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Delta Research and Extension Center

The Delta Research and Extension Center, or DREC, focuses the majority of its attention on research and extension activities on cotton, rice, soybean, corn, and catfish production.

Research and Extension faculty work cooperatively to solve crop and aquaculture production problems and transfer new information and technology to area producers.

The major goal of DREC is to increase the yields of commercial agriculture and aquaculture producers, while at the same time preserving the Mississippi Delta's environment and natural resources.

DREC is located in Stoneville, Mississippi, in the heart of the Mississippi Delta. The Center is a component of the Mississippi State University's Division of Agriculture, Forestry and Veterinary Medicine. It encompasses personnel employed by the Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station (MAFES), the MSU Extension Service (MSU-ES) and the MSU College of Veterinary Medicine (MSU-CVM).

DREC, also known as the Delta Branch Experiment Station, is the largest of MSU's 16 branch experiment stations and research units located throughout the state. DREC in Stoneville has nearly a dozen regional and federal agencies with which to share knowledge located within its immediate vicinity.

A Mississippi map showing counties of the Delta region in blue.

The Head of DREC is also the Head of the Delta Region of Mississippi State University's Extension Service. The counties in the Delta Region of MSU-ES include DeSoto, Tate, Tunica, Panola, Quitman, Coahoma, Tallahatchie, Bolivar, Sunflower, Leflore, Grenada, Montgomery, Carroll, Holmes, Humphreys, Washington, Sharkey, Issaquena, and Yazoo.

The major purpose of Extension activity is the transfer of new research information and technology through extension education activities and methods. The Delta Research and Extension Center brings focus to both the short- and long-term concerns of Delta producers. This enhances the land-grant mission of Mississippi State University as producers have access to an interdisciplinary staff for interaction and decision-making purposes.

The physical facilities and scope of research programs have increased since the station's inception in 1904. DREC now covers about 4,700 acres total, including approximately 200 acres of federally owned land. Row crops are grown on about 1,800 of these acres, and soil types vary from very fine sandy loams to heavy clays. Additionally, 294 acres are catfish research ponds. The nearby Delta Experimental Forest covers close to 2,700 acres of state land. More than 12,000 people visit the Stoneville research complex each year.

Aerial view of Delta Research and Extension Center.
Delta Research and Extension Center

DREC has a staff of more than 20 research scientists and over 100 support personnel. Its network of laboratories, offices, greenhouses, research, engineering, and maintenance shops, as well as its comprehensive library, create an integrated work environment.

The Charles W. Capps, Jr. Entrepreneurial Center, also located on the DREC campus, opened its doors in 2004. The Capps Center offers 18,000 square feet of meeting space, a 400 seat auditorium and distance learning capabilities.

DREC creates positive impacts throughout the Delta, and the Delta is one of the primary audiences served by Mississippi State University.

Telephone:
662-686-9311
Fax:
662-686-7336
MSU Mailstop:
Mailing Address:
PO Box 197
Stoneville , MS
38776
Physical Address:
82 Stoneville Road
Stoneville , Mississippi
38776

Personnel

Name Job Title Email
Dr. Tom Allen, Jr. Extension/Research Professor tom.allen@msstate.edu
Portrait of Dr. Esmaeil Amiri Dr. Esmaeil Amiri Asst Extension/Research Prof ea795@msstate.edu
Portrait of Dr. Jimmy L. Avery Dr. Jimmy L. Avery Extension Professor & Director jimmy.avery@msstate.edu
Dr. Taghi Bararpour Assoc Extension/Research Prof mtb436@msstate.edu
Portrait of Dr. Jason Bond Dr. Jason Bond Extension/Research Professor jason.bond@msstate.edu
Dr. Corey Jay Bryant Assistant Professor corey.bryant@msstate.edu
Ms. Valeria Lynn Bryant Procurement Card Coordinator vlb168@msstate.edu
Mr. Patrick J. English Senior Research Assoc (L,P,S) patrick.english@msstate.edu
Mr. Thomas Barton Freeland, III Extension Associate I tbf81@msstate.edu
Portrait of Dr. Drew Miller Gholson Dr. Drew Miller Gholson Asst Professor & Coord, NCAAR drew.gholson@msstate.edu
Portrait of Dr. Jeffrey Gore Dr. Jeffrey Gore Professor and Head jg231@msstate.edu
Mr. Mark E. Henry Extension Associate I meh596@msstate.edu
Mr. Ethan Lawrence Huey Intermittent Worker elh449@msstate.edu
Ms. Peyton Frances Johnson Extension Associate III pfj2@msstate.edu
Ms. Elizabeth J. Jones Business Coordinator emj4@msstate.edu
Ms. Julia Hancock Leininger Extension Associate II j.leininger@msstate.edu
Mr. Hunter Lane Lipsey Extension Associate I hl866@msstate.edu
Dr. Tsz Him Lo Asst Extension/Research Prof himmy.lo@msstate.edu
Ms. Emma Kathryn Lucas Intermittent Worker ekl130@msstate.edu
Ms. Tammy Deniece McMahon Office Associate tm2419@msstate.edu
Ms. Valisa W McNeil Business Operations Manager valisa.mcneil@msstate.edu
Ms. Carly B Moore Intermittent Worker cbm521@msstate.edu
Ms. Kristen Berry Nichols Business Coordinator k.nichols@msstate.edu
Ms. Judith T. Norwood Computer Programmer judy.norwood@msstate.edu
Ms. Mary Tinuola Osho Extension Associate II mto70@msstate.edu
Mr. Jimmy Dale Peeples, Jr. Extension/Research Assoc I jdp170@msstate.edu
Mr. Dillon Aaron Russell Extension Associate II dar335@msstate.edu
Ms. Skylar Brooke Sewell Intermittent Worker sbs427@msstate.edu
Ms. Kimberly Ann Short Administrative Assistant II kim.short@msstate.edu
Portrait of Mr. Mark Silva Mr. Mark Silva Program Manager ams158@msstate.edu
Ms. Laura Hough Smith Communications Coordinator laura.h.smith@msstate.edu
Mr. Kyle Casey Sorrels Extension/Research Assoc I kcs311@msstate.edu
Ms. Virginia Fitts Sullivan Administrative Assistant I vfs23@msstate.edu
Dr. Tyler Breck Towles Assistant Professor tyler.towles@msstate.edu
Dr. Vivek Venishetty Extension/Research Assoc III vv221@msstate.edu
Mr. Charles M. Walker Purchasing Coordinator cmw14@msstate.edu
Ms. Katelyn Ashley West Accountant I katelyn.west@msstate.edu
Portrait of Dr. David J. Wise Dr. David J. Wise Research Prof & Coordinator d.wise@msstate.edu
Mr. Dawson Lee Woods Intermittent Worker dw2441@msstate.edu
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