Dr. Ken Mix
Associate Professor of Soil & Crop Science
Dr. Mix is a former vegetable producer from central Indiana. He operated a 20 acre commercial produce farm outside of Indianapolis in the 1980’s and 1990’s. He currently teaches and has active research in entomology, soil health, crop production and agriculturally related climate and water resources. He oversees several projects with graduate students; including multispecies intercropping, variety trials, soil health, climate change and Central Texas fruit crops, novel crops, and more. He also oversees the Texas State University Students’ Sustainable Farm. He is the Program director of multiple USDA programs; including Integrating The Small Producer’s Initiative with Research and Extension (InSPIRE), Texas State Supporting Small Producers (TSSSP), Boots to Roots and co-Project Director of Reaching Underserved Rural Agricultural Latinos and Veterans (RURAL-V), among a few.
Education:
Ph.D. Aquatic Resources, Texas State University concentration in Complex Agro-Socio-Ecological Systems, 2010
M.S. Range and Wildlife Management, TAMU-Kingsville, 2004
B.S. Natural Resources & Environmental Mgmt, Ball State University, 1999
- AG 4302 – Fruit and Vegetable Production
- AG 3427 – Soil Science II
- AG 2379 – General Horticulture
- AG 2313 – Agronomic Crops
- AG 3329 – Economic Entomology
- AG 3426 – Soil Science I
- Soil Health
- Botanical Insecticides
- Small Farmers and Ranchers
Projects:
The Small Producer’s Initiative, a stakeholder driven project to provide financial literacy, financial opportunity, technical and technological, and mentor support to small, beginning, socially disadvantaged, minority and veteran farmers and rancher.
Graduate Students:
Former:
Dagoberto Osorio, Jr.
THESIS: Low-Molecular-Weight Organic Acids as a Phosphorus Nutrient Amendment for Solanum melongena Production in Calcareous Soils of the Central Texas Region
Current:
Harpeet (Sony) Sandhu
THESIS: Insecticidal and Repellent Properties of Botanicals Extracts of for Sweet Potato Weevil (Cylas formicarius) Control
Rafea Rea
THESIS: Effects of Two Sources of Amorphous Silica on Growth, Nutrients Accumulation and Drought Tolerance in Leafy Vegetables
Katherine (Katie) Tritsch
THESIS: Roadblocks to Success: Needs Assessment of Texas Small Producers
Cody Brown
THESIS: A Gradient of Soil Proteins Based on Soil Management Practices
Jaycob Gorski
THESIS: Modifying Polistes exclamans (common paper wasp) Food Preferences by Rearing Larva on an Exclusively to Spodoptera frugiperda (fall armyworm) Diet
Rose Flores