Baugh Named Outstanding Cotton Agent

Writer: Tim W. McAlavy, (806) 746-4051, email: t-mcalavy@tamu.edu

LUBBOCK – Brant Baugh, Lubbock County’s Extension integrated pest management (IPM) agent, recently
received the Plains Cotton Growers (PCG) Outstanding Cotton Agent Award.

Headquartered at the Lubbock County Extension office, Baugh earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in
entomology from Texas Tech University. He began his career as an Extension agent in 1991, serving Bailey and
Parmer Counties as an IPM agent. In 1995, he became Lubbock County’s IPM agent.

“When an agent receives an award like this, you have to credit it to team work,” Baugh said. “I work with a
great bunch of people...other agents, producers, and agribusiness partners. Their cooperation and team work
enabled me to qualify for and earn this award.”

Baugh’s professional emphasis is conducting educational IPM programs designed to increase growers’ net
returns through improved pest management. He intensively scouts several field crops for area producers, hires
and supervises field scouts and research technicians, and utilizes applied research and result demonstrations to
provide growers the latest and best IPM practices that limit crop insect losses.

He also provides leadership for the Lubbock County chapter of the Texas Pest Management Association and is
active in several professional organizations, such as the High Plains Association of Crop Consultants. He has
also written or contributed to several entomology publications covering important crops and crop pests.

The PCG bestows this plaque each year at its annual spring meeting to recognize exemplary service to South
Plains cotton producers. The award is alternately given to an Extension agriculture agent or IPM agent, based on
the results of a peer ballot.

“Brant Baugh earns the respect of his colleagues and South Plains producers because he is a very competent
IPM agent who works with a variety of crops. He also is a talented educator who knows how to share his
knowledge,” said Jett Major, Extension district director-agriculture based in Lubbock. “Our producers, other
agents and industry partners know he genuinely cares about their problems, because he often goes the extra mile
to assist them and find a solution.”

Baugh's work has not gone unnoticed. Over the years, he has received other awards for his outstanding IPM
handbooks and programming excellence. He is a past recipient of the Texas A&M Vice Chancellor's Award for
Excellence, and the Texas Agricultural Extension Service's Outstanding IPM Specialist Award.