S Ray Smith

Professional Biography

Dr. Ray Smith obtained MSc and PhD degrees at University of Georgia. He has held faculty positions at the University of Manitoba, Canada, Virginia Tech and the University of Kentucky during his 30+ year career. Ray is the past chair of the Continuing Committee for the International Grassland Congress (IGC), past President of the American Forage and Grassland Council and was the President of the XXV IGC Congress. He has published 64 refereed journal papers, 247 professional conference papers, 150 extension publications, and 700 extension presentations. Advisees include  20 master’s students, 4 PhD’s, 5 Post-docs, and 27 senior research students. 

His current extension activities include working closely with county agents and producers; conducting applied forage research for Kentucky and the transition zone; helping organize state, regional, national, and international forage conferences; and writing applied agricultural publications. His current research projects include: evaluating forage varieties for grazing tolerance and yield, developing forage production systems for equine, beef and dairy, and developing and comparing pasture evaluation methods.