Scott H. Graham

Scott H. Graham

  • Assistant Professor and Extension Entomologist (Cotton, Peanut, Soybean)
  • Department of Entomology & Plant Pathology
662-809-3368
shg0013@auburn.edu
149 ALFA Services Building
Google Scholar
LinkedIn

My research revolves around developing IPM practices for cotton, soybean and peanut producers in the state of Alabama. We conduct applied research by evaluating current management tactics (e.g., insecticide efficacy, GMO technologies) and devising new ways to help growers mitigate loss from insect pests. The goal of my research program is to enhance the economic sustainability and productivity of Alabama producers.

In my extension role, I am responsible for developing and presenting educational programs related to cotton, soybean and peanut IPM to extension agents, producers, consultants and other ag professionals across the state. I do this by extending knowledge learned from applied research through various mediums, including phone calls/text messages, blog posts, social media, field days, county meetings, etc. The goal of my extension program is to effectively communicate and educate the producers of Alabama on ways to improve the economic sustainability of their farms.


Education

  • Ph.D. in EntomologyThe University of Tennessee2018

  • M.S. in EntomologyMississippi State University2016

  • B.S. in Agronomy (IPM)Mississippi State University2014

Professional Experience

  • April 2020-Present, Assistant Professor and Extension Entomologist, Auburn University
  • March 2019-March 2020, US Product Development Manager, AgBiTech LLC
  • January-March 2019, Postdoctoral Research Associate, The University of Tennessee
  • January 2016-December 2018, Graduate Research Assistant, The University of Tennessee

Professional Affiliations

  • Two-Spot Cotton Leafhopper Working Group, 2026-present
  • Entomological Society of America, 2014-present
  • National Cotton States Arthropod Management Working Group, 2020-present
  • Southeastern Row Crop Entomology Working Group, 2020-present
  • Southern IPM Center Advisory Committee, 2021-present
  • American peanut research and education society, 2021-present
  • S1080: Improving Soybean Arthropod Pest Management in the US, 2020-present
  • American Phytopathology Society, 2025-present
  • Society of Nematologists, 2021-present
  • PeanutRx Working Group, 2021-present
  • Alabama Association of County Agricultural Agents and Specialists, 2021-present

Peer-Reviewed Scientific Publications

1. Shehata, A.H.A., C. Cooke, M.A. Mayfield, W. Clark, L. Kaur, A. Rios, K.B. Burch, H. Jordan, A. Jacobson, S.H. Graham, A. Strayer-Scherer and K.M. Martin. 2025. Sequence Analysis and Localization of the Tomato Spotted Wilt Virus Nucleocapsid Protein, TSWV-N, in Alabama and its Possible Role in the Increase of Viral Incidence in Alabama. Phytopathology. DOI:10.1094/PHYTO-06-25-2024-R

2. *Schloemer, C., S.H. Graham, K.H. Wang, B. Sipes, B.R. Lawaju and K.S. Lawrence. 2025. Approaches to Organic Sweetpotato Cultivation: Managing Nematodes, Insects Pests, and Soil Health with Winter Cover Crops and Biopesticides. Frontiers in Plant Science. DOI:10.3359/fpls.2025.1693056

3. Esquivel, I.L., T. Bryant, S. Malone, A.L. Jacobson, S.H. Graham, P. Gimenez-Cremonez, S.V. Paula-Moreas, D. Reisig, J. Greene, A. Huseth, P. Roberts, F.P.F. Reay-Jones and S. Taylor. 2025. First Report of Two-Spot Cotton Leafhopper (Amrasca biguttula Ishida) (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) on Commercial Cotton in the Southeastern United States. Insects. 16 (9). DOI:10.3390/insects16090966

4. *Douglas, T.J., S.M. Brown, A.L. Jacobson, K. Kesheimer, L. Catchot, F.R. Musser and S.H. Graham. 2025. Bioassay to evaluate resistance levels in tarnished plant bug (Hemiptera: Miridae) populations in Alabama to common cotton insecticides. Midsouth Entomologist. 18: 36-46. Vol18_1/DouglasEtAl2025.

5. Mahas, J.B., G. Rossi, A. Chitturi, B. Chavez-Cordoba, S.H. Graham and A.L. Jacobson. 2025. The effect of neonicotinoids and planting date on thrips pressure in Alabama cotton. Journal of Cotton Science. 29: 77-86. DOI:10.56454/GQRL7530

6. *Cooke, C.A., K. Balkcom, K. Martin, A. Strayer-Scherer and S.H. Graham. 2025. Impact of variety, planting date and at-plant insecticide on thrips and tomato spotted wilt virus management in Alabama peanuts. Peanut Science. DOI:10.3146/0095-3679-52.1-PS1630

7. *Schloemer, C.M., S.H. Graham, K.H. Wang, B. Sipes and K.S. Lawrence. 2025. Evaluation of cover crops and biopesticides to manage Meloidogyne incognita on sweetpotatoes in greenhouse and microplot settings. J. Nematology. DOI: 10.2478/jofnem-2025-0015

8. *Lawton, C., K.S. Lawrence, C. Schloemer, T.J. Douglas and S.H. Graham. 2025. Evaluation of ThryvOn cotton for thrips management in nematode infested fields. J. Cotton Sci. 29: 7-15. DOI: 10.56454/MVVV2743

9. *Schloemer, C.M., S.H. Graham and K.S. Lawrence. 2025. Sweetpotato pest challenges and management options. J. Integrated Pest Management. DOI:10.1093/jipm/pmaf003

10. Rossi, G., J.B. Mahas, A. Chitturi, S.H. Graham and A.L. Jacobson. 2024. The influence of crop and leaf position on thrips (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) oviposition in cotton, soybean and peanut seedlings. J. Econ. Entomol. 118:459-464 DOI: 10.1093/jee/toae294

11. *Lawton, C., K.S. Lawrence, C. Schloemer, T.J. Douglas and S.H. Graham. 2024. Evaluation of ThryvOn cotton for thrips management in nematode infested fields. J. Cotton Sci. JCS-24-022. Accepted.

12. *Douglas, T.J., S. Brown, A. Jacobson, K. Kesheimer and S.H. Graham. 2024. An evaluation of novaluron on southern green stink bug (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) nymphs and sublethal effects on fecundity in adults. J. Environ. Entomol. ENVENT-2024-0133. Accepted.

13. Zurweller, B., J. Gore, S.H. Graham, W.D. Crow, T.B. Towles and D. Cook. 2023. Impact of Variety and At-Plant Insecticides on Thrips (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) Management in Peanut. J. Peanut Sci. 50:41-48. DOI: 10.3146/0095-3679-501-PS22-10

14. Reisig, D.D., S.H. Graham, J.K. Greene, S. Paula-Moraes, P. Roberts, S.V. Taylor. 2023. Influence of Heliothinae (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) pests on cotton yield components across a range of planting dates in the southeastern USA. J Crop Protection. In press. DOI: 10.1016/j.cropro.2023.106320

15. T.K. Turner, S. Graham, N. Potnis, S. Brown, P. Donald, and K.S. Lawrence. 2023. Evaluation of Meloidogyne incognita and Rotylenchulus reniformis nematode resistant cotton cultivars with supplemental Corteva Agriscience nematicides. J. Nematology. 54:1-21. DOI: 10.2478/jofnem-2023-0001

16. Krob, J.L., S.D. Stewart, S.A. Brown, D. Kerns, S.H. Graham, C. Perkins, A.S. Huseth, G.G. Kennedy, D.D. Reisig, S.V. Taylor, T.B. Towles, D.L. Kerns, B.C. Thrash, G.M. Lorenz, D.R. Cook, W.D. Crow, J. Gore, A.L. Catchot, F. Musser and B. Catchot. 2022. Standardized field trials and bioassays to evaluate resistance of tobacco thrips (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) to insecticides. J. Econ. Entomol. 115: 1693-1702. DOI: 10.1093/jee/toac136

17. Graham, S.H., A.L. Catchot, J. Gore, D. Cook, and D. Dodds. 2021. Tarnished Plant Bug (Hemiptera: Miridae) behavioral responses to chemical Insecticides. Insects. 12: 1072.

18. Graham, S.H., X. Zhu, H. Kelly, and S.D. Stewart. 2019. The use of Canopeo to rate seedling cotton health in small-plot research. J. Cotton Science. 23: 231-238.

19. Graham, S.H., F.M. Musser, A. Jacobson, A. Chitturi, B. Catchot, and S.D. Stewart. 2019. Behavioral responses of thrips (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) and tarnished plant bug (Hemiptera: Miridae) to a new Bt toxin, Cry51Aa2.834_16 in cotton (Gossypium hirsutum). J. Econ. Entomol. 112: 1695-1704.

20. Graham, S.H. and S.D. Stewart. 2018. Field study investigating Cry51Aa2.834_16 in cotton for control of thrips (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) and tarnished plant bugs (Hemiptera: Miridae). J. Econ. Entomol. 111: 2717-2726.


Peer-Reviewed Extension Publications

    1. *Woodall, M. and S.H. Graham. 2025. Pests of Alabama Soybeans: Bean Leaf Beetle. Alabama Cooperative Extension Service. ANR-3199.
    2. *Woodall, M. and S.H. Graham. 2025. Pests of Alabama Soybeans: Three-Cornered Alfalfa Hopper. Alabama Cooperative Extension Service. ANR-3178.
    3. Strayer-Scherer, A. K. Lawrence, S.H. Graham, **E. McGriff and K. Conner. 2025. Nematodes in Alabama Cotton. Alabama Cooperative Extension Service. ANR-0967.
    4. *Hopkins, S. and S.H. Graham. 2025. Pests of Alabama Soybeans: Soybean Looper. Alabama Cooperative Extension Service. ANR-3139.
    5. *Hopkins, S. and S.H. Graham. 2024. Pests of Alabama Soybeans: Redbanded Stink Bug. Alabama Cooperative Extension Service. ANR-3121.
    6. McGriff, E. and S.H. Graham. 2023. Beneficial Insects in Alabama Row Crops: Predators. Alabama Cooperative Extension Service. ANR-2963.
    7. *Schloemer, C., K.S. Lawrence and S.H. Graham. 2023. Integrated Management of Southern Root-knot Nematode on Sweetpotato. Alabama Cooperative Extension Service. ANR-2993.
    8. Graham, S.H., D. Reisig, A. Huseth, J. Greene, and P. Roberts. 2023. Maximizing insect control in ThryvOn cotton in the Southeast. Alabama Cooperative Extension Service, ANR-2984.
    9. Graham, S.H. 2022. Sporadic Pests of Seedling Cotton in Alabama. Alabama Cooperative Extension Service, ANR-2948.
    10. Kesheimer, K. E. McGriff, S. Graham, A. Strayer-Scherer, K. Conner, A. Rabinowitz, A. Sparks, J. Vanderford, A. Gamble, D. Russell, B. Ortiz, L.I. Pereira, B. Lena, G. Morata, J. Kelton, S. Li, S. Thomas, J. Jones, T. Sandlin, R. Prasad, S. Mack, E. Francisco, and E. Sikora. 2022. Agronomic Crops Impact Report 2021. Alabama Cooperative Extension Service, ANR-2888
    11. Graham, S.H. and A. Majumdar. 2022. Scouting Techniques for Soil Insect Pests of Peanuts. Alabama Cooperative Extension Service, ANR-1364.
    12. Conner, K., A. Strayer-Scherer, A. Hagan, J. Koebernick, A. Jacobson, K. Bowen, E. Sikora, S. Graham and S. Brown. Cotton Leafroll Dwarf Virus. Alabama Cooperative Extension Service, ANR-2539.
    13. Conner, K., K. Kesheimer, S. Graham, A. Strayer-Scherer, A. Majumdar, E. Sikora, R. Prasad, S. Li, S. Brown, T. Sandlin, R. Russell and J. Jones. 2021. Agronomic Crops Impact Report 2020. Alabama Cooperative Extension System, ANR-2790.
    14. Strayer-Scherer, A. and S. Graham. 2021. Tomato Spotted Wilt Virus on Peanuts. Alabama Cooperative Extension System, ANR-0574.
    15. Graham, S.H., R.H. Smith and S.M. Brown. 2021. History of Insect Pest Management in Alabama Cotton. Alabama Cooperative Extension System, ANR-2831.
    16. Graham, S.H. and R.H. Smith. 2021. Tarnished Plant Bug Resistance in Alabama. Alabama Cooperative Extension System, ANR-2788.
    17. Graham, S.H. 2021. Pests of Alabama Cotton: Stink Bugs. Alabama Cooperative Extension System, ANR-2761.
    18. Graham, S.H. and R.H. Smith. 2021. Pests of Alabama Cotton: Grasshoppers. Alabama Cooperative Extension System, ANR-2764.
    19. Graham, S.H. 2021. Pests of Alabama Cotton: Thrips. Alabama Cooperative Extension System, ANR-2718.
    20. Graham, S.H. and R.H. Smith. 2021. Summary of Selected Cotton Insect Pest Management Projects. Alabama Cooperative Extension System, ANR-2735.
    21. Graham, S.H. and R.H. Smith. 2021. 2020 Alabama Cotton Insect Losses Report. Alabama Cooperative Extension System, ANR-2714.
    22. Graham, S. and S. Stewart. 2017. Common defoliating beetles in soybean. The University of Tennessee Extension, W 392.
    23. Perkins, C., S. Graham, and S. Stewart. 2017. Grasshoppers in Soybean. The University of Tennessee Extension, W 521.