Travis “TJ” Prochaska has joined North Dakota State University’s North Central Research Extension Center (NCREC) near Minot as an Extension Service area crop protection specialist.

His role at the center includes developing innovative Extension programing to serve a diverse clientele of producers, advisory groups, local Extension agents and industry. Overall, his programming will focus on crop protection management and education to the region’s clientele.

“As we look to the future, I am excited about the opportunity to work with areas growers to expose them to the realm of entomology and show them that there are plenty of beneficial insects important to their cropping systems,” he says. “Additionally, I am excited to learn about the different cropping systems North Dakota has to offer.”

Prior to joining NDSU Extension, Prochaska completed his graduate degrees from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln while providing a helping hand on the family farm in southeastern Nebraska. Prochaska also has served in a variety of service positions in the Entomological Society of America to help share the science in the world of entomology.

He earned a bachelor of science degree in Organismal Biology from Concordia University Nebraska, and earned his master’s degree and doctorate in Entomology from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

His master’s degree work focused on soybean host plant resistance to the soybean aphid, and he discovered one of the first known tolerant varieties of soybean. His Ph.D. research was in switchgrass biotechnology, with a focus on host plant resistance to cereal aphids, specifically greenbugs and yellow sugarcane aphids.

“We are excited to have Dr. Prochaska join our team at the NCREC,” says Shana Forster, center director. “His enthusiasm for entomology will be a great asset to NDSU Extension and the producers of North Dakota.”

NDSU Agriculture Communication - Aug. 1, 2016