The Times - Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley

WSU Extension office in Walla Walla County has hired a new Extension Fac- ulty to provide regional assistance for Agronomy and Dry Land Cropping Systems. Wayne Thomp- son, previously a Research Agronomist from Texas A&M Extension Service, will start on October 21.

Wayne Thompson re- ceived a Master's Degree in Agriculture (Soil Science and Agronomy) from the University of Minnesota, St. Paul and a Bachelor's De- gree in Agronomy and Pest Management from Iowa State University of Science and Technology, Ames.

Mr. Thompson will be re- sponsible for the leadership, curriculum development, and outreach for agricultural extension programs in agronomy and cropping systems. He will focus on agronomic crop production and cropping systems, along with farm enterprise management and decision support systems. He is ex- pected to conduct on-farm research and demonstrations of research-based agronomic practices in collaboration with other Extension Faculty. He will address the highest priorities of area dry land farmers in Walla Walla, Columbia, Garfield, Asotin, and Franklin Counties.