Melville O. Pence

1887 – 1987
Professor of Agronomy, Extension Specialist
Pioneered new crops, production methods

Rode the Rails for Agriculture

Raised on a Grant County, Indiana, farm, where he worked three years after high school to earn the money to attend Purdue, Agronomy Legend Melville “M.O.” Pence never strayed far from his agricultural roots.

In fact, he regularly returned to farms all around the state, riding the rails on the Purdue Soil Testing Special, dubbed the Extension Train. Analyzing soils brought to the train, he offered recommendations on lime, fertilizer and crop rotation. He oversaw the Five-acre Corn Club, which grew from 500 in 1925 to more than 4,000 members in 1956.

He was the first to demonstrate the Purdue Soil Test Kit on the farm in 1934. He also promoted alfalfa as a forage crop, introduced Korean lespedeza and Ladino clover and gave demonstrations on pasture improvement through fertilization and renovation. He also was involved in improving small grains, soybeans, sorghum and sudan grass, which led to dramatically increased yields.

Education
1911                B.S., Purdue University, agronomy
1922                Graduate studies, Cornell University, agronomy
1925                M.S., University of Delaware, agronomy

Purdue Years
1925 – 1957

Career Highlights
1911                 Soil surveyor, Indiana State Geologist’s Office        
1914                 County Agent, Kent County, Delaware
1916                 County Agent, Hendricks County, Indiana
1917                 County Agent, Extension Specialist, Sussex County, Delaware
1919 – 1924    Delaware Crop Improvement Association, Secretary
1925                 Extension Agronomist, Purdue University
1953                 Indiana Crop Improvement Association Crops and Soils Award