From tobacco to rice: Pathologist hopes to bring lessons learned in Tennessee to Arkansas
Oct. 7, 2026
By Sarah Cato
University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture
Fast Facts
- Kate Turner joins UADA as extension rice plant pathologist
- Researched similar rice pathogens in tobacco for her doctorate
- Creating more image-based resources to help growers and consultants ID pathogens
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(Editors note: This version replaces the quote in the 12th paragraph, clarifying rice disease symptomology.)
LITTLE ROCK — Growing up in a small Tennessee town, Kate Turner learned quickly that agriculture was important.
“I grew up with farms all around me,” said Turner, the new extension rice plant pathologist for the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture. “I knew agriculture was the core of the world.”
With a push by her high school agriculture teacher to pursue plant and soil science in college, Turner found further encouragement at the University of Tennessee at Martin to attend graduate school. After working heavily with extension at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Turner set her sights on an extension career.
“I love extension,” she said. “At UT, both of my advisers were extension specialists, and I was able to do a lot of extension work throughout my time there, and that really helped ignite my passion that this is what I want to do.”
Turner started her new extension position in September and said she hopes to never leave.
“I wanted to find a niche to help growers and now I’m in a position to do that,” she said. “I hope I’m in this job until I retire.”
Not only did her graduate studies give her extension experience, but she also worked with pathogens that may sound familiar to those who work in Arkansas rice.
“One of the diseases I worked with in my Ph.D. was target spot in tobacco, caused by Rhizoctonia solani,” Turner said. “That same pathogen causes sheath blight in rice, which is common here in Arkansas.”
Getting started
Turner said she plans to spend her first year getting out in the field and meeting with stakeholders.
“I’ve enjoyed getting to meet growers and county agents and look forward to meeting more as I get my footing,” she said.
On top of that, Turner plans to create quick, easy-to-use resources.
“With rice disease management, some of these symptoms early on can look the same across different diseases,” Turner said. “We need to focus on image-based resources to help growers and consultants with identification in the field.”
Turner earned her Ph.D. in plant pathology and phytopathology from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. She obtained a master’s degree in plant pathology and phytopathology from Auburn University and a bachelor’s degree in agronomy and crop science from the University of Tennessee at Martin.
To learn about extension programs in Arkansas, contact your local Cooperative Extension Service agent or visit uaex.uada.edu. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram. To learn more about the Division of Agriculture, visit uada.edu. To learn more about ag and food research in Arkansas, visit the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station at aaes.uada.edu.
About UADA
The University of Arkansas 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, UADA conducts research and extension work within the nation’s historic land grant education system.
UADA is one of 22 entities within the University of Arkansas System. It has offices in all 75 counties in Arkansas and faculty on three university campuses.
Pursuant to 7 CFR § 15.3, the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture offers all its Extension and Research programs and services (including employment) without regard to race, color, sex, national origin, religion, age, disability, marital or veteran status, genetic information, sexual preference, pregnancy or any other legally protected status, and is an equal opportunity institution.
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