Rolling Plains Entomologist Hangs Up His Hat
 
Writers: Tim W. McAlavy, (806) 746-6101, email: t-mcalavy@tamu.edu

VERNON – After 36-plus years of service, “the county Extension agent’s specialist” on the Texas Rolling
Plains is hanging up his hat. Emory P. Boring III, associate professor of entomology and Extension entomologist
at Vernon since 1965, will retire from Texas Cooperative Extension effective Aug. 31, 2002.

A native of Longview, Texas, Boring earned his bachelor’s degree in entomology in 1965 and his master’s
degree in entomology in 1972, both from Texas A&M University.

“Emory is known as ‘the county Extension agent’s specialist’ here on the Rolling Plains because his philosophy
is to make the agents shine in every way possible,” said Galen Chandler, Texas Cooperative Extension
agriculture director for the Rolling Plains. “He always carries the respect of veteran agents, and always takes
time to educate our younger agents.

“Emory is a team player, and a team leader. His expertise spans every agronomic crop, and most horticulture
crops, grown in the Texas Rolling Plains. He is the epitome of what an Extension specialist should be.”

During his 36-plus years in Vernon, Boring is credited with:

     •    Designing and implementing the delayed uniform cotton planting date which allowed Rolling Plains
     cotton producers to effectively manage boll weevils and their crop damage. This project helped cotton
     producers save millions in chemical, fuel and labor costs. The strategy was for all producers to delay
     cotton planting until May 15, to deny overwintering boll weevils the food source (cotton squares) they
     need to reproduce and thrive.

     •    Working with producers, county agents and the Oklahoma and Texas Boll Weevil Eradication
     Foundations to implement a boll weevil trapping, monitoring and eradication program on the Rolling
     Plains. 2002 should see the boll weevil functionally eradicated in this region.

     •    Encouraging biological control of secondary cotton pests such as bollworms and tobacco budworms,
     wherever possible.

     •    Initiating a multi-disciplinary approach to solving pest problems in wheat and stocker cattle production
     systems, by forming an interdisciplinary team of advisors. This team discovered that grazing wheat can
     reduce or, in some cases, totally eliminate pest control treatments and costs. Limiting insecticide use in
     this way also allows producers to effectively control some small grain pests with predator insects such
     as parasitic wasps and convergent lady beetles. Both methods have resulted in substantial savings for
     wheat and stocker cattle operators.

     •    Publishing a weekly Cotton Insect Management Newsletter and a Small Grains Pest Report that reaches
     more than 170 subscribers (producers and agribusinesses) in the region.
 
     •    Generating more than $100,000 in grants and contracts since 1987 to support his entomological and
     educational programs.

     •    Serving as an authority on pests of secondary crops, including pecans -- a popular home horticulture
     crop on the Rolling Plains.

“Without a doubt, Emory Boring has had more influence on the economic well being of the Rolling Plains than
any other single person in the last twenty years,” said Norman Brints, former Extension economist stationed in
Vernon.

Boring is also a frequent, respected speaker and poster presenter at national events such as the Beltwide Cotton
Conferences, as well as numerous local, county, and statewide educational events.

“Throughout the years, Emory has focused his work and educational programs on improving agriculture on the
Rolling Plains. Yet he always kept in mind that our producers operate on smaller budgets than their peers
elsewhere, because of lower average yields in this region,” Chandler noted. “He searched for, and found many
cost-effective methods to improve our producers’ net income.

“Those practical, sensible and affordable innovations have proven the best tools for many of our producers and
homeowners.”

Boring’s professional activities have also included service to the Southwestern Branch of the Entomological
Society of America; acting as president (1985) and secretary-treasurer (1982-1983) for the West Texas, New
Mexico chapter of the American Registry of Professional Entomologists; and serving as secretary and advisor
for several committees of the Rolling Plains Economic Program (1983-1984).

He is a winner of the 1999 Specialist of the Year Award, from the Texas County Agricultural Extension Agents
Association; the 1992 Chapter Award from the West Texas, New Mexico Chapter of the American Registry of
Professional Entomologists; the 1991 Texas Agricultural Extension Service Superior Service Team Award; as
well as Distinguished Service and Meritorious Service awards from Epsilon Sigma Phi in 1985.

Boring and his wife, Debra, have four children (Shari Boring, Kristin Cook, Seth Roberson, and Cindy
Roberson), and will continue to reside in Vernon.

“We plan to do some traveling, and I have a lot of fishing to catch up on. I already have an East Texas fishing
trip in the works for September,” Boring said. “Our granddaughter, Taylor Elizabeth, takes fishing and ‘Pappy’
quite seriously.”

A retirement reception for Boring is set for Aug. 28, from 2 to 4 p.m. at Texas A&M’s Research and Extension
Center in Vernon. Letters of appreciation can be sent to: Galen Chandler, PO Box 2159, Vernon, TX 76385.