What’s New in Extension

MSU Extension forage specialist supports local Mississippians, provides national leadership

Story by Leah Bowers | Photo by Kevin Hudson

When it comes to helping Mississippi residents grow the right forages for their livestock, Dr. Rocky Lemus is getting the job done. 

Lemus, the Mississippi State University Extension Service forage specialist, is experienced in forage establishment, grazing systems and management, hay production, forage fertility, and forage quality. His high-quality work and effective program development over the years have earned him local praise and nationwide recognition.

His expertise has enabled him and MSU Extension to develop international programs in Puerto Rico, Venezuela, the Dominican Republic, Nicaragua, Guatemala, and Costa Rica related to grazing systems for beef and dairy cattle, as well as dairy goats. These efforts focus on developing sustainable beef and milk production for marginal communities.

Lemus has recently taken on national leadership roles to extend his reach beyond Mississippi, though he continues his primary focus of helping Mississippians grow nutritious, healthy forages for their livestock.

As the 2026–2027 president of the NIRS Forage and Feed Testing Consortium, Lemus leads a committee that reviews and recommends methodology and standard techniques for near-infrared spectroscopy, or NIRS, to measure protein, fiber, energy, and moisture in forages.

Lemus has also become the American Dairy Goat Association’s 2026–2027 production testing committee chair. In this role, he helps shape and improve dairy goat milk production verification test breeding and increase participation in the dairy herd improvement milk testing.

Finally, as the National Forage Testing Association’s 2026–2027 chair of the proficiency and standards committee, Lemus ensures the association continues to provide unbiased, accurate evaluations of the nutritive value of forages. As part of the committee, his role is to make sure that participating forage labs provide accurate testing procedures and outputs to the forage industry.

Lemus continues providing MSU Extension programs and services to forage producers statewide and conducting research in forage production, nutrient management, and livestock grazing systems. He also leads the MSU Extension Center for Forage Management and Environmental Stewardship and is an Extension/research professor in the MSU Department of Plant and Soil Sciences.