Ian Small

Dr. Ian Small is an Associate Professor of Plant Pathology at the University of Florida's North Florida Research and Education Center. His research focuses on improving disease management strategies for field crops like peanut, cotton, and bioenergy feedstocks through integrated approaches combining genetics, cultural practices, biological controls, and precision technologies. Collaborations span agronomists, computer scientists, and engineers to develop decision support systems and phenotyping tools.

Research interests include epidemiology, smart crop protection, and plant breeding for disease resistance. He leads projects on cotton leafroll dwarf virus surveillance, soilborne disease monitoring via metagenomics, and sustainable aviation fuel crop development through the SPARC initiative.

Publications emphasize disease management innovations, crop rotation impacts, and precision agriculture applications. His work integrates field trials with predictive modeling to optimize fungicide use and nematicide efficacy in row crops. Dr. Small also contributes to extension programs addressing crop production challenges in Florida's agricultural ecosystems.