Dr. Mark Matocha has been with the Agricultural and Environmental Safety Unit since 2001. He holds a Ph.D. from Texas A&M in Agronomy, specializing in weed science. He has more than 20 years experience in the pest management field specializing in herbicides and weed control. He has conducted weed control research in turfgrass, pasture, peanut, corn, sorghum, cotton, vegetables, citrus, and sugarcane. He has authored several Extension publications and conducts education meetings dealing with pesticide safety and education, agronomy, and weed control.
Dr. Matocha also serves as the IR-4 Liaison for Texas – coordinating a multi-state minor use pesticide advisory committee which is responsible for identifying and prioritizing minor use pesticide needs for Texas and surrounding states. Mark has been a licensed Texas Department of Agriculture Non-Commercial Pesticide Applicator since 1997.
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Mr. Jacob (Jake) Wightman, M.S. is an Extension Program Specialist with the Agricultural and Environmental Safety Unity of the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service. As a Pesticide Program Specialist he provides programs for the Texas pesticide applicators in the structural pest control industry as well as agriculture. These programs include apprentice/technician training seminars as well as CEUs and training in structural pest license categories.
Jake’s background is in horticultural science, with interests in integrated pest management, community food systems, and agroecology. Jake has professional experience in the Texas structural pest control industry as well as with agricultural and landscape pesticide applications. He has a degree in Agroecology & Sustainable Food Systems – Urban Horticulture from North Carolina State University (B.S., 2022), as well as a degree in Agricultural Education from Texas Tech University (M.S., 2025).
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In Memory of Dr. Don L. Renchie
Don Renchie, Ph.D., a longtime Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service educator and statewide leader in pesticide safety training and compliance education, passed away May 4, 2026 after serving AgriLife Extension for over 32 years. He served as the Program leader of the Agricultural and Environmental Safety Unit, an Extension Specialist, and Coordinator for the Pesticide Safety Education Program. Throughout his career, he became widely recognized across Texas and nationally for his leadership in pesticide safety education, licensing, and regulatory training.
Dr. Renchie earned his doctorate in agricultural education from Texas A&M University, a master’s in agricultural education and a bachelor’s in animal science, both from Prairie View A&M University. He is also a graduate of the Texas Agricultural Lifetime Leadership program.
Dr. Renchie provided more than 300 presentation on outreach and continuing education to AgriLife Extension county agents and specialists, and to industry members, reaching over 24,000 people. He authored, co-authored and served as managing editor on more than 109 journal articles, curricula, online courses, fact sheets, newsletter articles, videos and television appearances.