Duffie resigns from Extension
By Anne Marie Kyzer Staff Writer

FILE Duffie, shown reading a tensiometer to measure soil moisture, will work his last day with Extension Tuesday.

Burke County Extension Coordinator Will Duffie has resigned to accept a position in the private sector.

After working his last day as an agent Tuesday (Jan. 15), he will immediately begin his new job as a farm advisor with Delta and Pine Land Company, which is owned by Monsanto. His territory will include Burke and other counties in east Georgia.

"I appreciate what everybody has done," Duffie said. "It's difficult leaving a communitybased position. Everyone in the county has been very supportive of the extension office."

However, Duffie said he will still be able to work with and help Burke County farmers in his new position, which will focus on the sale of seed, fertilizer and pesticides to row crop producers. He also looks forward to continuing his involvement in the community.

Local farmers say he will be sorely missed in the Cooperative Extension Service.

"He's about as good as you'll find," local farmer and agribusiness owner Chris Collins said. "He was willing to come out anytime and was very responsive. He was just outstand- ing."

Among other projects, Collins worked closely with Duffie on irrigation scheduling technology using tensiometers. He applauded Duffie's openness to new practices and ideas.

"If he didn't know something, he would certainly research and get back with you," he said of Duffie.

Row crop, pecan and cattle producer Henry Hopkins valued Duffie's knowledge in various sectors of the industry.

"He was good at a lot of different things and was knowledgeable," Hopkins said. "He was good with cattle, with row crops and with small grains. He was knowledgeable about pecans. He was just a good county agent."

Hopkins said Duffie was also instrumental in reviving the Southeast Georgia Research and Education Center near Midville "through his energy and by planning good programs there."

Duffie came to Waynesboro as coordinator for the University of Georgia Cooperative Extension office in Burke County in September 2005. Duffie said the process for finding his replacement at the Extension office has already begun and that University of Georgia officials are committed to filling the position.