Bill Mayfield, recently retired National Program Leader for Cotton with the USDA's Extension Service, is joining Delta and Pine Land Company as a consultant to Steve M. Hawkins, its president. Mayfield is well recognized in the cotton industry for his expertise, particularly in
fiber quality and ginning. He will lend this knowledge to all areas of D&PL's business and will continue to be a valuable resource for cotton farmers.

"Bill's experience and expertise are unmatched in the cotton industry and he will make important contributions to our business in seed and fiber quality," says Hawkins. "D&PL was formed to offer an alternative supply of fiber to British textile mills in the early 1900s. From that time on, we have worked to improve fiber quality as well as the agronomic packages our varieties carry. With that in mind, we plan to utilize Bill's experience throughout our business including research, seed production and processing, technical services and marketing."

Prior to assuming the role of National Program Leader, Mayfield served in several other roles in the public sector including 10 years as a specialist in farm machinery with the Extension Service in Auburn, Alabama. He also worked with the cotton ginning research project at the Agricultural
Research Service in Stoneville, Mississippi.

A graduate of the University Tennessee and Mississippi State University, Mayfield has made key contributions to the cotton industry. Among his more notable achievements are his efforts on quality preservation during the ginning process, educational programs for ginners, and his involvement with decoupling grading.

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 more than 80 years, the Mississippi-based company has used its extensive plant breeding programs drawing from a diverse germplasm base to develop superior varieties. Delta and Pine Land has offices in seven states and facilities in several foreign countries.

Company news release
N2296