Longtime Texas AgriLife Extension Service entomologist assumes state role
Feb 4, 2009 9:28 AM,
By Steve Byrns
Texas A&M University
A longtime Texas AgriLife Extension Service entomologist will assume new duties as state integrated pest management coordinator effective Feb. 1.
Dr. Charles T. Allen will transfer from Abilene to San Angelo to assume the role formerly held by Dr. Tom Fuchs who was named to the job in 1993 and retired Dec. 31.
Allen will be responsible for the statewide integrated pest management program, now the largest such university-based program in the nation with 28 full-time faculty members and a $2.4 million annual budget.
These professionals provide education related to integrated pest management to the public through newsletters, workshops, meetings, field tours and other traditional methods. They also evaluate and demonstrate new technology related to pest management to assure that it is economically and environmentally sound.
Allen earned his bachelor's degree in biology and master's in entomology from Texas Tech University and a doctorate in entomology from Louisiana State University.
Since 2000, Allen has been headquartered in Abilene where he has served as an AgriLife Extension entomologist and the state’s program director for the Texas Boll Weevil Eradication Foundation.
Allen began his AgriLife Extension career in Weslaco as an area entomologist in 1981. In 1983 he transferred to Fort Stockton to become the Far West Region’s entomology specialist. In 1996 he transferred to Monticello, Ark., to become an entomologist for the Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service. He held that position until transferring back to AgriLife Extension at Abilene.
Allen’s professional areas of emphasis aside from cotton entomology and boll weevil eradication include alfalfa, pecans, vegetables, small grains, grain sorghum, corn and soybeans.
He has authored or co-authored dozens of refereed publications, proceedings, professional papers and Extension publications. He has also garnered thousands of dollars in grant money during his career.
His professional honors and awards include Clean Texas 2000 Governor’s Award, AgriLife Extension’s Superior Service Award and the Texas A&M University Vice Chancellor’s Award in Excellence.
For more information, contact Allen at 325-653-4576.
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