Dave came to KSU in 1998 as Head of Agronomy, and served in that position through 2005, when he stepped down to return to a faculty position. Prior to coming to K-State, he was on the faculty at the Louisiana State Rice Experiment Station from 1975-79 working in rice and rotational crop fertilization, and Purdue University from 1979-1998 where he had teaching, research and extension responsibilities in soil fertility and crop production. 

He currently supervises the Soil Testing Lab, teaches Agron 625 Applications in Nutrient Management, and does research and extension work in the areas of soil testing and fertilizer use, especially nitrogen management, the use of sensors to predict fertilizer needs, new methods and equipment to apply fertilizers, and soil management.