Visitors see crops research during field day
July 28, 2008Contact Information:
Dr. Kelly Bryant, Director, Southeast Research and Extension Center
870-460-1091 / bryantk@uamont.edu
Larry Earnest, Director, Rohwer Research Station
870-644-3101, Ext. 222 / learnest@uark.edu
By Fred Miller, Division of Agriculture, U of A System
479-575-5647 / fmiller@uark.edu
Program technician Jason Meier describes tests of new herbicides for rice during a field day July 24 at the Rohwer Research Station.
Nathan Slaton, associate professor of soil fertility, describes research on using polymer coated urea for fertilizing rice.
University of Arkansas trustee Mike Akin cuts a ribbon to dedicate a new office building at the Rohwer Research Station July 24. On hand for the ribbon cutting were, from left, vice president of agriculture Milo Shult, vice president for agriculture; Rick Roeder, associate director of the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station; Tony Windham, assistant director of agricultural and natural resources; Larry Earnest, director of the Rohwer station; Kelly Bryant, director of the Southeast Research and Extension Center at Monticello; Susan Akins; Akins; Mark Cochran, associate vice president for agriculture-research; Mark McElroy, Desha County judge; State Rep. Robert Moore; Mike French, associate vice president for agriculture-extension; and John Connell of SCM Architects of Little Rock, the firm that designed the new building.
ROHWER, Ark. — Visitors had an opportunity to recall the past and peer into the future during a field day at the Rohwer Research Station July 24.
The University of Arkansas System’s statewide Division of Agriculture celebrated 50 years of research at the Rohwer station, dedicated a new administrative building and gave visitors a first-hand look at ongoing research and extension programs.
From potential new rice varieties with improved growing characteristics to new herbicides for rice and “futuristic weed control” in cotton, division scientists demonstrated how agricultural research was helping Arkansas farmers today and what they can expect in the near future.
“The resiliency of the American farmer, and especially the Arkansas farmer, is amazing,” U of A System trustee Mike Akins told visitors during a catfish lunch that celebrated the founding of the Rohwer station in 1957. “I hate to think what Arkansas Agriculture would be without the University of Arkansas.”
During field research tours, rice breeder Karen Moldenhauer described varieties developed in the division’s rice breeding program that have helped Arkansas remain the leading producer and exporter of rice in the United States. She said breeding lines being evaluated as possible future varieties include one with exceptionally stable yields and resistance to lodging.
Extension agronomist Jason Kelley described studies on planting date, seeding rate and row spacing for Arkansas’ expanded corn acreage. Extension weed scientist Ken Smith described single herbicide applications in corn and effects of early season weed control on leaf orientation.
Soil scientist Nathan Slaton showed soil fertility test plots for rice and described the most advantageous times and means for fertilizing polymer-coated urea.
Extension plant pathologist Cliff Coker discussed soybean diseases and described how to differentiate between Asian soybean rust and other foliar disease that mimic its symptoms.
Weed scientist Jason Norsworthy covered the topic of “futuristic weed control,” describing new and anticipated herbicide products and management practices for dealing with glysophate-resistant pigweed and other developing weed problems.
The station’s new building houses offices, a reception room, conference room, laboratory, kitchen and a large meeting room that doubles as a workroom. The building was designed by SCM Architects of Little Rock and constructed by Davis Construction of Monticello.
The Rohwer Research Station was founded in 1957 on 134 acres of donated land and another 500 acres purchased by the state, said Larry Earnest, station director. It now has about 800 acres of research plots in cotton, soybeans, grain sorghum, rice, wheat and corn.