Extension Agent-Integrated Pest Management, Collin and Hunt Counties
Education:
BS – Michigan State University, 1972 – Entomology
MS – Michigan State University, 1973 – Integrated Pest Management
Experience:
1973-1974 Plant Industry Inspector, Michigan Department of Agriculture.
1974-1975 Assistant Field Manager, Ore-Ida Foods.
1975-1977 Technical Services Representative, Stauffer Chemical Company
1978-1983 Extension Field Crops Agent, Cooperative Extension Service, Michigan State University
1983- Present Extension Agent – IPM, Texas AgriLife Extension, Hunt, Collin, Rockwall, Fannnin, Grayson, Hopkins, Kaufman and Lamar Counties
Meetings and Publications:
Numerous county, state and local presentations
84 Southwest Farm Press Articles
Numerous IPM Newsletters
IPM Annual Reports
Teaching
Undergraduate Agronomy and Integrated Pest Management Courses since 1992
Advised 4 Undergraduate Honors Students
Advised 7 Master’s Students
Collaborative work:
Texas Boll Weevil Eradication Foundation, Cereal Crops Research Inc., Texas A&M Commerce, Texas AgriLife Research, USDA-ARS, Texas Wheat Producers Board, Texas Department of Agriculture.
Scholarly Presentations:
14 local, state and national presentations
Recent IPM Emphasis and Accomplishments:
Jim Swart serves the agricultural community in Collin, Fannin, Grayson, Hopkins, Hunt, Kaufman, Lamar and Rockwall Counties. The 8-year l average wheat plantings in this region is over 204,000 acres per year. Farmers realize over $22 million per year from the wheat crop. Farmers in these counties also grow an average of 93,425 acres of corn (10-yr. ave.) with average annual returns of over $20.6 million.
Swart collaborated with faculty at Texas A&M Commerce, Texas AgriLife Research and Cereal Crops Research Inc. to conduct research on wheat, corn and cotton. Research has provided critical information on weed, insect and disease management, fertility, cultivar selection, harvest aids, and other production and management technology. Wheat yields have increased 50% since the IPM program was initiated. Swart has worked with many students, assisting them with their agricultural educations.
A 2010 survey indicated 100 percent of the 18 producers surveyed indicated that they had adopted IPM practices. They said the IPM program increased their net profit by an average of $20.30 per acre.
Scholarly Publications:
Schuster, G.L., J.S. Swart, D.J. Reid and R. Dubes. 1991. Foliar disease control on winter wheat in the Northern Texas Blacklands: Fungiside Efficacy. Texas J. Agric. Nat. Res. 5:1-6.
Schuster, G.L., J.S. Swart, D.J. Reid and R. Dubes. 1991. Foliar disease control on winter wheat in the Northern Texas Blacklands: Fungiside Timing. Texas J. Agric. Nat. Res. 5:7-12.
Awards
1985 Texas Pest Management Association Outstanding IPM Agent