A Mississippi State agricultural engineer is a newly named Fellow of the American Society of Agricultural Engineers, an honor achieved by only about 2 percent of members of the organization.

Dr. David B. Smith received the honor in late July at the society's annual meeting in Sacramento, Calif. His selection recognizes more than 35 years of accomplishments in research and teaching.

Founded in 1907 and headquartered in St. Joseph, Mich., ASME is the professional organization for engineering as it applies to agricultural, food and biological systems. Its 9,000 members are located in more than 90 nations.

"Dr. Smith is considered one of the nation's leading experts on chemical application in agriculture," said Dr. Jerome Gilbert, Agricultural and Biological Engineering Department head. "His research has resulted in reduced costs to producers and protection of the environment from unnecessary chemicals."

Two national engineering standards for reduction of drift from agricultural chemical applications are among Smith's major accomplishments.

Gilbert said Smith also has provided leadership in the establishment of a land surveying emphasis in MSU's agricultural engineering technology curriculum.

A Richland native, Smith received his bachelor's and master's degrees at Mississippi State and a doctorate at the University of Missouri.

He joined the MSU faculty in 1983, following more than a decade of service as a project leader with the U.S. Department of Agriculture/Agricultural Research Service in Columbia, Mo.