07/07/1997

Ball Named Alumni Professor

AUBURN, Ala. - Don Ball, professor in Auburn University's Department of Agronomy and Soils, has been awarded an Alumni Professorship by the Auburn Alumni Association marking the first time that a full-time extension faculty member has received this honor.

Ball grew up on a Kentucky cattle farm and earned his bachelor's degree from Western Kentucky University. He became interested in forage production while in graduate school at Auburn and, after completing the Ph.D., Ball joined the Auburn faculty in 1976 a forage specialist with the Alabama Cooperative Extension System (ACES).

The sole forage specialist for ACES, Ball has worked on such issues as establishment and management of forage legumes that can be used in conjunction with forage grasses and overcoming problems with fescue toxicity. In recent years, Ball also has been working on ways to reduce hay harvesting, storage and feeding losses, and he is constantly endeavoring to increase the awareness and appreciation of forages in Alabama.

"Alabama is a forage-rich state," said Ball, "and forage crops make a great contribution to Alabama's economy and environment. More than one-half of the open agricultural land in Alabama is planted in forages. In fact, there are more acres of forage crops in the state than all other agronomic and horticultural crops combined, and there are more than 40 species of forage crops routinely grown in Alabama."

"Forages are extremely important to our beef industry, to our dairy and horse producers and to a whole host of other grazing animals, such as goats, swine and wildlife," he continued. "Forages also are important components in crop rotation, they help stabilize soils, can prevent or reduce soil erosion and help improve water quality. But forages are often under-appreciated."

For Ball, helping Alabama's agricultural producers do a better job managing and utilizing forages is a deep commitment, one that has now been recognized by the Alumni Association.

Each year five faculty members from across the Auburn campus are chosen as alumni professors from a large field of nominees. This prestigious award recognizes outstanding academic achievement among the AU faculty. Those chosen as alumni professors hold the title for five years.

Ball received the alumni professor appointment earlier this spring and is proud to be the first extension faculty member to receive this honor.

"Extension specialists became part of Auburn's academic faculty in 1988, but no Extension faculty member has been chosen for this award until now," he continued. "I am thrilled and honored by my selection and I hope that this will provide encouragement for other Extension faculty members. My selection provides evidence that the university recognizes the value of extension work."

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News from:

Office of Ag Communications & Marketing

Auburn University College of Agriculture
Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station
3 Comer Hall, Auburn University
Auburn, AL 36849
334-844-4877 (PHONE) 334-844-5892 (FAX)

Contact Jamie Creamer, 334-844-2783 or jcreamer@auburn.edu
Contact Katie Jackson, 334-844-5886 or smithcl@auburn.edu

07/07/97