eradication Pro - categories for people cited in gram. He has served as treas - King this publication. He became urer of the Mississippi Boll Weevil Management the head of a newly organized Corporation since its charter was issued. He has Department of Entomology at Brazzel been a key person in dealing with the Mississippi Mississippi State University in 1963. He did semi - Legislature to obtain enabling legislation for the nal research on diapause in the boll weevil while at program and has been tireless in the pursuit of Louisiana State University and shortly thereafter did financing and financial assistance for the program. the conceptual and validation work at Texas A&M King received a special award from the Mississippi University on diapause control of boll weevil. He Entomological Association in 2003 for his contribu - brought this interest and expertise to Mississippi tions to boll weevil eradication. State University, where he restored the Entomology Department to a position of national leadership. He , a farmer/ later moved to USDA-APHIS Methods Develop - agriBbuosbibnyessMmiallner in Leflore ment, where he provided operational and technical County, was one of the early guidance to the Boll Weevil Eradication Program for leaders in the Mississippi many years. Boll Weevil Management Corporation. He served as the , a farmer/ first chairman of the Board of ginnKeer/nangertibhuHsionoed ssman in Directors of the corporation Bolivar County, stood head and spent much time and and shoulders above the fray energy in the planning and Miller during the early days of organization phases of boll weevil eradication in organizing a Mississippi Boll Mississippi. Weevil Eradication Program. He was undeterred by chal -

Hood

Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station 15 , a farmer and busiDnoesnsWmaanller in Lafayette Jea, nonfifnicee aKdimrkinpiasttrraitcok r County, was president of the Sonmtihthe Mississippi Boll Wee - Mississippi Farm Bureau vil Management Corporation Federation during the promo - staff at Mississippi State Uni - tional, organizational, and versity, succeeded George initiation phases of the Mis - Mullendore upon his retire - sissippi Boll Weevil Eradica - ment with the title of execu - tion Program. He provided tive director of the valuable leadership for boll Waller corporation. She continued Smith weevil eradication in Mississippi. responsibilities for boll weevil trapping data man - agement. , a farmer and Dfoarmviedr sBtaetnenlegtt islator from , Missis - Benton County, was one of the sippFi aprroegllraJm. Bmoyadnager for strongest advocates in the state the Southeastern Boll Weevil for boll weevil eradication. His Eradication Foundation, Inc., political connections and had responsibility for admin - friendships provided important istration and management of opportunities to help secure the program in Mississippi. authorization and funding for He worked for USDA-APHIS the eradication program. Bennett for many years and had oper - ational responsibility for the Boyd , a Pilot Boll Weevil Eradication Experiment in south retirGedeoErxgteensMiounllceontdtoonre spe - Mississippi (1971-73). His capable direction and cialist, was employed as the management of the program has been a key to its project coordinator for the success in Mississippi. Mississippi Boll Weevil Management Corporation , with offices on the campus of an eRntoobmeortloGgi.st(Bwoitbh)UJSoDneAs - Mississippi State University. APHIS PPQ Methods Devel - In that capacity, he managed opment, worked for many the Geographic Information Mullendore years with Jim Brazzel on System Project that had the primary objective of field testing and improve - developing a computerized system of handling boll ments of eradication methods weevil trapping data for the eradication program. in the southeastern program. He was transferred to Missis - , commodity sippi with an office at Missis - Jones direJct.Lor. oSflatyhe Mississippi sippi State where he continued methods Farm Bureau Federation, pro - development work with ULV malathion, application vided guidance and support to methods, and attract-and-kill devices. Jones coau - the eradication program from thored a pictorial key for weevil identification. inception through implemen - tation. He was a competent advocate and excellent com - municator who served as liai - son between Farm Bureau and Slay various stakeholders. Slay served a key role in devel - opment and passage of enabling legislation.

16 Mississippi People — Contributors to Boll Weevil Eradication TECHNICAL ADVISORY COMMITTEES A program as geographically large in scope and as technically and operationally complex as the Boll Ex-Officio,SHTeAadC, MMSUemDebpearts ment of Entomology C.H. Collison Weevil Eradication Program needed a formalized , USDA-ARS, Research Leader, Mississippi State J.W. Smith source of technical advice and guidance during its , USDA-ARS, Research Leader, Stoneville preparatory, implementation, and operational stages. D.D. Hardee This was accomplished in Mississippi with two tech - nical advisory committees. The first was established STAC Members from State Regulatory because of the foresight of a group of university Agencies, MaDnAdC,OBtuhreearu OofrPglaannt iInzdautsitory ns Jack Coley administrators when it was obvious to them that the , Mississippi Department of Health Bruce Bracken program was about to move across the Cotton Belt. , Cotton Producer, Delta Council Kenneth Hood The second was required by state law, the Mississip - , Cotton Producer, Delta Council Robroy Fisher pi Boll Weevil Management Act, which authorized , Cotton Producer, Mississippi creation of the Mississippi Boll Weevil Management DFaavrimd BBeunrenaeutt Federation Corporation that would function to implement and , Cotton Producer, Mississippi Bernard King manage a boll weevil eradication program in the Farm Bureau Federation , Mississippi Aerial Applicators Association state. Many of the people who served on one or both Vince Muzzi , Mississippi Agricultural Chemicals Council of these committees are featured in the previous sec - Sam A. Newsom , Mississippi Agricultural tions of this bulletin, but some are not. Following are CClyodnesuSlatarntotsr Association brief discussions of the functions of these commit - , Mississippi Department tees and lists of committee members. RofbEenrtviSroenymfaernthtal Quality

The STAC became active in late 1989 with its first SoutShteartneATgericchunltiucraall EAxdpveirsiomreyntCSotamtimonitDteier.ectors meeting on November 30, 1989. A Grower Advisory recommended in their May 1989 meeting that each Committee was appointed with cotton producers state producing cotton in the southern region should representing all cotton growing areas of the state: appoint a Statewide Technical Advisory Committee Tom Garrett, Jakey Hurdle, L.H. Johnson, Wendell (STAC). At Mississippi State University, Verner G. Johnson, Margaret McKee, Bobby Miller, Frank Hurt, director of the Mississippi Agricultural and Mitchener, Tom Robertson, Bo Robinson, Bill Forestry Experiment Station (MAFES), and Hiram Thomas and Robert Mashburn. STAC reported to D. Palmertree, director of the Mississippi Coopera - the Grower Advisory Committee, and the growers tive Extension Service (MCES), appointed the fol - acted as liaison between STAC and other cotton pro - lowing Mississippi STAC on August 15, 1989, (as ducers in their home areas. revised with two additional names on January 15, STAC became active in various aspects of 1990). preparing for boll weevil eradication. During late 1989 and early 1990, the committee developed and proposed a plan to initiate a statewide boll weevil STAC Ap, MpCoEinSt, eEdxtebnysioHn uCrotttoannEdntPomaolmlogeisrtt,rCehe air management program that could be implemented in Bob Head , MCES, Delta Cotton Extension Entomologist the 1990 growing season to take advantage of a Roy Reid , MCES, County Agent harsh 1989-90 winter. There was interest in a sus - Thomas Love , MCES, County Agent tained boll weevil management program that would Barney Tanner , MAFES, Entomologist (Delta Cotton) maintain boll weevil infestations at relatively low Aubrey Harris , MAFES, Entomologist (Hill Cotton) levels and consequently make boll weevil eradica - Randy Luttrell , MCES, Program Leader tion a less daunting task when eradication came to John Wilson , MAFES, Agricultural Economist Mississippi. Five technical members of the commit - Fred Cooke tee (Hardee, Harris, Head, Sartor, and Smith) pro - posed a management program. The Cooperative

Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station 17 Extension Service and the farm media conducted a , Entomologist, Delta Research concerted educational program that encouraged AaunbdreEyxHteanrsriios n Center , Extension Entomologist, MSU Mississippi cotton producers to implement a boll Blake Layton , Entomologist, MSU Department of Entomology weevil management strategy. This effort probably R.G. Luttrell provided some general suppression of boll weevil , Entomologist, Boll Weevil GReerasledaMrcchKUibnbit,eUn SDA-ARS, MSU infestations in the state, but an organized and sus - , Area Entomology Specialist, Delta Research tained management program did not materialize. RaonydREexidtension Center STAC made proposals for general provisions of , Research Leader, Boll Weevil new legislation that would be needed for boll weevil JaRmeseesaWrc.hSUmniitth, USDA-ARS, MSU eradication and could also serve for establishing pest , Entomologist, Boll Weevil management districts for suppression of boll weevil BRilleMsecaGrcohveUrnn it, USDA-ARS, MSU , Consultant, Vicksburg or other pests where eradication was not necessarily Clyde Sartor the objective. STAC provided an important function , Agricultural Economist, FrDeedltTa.RCeosoekaerc, hJra. nd Extension Center of conceptualizing an area-wide or statewide insect , Agricultural Economist, management or eradication program, and it DMavSidUWD.ePpartvmine,nJtro. f Agricultural Economics addressed various options for organization, regula - , Extension Agricultural Economist, tion, and operation of such programs. However, as DDeWeltiattRCeasilelavrceht and Extension Center the reality of implementing a boll weevil eradication , Director, MDAC Bureau program in Mississippi became imminent, cotton RofbPelratnMt IcnCdaursttyry, MSU , Extension Cotton Specialist, MSU producers and other industry leaders in the state Will McCarty , Commercial Beekeeper, Webb, Mississippi began to organize independently of STAC. Technical Hubert Tubbs , County Agent, Lowndes County people who worked for Mississippi State University, Joe Love USDA, or other state agencies were called upon dur - , Area Extension Agent, BHarinndesyaTnadnnRear nkin Counties ing a brief transitional period on an basis for ad hoc , Area Director, Extension Service, technical advice and information. The resulting JaDmeletas RMecsPehaarcilh and Extension Center organization — including a technical advisory com - mittee — was created and managed by cotton farm - Responsibilities assigned by law and by the ers under provisions of a state law. Mississippi Boll Weevil Management Corporation to the MBWTAC were to (1) provide technical guid - ance for developing and conducting boll weevil Mississippi Boll Weevil Technical Advisory The Board of Directors of the Mississip - management or eradication programs, (2) determine Committee. pi Boll Weevil Management Corporation appointed a costs upon which program budgets and grower “technical advisory committee” as required by the assessments would be based, and (3) define specific Mississippi Boll Weevil Management Act. The Mis - “regions” within the state for the purpose of holding sissippi Boll Weevil Technical Advisory Committee referenda and conducting boll weevil management (MBWTAC) was appointed early in 1993, before the programs. statute took effect on July 1, 1993. The statute C.D. Ranney retired as head of Delta Research defined the technical advisory committee as “a group and Extension Center (DREC) in 1994 and concur - of professional scientists in the fields of entomology, rently resigned as chairman of the MBWTAC. agronomy, agricultural economics and other appro - James W. Smith was named head of DREC to priate disciplines…to provide guidance in developing replace Ranney and was named chairman of the and conducting effective boll weevil management MBWTAC. Smith elected to resign from the chair - programs.” Following is a list of the first committee manship of the MBWTAC in 1995, and Aubrey Har - members: ris was appointed as chairman at that time. Membership in the committee has been adjusted , Head, Delta Research Ca.Dn.dREaxntennesy ion Center, Chairman since 1993 because of resignations due to retirement , Head, MSU Department of Entomology and job changes, and new members have been Clarence Collison , Director, Southern Insect Management Lab, appointed as needed. DU.DS.DHAa-rAdReeS, Stoneville

18 Mississippi People — Contributors to Boll Weevil Eradication Resignations have included R.G. Luttrell, Roy sippi; George Mullendore, state coordinator, Missis - Reid, Clyde Sartor, DeWitt Caillavet, Joe Love, sippi Boll Weevil Management Corporation, MSU; Barney Tanner, and James McPhail. and Farrell Boyd, Mississippi program manager, Replacements and additions to membership have Southeastern Boll Weevil Eradication Foundation, included Joe Mulrooney, USDA-ARS research ento - Inc., Clinton, Mississippi. mologist, Stoneville; Mike Williams, MSU Extension MBWTAC meetings have served both in a tech - entomologist; Gordon Andrews, Extension entomolo - nical advisory capacity for the Mississippi Boll gist, DREC; Eric Villavaso, USDA-ARS research Weevil Management Corporation and in an informa - entomologist, MSU; Terry Wagner, USDA-ARS tion exchange capacity for various groups interested research entomologist, MSU; Bob Jones, USDA- in the eradication program in Mississippi. MBW - APHIS Methods Development entomologist, MSU; TAC has been required to deal with numerous Jim Robbins, assistant entomologist, DREC; Jack important technical issues, including determining Reed, entomologist, MSU Department of Entomolo - boundaries of the four boll weevil eradication gy and Plant Pathology; Scott Stewart, assistant ento - regions of the state, studying and recommending mologist, MSU Department of Entomology and Plant budgets for each region, recommending the ULV Pathology; John Robinson, Extension agricultural malathion rate for use in Mississippi, recommend - economist, MSU Department of Agricultural Eco - ing pheromone trap capture treatment thresholds for nomics; Michael Ouart, MSU Extension program ULV malathion sprays, defining buffer (transition) leader; John Coccaro, Extension agent, Sharkey zones and special treatment regimens for these County, Rolling Fork, Mississippi; John M. Kim - areas, and recommending variations in trapping pat - brough III, consultant, Lexington, Mississippi; terns in special situations. Phillip L. McKibben, consultant, Mathiston, Missis -

CONCLUSION The Boll Weevil Eradication Program that has A risk in making this list of Mississippi contrib - progressed across the cotton-growing areas of the utors to boll weevil eradication is that some impor - Southeast, Midsouth, Southwest, and West will have tant contributions and contributors may be omitted. a long-term beneficial impact on the safe and effec - The list cannot be sufficiently comprehensive to tive management of cotton insect pests. The process include every worker who ever made a research, of developing and implementing the program will leadership, organizational, or operational contribu - serve as a model for other large-scale pest-manage - tion in Mississippi to boll weevil eradication. That ment programs that may evolve in the United States is regrettable because many other Mississippi farm - and internationally. It has greatly reduced the ers, businessmen, political leaders, promotional and dependence of cotton producers on chemical pesti - advocacy organizations, and employees in the erad - cides for control of insect pests. Boll weevil eradi - ication program made contributions that, collective - cation, coupled with the cotton insect resistance ly, have been monumental. now available through transgenic technology, pro - For those whose names were listed and whose vides the foundation for a sustainable system of accomplishments were briefly described, it is appro - integrated pest management for cotton. These two priate that their record is chronicled, honored, and technologies, which reached Mississippi at about archived as important in the history of Mississippi. the same time, have made possible and mark the beginning of a new era in cotton insect management.

Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station 19 REFERENCES 1996. Boll 1910. Boll weevil in Mississippi, 1909. Miss. BrazWzeele,vJil.RE.,raJd.Wica. tSiomn,ithp,p.an6d25E-6.F6.2K. nIniplEin.Gg. King, J.R. HarnAegdr,icR. .EWx.p. Stn. Bull. 139. Phillips, and R.J. Coleman [Eds.]. Cotton insects and 2001. Boll weevil eradica - mites: characterization and management. Cotton Harris, F.A., and J.W. Smith. Foundation Reference Book Series, No. 3. The Cotton tion in Mississippi, pp. 305-344. In Dickerson, W.A., Foundation, Memphis, Tennessee. A.L. Brashear, J.T. Brumley, F.L. Carter, W.J. Grefen - stette, and F.A. Harris. [Eds.], Boll weevil eradication 1973. Biology, control, and eradication of the in the United States through 1999. Reference Book Crosbso,llWw.Hee. vil. Annu. Rev. Entomol. 18: 17-46. Series No. 6, The Cotton Foundation, Memphis, Ten - nessee.

Dickerson, W.A., A.L. Brashear, J.T. Brumley,20F0.L1. 1977. Just lookin’ for a home: the cotton boll BCoalrltewre, eWvi.lJe. rGadriecfaetniosnteitntet,heanUdniFte.Ad.SHtaatrersist. hrough Helmwse,eDvi.l and the south. Ph.D. dissertation, Florida State 1999. Reference Book Series No. 6, The Cotton Foun - University, Tallahassee. dation, Memphis, Tennessee. 1998. Boll weevil eradication: area-wide pest 2003. Eradicating the boll Smitmha, nJa.Wge. ment. Ann. Entomol. Soc. Am. 91: 239-247. Hardweeee,vDil.DA.m, a.nEdntFo.mA.olH. a4r9r:is8.2-97.

20 Mississippi People — Contributors to Boll Weevil Eradication