Ferguson College of Agriculture

Professor Jennifer Dudak is Oklahoma State University Department of Plant and Soil Science’s extension cotton specialist.  She earned her B.S. in plant and environmental soil science and M.S. in agronomy both from Texas A&M University. 

 

“While at TAMU, I worked with the Cotton Extension Program based out of College Station as a student worker and shared responsibilities between the Cotton Extension Program and the San Angelo Agronomy Program as a graduate research assistant,” she said.

 

Dudak’s thesis research included two trials conducted across Texas, evaluating both cotton genetic resistance and various nematicides to decrease reinform nematode populations and increase cotton yield. Immediately following the completion of her M.S., she began her Ph.D. studies with the Extension Row Crop Weed Science Program at OSU

 

“My dissertation research included evaluating cotton tolerance and weed control with isoxaflutole herbicide,” Dudak said. “I led a group of 14 collaborators across 10 states throughout the cotton belt, equaling 18 various trial locations.” 

 

Following her graduation from OSU, she assumed the position of assistant professor, extension cotton specialist here at OSU.

 

Currently, Dudak’s extension program focuses on evaluating cotton varieties across the state for yield and fiber quality parameters with hopes of assisting producers in their variety selection. 

 

“We are incorporating harvest aid demos in 2025 with plans of placing trials in highly visible areas for cotton producers, allowing them to evaluate product efficacy and make informed decisions this fall,” she said.

 

Working in collaboration with colleagues, Dudak plans to create a comprehensive Oklahoma Cotton Production Guide. To accomplish this, future research ideas will include last effective bloom date, insecticide application termination timings, cost effective weed control systems, among other topics. 

 

“We will continue to evaluate cotton varieties for yield and fiber quality and provide up to date harvest aid information for our producers,” she said.

 

Dudak has found in working at OSU that cotton producers are some of the most resilient and innovative people she has ever met. 

 

“The opportunity to assist them in making informed decisions on their farms makes my job worthwhile,” she said.

 

Her favorite aspect of working at OSU is the ability to collaborate with top tier research and extension personnel within the Plant and Soil Sciences Department and across the Ferguson College of Agriculture to better assist cotton producers across the state.

 

One surprising fact about Dudak is that because she grew up in Northeast Iowa, the first time she saw a cotton plant was when she started her undergraduate studies at TAMU.