Roy Roberson

Roy
Roberson
Associate Editor
Southeast Farm Press

James R. (Roy) Roberson began his career in agricultural communications as an assistant editor of agricultural research and teaching in Auburn University’s College of Agriculture and Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station. When he retired from Auburn University in 2004, he was head of the agricultural communications program at Auburn and assistant director of the Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station. Between stints at Auburn University, Roberson worked for several years as an account manager for Fletcher/Mayo and Associates, which at that time was the largest agricultural marketing and public relations company in the U.S. He also worked for nearly five years as Southeast marketing and public relations coordinator for Swanson-Rollheiser-Holland, an Omaha, Nebraska-based agricultural advertising and public relations company. In addition to his current position on the editorial staff of Southeast Farm Press, Roberson is former editor and publisher of Southern Pulp and Paper Magazine and was part of the team that created the Atlanta-based Southeast edition of Ad Week. Roberson grew up in rural east Alabama and earned bachelor and masters degrees in journalism and mass communication from Auburn University.

Articles by Roy Roberson
Reduced-tillage, precision farming two more keys to peanut profits
Reduced-tillage comes in at No. 8 and precision farming is listed as the No. 7 key to peanut profitability in the Southeast.
$2 dollar cotton gone but not forgotten
Two dollar a pound cotton is now in the past, but its influence worldwide continues to drive the price, the demand for cotton products and the planting intentions of farmers worldwide.
Vilsack: ‘Pass farm bill now’

 “America needs a farm bill, and we need it now,” said Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, speaking to a record breaking group of grain farmers at the Commodity Classic in Nashville, Tenn.

Sec. Vilsack elaborated that all Americans, not just U.S. farmers, need a farm program and that getting a viable program in place will further help agriculture to aid the recovery of the U.S. economy.

Cotton finds big market with Under Armour
Sworn enemies sometimes become best friends.
Cotton growers losing numbers game to pigweed
The most dangerous words a cotton farmer will ever say are, “I thought I could get by one more year.
Cotton - 2011 was a wild ride
Last year was a wild ride for cotton growers, but unfortunately Mother Nature was driving the bus and out of control. Speaking at the Beltwide Cotton Conference, David Wright, University of Florida scientist, said, “We started the year with high expectations and by planting time historic high prices further fueled this enthusiasm.”
Kent Wannamaker – 2012 Southeast High Cotton winner
Starting from scratch in the cotton business was a tough row to hoe for St. Matthews, S.C., grower Kendall W. (Kent) Wannamaker. But, today he and his wife, Mary Lil, own and operate a thriving cotton, peanut, and corn farming operation, and he is a recognized leader in the cotton industry.
Brown marmorated stink bugs continue southward movement
Brown marmorated stink bugs continue their gradual march to the south and seem to be enjoying the grain fields of northern Virginia.
Precision agriculture spurs growth on South Carolina farm
For Bowman, S.C., farmer Landrum Weathers, coming home from college to farm was a given — and bringing with him a new outlook on precision agriculture was a welcomed benefit to his farm family.
Research shortfalls delaying farm production information
A dramatic increase in technological opportunities and changes in production practices across a broad range of crops has stretched the ability of land-grant researchers to keep pace in the past few years.
Crop damage from Irene apparently less than expected
Hurricane Irene subjected crops in northeast North Carolina and across the eastern third of Virginia to 6-8 hours of howling wind and up to 16 inches of rain.
Dave Long: Cotton held up to weather for 12 months
Picking cotton and planting cotton on the same day isn’t something Cape Charles, Va. grower Dave Long recommends.
No corners cut by this farmer
Cutting corners on the crop isn’t an option, but with 1,500 acres of grain crops and a robust custom spraying/harvesting business, grower Warren Hardy says being precise and being timely are the keys to his farming business.
New technology pushing demand for U.S. cotton
There was an instantaneous roar of applause from the 100 or so cotton farmers attending a recent tour of Cotton Incorporated.
Vic Swinson: Peanut Profitability winner for Upper Southeast Region
When Vic Swinson got into the peanut business, he did it right and he did it big.

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