The success of varieties developed from research programs along Mississippi’s Deer Creek and in Arizona is leading Delta and Pine Land Company to refocus additional breeding and testing efforts in the Mid-South and Arizona, according to Dr. Bill Hugie, vice president of research for the company.

"Our research stations provide breeding and testing for the growers in that immediate area as well as contribute to our Beltwide efforts," Hugie said. "To help us best serve farmers in the Mid-South and Southwest, we will refocus efforts in those areas to the most successful and best equipped locations in the regions."

In the Mid-South, cotton breeder Jim Mitchell will move from the Stuttgart, AR location to Leland, MS. This will enable Mitchell to work in the proven Delta environment surrounded by significant cotton acreage. Mitchell is being promoted to lead the Leland program as he fills the vacancy left when Dr. Bob Bridge passed away unexpectedly last spring. Rex Manning and Joseph Baugh, Bridge’s assistants, will work with Mitchell to continue the work at that station. As the Stuttgart location closes, the material developed there will move to Scott and those varieties and strains will continue to be tested.

Changes in Arizona involve consolidating the two research offices into the current facility at Maricopa, which has undergone significant enhancement in recent years. Larry Burdett will lead D&PL’s western breeding program from Maricopa while still conducting research and testing in Casa Grande. The Maricopa location is home to several of D&PL’s greenhouses used in its research efforts as well as research led by Terry Weesner.

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.