Engineer recognized for cotton contributions

Contributions to improved cotton farming are earning national recognition for an agricultural engineer.

Michael H. Willcutt has received the 1997 Mayfield Cotton Engineering Award from the Society for Engineering in Agricultural, Food, and Biological Systems. He is a faculty member in the Agricultural and Biological Engineering Department and an associate specialist in the Mississippi State Cooperative Extension Service.

Willcutt

Sponsored by Deere and Co., the Moline, Ill.-based international manufacturer of farm, industrial and outdoor equipment, the annual award recognizes outstanding engineering contributions to the cotton industry.

During recent award ceremonies in Minneapolis, Minn., Willcutt was cited for his role in developing educational programs and equipment advances in cotton harvesting and processing that have resulted in improved productivity and crop quality.

He has worked on projects that include cottonseed storage, ginning, chemical application, and farm safety. At Mississippi State, he has helped implement a gin management and technology option in the agricultural engineering technology and business curriculum.

He also is director of a cotton ginning course in his department that is offered through the university's Division of Continuing Education.

Willcutt holds two patents on seed handling equipment and has authored or co-authored more than 60 publications and articles. He has received awards from the Mississippi Agricultural Aviation Association and the Mississippi Agricultural County Agents Association.

He holds bachelor's and master's degrees in agricultural engineering from Auburn University.

The engineering award is named for William D. Mayfield of Memphis, Tenn., a U.S. Department of Agriculture agricultural engineer whose career has focused on application of engineering fundamentals to cotton. Mayfield is a Mississippi State graduate.