Agronomy Lab
Exploring Production Challenges
The East Texas A&M University Agronomy Lab is poised to be a key research hub for Northeast Texas crop producers.
Discover Lab
This lab is based on a foundation of shared resources between East Texas A&M University and Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension. This lab explores production challenges through an applied lens, focusing on areas of soft wheat breeding, weed science, soil health, and Integrated Pest Management (IPM). This lab is poised to address crop production challenges unique to the Texas Blackland Prairie and beyond. Key findings from this program are disseminated through East Texas A&M course curriculum, Texas A&M AgriLife extension events, and community outreach programs to educate the public on practical, science-driven solutions.
The shared nature of this program positions research-driven faculty to integrate research seamlessly into the curriculum. This provides East Texas A&M students with land-grant level research experiences while building research capacity, successfully leveraging shared resources to accelerate program development and impact.
Our Research
Wheat Variety Trials
Ellen Melson and Russell Sutton lead Standard Variety Uniform Trials (SVUT) in small grains such as soft and hard red wheat and oat.
Soybean Variety Trials
Dr. Grace Ogden and Melody Carmack inititated soybean variety trials in 2025. Soybean Variety Entry forms can be found here: Soybean entries are due by March 15 annually.
Sorghum Variety Trials
Dr. Grace Ogden and Melody Carmack initiated sorghum variety trials in 2026. Sorghum variety trial entry forms can be found here: Sorghum entries are due by April 1 annually.
Grants and Partnerships
Our work requires resources, funding, and collaboration to meet the needs of Texas crop producers. All members of the Agronomy Lab are actively working to build new industry partnerships. If you're interested in working with our team, reach out directly to the PI of interest.
Current and past funding resources for our program
- Texas Wheat Producers Board
- Texas Corn Producers Board
- Cereal Crops Research Incorporated
- Hunt County Commissioners
- RanchWorx
- Pioneer
- Asgrow
- BASF
- Bayer
Key Personnel
East Texas A&M University
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension
David Drake, Ph.D., Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Extension Program Specialist
Texas A&M AgriLife Research
Ellen Melson, Ph.D., Postdoctoral Research Associate
Russel Sutton, Ph.D., Assistant Research Scientist
Our Location and Facilities
The Agronomy HQ
Our HQ is located at 2033 CR 4320, Campbell, TX 75422
The Greenville Farm is located at 2157 FM1569, Greenville, TX 75401
Field facilities include the ETAMU Agriculture Research Farm and Fairlie Research Farm. Additionally, Dr. Ogden is a faculty supervisor at Twin Oaks Farm for Experiential Learning, which occasionally hosts agronomy educational and outreach events.
Research That Makes a Difference
East Texas A&M is an R2 Carnegie-designated research university, recognized for its growing impact in research, innovation and doctoral education. This distinction reflects our commitment to solving real-world challenges through meaningful discovery and collaboration while creating more opportunities for students and faculty to make an impact.
Explore our research centers, partnerships and innovation initiatives by visiting Research and Economic Development.
Field Days and Events
Wheat Field Day
A Wheat Field Day is held at the ETAMU Agricultural Research Farm in early May each year.
The 2026 Wheat Field Day is scheduled for May 5, 8:30 –11 a.m.
Agriculture Technology Conference
The Agriculture Technology Conference is held annually on the ETAMU campus in early December.
The 2026 date is December 11, 2026.
Cummer Crop Field Day
A Summer Crop Field Day is held in late July annually, when conditions allow.
Publications
Genome-wide association study uncovers the genetic basis of stem rust resistance in the southern US oat (Avena sativa L.) germplasm at different growth stages
Janam Prabhat Acharya, Md Ali Babar, Naeem Khan, Kathy Esvelt Klos, Flavia Furlan, Stephen Harrison, Noah DeWitt, Amir Ibrahim, Shuyu Liu, Ellen Melson, Daniel Hathcoat, Raja Sekhar Nandety, Jason Fiedler, Yue Jin, Pablo Olivera Firpo
Genomic prediction for stem rust resistance in the southern United States elite oat (Avena sativa L.) germplasm
Janam Prabhat Acharya, Naeem Khan, Sudip Kunwar, Jordan McBreen, Samuel A Adewale, Stephen Harrison, Ellen Melson, Daniel Hathcoat, Raja Sekhar Nandety, Jason Fiedler, Md Ali Babar, Kathy Esvelt Klos
Registration of ‘GoWheat 9216H' wheat
Amir MH Ibrahim, Jackie C Rudd, Ellen Melson, Geraldine Opeña, Russell Sutton, Bryan Simoneaux, Ravindra N Devkota, Jason A Baker, Shannon Baker, Clark B Neely, Joseph M Awika, Audrey L Girard, Shuyu Liu, Qingwu Xue, Jourdan Bell, Bradford W Seabourn, Robert L Bowden, Yue Jin, James Kolmer, Ming‐Shun Chen, Xianming Chen, Jeffrey D Boehm Jr, Guihua Bai, Robert A Graybosch
Registration of ‘TX17D2337 ' soft red winter wheat
Ellen E Melson, Russell Sutton, Amir MH Ibrahim, Stephen A Harrison, Noah DeWitt, Bryan Simoneaux, Jeanette Lyerly, Geraldine Opena, Jerry W Johnson, Mohamed Mergoum, Md A Babar, J Paul Murphy, Richard E Boyles, Gina L Brown‐Guedira, Ehsan Shakiba, R Esten Mason, Yue Jin, Sue E Cambron, Byung‐Kee Baik
Monitoring Parasitoids and Parasitism Rates of Mayetiola destructor on Wheat in Central Texas
Caixing Xiong, James Woolley, Tyler D Mays, Pascal Mahukpe Ayelo, Ellen Melson, Amir MH Ibrahim, Henry Y Fadamiro
A Profitability Analysis of Hybrid Pima and Upland Cotton Varieties in Northeast Texas
Carolyne Savage, David R. Drake, and Jose A. Lopez,
An Economic Analysis of Ryegrass and Soybean Forage Production in Northeast Texas
Dissetration
Eduardo J. Miranda Oviedo
News Spotlights
Protecting the Future of Food: ETAMU Student Making a Difference During Prestigious Internship at Boyce Thompson Institute
East Texas A&M University student Benecio Sandoval is helping to solve global food challenges through a prestigious summer internship with the Boyce Thompson Institute in Ithaca, New York, one of the world’s most respected independent research institutions in plant and molecular science.
East Texas A&M Aligns Against New World Screwworm
During a meeting facilitated by East Texas A&M University's College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, leading state and federal experts on the New World screwworm gave valuable insights into control efforts and how to prepare for potential cases.
ETAMU's Urban and Sustainable Agriculture Program Featured in New Promotional Video
In the latest installment of East Texas A&M University's “Beyond the Lab” video series, focusing on research activity at the university, the Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems program takes center stage.