Research center observes 50th anniversary at Field Day
Aug. 16, 2007Contact Information:
Dr. Fred Bourland, NEREC, 870-526-2199, fbourland@uark.edu
Howell Medders, Division of Agriculture Communications, 479-575-5647, hmedders@uark.edu
KEISER, Ark. -- The Northeast Research and Extension Center here will celebrate its 50th Anniversary with a field day Thursday, Aug. 23.
Center Director Fred Bourland said Division of Agriculture scientists in the University of Arkansas System will discuss changes over the past 50 years as they present results of current research in rice, soybeans, cotton, corn and wheat.
The field day begins with registration at 8:30 a.m., followed by field tours, an indoor program and a luncheon address by State Senator Steve Bryles of Blytheville.
The indoor program will include a historical perspective on “What it takes to make a living on cotton,” by agricultural economist Bruce Ahrendsen; “Wheat Varieties, Now and Then,” by plant breeder Robert Bacon; “The Future of Renewable Fuels in Arkansas,” by Mike Shook of Patriot Biofuels; and “Biofuels: A Perspective for Arkansas,” by agricultural economist Mike Popp,
Research plots include sunflower and switch grass for study as potential energy crops. A canola variety development program is being conducted at other Division of Agriculture locations.
The Northeast Branch Station was established on 655 acres at Keiser in 1957 as an expansion of the Alfalfa Substation established in 1948 at Osceola.
The station was expanded to 766 acres and a resident faculty was appointed when it became the Northeast Research and Extension Center in 1980. It is one of five regional Division of Agriculture centers with a resident faculty.
Bourland said the Keiser location was chosen primarily to provide for cotton research on its clay soils, which are typical of many soils found east of Crowley’s Ridge.
In addition to Bourland, who is also a cotton breeder, the resident faculty at NEREC, all with doctoral degrees, includes Glenn Studebaker, entomology; Rob Hogan, agricultural economics; and Daniel Stephenson, agronomy.