Mark Abney

2025 D.W. Brooks Faculty Award for Excellence in Extension

Mark Abney is a professor and UGA Cooperative Extension specialist in the Department of Entomology on the university’s Tifton campus, where he has served as peanut entomologist since 2013. His Extension and research program addresses the ecology and management of insect pests of peanut, a crop for which Georgia farmers produce nearly half of the U.S. supply. Arthropod pests threaten profitability and sustainability, making his focus vital to the industry. His work focuses on supporting county Extension faculty, improving management of soil insects, studying ecological factors that affect row-crop pests, and optimizing insecticide use for safety and sustainability.

He emphasizes generating new knowledge and delivering science-based recommendations to growers. Previously, Abney was an associate professor at North Carolina State University, focusing on insect management in vegetables. A native of Cochran, Georgia, he holds degrees from UGA and NC State.