Dr. Tyler Towles joins DREC as entomologist

Dr. Tyler Towles has joined Delta Research and Extension Center as an entomologist focusing on bollworm control strategies in Mississippi cotton.

“New technologies for bollworm control don’t come to market very often so protecting what we currently have at hand is extremely important,” Dr. Towles said. “I think there is great value in developing a research program that conducts pro active experiments that will prolong insecticidal resistance development in bollworms.”

A Leland native, Towles’ interest in agriculture was piqued as a teen when he began working in the summer for Dow AgroScience.

“After the first summer, I found myself intrigued with the work that I was aiding in. I spent the next 5 summers soaking up all the knowledge I could while also pursuing a bachelor’s degree in agricultural science from Mississippi State University,” he said.

Working alongside MSU faculty Drs. Angus Catchot, Jeff Gore, and Don Cook, Towles earned his PhD while studying various refuging strategies and quantifying bolloworm production from various Bt field corn hybrids. He then worked at the LSU AgCenter as a research entomologist.

“The major reason I felt compelled to return to Mississippi was heavily influenced by Mississippi State University and the state’s stakeholders. I was offered the opportunity to study one of my favorite subjects at a highly prestigious land-grant institution. Since this venture was largely funded by the state’s agricultural industry, I saw myself as an investment in the agricultural future of Mississippi,” Towles said. “One of my primary goals is to provide some return on that investment and be an asset to Mississippi agriculture.”

“From an entomological standpoint, the Delta is the epicenter for many insect issues that Mississippi stakeholders are faced with in the field. Being domiciled in the Mississippi Delta will allow me to connect directly to my stakeholders on a personal level,” he continued. “Additionally, working in the Delta allows me the opportunity to experience the insect related problems firsthand so I can address these issues more effectively.”

Delta Research and Extension Center was established in 1904 and encompasses nearly 5,000 acres. DREC seeks to increase the yields of commercial agriculture and aquaculture producers while preserving the Mississippi Delta’s environment and natural resources.