Rate My Professor Kent McVay

Kent McVay serves as Associate Professor and Superintendent of the Southern Agricultural Research Center at Montana State University, where he also holds the position of Extension Cropping Systems Specialist. He earned his Ph.D. in Soil Physics from the University of Georgia in 1999, an M.S. in Agronomy from the University of Georgia in 1988, and a B.S. in Agronomy from Kansas State University. McVay's research and extension efforts focus on cropping systems research, soil quality, crop production, and sustainability. His work emphasizes intensifying dryland cropping systems for long-term sustainability, improving irrigation efficiency, and developing crop calibration coefficients for ET-based irrigation scheduling. He conducts research on cover crops, pulse and cereal variety evaluations, nutrient management in no-till systems, and alternative crops like camelina in the Northern Great Plains.

McVay has made substantial contributions to agricultural science through numerous publications and practical tools for producers. Key works include 'Winter legume effects on soil properties and nitrogen fertilizer requirements' (Soil Science Society of America Journal, 1989), 'Management effects on soil physical properties in long-term tillage studies in Kansas' (Soil Science Society of America Journal, 2006), 'Camelina production in Montana' (Montana State University Bulletin, 2008), 'Camelina yield response to different plant populations under dryland conditions' (Agronomy Journal, 2011), and 'Productivity and stability of multi-species cover crop mixtures in the northern Great Plains' (Agronomy Journal, 2019). He has co-authored extension publications such as the Montana Barley Production Guide and Nutrient Management in No-till and Minimum Till Systems. McVay has presented seminars, including 'Building A Decision Support System for Cropping Systems,' and developed web tools for fertilizer, herbicide, variety selection, and water management decisions. His research influences sustainable dryland agriculture by enhancing soil health, crop yields, and producer decision-making in semi-arid regions.