ABOUT ME Rocky Lemus is an Extension/Research Professor and Extension Forage Specialist in the Department of Plant and Soil Sciences at Mississippi State University with 25 years of Forage Prodution Experience. He also serves as the leader for the Center for Forage Management and Environmental Stewardship. He obtained his B.S in Biology/Agronomy and M.S. in Agronomy-Crop Physiology from Iowa State University and his PhD from Virginia Tech in Crop, Soil and Environmental Sciences. He combines research and extension activities related to forage production, nutrient management, grazing systems, livestock production, cover crops, and forage quality and utilization. He also collaborates internationally with USAID in the Farmer-to-Farmer program and has developed international programs in Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Venezuela, Uzbekistan, Pakistan, Nicaragua, Guatemala, Australia, and New Zealand. He has served as president of the NIRS Forage and Feed Testing Consortium and the National Forage Testing Association. He serves as the Technical Editor for the Crop, Forage, Turf Management Journal, and he is a member of the Board of Directors for the American Forage and Grassland Council. He has been recognized for his work with several awards including the Mississippi Association of County Agricultural Agents Distinguished Service Award, Mississippi Agronomist of the Year, National Association of County Agricultural Agent Achievement Award, American Forage and Grassland Council Merit Award, and the Outstanding Extension Professional. He has published 57 peer-reviewed publications, 3 book chapters, 63 extension publications, 134 abstracts, 26 research bulletins, 24 research reports, 62 popular press articles, 152 monthly newsletters, and has conducted 134 popular press and 118 radio interviews. He has secured over $3.6 M in grants to support forage research and extension efforts. Lemus have shared his expertise through 29 international, 30 national, 41 regional, 50 state, 147 cattlemen meetings, and 151 field day presentations. He has an extensive experience in data management and statistical analysis. He is very proficient in a large and diverse number of software packages include Microsoft Suite, Adobe Suite, Software Editing, Website Development and Management, Statistical Software. Rocky also works in developing and evaluating grant proposals in the Agricultural Sector for USDA and the Sustainable Research and Education Grants, and SSARE Producer and Graduate Student Application Grants. He also severs on national review panels for the National Institute for Food and Agriculture.