Venkataramana Chapara has joined North Dakota State University as the Extension Service’s area crop protection specialist at the North Central Research Extension Center near Minot.

He will be working on integrated pest management systems for all crops grown in the region. He also will interact with Extension agents and specialists, researchers, producers, field scouts and agribusiness representatives to help solve entomology and plant pathology problems in crop production in north-central North Dakota.

Chapara earned a bachelor of science degree in agriculture from Acharya N.G. Ranga Agricultural University in India, a master’s degree in agricultural entomology from Gujarat Agricultural University in India and his doctorate in plant pathology from NDSU.

Before joining NDSU, he was a post-doctoral research scientist in the Department of Crop Sciences at the University of Illinois in Urbana.

“We are pleased to have Venkat here with advanced degrees in both entomology and plant pathology to help us with all the insect and disease issues affecting our crops,” says Jay Fisher, the North Central Research Extension Center’s director.

NDSU Agriculture Communication - Feb. 26, 2013