Dr. Lloyd May, long-time cotton breeder, will be joining Delta and Pine Land Company's research department effective January 17. May is filling a newly created breeder position and will join the company's current staff at D&PL's Coastal Plains Research Station in Tifton, Georgia.

Dr. Bill Hugie, D&PL vice president of research, said he was excited that May would be joining D&PL's research staff. May worked as a public cotton breeder the last 14 years, nine of which were with the USDA Agricultural Research Service and five as a faculty member at the University of Georgia. Since 1991, May has released germplasm lines with new sources of improved fiber quality and yield that breeding programs can use in the development of new varieties.

"Dr. May brings both breeding experience and insights into specific cotton issues that face the southeastern cotton producer," Hugie said. "The germplasm development Lloyd has been involved in is extremely valuable for the cotton industry, particularly breeders."

May says he's looking forward to joining D&PL's extensive cotton breeding and testing system, "Access to germplasm is essential for cultivar development and D&PL's global reach provides a continuous pipeline of elite germplasm to all 10 of the company's breeding programs. No other company has such a comprehensive germplasm development, sharing, and sourcing effort. This broad, cooperative approach, drawing on diverse expertise and germplasm worldwide, is key to future cultivar development."

A familiar face and name in the cotton industry, May has presented many papers during the Beltwide Cotton Conferences and published articles in the Journal of Cotton Science, Crop Science and numerous other publications, including producer oriented pieces like the Georgia Cotton Commission's 100% Cotton News. He has been active in a number of academic committees including the International Cotton Genome Initiative and the National Cotton Council's Fiber Quality Task Force. His educational background includes a bachelor's degree in horticulture from the University of Connecticut. He earned both masters and doctorate degrees in plant science majoring in plant breeding at the University of Kentucky.

Delta and Pine Land Company is a commercial breeder, producer and marketer of cotton planting seed, as well as soybean seed in the Cotton Belt. For almost 90 years, the Company has used its extensive cotton plant breeding programs drawing from a diverse germplasm base to develop improved varieties. Delta and Pine Land (NYSE: DLP), headquartered in Scott, Mississippi, has offices in eight states and facilities in several foreign countries.