April 2, 2021
Division of Agriculture names Daniel Rivera director of Southwest Research and Extension Center effective May 16
By Fred Miller
U of A System Division of Agriculture
@AgNews479
Fast facts
- Rivera comes to SWREC from South Mississippi Branch Experiment Station
- Held research, extension appointments at Mississippi State University
- Will continue research program in strategic nutrient use in cattle
(576 words)
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HOPE, Ark. — The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture has appointed Daniel Rivera director of the Southwest Research and Extension Center.
SWREC is a 1,185-acre laboratory near Hope in Hempstead County. The center provides field and laboratory resources for research and extension programs in beef cattle production, forestry, horticulture and plant pathology. It is one of five Division of Agriculture research and extension centers located around the state (https://aaes.uark.edu/research-locations/).
“I love all agricultural sciences, and I want to learn more about all these programs,” Rivera said. “My biggest challenge in the first six months at the center will be to learn the lay of the land with the goal of helping the faculty and staff at the center achieve their research goals.”
“We’re pleased to have Dr. Rivera as director of the Southwest Research and Extension Center,” said Mark Cochran, vice president-agriculture for the University of Arkansas System and head of the Division of Agriculture.
“Daniel brings a host of research and extension experience to the center,” Cochran said. “He will be carrying on his own research while directing the resources and personnel that help make sure our scientists can address the needs of southwest Arkansas farmers who provide food, fiber and bioenergy crops.”
Rivera comes to Arkansas from Mississippi State University, where he held research and extension appointments at the South Mississippi Branch Experiment Station at Poplarville. He had joint appointments with Mississippi State University Coastal Research and Extension Center, Biloxi, and the department of animal and dairy science at Mississippi State University, Starkville. His research and extension specialties were in beef cattle production and nutrition.
Rivera also has a research appointment with the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station, the Division of Agriculture’s research arm, and will continue his research program at SWREC. He conducts applied research in the interactions of production, management and nutrition in growing beef cattle. His work will focus on the nutrition, growth and development of stocker cattle.
“I would like to implement a program to develop more strategic nutrient management in cattle,” he said.
A lot of forage crops require fertilizer to meet the nutritional needs of beef cattle, and that’s an expensive input, Rivera said. “I want to investigate reducing fertilizer use and using that cost-saving for protein and energy supplements. I want to see if it improves feed use efficiency in a way that also enhances economic returns.
“Research results have to make economic sense for the farmer,” he said. “I’m interested in projects that explore options to improve returns on investment.”
Before joining Mississippi State, Rivera worked in private industry as a technical services manager and nutritionist for Ranch-Way Feeds in Fort Collins, Colorado, from 2006 to 2008. Before that, he was a senior beef cattle technical consultant for Elanco Animal Health Mexico, Monterrey, Mexico.
Rivera was born in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and grew up near Belen, New Mexico. He earned his bachelor’s degree from New Mexico State University, a master’s degree from West Texas A&M University and a doctorate from New Mexico State.
Arkansas’ diverse geography and the central role of agriculture in the state’s culture and economy contribute to Rivera’s enthusiasm for joining the Division of Agriculture, he said. And moving to Arkansas was a popular decision in his family. His wife, Beth, and three children — John, 16, Andrew, 14, and Celina, 7 — are ready to arrive here in May.
“My wife and kids are all excited about the move and being here,” Rivera said.
To learn more about Division of Agriculture research, visit the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station website. Follow us on Twitter at @ArkAgResearch.
About the Division of Agriculture
The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture’s mission is to strengthen agriculture, communities, and families by connecting trusted research to the adoption of best practices. Through the Agricultural Experiment Station and the Cooperative Extension Service, the Division of Agriculture conducts research and extension work within the nation’s historic land grant education system.
The Division of Agriculture is one of 20 entities within the University of Arkansas System. It has offices in all 75 counties in Arkansas and faculty on five system campuses.
The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture offers all its Extension and Research programs and services without regard to race, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, religion, age, disability, marital or veteran status, genetic information, or any other legally protected status, and is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer.
Media Contact: Fred Miller
U of A System Division of Agriculture
Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station
(479) 575-5647
fmiller@uark.edu
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